Whether you’re grabbing breakfast, lunch, a snack or just a quick coffee pick-me-up to get through the days, we all rely on Starbucks and Dunkin at some point to make our days 10 times better! Although both are chain coffee shops, Starbucks and Dunkin are very different, despite their similar orders and menu items.
Starbucks is perceived to be more comforting, upscale and a place where you could sit a while, under the warm lighting, do some work and maybe get a re-fill. (You’re spending extra money, but the delicious tastes are worth a couple extra bucks–right?) Starbucks sets its aesthetic standards very high. Think: a local Italian bar, very unique pastries and warm, clean appearing colors.
However, Dunkin’s aesthetics give off a more grab-and-go vibe. Their fluorescent lighting and bright colors make it a fun place to grab a snack or drink, but customers typically don’t stay a while as much, like they do with Starbucks.
Both stores are constantly coming out with new menu items for special events, new seasons, holidays are more. A lot of times, their newer drink items are relatively the same in both coffee shops.However, a striking difference in their menu items would surely be their food. Dunkin has always been known for their donuts–hence, why they are called Dunkin Donuts– and Starbucks has a variety of pastries, as well as protein filled sandwiches. Dunkin has been selling more protein snacks and sandwiches as well, but they aren’t big on pastries like Starbucks is, besides their delicious and buttery croissant!
Customers are always debating which coffee chain has the best drinks, but what about their foods? BHS students have very different opinions about who sells the best sweets, breakfasts, and lunches!
Junior and Eagles Cry editor Luke Baumbach said his favorite thing to eat at Dunkin is their bagels and from Starbucks “without hesitation, grilled cheese” Between the two, he says that Starbucks has the best food.
Junior Danielle Betwinek said her favorite Dunkin food is their omelet bites and from Starbucks, she loves the spinach feta egg white wrap-one of Starbucks’ protein filled wraps! Danielle also thinks Starbucks has the best food.
Diya Syangbo said that, from Dunkin, she “will always get the brownie batter donut, it is my favorite! From Starbucks she has a variety of foods she loves including the brownie and cake pops” However, she explained “in my opinion, Dunkin probably has better food but it is a close match.”
Senior and Eagles Cry editor Tara Gyaltsen explained that she loves Dunkin’s double chocolate donut. As for Starbucks, she said, “I don’t really like Starbucks’ food, but maybe their cake-pops.” Clearly, Tara prefers Dunkin foods.
It seems among some of The Eagle’s Cry reporters that there is an equal amount of preferability between Dunkin and Starbucks. Clearly, one is overall not so much better than the other! The mixed reviews and debates on who has the better food, continues!
Here are some of the similarities and differences you can find when ordering from Dunkin and Starbucks:
Similarities:
Bagels: Can order a bagel with cream cheese/butter, egg, cheese, bacon and other toppings
Breakfast sandwiches: Can order croissant, english muffin or wrap sandwiches from both with egg, cheese, spread, bacon, etc (can get a ham and swiss croissant sandwich at both)
Muffins: Both carry a blueberry muffin (Dunkin carries a wider range of muffins; different Starbucks flavor muffins would be seasonal)
Egg bites: Both carry two egg bite snacks; Starbucks carries a wider range of flavors for these
Seasonal items: Carry pumpkin flavored pastries/desserts during fall
Coffee/crumb cake: Have similarities in these
Differences:
Avocado: Dunkin carries an avocado toast on sourdough bread, in which you could ad toppings to such as egg. Starbucks only carries an avocado spread
Bagel twist: Dunkin carries a soft and buttery bagel twist, Starbucks does not
Pastries: Dunkin limits its pastries to donuts, munchkins and a croissant. Starbucks has a wider range of pastries such as a Pain Au Chocolat, monkey bread, danishes, loaves/cakes, a petite scone, cookies, brownies, etc
Cake pops & Munchkins: Dunkin’s version of cake pops would be their munchkins, Starbucks sells cake pops
Breakfast and Lunch foods: Starbucks offers a balance of breakfast and lunch foods, Dunkin typically leans more towards breakfast foods. For example, Starbucks sells a grilled cheese on sourdough, ham and swiss on a baguette, Italian focaccia sandwiches, middle eastern pocket sandwiches and protein boxes, while Dunkin does not
Protein rich snacks: Starbucks sells healthy, protein rich snacks from other companies such as overnight oats from MUSH, Koia protein shakes, Khloud protein popcorn, Perfect bar protein bars and KIND bars, while Dunkin does not. However, Dunkin has been offering more protein-forward drinks like Starbucks has, and their breakfast sandwiches are usually protein filled.
So, are you a donut and drink grab and go kind of person? Or are you sitting a while, glass coffee cup in hand, french pastry in the other, looking for those niche coffee house vibes?
