Dunkin Donuts Coffee Review

I’ve been to Dunkin Donuts that were very well-run and produced terrific food, especially cold coffee drinks. And I’ve been to others where they improperly make these drinks, and to some where they botch your order completely. All too often, it’s a gamble. It’s supposed to be a place of convenience, and I don’t want to gamble at a place like that.

This is very true. There is a new Dunkin Donuts they just opened up by my house that I will never go to because the make the coffee awful. They definitely need more training!

I am a one cup a day coffe drinker, so having my first and only cup has to be tasteful. Going to Dunkin Donuts has been a gamble. I now make my coffee at home. Although it make take a couple of extra minutes it’s worth the time and frustration of not knowing what I will get each morning.

I STONGLY AGREE!! It is very annoying to me when I pay for a cup of coffee and it dosen’t taste good. I rather drive the extra mile to Starbucks!

I am reasonably well versed in the coffee world as an espresso aficionado. I long ago gave up on Dunkin Donuts because of their inconsistency on the coffee and even in their baked goods – there was just no guarantee of freshness from one location to another. A big issue on the coffee side is that if you do not drink your coffee black (as I do), each employee decides how much cream and sugar to spoon in if you order it that way. This immediately eliminates consistency. Either let the clients pour their own cream/sugar ar have exact measured amounts, just like McDonalds does on all its food products. Dunkin Donuts is doing well now because Starbucks has become unaffordable for many people but ultimately, a lack of consistency will hurt the brand which is suicide for a franchise.

Hi Don,
Thank you for the reminder. It’s weird. I LOVE the packaging for their bagged coffee for sale. The orange etc. makes me think of rich, sweet donuts. Then…when I drink their coffee, BLECHHHH.

Lousy stuff. They need to better match their packaging to the beans. Or something like that.

The Franchise King
Joel Libava

Their coffee is inconsistant from location to location. Starbucks is consistent no matter where I puchase it.

Don,
I totally agree with you and as a business person I asked myself the same exact question just a few days ago.

What happened was, a new Dunkin’ donuts opened right next door to my office and at first I was disappointed in the taste of the coffee. I decided to give it another shot a few weeks later and it had gotten much better, purely out of convenience. I went in there again just recently and the coffee was a step better once again.

My rationale was that the new coffee pots needed some time to break in. Much like how they say the pizza ovens in pizza places need similar break-in periods.

I think the only answer would be for the new franchises to purchase used equipment. But that may be too far fetched.

I had 2 iced vanilla lattes today from 2 different Dunkin Donuts. One of them tasted ok and the other one tasted terrible, I actually threw it away.

I do notice a lack of constistency between different locations, however, there is something to be said about the fact that when I make Dunkin Donuts coffee at home it does not even come close to the store bought.

I see that Dunkin Donuts are giving away samples packs of coffee on their website. No sure how many cups I’m going to get out of an 1oz, but I am sure I won’t be able to get the same flavor as in the stores. I wonder what I am dong wrong?

I get so mad when the DD coffee tastes bitter, burnt or old – its like throwing $2.00 or $3.00 in the garbage. I like McDonald’s iced coffee better, not with the flavored syrups which they tend to put in too much at times, but rather the regular where you can actually taste the coffee.

I agree. I have had some of the best and worst coffee there. American is running on so so coffee. I hate Starbucks, so Dunkin is often a good alternative, but 7 Eleven gets a lot of my business.

Man, life in America is tough.

I make very little money, but I am very very happy with Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Who goes there for the coffee anyway?? I love Dunkin Donuts! I go there every day to purchase three or four donuts which i usually eat in the car. They’re just so delicious i can’t wait to get to work. I will say this, they should invest in better napkins. The grease from my hands often saturates them. They tear easliy leaving pieces on my hands and chin.

I am a frequent DD coffee drinker. I have to agree that every store tastes different and some times the sames stores taste different on different days. Isn’t there some basis of making coffee, add this much coffee bean and the machine runs the water through it..duh.
One other item to note…really hated it when they stopped making French Vanilla coffee..not it is regular coffee with Vanilla Shots..gross.

Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. I prefer the good.

I prefer the iced coffee to their hot. The muffins are usually good. I find the donuts a little too greasy.

I only get to Dunkin’ Donuts on the weekends since there aren’t any close to my office. My iced coffee seems to taste a lot better if it isn’t crowded when I go in there. Sometimes I wait and go a little later in the day. I let the morning rush break out of there. Sometimes you have to pick and choose when you get your coffee.

Anthony, Thanks for your comment. Customers should not have to “pick and choose” the right time to purchase products. All the products (especially from a franchise company) should be the same quality no matter what time of the day and no matter what location they purchase from.

Mike T., I have to agree with you that the flavored syrup is not as good as the original Dunkin Donuts french vanilla coffee.

I am glad you brought this up because this is another example of how the franchisor is sacrificing quality for quantity.

I’ve eaten almost everything you can imagine from DD. If they make it I eat it.

The coffee is a hit or miss.

