Happy New Year! 2010 is going to be the best year yet.
While I spend a lot of time at Starbucks each day working – my Uloop office is a comfy chair next to the fireplace at Starbucks, I would not touch Starbucks coffee with a ten foot pole. I saw a commercial today during a Bowl game that talked about Dunkin Donuts coffee being voted better than Starbucks coffee in a head-to-head taste test.
Here is a DD site with the results.
The Wars of the coffee have begun. McDonald began a national advertising campaign Tuesday to promote its program of McCafe, expecting that its Capuchins and lattes will draw clients of Starbucks and Dunkin’ Doughnuts. Starbucks defends itself with deals in coffees ice creams. And Dunkin’ Doughnuts have cut the prices of latte in some cities. But whose coffee is better? To ascertain, we ask three coffee-drinking to inhabitants of Chicago to unite us in a flavor-tests blind Tuesday of Capuchins of the McDonald, Starbucks and Dunkin’ Doughnuts. We order a large one, Capuchin of whole milk, no seasoning, of each. McDonald was, by distant, the fastest one with our order — and, in $3.19 for 22 ounces, also the cheapest one. (A Capuchin of 20 ounces in Starbucks is $3.65, and an of 20 ounces one in Dunkin’ Doughnuts are $3.49.) But a beverage hasty fact of espresso does not signify necessarily a good one one. A flavor of it countersinks, by the motive that be, dominated the Capuchin of the McDonald, our gustadores said. Still, a gustador preferred it to the other. In general terms, although, our sampling extremely little scientist put Starbucks to the head of the pile of coffee. Here he is what the flavor-changing rooms thought: Angela Israel, 40, the business of insurance, the southern Coast The beverages two to four cups daily. It does in its greater part Folgers at home. McDonald: “This is super-sweet. I do not want too much candy”. Starbucks: “A little bitter but I they want it. Has a kick. But, it would do a splash of flavor with this, to remove just the bitter edge”. Dunkin’ Doughnuts: “A little weak. Just milk. The milk overwhelms the coffee”. Its choice: Starbucks. Michael Szajna, 27, graphic artist independent/barista (in a store of tea, not a café), View of Lake The beverages two lattes daily. It prefers coffee of Intelligentsia. McDonald: “It flavored finally. It countersinks. As a latte flavored”. Starbucks: “Test finally as a Capuchin. Good and strong. What do I expect of the espresso”. Dunkin’ Doughnuts: “Not good in all. The flavor as coffee with milk in it”. Its choice: Starbucks. Jose Blacksmith, 45, the conductor, Western Park of Humboldt Drinks some cups daily. It prefers Dunkin’ coffee of Doughnuts. McDonald: “Ahhhh, French vanilla. Or it countersinks it. This is good. Not too strong. I do not want too strong”. Dunkin’ Doughnuts: “Pretty good. Oh”. Starbucks: “Ugh. I will give this. Too strong. No flavor, no flavor to”. Its choice: McDonald. Janet Rausa Fuller McDonald: “The dulzor extends for. It pushed accidentally someone the wrong button”? Dunkin’ Doughnuts: “Pale, milky, it diluted. No discernible flavor of the coffee”. Starbucks: “Pleasant, still flavor of espresso. Do not strike the socks of but very drinkable”.
A fun little project I’m working on is putting together a number of Coffee Passport from those folks who’ve made it into the Black Apron Club there. My brother-in-law works for Starbucks and passed through into the club recently and it’s interesting to see the level of detail Starbucks put their employees through to know their different coffee blends. So while DD makes fun of Starbucks all the time for having so many different coffee’s it’s nice to know there are educated people behind the counter there too that can tell you why Starbucks has so many different types of coffee.
Check out the project if you’re intersted.
[phpbay]starbucks black apron, 5, 10795, poster[/phpbay]
There’s nothing average about the joe they serve up at McDonald’s.
The Golden Arches beat out java giants Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, along with Burger King, in a coffee taste test run by Consumer Reports magazine.
The magazine proclaimed McDonald’s Premium Roast Coffee had “no flaws” – and was easiest on the wallet as well.
“Try McDonald’s, which was cheapest and best,” Consumer Reports said in its March issue. “Or make your own coffee.”
Out of the four restaurants tested, McDonald’s cost the least, just $1.35.
It “was decent and moderately strong,” the magazine said. “Although it lacked the top notes needed to make it rise and shine.”
Even though Dunkin’ Donuts stakes its reputation on its java – “America runs on Dunkin”‘ is the advertising refrain – its $1.65 cup failed to measure up.
“It was inoffensive, but it had no oomph,” the report said. “Weak, watery and pricier.”
Read the full article: McDonald’s java beats Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts – SunJournal.com
The LA Times has snubbed Dunkin Donuts because of symantecs. In a recent story about Peet’s Coffee, it lists the top 10 coffee houses in the US. Dunkin Donuts was not included in the list seemingly because they also sell donuts or the word donuts is in their official name. Dunkin Donuts sells more coffee than anything else and should be considered one of the top 10 coffee houses in the US according to the criteria established by the LA Times.
