If you are a huge coffee drinker like me, then you have probably been asked at least once about which is better: Starbucks or Dunkin’. These places are great in their own way and should not be compared to one another. How can we compare two places when one advertises coffee in their name, and one advertises their baked goods? You would not compare a bookstore to a library. Yes, they may both have books, and Dunkin’ and Starbucks both have coffee, but they are known for two different things.
In my opinion, Starbucks is better at being consistent. I know that when I order something, it will taste the same every time I get it. I like that consistency, and I do not get that as much with Dunkin’. Whenever I order coffee from Dunkin’, I often think to myself, “Will it be too sweet? Too bitter?” I do not have that problem with Starbucks.
However, Dunkin’ is much cheaper, and the food is usually better. Dunkin’ is known for its baked goods, which is why its full name is Dunkin’ Donuts. But for me, the inconsistency is what usually steers me away from them. Whenever I order a coffee, whether a simple black coffee with some syrup and cream or one of their specialty drinks, it never tastes the same. One day, it is too bitter; the next, it is way too sweet; the day after, there is so much ice that I wonder if my drink even has coffee in it.
When I am here for school or even just down here for a weekend during the breaks, I get Starbucks, but it is a different story when I am home. The closest Starbucks to my home is over an hour away, while the Dunkin’ in my hometown just opened up in 2022. I spent most of my life getting coffee from the McDonald’s drive-thru or one of the many local shops. But now that Dunkin’ has opened up its doors where I live, I have been going there more often even though it is a surprise as to what they give me every time I go.
Overall, every coffee place will be different, and everyone will have different preferences. I know that if I am just looking for some caffeine, I am going to Starbucks; however, if I am also looking for something to eat, I am going to Dunkin’. In the end, it is all based on opinions and preferences.
Photo: Nathan Dumlao