Dunkin Donuts VS Starbucks – Dunkin has Better Coffee?
Posted on 12. Jan, 2009 by Jason Coffee in News
Dunkin Donuts & Starbucks what do they all have in common? Premium Coffee (sorta).
Dunkin Donuts had a double blind study done in which they had people taste both Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts Coffees. The majority of people preferred Dunkin Donuts to Starbucks. In response in a recent interview with Katie Couric Howard Shultz was quoted as saying, “are you going to say to your friend let’s go meet at Dunkin Donuts, are you going to say that?”
Personally I think the reason the majority of people preffered Dunkin’ Donuts to Starbucks is because most people wouldn’t know good coffee if it walked up and punched them in the face. The average person’s palette is just not used to a premium darker roast coffee which is fine, it just puts some light on why Dunkin’ Donuts came out ahead in this study. I am not saying that establishments like Dunkin’ Donuts do not have their place in the coffee business but think about the above statement by Howard, are you going to say to your friends let’s meet up at Dunkin’ Donuts?
What do you think?
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30 Responses to “Dunkin Donuts VS Starbucks – Dunkin has Better Coffee?”
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BrandyEllen
13. Jan, 2009
I think Dunkin Donuts makes it easier to get coffee. I could not tell you where the most local starbucks is here and on TV I see more commercials for DD than starbucks. I haven’t tried starbucks coffee but would love to give it a try!
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Maria
01. Feb, 2010
BrandyEllen.. I had to read your comment twice. Incredible that there are still places in the US that aren’t overrun with starbucks on every street corner. How refreshing!
I would love to have some DD’s here unfortunately we don’t.
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driftcafe
26. Jan, 2009
Dunkin Donuts is doing the same thing Mc Donalds has done, they’ve realized Starbucks is raking it in so they are trying to get a piece of the action. The problem is that Dunkin Donuts isn’t a coffee company, they make donuts primarily and coffee is just something they happen to also have. Same with Mc Donalds, they are a hamburger place, not a coffee shop. These companies should stick with what what they are good at and continue to perfect their strengths instead of being mediocre at a lot of things.
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Jake LaCaze
01. Feb, 2010
Great point. It’s all about image and perception.
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lil
28. Sep, 2010
Not true, Dunkin’ uses the same blend of coffee that they used in the 50′s and their original store sign says “World’s Finest Coffee.”
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CoffeeCupNews
26. Jan, 2009
@driftcafe could not agree more
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Ben
26. Jan, 2009
With Starbucks it’s more about the brand than it is about the coffee thanks again for Mr. Schultz for pointing that out. But I also read the Dunkin Doughnuts won best coffee from Consumer Reports. You are right about the reason people don’t like Starbucks, most people don’t like bolder coffee and for Starbucks who double roast their coffee because there aren’t enough good beans in the world to supply them, they have to use lower quality beans.
On a side note all of Dunkin Doughnut’s coffee is Fair Trade while Starbucks only sells one Fair Trade certified blend Cafe Estima.
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Vyeshi
26. Jan, 2009
I agree with Ben. SB is all about image. While I don’t approve of MCD’s recent ad campaign to make all SB-ers seems snooty..SB stores are just…cooler. Trendier. Fun to be seen at.
But I would have no problem saying to my friends..”hey meet me at DD!” I would love to be able to say that since I live on the (snooty) West Coast and there aren’t any DDs here anymore. (i miss n.y.):(
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nohypeActivist
27. Jan, 2009
I’d say “Let’s meet up at Dunkin’ Donuts” to my friends, but for the Donuts, not the Coffee
But I can’t really say much about the Coffee quality in the states, living in Germany. Do SB and DD also have international standards like McD or BK?
Over here, there are less coffee drinks at DD than there are at SB. So they don’t seem “fancy” like SB.
Also, SB is pretty expensive over here and I don’t know about coffee prices at DD…
Fair Trade definitely is something I appreciate…
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Fernanda
25. Aug, 2009
Dunkin Dunuts… no doubt about it!!! It tastes way better
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mumdee
25. Aug, 2009
@driftcafe – actually, DD sells more coffee and drinks than anything else in their store.
I never feel uncomfortable and judged at DD like I do at Sbux. If I’m up in the morning and don’t feel like getting dressed but want a coffee I’d MUCH rather go to DD in my PJs than get all showered and dressed just to go to Sbux! So, yes, I’d definitely say “lets meet at DD” in fact, i think I have!
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Heather
25. Aug, 2009
Always Starbucks! There coffee is much better and there snacks are GREAT! Starbucks has also gone above and beyond every time I have asked them for a Coffee donation for our Local Out of the Darkness Walk. I agree with Jason I’m not sure that people would know a good cup of coffee “if it walked up and punched them in the face” A cheap cup of Joe isn’t always the answer for a Great cup of Java!
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Charlotte
25. Aug, 2009
Perhaps I am biased, as a barista, but I whole-heartedly agree that peoples’ pallets are not prepared for dark roasted coffee. Dunkin Donuts gets its beans form Kraft foods for 25c a pound. And it’s all South American beans, meaning acidic… I prefer my coffee with a low acidity, so I’ll go for Starbucks Sumatra. Does DD have Sumatra? NO. They have one kind of bean.