There is a terrible inconsistency between locations. I know what locations I like in my area and only go to those. The one closest to my house is good and they have a drive through, which is convenient since I have 2 children and it is a pain to drag them in and out of the car for coffee. They should make the drive through coffee only so it moves a little faster. I also wish that they sold K-Cups for my Keurig.

I agree that Dunkin Donuts coffee always taste different. They should also list the calories of Dunkin Donuts coffee and the calories / nutritional information for all Dunkin Donuts products somewhere up in each location.

I dont drink Dunkin Donuts coffee so I can’t comment on that. I do, however, buy the donuts and I find that the donuts that have fillings in them have reduced the amount of filler in them..This I guess is good for those watching their waiste-lines but It should be reflected in the price..I must say that I am happy to see the calorie count posted for the donuts and the other food they sell…It has prevented me from buying food that I felt was way too many calories…more places should do this!

I agree that the coffee is inconsistent not only at diferent locations but at the same location. You can go to the same location every day and sometimes the coffee will taste different. I cant complain too much becuase the Dunkin Donuts by my house is self serve coffee. You can prepare it exactly how you like it. Maybe more stores should look into this way of serving the coffee.

I WORK there and I agree with you. Our store is very strict and if you can’t keep up you’re out. It’s how it should be because we all work harder. But I went to the Dunkin the next town over and ordered an iced coffee and didn’t get any ice! And some Dunkins keep their coffee until they sell it, when it should actually be thrown out if it’s not used in 18 minutes.

It’s ridiculous for these things to happen, though, because there are weekly, daily, and for some things even hourly checks to make sure everything is in working order and the shift leaders and managers should also be trained to fix things when they aren’t right.

The only suggestion I have is to tell the store if they make your coffee wrong. They will either replace it for free or give you a refund, but most of all it will be bringing it to their attention. If it happens often enough for them maybe they’ll catch on that something isn’t right.

I LOVE Dunkin Donuts coffe and I have rarely, if ever, had a problem with it tasting other than delicious.

Perhaps the area you are in has poor water and you travel to one that has decent water?

I live in Massachusetts and every shop I’ve been to, and there are hundreds here, if not a 1,000, and tey are all pretty conssistent. I travel to RI and CT as well, and I can say the same for those shops.

I just resturned from the Cleveland area, and the coffee there was just as good. As amatter of fact, I met the owner at one new shop in Medina Ohio and he was from Massachusetts!

Dunkin Donuts Coffee has always been a favorite of mine. A few months ago, my nearest DD opened a drive-thru which I had secretly been wishing on for many years, it’s so much easier and there’s no need to worry how you look, etc. when you get that coffee craving. On one visit shortly after they opened it, the girl at the window handed me a cup which had big “gashes” up and down the cup when I asked her if the cup had been used she replied “oh, no that was just my nails, after looking at her nails I was a little grossed out. Then after a long pause she asked “Would you like different cup?” to which I said yes. While this conversation was going on the young man preparing the food on a grill I could see, walked back and forth behind her peering at me as if I was an alien or something actually scowling at me.Now each time I go, it’s as if I have a scarlet letter on my forehead, I actually see them peering out before I get to the window. I wanted to try the new waffle BEC sandwich one morning last week and took a chance maybe a different person would be preparing it other than the previously mentioned young man, no such luck, eventho he was wearing plastic gloves–he sneezed into his hand while preparing my food. I was actually afraid if I asked for the manager they may spit in my coffee next time, so I threw the sandwich away. I wish I had not objected to the raggy cup because now I feel I am being retaliated against. It’s a choice of going to the manager and never going back there or continue to get coffee there and hope for the best.

Interesting topic Don!

This week I told my wife that I’m giving up Dunkin Donuts. When it’s good….it’s real good BUT when it’s bad…..WOW!
I can no longer tolerate the inconsistency while experiencing the price increases as well. The problem behind the inconsistency from location to location is “poor customer service”. The owners and managers don’t care as much as they should. This will eventually come back to haunt them. In the meantime,I don’t really need anyone’s coffee, so I’m hanging it up.

I never bought into the Starbuck’s hype so that’s not an option for me.

Today I bought a small coffee at a Dunkin Donuts. I “discovered” how great their coffee tastes about 10 or so years ago, whenever they changed over to the good stuff – I was struck. But my coffee yesterday was weak. It may be because I’m comparing it now to the stronger stuff I make with the store shelf DD coffee. I think they really need to be sure the DD store stuff lives up to expectations, because it didn’t today.

I don’t know what level of hell you people live in that you have such bad DD experiences. All mine (with a few exceptions having to do with the time of day factor for brew freshness) have been exceptional. I will take DD coffee any day over Starpukes. DD is extremely mellow with hints of other flavors riven through it and an underlying soft sweetness which is inherent in the bean itself. The tasting experience of a good cup of DD coffee is more like the taste complexities of a fine wine than a cup of coffee. Whereas you can always count on an underlying bitterness in Starpuke.

I concur. Every location’s coffee tastes different. I have discovered that the coffee of the Dunkin’ Donuts in the town where I work is THE BEST around, out of all the ones I’ve tasted. I actually buy an extra cup of coffee on Friday, to take home, so I have it for Saturday. I believe that a lot of it has to do with how clean they keep their equipment. This Dunkin’ Donuts is constantly cleaning their equipment. Also, their coffee is just a little bit stronger, which is how I prefer to drink mine.

