Have you ever noticed how many students show up to school with a drink in their hand? Throughout high school, many students’ morning routines involve making a quick trip before school for a bite to eat or a tasty drink to render a jumpstart to the day. But where does the majority of Harrison’s student body prefer to go? A survey was given out to all students at William Henry Harrison High School asking if they favor Dunkin’ or Starbucks more, and it turns out, we love us some Dunkin!
While it seems like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks have been rivals of each other since dinosaurs roamed Earth, what factors could cause one to be better than the other? Though both places offer a variety of drinks and snacks, they have many differences. From the ambiance and experience you’re greeted with, pricing, and availability of delicious seasonal items, every individual has their own reasons for where they choose to go. Some people prefer Dunkin’ solely because they sell donuts, while Starbucks does not. One student stated, “They have donuts, I don’t like coffee.”
Dunkin’ was established in 1950 by William Rosenberg, where a dozen donuts used to only cost $1.45. In 1948, Rosenberg’s initial restaurant was called “Open Kettle” in Quincy, Massachusetts where his passion for coffee and donuts emerged. In 1950, Rosenberg decided to change the name to “Dunkin’ Donuts” after observing his customers repeatedly dunk their donuts into their coffee. Dunkin’ offers around 20 classic donut flavors that are offered all day, every day. Apart from donuts, Dunkin’ introduced munchkins, also known as donut holes, in 1972. Only a few years later, Dunkin’ proposed their freshly baked muffins with various flavors such as blueberry and chocolate chip.
A few decades after Dunkin’, Starbucks was founded in 1971. During the first decade, they only sold coffee beans and tea leaves for customers to use at home. It wasn’t until 1983 that Howard Schultz, the Former CEO, traveled to Italy where he was exposed to authentic coffee culture. Upon arriving back to Seattle, Washington, Schultz was inspired to embark a new beginning for the Starbucks industry. As of 2024, there are 40,200 Starbucks locations in the world, 7,594 being in China.
The survey results could take some by surprise, though it might not shock you at all! Out of 74 participants who responded to the survey, 51 students prefer Dunkin’ Donuts over Starbucks. Though “donut” is in the name, Dunkin’ is desired for several other reasons beyond donuts. Many students argue that Dunkin’ is the superior option due to having better quality coffee, as well as a vast assortment of drink options. One student mentioned preferring the “quality of drinks in general and way more non-coffee options.” Other reasons students prefer Dunkin’ include the variety of food options they have; there’s always an option whether you’re in a sweet or savory mood. Dunkin’ offers an extensive number of donuts, muffins, and lemon loafs, when you’re craving a sugary sweet. While if you’re looking for something more filling, there’s options such as breakfast sandwiches, hashbrowns, avocado toast, and more. Students also believe that Dunkin’s prices are more justifying and that the rewards app is easier to operate. When using the app, customers are able to get the barcode within their app scanned during every visit, where they gain points to eventually receive free items of choice.
Although students prefer to use Dunkin’s mobile app, Starbucks also has one! When you first open the app, you’re presented multiple new menu items with descriptions of each one. Both apps are fairly similar to each other, but many believe that Starbucks is less convenient to use. Results from the survey have also shown that students tend to prefer specific drinks from Starbucks. For example, if someone were to be craving a frozen coffee, they’d rather go to Starbucks. Not only that, but multiple students state that they prefer Starbucks for their refreshers and fruit drinks. Starbucks offers refresher options such as Strawberry Açaí, Mango Dragon Fruit, and the new Blackberry Sage seasonal flavor. You can get these refreshers with lemonade, water, or coconut milk depending on what flavor you’re desiring. One student exclaimed, ” the strawberry acai refresher has my heart.”
While Dunkin’ and Starbucks both have inimitable reasons why they’re favored, it ultimately comes down to the preference of each customer.
