Food and Drink Dunkin Donuts - Page 4

Al Bundy · 07-05-2009, 08:50 AM

Is coming to Olathe, 151st street in August. I saw it in the business section of the star.

ClevelandBronco · 07-06-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD10367

Okay, here's the deal when it comes to Dunkin' Donuts. They started in Massachusetts back in the 50s IIRC, so they are ubiquitous in New England (with many 24-hour locations) and have spread down the east coast as well as westward. They got their name because at one time they actually had a donut called a "dunkin' donut", a plain cake donut with a handle on it (looked like a tire with an air bubble in it) so you could dunk the donut in your coffee and not get your fingers wet, LOL.

Up until the mid 1980s, their coffee was awesome. They used to use a smooth mocha java blend that made the best cup of coffee. However, since the mid-80s, the coffee quality has gone downhill. Even if the pot's not too old it has a bit of a bitter afterkick. I don't know if this is a result of a.) cheaper beans, b.) a decline in overall bean quality on the planet, c.) the fact that disgusting strong coffee like Starbucks is now popular, or d.) a combination of the above.

However, their coffee is pretty consistent. It'll rarely knock your socks off, but it'll rarely make you grimace and throw it away. It's "consistently average", I guess you could say. The ice coffee seems better than the hot coffee.

We had Krispy Kreme here briefly. Their coffee was atrocious. And the donuts, while good as a guilty treat now and then, were just too sugary to eat on a consistent basis.

We also have Tim Horton's. Nothing to write home about, really.

Dunkin' has managed to keep afloat because they know how to diversify. They sell a lot of coffee and a lot of donuts. But they also do hot chocolate, chai tea, cappucchino, frozen coffee "smoothie-style" drinks with crushed ice, fruit smoothies, muffins (very well), bagels, croissants, danish, cookies, egg sandwiches (on bagel, English, or croissant, with a variety of meats), flatbread egg sandwiches, hash browns, and they now have egg wraps (a small tortilla). And I might have missed a few menu items there. (Frankly, as a kid I got coffee and donuts constantly, but I can't remember the last time I actually got a donut from them; I usually get coffee and an egg-and-cheese bagel, sometimes with hash browns, sometimes instead I'll get a danish or muffin.)

If you like Starbucks coffee, you probably won't like Dunkin'. On the other hand, it won't cost you four bucks for a coffee like it does at Starbucks. I absolutely detest Starbucks (to me it tastes like a four-day old cup of Dunkin' that was used as a Marlboro ashtray).

McDonald's coffee, up until the mid 1980s, was only good as a weapon since it was so hot. (I know, I used to drink it constantly when I worked at a liquor store.) However, recently they've changed to a blend of Newman's Own Organics and Green Mountain Coffee, and their coffee is actually pretty damn good now. Not too long ago, I'd stop at Dunkin' for a coffee and then at McDonald's for some breakfast; now I just get the coffee at Mickey D's as well.

Burger King coffee still sucks ass.

And Tim Horton gave up his name for way too few dollars.

JD10367 · 07-06-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

And Tim Horton gave up his name for way too few dollars.

I work with Canadians and they rave about Tim Horton's. But the ones I've tried here in New England aren't very good. So I think what it boils down to is, even though they're all franchises, you'll find better quality in their home areas (i.e Horton's is better in Canada and the upper midwest, Dunkin' is better in New England, Starbucks is probably better in the northwest, etc.,.).

blaise · 07-06-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

And Tim Horton gave up his name for way too few dollars.

Well he's been dead for like 30 years, so he's probably over it by now.

Kerberos · 07-06-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Do they still have any Daylight Donut shops around? Best donuts ever....

The last "Good" one around here was in Ogden KS right outsid the east side of Ft.Riley. They had some damn good doghnuts. I remember when a buddy and I leased our restaraunt for a year I used to go by twice a week and pickup sweet rolls and donuts for some of our regulars in the mornings.

I always picked up a couple of extra CreamCheese filled glazed long johns. They were still warm when I got them back to the restaraunt and we would enjoy those with some good CAINS coffee.

I don't know about NOW but back in the day the CAINS coffe we used to buy beat the shit out of just about everything I have ever tried to date.

Fish · 07-06-2009, 10:55 AM

Dunkin Donuts coffee is pretty meh... to think that somebody drove to Lawrence for coffee, and ended up going to Dunkin Donuts instead of any of the very fine local coffee shops they have there is baffling. Some of the little coffee shops downtown are very good, and would make Dunkin coffee taste like 3 day old truck stop coffee. Go down to Henry's on 8th St. and order a Sex Bomb and tell me if you ever dream of Dunkin coffee again.

