Dunkin Donuts used to be ...
Written: Aug 21 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good coffee
Cons: Not all that I thought it was growing up.
The Bottom Line: Dunkin Donuts is a good cup of coffee, but new experiences show me that it's not the best.
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| shopaholic_man's Full Review: Dunkin Donuts Original Blend |
I live in New England. For coffee, we didn't have many choices for coffee and donuts in the morning. Dunkin Donuts has been THE chain for coffee and donuts in New England parts. Sure there was an occasional Honey Dew Donut / Coffee shop or Mary Lou's News but before the expansion of Starbucks to the East Coast, Dunkin' Donuts was the place to go for coffee. You were never too far from a Dunkin Donuts.
I did try other coffees though, and although I still have a fondness for the coffee I grew up with, it is no longer my favorite coffee. I would certainly drink a cup with Rachel Ray, but left on my own, I will choose better tastier beans.
Growing up on DDs, I got very used to their coffee. My favorites had always been the original blend and the french vanilla. If you have a coffee maker at home, Dunkin Donuts sells their coffee beans whole or ground.
Hard To Recreate
When I first got Dunkin Donuts ground coffee, I was disappointed. This was before I had a bean grinder and a Bunn coffee maker. It didn't taste the same! I used their beans, why didn't my cup of coffee at home taste the same as the Dunkin Donuts at the store?
I found out one day. Dunkin Donuts heats their water to 200 degrees. It is the consistent hot water that gives Dunkin Donuts coffee its smooth flavor. When I got my Bunn coffee maker (which also heats water to 200 degrees), I found that I was able to experience a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee at home without paying 2.00 a cup!
It's Not All That!
When I bought my Bunn coffee maker and Cuisinart bean grinder, I discovered that I could make a cup of coffee just like Dunkin Donuts. The flavor of the beans was truly brought out. I had also reached a point where I realized that spending 10-15 dollars a week on coffee was a waste of money. I could make it far cheaper at home, and I got to have my coffee first thing in the morning, when I needed it most. However, I also began to experiment buying other coffee beans from Green Mountain and Java. The day I discovered Peets Coffee was the day I realized that Dunkin Donuts coffee was not the best coffee in the world. I had led a sheltered life. Not counting the expresso I had in Paris, Peets is the best coffee I have tasted. It makes Dunkin Donuts seem downright bland. It is like eating vanilla ice cream all your life and one day discovering that there are other flavors from chocolate to mocha fudge swirl.
So how is Dunkin' Donuts?
Dunkin Donuts coffee if made right (remember, the secret is hot ! water) delivers a very consistent and good cup of coffee. The body is good, if not exceptionally hardy. There is no acidic after taste, unless made with a cheap coffee maker. I experienced an acidic aftertaste making DD coffee with a $20.00 Wal Mart coffee maker. With a proper coffee maker, Dunkin Donuts coffee has no after taste. The taste is neither bitter nor acidic. Had I not tried other coffees, I would have been happy with Dunkin Donuts beans, they are good.
This is a safe coffee if you are giving it as a gift. Almost everyone in New England who drinks coffee likes Dunkin Donuts. More expensive beans may require an acquired taste, but you can't go wrong with Dunkin Donuts.
Value
Dunkin Donuts beans are only available at Dunkin Donuts. In New England, this presents no problem, local laws require Dunkin Donuts to be located everywhere, so noone has to travel over a mile to reach one. It is normally 9.99 for a one pound bag of beans or ground coffee. You can usually choose between the Original Blend, Decaf, Hazelnut or French Vanilla. My favorite is French Vanilla. If you watch, you can frequently get it on sale for 7.99 or better yet, buy one get one free! That is usually when I will pick up a couple bags of beans.
Summary
I still give Dunkin Donuts a solid 4 stars, it does make good coffee, I prefer it to Green Mountain for example, and it like it better than most commercial ground coffees. However, don't try to make it at home if you are going to use room temperature water, it just won't work. If you do like Dunkin Donuts, I'd urge you to expand and try some other beans, you just may be surprised.
Recommended:
Yes
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