Most of the dd’s here in my town don’t speak english or understand it very well. I order from 2 dd stores on a weekly bases. L/XL Black with 4 sugars half the time i get white coffee. White coffee is GROSS!

I frequent a dunkin donuts in the south shore/pill hill area and i stop there m-f and i love me some flavored coffee and i order the same size and the same kind everyday and it rarely tastes like a flavored coffee it depends on which employee makes it and i request cream and sugar and sometimes its one drip of creme and no sugar and i love to ride and drink my java!and sometimes the staff is mean spirited and it shows!

Same here. I just buy their bags of coffee and make it at home. On the road it’s still a gamble. Good luck DD coffee drinkers.

Shannon

i was a DD franchisee for 23 years up north,we kept the same amount(oz.)of cofee always the same.you have to check that every day.i know some owners are using les oz.to save money. thats the whole problem, especialy here in nc.

I completely agree. At our local Dunkin Donuts, the coffee tastes different depending on who makes it.

Agreed! I have been a Dunkin’ Donuts manager for almost four years now (as well as a customer at other locations). You are 100% correct about inconsistent tasting beverages. Believe it or not, Dunkin’ spends a great deal of time and money on training new employees– however, all training is computer based and takes HOURS. I can understand why people don’t get it; they usually are not paying attention and get bored less than half way through.

Another problem, Dunkin’ Donuts is probably one of the most customizable places in QSR right now. That makes it so difficult to please everyone and to get the perfect taste each person is looking for. Starbucks serves black coffee and it’s up to you to make it how you like it. If someone asks for half of a splenda packet or half of a cream in their coffee, there is no way for us to consistently put half of anything because the machines are not calibrated to do that– which means we have to eye-ball what half is.

Machines are the other problem. As managers, we are required to check their calibration every single day. This is a long and very annoying process. With all of the other jobs on our list of things to do along with being a customer focused shop, it simply just doesnt get done as often as it’s supposed to.

And finally, the pay is bad (as usual). Dunkin’ employs a lot of minors and it’s really difficult to get a high school student making minimum wage to CARE about what they’re doing. Likewise, it’s difficult to get many employees to care about anything because at the end of the day, they still have a job. It’s impossible to find an entire crew of highly motivated, intelligent, proud employees. In all my six years with this company, four years as a manager, I have never seen it. I’ve fun a shop with 10 employees on the schedule and I’ve run a shop with 50 employees.. It’s all the same.

As a Dunkin employee, I agree with the consistency. But the stories of ice coffee with no ice and white coffee given to someone who ordered black are crazy. Yes, mistakes do happen, but I can honestly say I’ve never made mistakes as bad as te ones listed here. We do have exact measurements for cream and sugar, but when someone asks for extra light there is no exact science. We do our best because in reality, we want our customers to be happy. My store provides that; it is both intereseting and outlandish to hear of the stores that do not.

I had a coupon for a free iced coffee drink from DD. I threw it away! UGH. I will gladly spend the money on Starbucks. I have never been happy with a coffee drink from DD and to be honest they are not that much cheaper than Starbucks. So, pay less but not be happy with the product or pay a little more to get a drink I am happy with and if, on the offchance I am NOT happy with it, can ask the barrista to remake it and she/he will happily do so. A no-brainer!

I lived in New England 40 + years up until 9 years ago and the Dunkin Donuts donuts and coffee still taste the same when I go home. Now living in Texas I was so excited to finally get 2 local Dunkin Donuts and their donuts are terrible. One location the donuts are the 1/2 the size of a regular Dunkin Donut and the other which is brand new (6 months) the donuts are the right size but the taste and freshness are not there. I was so disappointed. I still go on occasion but can hardly wait for Christmas to go home and get the consistent product that I love.

i am so glad i found this site——i live in wilkes barre pa.it is getting rare here to get a great tasting cup of regular coffee. its like playing slot machines at the casino,sometimes you win but most of the time you lose. coffee here at dd tastes like hot watewr mostof the time,i just toss it out,but i am going to start asking for my money back.who wants to waste,i am not the type to waste.

I would love to find out what their coffee flavoring is made of. It just tastes horrible. I would be willing to consume a few extra calories for a shot of real flavored syrup. I ticked off the shopkeeper at the DD near where I work tonight when I requested a dunkacino w/ hot white chocolate instead of the standard hot chocolate – guess I can’t go there again.

I believe DD and Starbucks both have inconstistencies from locations. I hate it when they have a new hire; i get so nervous! I drink mostly DD because of the good price and taste. I am a very avid drinker here in New Hyde Park,NY!

This is soo true. There are 4 dunkin donuts in my town. 3 of the 4 their coffee is aweful. I must tell them to add extra cream or else it is bad. Now there is 1 in town that is always consistent and also use the regular coffee machines rather than the industrial ones they are using now. I’m not sure if that is it but, if I’m not going to that one I would rather make it on my own, it comes out better.

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