I really really despise Starbucks, but they do have some damn good coffee too. Absolutely everything about their franchise is pure evil. But they have the quality beans and equipment to make a damn good coffee.

I'll put in another vote for the Roasterie too. They know how to make coffee.

ClevelandBronco · 07-06-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

...I really really despise Starbucks, but they do have some damn good coffee too. Absolutely everything about their franchise is pure evil. But they have the quality beans and equipment to make a damn good coffee...

Yep. Except that they're really good, they suck.

Amnorix · 07-06-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD10367

Okay, here's the deal when it comes to Dunkin' Donuts. They started in Massachusetts back in the 50s IIRC, so they are ubiquitous in New England (with many 24-hour locations) and have spread down the east coast as well as westward. They got their name because at one time they actually had a donut called a "dunkin' donut", a plain cake donut with a handle on it (looked like a tire with an air bubble in it) so you could dunk the donut in your coffee and not get your fingers wet, LOL.

Up until the mid 1980s, their coffee was awesome. They used to use a smooth mocha java blend that made the best cup of coffee. However, since the mid-80s, the coffee quality has gone downhill. Even if the pot's not too old it has a bit of a bitter afterkick. I don't know if this is a result of a.) cheaper beans, b.) a decline in overall bean quality on the planet, c.) the fact that disgusting strong coffee like Starbucks is now popular, or d.) a combination of the above.

However, their coffee is pretty consistent. It'll rarely knock your socks off, but it'll rarely make you grimace and throw it away. It's "consistently average", I guess you could say. The ice coffee seems better than the hot coffee.

We had Krispy Kreme here briefly. Their coffee was atrocious. And the donuts, while good as a guilty treat now and then, were just too sugary to eat on a consistent basis.

We also have Tim Horton's. Nothing to write home about, really.

Dunkin' has managed to keep afloat because they know how to diversify. They sell a lot of coffee and a lot of donuts. But they also do hot chocolate, chai tea, cappucchino, frozen coffee "smoothie-style" drinks with crushed ice, fruit smoothies, muffins (very well), bagels, croissants, danish, cookies, egg sandwiches (on bagel, English, or croissant, with a variety of meats), flatbread egg sandwiches, hash browns, and they now have egg wraps (a small tortilla). And I might have missed a few menu items there. (Frankly, as a kid I got coffee and donuts constantly, but I can't remember the last time I actually got a donut from them; I usually get coffee and an egg-and-cheese bagel, sometimes with hash browns, sometimes instead I'll get a danish or muffin.)

If you like Starbucks coffee, you probably won't like Dunkin'. On the other hand, it won't cost you four bucks for a coffee like it does at Starbucks. I absolutely detest Starbucks (to me it tastes like a four-day old cup of Dunkin' that was used as a Marlboro ashtray).

McDonald's coffee, up until the mid 1980s, was only good as a weapon since it was so hot. (I know, I used to drink it constantly when I worked at a liquor store.) However, recently they've changed to a blend of Newman's Own Organics and Green Mountain Coffee, and their coffee is actually pretty damn good now. Not too long ago, I'd stop at Dunkin' for a coffee and then at McDonald's for some breakfast; now I just get the coffee at Mickey D's as well.

Burger King coffee still sucks ass.

Thanks for the history lesson, which I wasn't familiar with.

As for the current status, I agree 100% with every word, though I actually think DD coffee is very good, not merely "consistently average". It is, however, CONSISTENT, which is important.

And I also agree on STarbucks sucking, and if you like one you probably won't care much for teh other.

You didn't mention that DD has a variety of flavors of coffees, and that those too are consistent.

And you mentioned, but I will highlight -- you won't go broke paying for it, and you won't spend half an hour in line waiting for a "barista" to make a half-caf, double soak, extra sweet, double titty no ass, mocha blend with a spritz of lemon or whatever in hell it is they spend all that time doing. By the time some of these fools are done ORDERING their coffee, I'm driving away with my coffee in hand.

JD10367 · 07-06-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

You didn't mention that DD has a variety of flavors of coffees, and that those too are consistent.

Excellent point. Dunkin' has flavor shots they add to the coffee and, unlike many places, the flavors are free of charge. They have quite a few choices, including coconut, which is usually what I get. I haven't had a regularly-flavored cup in years. And if you get iced coffee, with the coconut shot in it, it's to die for.

JD10367 · 07-06-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Dunkin Donuts coffee is pretty meh... to think that somebody drove to Lawrence for coffee, and ended up going to Dunkin Donuts instead of any of the very fine local coffee shops they have there is baffling. Some of the little coffee shops downtown are very good, and would make Dunkin coffee taste like 3 day old truck stop coffee. Go down to Henry's on 8th St. and order a Sex Bomb and tell me if you ever dream of Dunkin coffee again.

