As two of the most popular coffee shops in the United States, Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are constantly compared by customers who debate everything from price to taste to atmosphere. We wanted to explore that debate ourselves by examining both chains and gathering student perspectives on which one deserves the title of “best coffee shop.”
Even though Dunkin’ is 20 years older than Starbucks, Starbucks has grown into the larger global brand, with nearly 70% more U.S. locations and almost 20 times the global revenue. Dunkin’, however, has a strong international presence and remains mostly franchise-owned, giving it a different business structure and feel. To understand the differences firsthand, we compared similar menu items from both chains. A small strawberry dragon fruit refresher at Dunkin’ costs $3.99, while a grande strawberry acai refresher at Starbucks costs $5.25. The small cup at Dunkin’ and the Grande at Starbucks are both 16 fluid ounces. For coffee, a small, iced caramel coffee with cream at Dunkin’ is $3.19, compared to $4.75 at Starbucks. This continues with breakfast sandwiches and sweet treats, where the Starbucks option was consistently more expensive than the Dunkin’ one.
Before starting our comparison, both of us preferred Starbucks. Addy has always felt Starbucks drinks are reliable and taste the same each time she gets them, saying she “never has any complaints” about her usual orders. Megan agreed, explaining that Starbucks drinks are more consistent, while her experiences at Dunkin’ have often involved incorrect orders or unfriendly service.
To expand our research beyond just the facts and our opinions, we interviewed two Pennridge students, Eva Pena and Avery Runk, who get both Starbucks and Dunkin’ sometimes multiple times a week. Eva immediately chose Starbucks when asked which chain she prefers. She told us that Starbucks offers more menu variety, especially with refreshers, and seems “cleaner” overall. Her main efforts when choosing a coffee shop are the taste and the atmosphere. She will occasionally go to Starbucks to study and get work done, but at Dunkin’, it’s too chaotic to do that. She explained she is willing to pay more at Starbucks “to avoid getting an attitude from the workers,” something she has experienced multiple times at Dunkin. Avery also prefers Starbucks and visits it more often because it has more options and she believes that the flavors are better. Customization is important to her since she doesn’t like her coffee too strong. She rated Starbucks a 10 out of 10 for its variety of drinks and food, calling it “a fun pick me up.” Avery also shared that while Starbucks workers can sometimes be slow or have an attitude, Dunkin’s consumer service is “worse.”
From our state test and interviews, we saw clear patterns. Dunkin’ continues to stand out for its lower prices, larger portions, fast service, and wide selection of donuts and breakfast items. Meanwhile, Starbucks maintains a strong reputation for higher-quality drinks, greater customization, and a more welcoming environment for studying and socializing. In the end, even though Dunkin’ has its advantages, especially for students looking for affordable and quick options, Starbucks remains the top choice for us, and the students we interviewed. However, the debate between Starbucks and Dunkin’ may never fully be settled because, at the end of the day, it will always be based on personal preference.