If you look at their list, all of the people on it would be considered competitors of Dunkin Donuts – especially Tim Horton’s, which is essentially the Dunkin Donuts of the far North.
I personally would like to see the LA Times put out an updated list which includes the nations Second Largest Coffee chain. The new list should read:
- Starbucks – 8,000
- Dunkin Donuts – 5500
- Caribou Coffee – 322
- Tim Horton’s – 292
- Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – 213
- Coffee Beanery – 200
- Seattle’s Best – 160
- Peet’s Coffee – 112
- Tully’s – 100
- Dunn Bros. Coffee – 85
- Port City Java – 55
Last month, the Wall Street Journal published a lengthly article on Dunkin’ Donuts’ corporate strategy–on page A1 no less! The pressure that Starbucks has exerted on Dunkin’ Donuts recently led the coffee-and-donuts chain’s executives to study ways to counter the Seattle-based coffee giant. Their findings were both predictable–at least to this observer–and disturbing to some of the Dunkin’ Donuts faithful.
The key finding in Dunkin’ Donuts study of coffee drinkers was that consumers were “so polarized that company researchers dubbed them “tribes” — each of whom loathed the very things that made the other tribe loyal to their coffee shop. Dunkin’ fans viewed Starbucks as pretentious and trendy, while Starbucks loyalists saw Dunkin’ as austere and unoriginal.
“I don’t get it,” one Dunkin’ regular told researchers after visiting Starbucks. “If I want to sit on a couch, I stay at home.”
All of us here at Dunkin Donuts Talk are aware of the differences between the two “tribes”, but I was very surprised by the loyalty of their customer base. Many of them who participated in the study fiercely resisted the concept of a more upscale Dunkin’ Donuts, a la Starbucks.
Early research showed consumers wanted nicer stores, but revealed a potential problem: the loyal Dunkin’ tribe was bewildered and turned off by the atmosphere at Starbucks. They groused that crowds of laptop users made it difficult to find a seat, Dunkin’ says. They didn’t like Starbucks’ “tall,” “grande” and “venti” lingo for small, medium and large coffees. And, Dunkin’ says, they couldn’t understand why anyone would pay as much as $4 for a cup of coffee.
“It was almost as though they were a group of Martians talking about a group of Earthlings,” says Justin Holloway, an executive vice president at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc., the advertising agency that helped Dunkin’ with its research. One customer told researchers that lingering in a Starbucks felt like “celebrating Christmas with people you don’t know.”
Dunkin’ researchers concluded that it wasn’t income that set the two tribes apart, as much as an ideal: Dunkin’ tribe members wanted to be part of a crowd, while members of the Starbucks tribe had a desire to stand out as individuals. “The Starbucks tribe, they seek out things to make them feel more important,” Ms. Lewis says. Members of the Dunkin’ Donuts tribe “don’t need to be any more important than they are.”
The study’s findings made it clear to Dunkin’ Donuts executives that they needed to think over their proposed makeover of their beloved brand, lest they make a mistake of New Coke-proportions. They decided to focus on changes to the menu, with more snack items and smoothie-based drinks, along with piped-in music and a self-service new coffee bar with stainless steel pitchers of cream and skim milk — a first for Dunkin’ Donuts. The net result will be a “fresher” look for Dunkin’ Donuts, but without the couches, wireless internet or stacks of CDs getting in the way of the customers.
Dunkin’ executives made dozens of decisions, big and small, ranging from where to put the espresso machines to how much of its signature pink and orange color scheme to retain to where to display its fresh-baked goods. They decided early on that Dunkin’ would keep its goal of moving customers through its cash register line in two minutes; Starbucks, by comparison, has a goal of three minutes. Dunkin’ customers said they didn’t want any changes in store design to result in longer waiting times. Out went the square laminate tables, to be replaced by round imitation-granite tabletops and sleek chairs. Dunkin’ covered store walls in espresso brown and dialed down the pink and orange tones.
To what tribe do you belong (see poll on left)?
Source: The Wall Street Journal
USA Today recently has its Food & Wine critic, Jerry Shriver, conduct a taste test of coffee at America’s most popular outlets. The verdict is in, and we here at Dunkindonutstalk.com are not pleased with the results (from top to bottom):
- Starbucks House Blend: 4.5 stars
- McDonalds Premium Roast: 3.5 stars
- Burger King BK Joe: 2.5 stars
- Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend: 2 stars
- 7-Eleven Regular Exclusive Blend: 2 stars
On Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee, Shriver writes:
The Original Blend has won raves from many consumers, which is why I was mystified by how mundane my two samples tasted. Though there were no obvious flaws, nothing stood out. Both cups had faint, nutty aromas, watery textures and flavors that turned more acidic as the liquid cooled. The flavor of the second cup was marginally better with some bright fruity notes, but both were missing that essential jolt of coffee essence in the middle.
