4 Things Dunkin' Is Still Doing Right In 2026, Despite All The Hate
Dunkin' used to be all about the donuts, but in the years since dropping the sweet treat from its name, something has changed. Unsurprisingly, customers have noticed, and even staunch fans who grew up with the New England brand have since become haters.
This is particularly obvious on Reddit, where one former customer wrote, "They've switched over from actually focusing on fast casual coffee to constantly trying to be a viral sensation with their content and just producing merch all the time." Another Redditor nailed down exactly what disappointed fans miss when they pointed out what Dunkin' used to offer: "No bells/whistles, just good quality products for an affordable price."
It's fair to criticize the chain for some of the changes made in its quest to conquer the high-end coffee market, and I'm as tired of seasonal menu drops and desserts disguised as coffee as the next guy. But I'm also (just about) old enough to remember Starbucks being mocked for simple Frappuccinos soon after they launched, so I know it's a cycle. Plus, there's plenty still to love at Dunkin'. The brand's basics are still there under all the matcha powder and cold foam. Also, its Halloween menu is low-key amazing. There are cute spider donuts!
The $6 meal deal is still a steal
Despite complaints about inflated prices, flash-in-the-pan gimmicks like Dunkin' Beverage Buckets, and changeable monthly promotions that don't offer what Dunkin' lovers want from the brand, the $6 meal deal stands strong. Most of the time, at least.
It's the kind of no-nonsense offer appreciated by the tough Northerners who made Dunkin' big. The meal deal includes a coffee, hash browns, and either a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel or an egg and cheese muffin. The coffee is just coffee, none of that fru-fru Starbucks stuff. However, you can choose between two blends, get it iced, and add your preferred creamer. Want something sweet to round things out? You can grab a Classic Donut alongside the deal and still get change from a $10.
Unfortunately, the meal deal does get messed with from time to time. The brand originally rolled the deal out as a 2024 fall special. Then, it was packaged with the DunKings menu in the run-up to 2025's extremely cringe Super Bowl Movie. Now, there are the seemingly random periods when the breakfast sandwiches are swapped for the near-universally hated Wake-Up Wraps. At other times, the hash browns are cut from the deal.
Eventually, the original $6 deal always returns, but the flip-flopping is pretty galling. Does someone at the top think the deal is too good? Is it pulled for a couple of weeks just so it can be announced again? We may never know for sure, but Dunkin' is at its best when it stops tripping over its own feet.
The iced coffee is the same as it's ever been
Dunkin's iced coffee was released way back in 1995. Since then, the brand has dropped donuts from its name and made a heel-turn from baked goods to a beverage-based business model, yet the cold coffee has stayed pretty much the same: It's strong, cheap, smooth, and served in huge quantities.
Cheap, of course, is relative. Food prices have risen a lot since 1995, and iced coffee is no exception. Currently, a medium iced coffee at Dunkin' will run you around $3.49 (prices vary by both state and franchise). That's better value than a Grande Starbucks Iced Coffee, which comes out to $4.28 after tax. And I wasn't joking about Dunkin's heavy iced coffee pours. Its medium cold drinks are a whopping 24 ounces, compared to 16 ounces for a Grande at Starbucks, making the price difference even more stark.
I also meant it when I said Dunkin's iced coffee is strong. It drinks more like cold brew than run-of-the-mill chilled coffee, and it has the bumped-up caffeine content to match. A large iced coffee contains almost 400 milligrams of caffeine, which might be a plus if you're a long haul truck driver. Otherwise, maybe think about a smaller size?
Dunkin' works fast, particularly at the drive-thru
If you want your coffee and snacks fast, choose Dunkin'. I've always been convinced the Dunkin' drive-thru is faster than those at Starbucks and many fast food spots. Years of annual QSR drive-thru reports prove me right.
Back in 2016, the difference was stark. While still focused on baked goods and going by its dead name, Dunkin' Donuts' 181.03-second service time was second only to Wendy's, which clocked in at an impressive 169.11 seconds. In the same year, Starbucks came last with a frankly unhurried 299.8-second average. In 2025, Dunkin' was 7th overall for service time, taking an average of 254.33 seconds to take and prepare an order. Despite this slow down, the brand was still well ahead of Starbucks, which trailed behind at No. 11 and a service time of 288.77 seconds.
In the years between the 2016 and 2025 reports, Starbucks has added a lot of new drive-thru locations and focused on growing this area of its business. This somewhat explains the closing gap. It's also hard to ignore the fact that Dunkin' has changed. Are the TikTokready cold foams and brightly colored refreshers slowing things down in the kitchen? They could be. But as long as Dunkin' doesn't follow Starbucks' lead and start making staff write something on every single cup, the one-time donut chain will probably remain the faster option for coffee on the go.
Let's be real, the donuts are still pretty good
It's finally time to address the obvious. The brand may have dropped them from its title, but Dunkin' does still sell donuts. And they're pretty good — but are they as good as they used to be? That depends on who you ask and which Dunkin' franchise you visit. However, let's be totally honest: If someone puts a dozen Dunkin' donuts in the break room, they're gone by lunch.
On the whole, donuts and other baked goods from Dunkin' are also affordable. At around $2 a piece or $14.99 for a dozen, Dunkin's classic sweet treats beat Krispy Kreme on price. Starbucks doesn't even get a look in here — you have to take out a small mortgage for a couple of cake pops (well, they're nearly $4 each and tiny).
Things have changed over the years, though. Donuts at Dunkin' were once made on-site. But the brand announced a move to centralized baking way back in 1996, and most franchises were using off-site bakeries by the mid-2000s. Sure, some people might remember the good 'ole days, but there hasn't been a recent change to Dunkin's donuts. There are, however, differences from one location to another. Some get them delivered from a larger bakery, some use frozen donuts, and a smattering of franchises still bake in-house. So, if you're disappointed in the quality of one store's donuts, go to another! You might get lucky.