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Jason Coffee
25. Aug, 2009
@Charlotte – Wow, Thanks for the comment. That was very informative. Where are you a barista?
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Jason Coffee
25. Aug, 2009
@mumdee – That is cool that you have found a local place to enjoy your coffee that you feel comfortable. I definitely think places like DD have their place in the coffee industry and if it works for you and you have found what you like, do that!
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TexasWango
25. Aug, 2009
Not that impressed with DD coffee, tastes like a typical brewed coffee you can get anywhere. Starbucks brewed is ok
My own personal favorite is a blend, 50/50 robusta and arabica, Capoccetti Miscela Rossa. I’ve been spoiled by it and have never had a cup come anywhere close
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Jason Coffee
25. Aug, 2009
@TexasWango – Sounds interesting, I would like to try that sometime.
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Anonymous
09. Dec, 2009
@Ben – Ben- you couldnt be more misinformed! Because Starbucks pays premium wages for their coffee (and have been for the past 20 years, light years ahead of anyone else) they have secured first pick among the coffee farmers. In fact, Starbucks has even developed CAFE practices- Coffee And Farmer Equity. This program encourages farmers to grow quality beans using sustainable and ethical practices for a higher price per pound. What results in a more quality bean- with a ZERO defect standard for picking their beans. Starbucks also uses a “second pop” roasting curve which means that they roast until the beans pop for a second time- definitely NOT the same thing as double roasted. Most competitors roast for looks or until the beans pop for the first time- in essence they are roasting the minimal amount a bean needs to get a hint of coffee “flavor.” Roasting to second pop ensures the bean meets is full flavor potential. The significance is that at second pop the inherent flavors of the bean emerge- but you can image this shrinks the beans quite a bit so most dont roast to this point in favor of saving money and losing bean size. For all those that think Starbucks taste burnt its because you havent actually had a true roasted coffee bean, you’ve likely had beans roasted to color but that’s not the same thing. It’s like having a wine cooler vs. an aged wine- once you edcuate yourself, there’s no turning back!
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jessica
13. Mar, 2011
Starbucks burns their beans, you can taste it. It’s the Marlboro red of coffee.
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Raquel Cohen
18. Dec, 2009
This may sound crazy, but I love BOTH! Depending on what kind of mood I am I can go for a deep dark roast which Starbucks is perfect, or just a nice smooth weaker blend which is Dunkin Donuts. I can say that I visit DD more often, just due to the fact that I live closer to one than the other. I prefer to have an iced coffee at DD and a nice HOT coffee at Starbucks!
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Hayfa
18. Dec, 2009
dunkin donuts off course !
though i like starbucks for the setting area and other choices for non- black coffee drinkers.
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dave
01. Feb, 2010
I prefer coffee from a local coffee shop using beans from a local roaster over both of the national chains. at home, i buy beans from a local roaster, grind them right before brewing, etc. and I think I probably would know good coffee if it punched me in the face. i get some of the “better” single origin, fair trade beans from different regions. that being said, I prefer DD to SBUX when I’m out and about and a local shop isn’t on the map.
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Julie Anne
01. Feb, 2010
My DD has a drive-thru, my Starbucks does not… with 4 little kids a drive thru is a MUST!! that makes Dunkin Donuts a winner!! I prefer mild coffee, but I do enjoy a good Starbucks occasionally!
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Jake LaCaze
01. Feb, 2010
Although Starbucks has some drinks I enjoy, when it comes to plain good ol’ coffee, I do prefer Dunkin’ Donuts. I would have no problem meeting up at Dunkin’ Donuts, but that’s because I have a love/hate relationship with Starbucks. I love to study Starbucks from a business/marketing standpoint, but the individual in me hates them because they run all of the good coffee shops out of town.
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30. May, 2010
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nicole
16. Aug, 2010
I used to visit our srtarbucks 4-5 times a weeks down here in Georgia but when i went to New Jersey for a week there were more DD’s than Sbux so thats where i went…and fell in love with DD !!! now i only go to dd in GA even though there are more sbux in my town i love dd i dont feel like everone is staring me up and down when I walk inside… also at one of the more popular sbux here it got such a low score from the health dept it almost got shut down and i here so many people saying sbux is so much cleaner.
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jessica
13. Mar, 2011
Dunkin Donuts TASTES better than Starbucks. It’s way less bitter and doesn’t leave a tannic after taste.
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E
23. May, 2011
I really think that the people is not used to drink real coffee, period. Actually if somebody had the opportunity to go to a coffee plantation (outside of US) and drink coffee there, you can tell how different is from the one that both coffee shops are selling, and you really do not need to add sugar or syrups.
I personally believe that Starbucks is the less worse. I honestly prefer to brew my own Juan Valdez coffee or coffee from Whole Foots Market in my french press rather than pay for a weak coffee.
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CRM
27. Jul, 2011
To tell you the truth I love Starbucks, I visit this place on a daily. Although, if I simply want a cup of coffee I’m definitely not heading to Starbucks. Dunkin Donuts would win every time. Starbucks is awesome for their lattes, fraps, and what not. But for a simple cup of coffee they fail miserably. Dunkin Donuts coffee is simply tasty and not harsh on the taste buds. It’s perfect for those who do not prefer their coffee too bold yet do not want to feel as if they are drinking hot water.
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son
25. Oct, 2011
sounds pretenious
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