For teens rushing through their mornings, the right cup of coffee can make all the difference. Dunkin’ and Starbucks are both popular choices amongst students. Dunkin’ is a common alternative to Starbucks with cheaper prices and different menu items— but Starbucks tends to stand out for its consistency, variety and overall quality.
One major factor is the number of options. Starbucks offers a wide range of drinks from refreshers to cold brews and almost everything can be customized. This has led to the “secret menu” drinks and viral trends. Other trends include the seasonal menu craze. Seasonal beverages like the Pumpkin Spice Latte in Fall and the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte during the holiday season keep customers coming back. Even though Dunkin’ offers a seasonal menu, Starbucks is much more creative, providing new flavors every year, and offering exciting score decorations and cup redesigns. At Green Hope, students often choose Starbucks for these reasons. Samhita Jaiyana (‘29) said, “I like trying all the seasonal drinks. I even count down the days until the fall and winter menus come out, it gives me something to look forward to.”
Consistency is another reason that Starbucks is one step ahead of Dunkin’. Customers always get the same quality no matter what location they visit. Neve Volcheck (‘29) explains, “I like Starbucks better because it’s more reliable. I always know what I’m going to get.” While Dunkin’ has good drinks the quality often depends on the location, making its experience less reliable.
Beyond the drinks themselves, service can make a big difference. Many customers notice that Starbucks tends to be a more organized establishment, which helps orders come out accurately and timely during the busiest parts of the day. Sloan Williams (‘29) said that she often gets Starbucks before school, using the “order ahead” feature on the app. “Before school I always choose Starbucks because I can easily order it ahead of time and be in and out of the store in 30 seconds.”
Dunkin offers a mobile app as well, however it is not as efficient. Because Dunkin’ has less locations, picking up from a Starbucks is much easier. Starbucks has 17,186 US locations and Dunkin only has 9,726. Starbucks also offers more rewards that you don’t have to pay to redeem, and an accurate system for wait time. Even though Starbucks is usually the more busy location, they have mobile orders down to a science, organizing the orders alphabetically, making picking up your order easy.
Starbucks has also perfected the art of personability. Many notice little touches that stand out against Dunkin’. Whether it’s the baristas’ friendly greetings or the positive messages often written on coffee cups, Starbucks always makes its customers feel welcome.
That said, Dunkin’ does have some advantages. It is more affordable and some prefer their simpler menu. Elena Demico (‘29) said, “I love Dunkin’s Banana Dunkalatte. I get it every time. It’s my favorite drink.” Others also point out that Dunkin’ has stronger food options for those who don’t like coffee. Remus Rasmussen (‘29) shared, “I really don’t like coffee so Dunkin’ is 100% my favorite. I always get their donuts.”
Even with these strengths, Starbucks stands out for offering a more consistent and customizable experience. Coffee lovers, including many at Green Hope, often point to its variety and reliability as reasons why they keep coming back. While Dunkin’ remains a simpler budget-friendly option, Starbucks is the stronger choice for those looking for quality and options they can count on.