I highlighted this key point because, IMO, you probably are MUCH better off finding your local independent coffee shop. Most of them use a specific specialty supplier, if not roasting the beans themselves outright at the store. The coffee tends to be better, and the coffee shop itself tends to be more hip, eclectic, and youth-oriented. If you have a college nearby, chances are you have a kick-ass small independent coffee shop nearby as well. Even the small-chain stores are good; in Florida, we had one called Barnie's that made an awesome cup of coffee and had their own unique flavor blends of beans. (Unfortunately, they closed them all I think, and now only do mail-order coffee.)

Abba-Dabba · 07-06-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Do they still have any Daylight Donut shops around? Best donuts ever....

All over. Even a few international locations. Will agree that their donuts are fantastic. Beats any of the other chains listed so far hands down.

Krispy Kreme is 85% air. All hype and 2 coats of sugar. DD produces a donut that tastes like ingredients made from a big bag shipped from Bangladesh. Winchells shouldn't even get a mention. Chicago Donut is right up there with Winchells.

Daylight would be my first choice. The moistness and density is combined very well. Lamars comes a close 2nd.

cmh6476 · 07-06-2009, 11:35 AM

i guess I need to add dunkin donuts to the where to eat in st joe thread

sedated · 07-06-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

you won't spend half an hour in line waiting for a "barista" to make a half-caf, double soak, extra sweet, double titty no ass, mocha blend with a spritz of lemon or whatever in hell it is they spend all that time doing.

"Is it impossible to get a cup of coffee-flavored coffee? You can get every other flavor except coffee-flavored coffee! They got mochachino, cappuchino, frappachino, Al Pacino, what the f**k?"

**gblowfish** · 07-06-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Lamars is easily better than KK

My GOD, CoMoChief FINALLY got something right!

CoMoChief · 07-06-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

My GOD, CoMoChief ALWAYS gets it right!

fyp

**cdcox** · 07-06-2009, 12:25 PM

About coffee --

If you are adding flavors, or more than a touch of cream and sugar, or going for the fancy Starbucks drinks, the chances are you just don't like the flavor of coffee. So you are not going to appreciate a strong coffee flavor. It doesn't mean that the coffee is bad.

I like coffee and drink it black. But, I genearlly don't like most dark roasts. That doesn't mean they are bad coffee, it just means that I don't care for that style of roast. I wouldn't be a very good person to judge the quality of a dark roast, since I haven't developed an appreciation for that style.

Starbucks, McDonald's (in recent days), and DD all make a decent cup of joe.

07-05-2009, 08:50 AM
Al Bundy Damnit Peg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $3291831	Dunkin Donuts Is coming to Olathe, 151st street in August. I saw it in the business section of the star.
Posts: 23,669

07-06-2009, 10:55 AM	#50
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $-1521081	Dunkin Donuts coffee is pretty meh... to think that somebody drove to Lawrence for coffee, and ended up going to Dunkin Donuts instead of any of the very fine local coffee shops they have there is baffling. Some of the little coffee shops downtown are very good, and would make Dunkin coffee taste like 3 day old truck stop coffee. Go down to Henry's on 8th St. and order a Sex Bomb and tell me if you ever dream of Dunkin coffee again. I really really despise Starbucks, but they do have some damn good coffee too. Absolutely everything about their franchise is pure evil. But they have the quality beans and equipment to make a damn good coffee. I'll put in another vote for the Roasterie too. They know how to make coffee. __________________
Posts: 48,905

07-06-2009, 11:35 AM	#56
cmh6476 Keep Camp Home! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Joe MO Casino cash: $-1133723	i guess I need to add dunkin donuts to the where to eat in st joe thread __________________ from September to February! from November to April! from April to October! 2024 Adopt-a-Chief: Xavier Worthy
Posts: 11,025

07-06-2009, 12:25 PM	#60
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-648231	About coffee -- If you are adding flavors, or more than a touch of cream and sugar, or going for the fancy Starbucks drinks, the chances are you just don't like the flavor of coffee. So you are not going to appreciate a strong coffee flavor. It doesn't mean that the coffee is bad. I like coffee and drink it black. But, I genearlly don't like most dark roasts. That doesn't mean they are bad coffee, it just means that I don't care for that style of roast. I wouldn't be a very good person to judge the quality of a dark roast, since I haven't developed an appreciation for that style. Starbucks, McDonald's (in recent days), and DD all make a decent cup of joe.
Posts: 46,037