Perhaps USA Today should look to its readership for opinions on coffee. A readers’ survey posted along with Shiver’s review showed that Dunkin’ Donuts coffee received 33% out of nearly 9000 votes cast, second only to Starbucks’, which received 44% of the votes. At Epinions.com, a consumer-based ratings website, Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend received 4.5 stars while Starbucks House Blend garnered only 3 stars from the public. Let’s also not forget that the venerable Consumer Reports magazine recently rated Dunkin’ Donuts whole bean and ground coffee a “Best Buy”.
This morning, I conducted a taste test of my own, and found the 7-Eleven and Burger King coffees to be nearly undrinkable–worse than even the free coffee I get at the office. The McDonalds and Starbucks coffee were both adequate, with the Starbucks version having more bite than the McDonalds version. I also tried Peets’ coffee, which was too bitter for my taste, despite an appealing aroma. Unfortunately, there are not Dunkin’ Donuts in San Francisco. None of the coffees I tested would rate even 4 stars, while two–Burger King and 7-Eleven, both deserve no stars. My ratings:
- Starbucks House Blend: 3 stars
- McDonalds Premium Roast: 2 stars
- Peets House Blend: 1 star
- Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend: 0 stars
- 7-Eleven Regular Exclusive Blend: 0 stars
Clearly, there is a disconnect between the coffee-drinking public and USA Today. If I had a subscription to USA Today, I might consider cancelling it. So should you.
Source: USA Today and Epinions.com
If you head down to your local Dunkin’ Donuts this weekend, you just might be tempted to try out the new “Turbo Hot” coffee drink, which is kind of like a boilermaker but made with coffee and espresso. In Boston and New York, they’ve even offering free shots of this new drink, along with a free cab ride (as seen below, this is a play on the words: “pick-me-up”).
Dunkin’ Donuts today announced the latest addition to its best-selling line of espresso-based beverages — Dunkin’ Donuts Turbo Hot coffee. Made with hot coffee and a shot of real espresso, Turbo Hot gives Dunkin’ Donuts’ customers the fuel they need to get them through their day. This beverage delivers an extra boost and adds a new level of rich flavor to traditional coffee.
Turbo Hot was created with the young, busy consumer in mind. This “extreme coffee” lets customers enjoy the ritual of a great-tasting, hot cup of coffee, plus delivers a strong boost that can kick off any day or pick up any afternoon.
“Dunkin’ Donuts saw great success after rolling out Turbo Ice coffee last summer. We found our young adult consumers really enjoyed a refreshing drink that also gave them a great pick-me-up,” said John Gilbert, vice president of marketing for Dunkin’ Donuts. “We noticed a growing demand for this concept to be combined with our hot coffee. Turbo Hot allows our customers to enjoy warming up with a hot cup of the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee they love, and still get the fuel they now count on.”
Even Coke is getting into the act. On April 3, they’ll be announcing the rollout of Coca-Cola Blak, a Coke-and-coffee beverage combination. Yuck.
Sources: Dunkin’ Donuts and USA Today
I?��Ǩ�Ѣm a big fan of McDonald?��Ǩ�Ѣs ?��Ǩ��� heck I worked there for 2+ years in High School and even met my wife while working there, so I am invested emotionally in their company. So when I read about and began seeing ads for their Premium Coffee it caught my interest. I?��Ǩ�Ѣm a guy who loves coffee, but I?��Ǩ�Ѣve always hated McDonald?��Ǩ�Ѣs coffee. It is by far the lowest on the coffee food chain. So I was glad to see that McDonald?��Ǩ�Ѣs exec?��Ǩ�Ѣs finally saw the writing on the wall and choose a premium brand of coffee ?��Ǩ��� an organic coffee made by Green Mountain.
Coffee is huge business in the US. Starbucks lives and dies by it. Dunkin?��Ǩ�Ѣ Donuts get 70% of their profits from it and even the lowly Krispy Kreme Donuts (who has terrible coffee) gains 10% of their revenues from coffee sales. So for McDonald?��Ǩ�Ѣs to take a stand and begin to penetrate this market is a big deal because they are looking to capitalize on similar profit margins from this liquid gold.
I personally have not had a chance to sample McDonald?��Ǩ�Ѣs new Premium Coffee, so if you have I?��Ǩ�Ѣd love to hear from you on it. Let the Dunkin Donuts community know how it stacks up against Dunkin Donuts Original Blend.
In an escalating game of “me too”, Starbucks has just announced the roll-out of English-muffin-based egg sandwiches for breakfast. The news comes just days after McDonalds introduced its new premium brewed coffee.
Once premium java percolated into the mainstream, it was only a matter of time before major fast-food and doughnut chains got more serious about their coffee. Bracing for that threat, Starbucks Corp. started trying out toasty egg and cheese sandwiches in its hometown coffeehouses three years ago.
Now, as McDonald’s Corp. and Burger King Corp. offer premium brew, and Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Donuts sells caramel swirl lattes, the Seattle-based coffee behemoth is more than doubling the number of stores that sell hot breakfast sandwiches this year. Offering such trimmings as peppered bacon and Black Forest ham, Starbucks added the English muffin sandwiches to stores in Washington, D.C., last year, and in Portland, Ore., last month. That will expand to San Francisco in early April, and Chicago later this year.
Source: AP