To hear that Dunkin’ Donuts would be replacing one of Hofstra’s coveted Starbucks locations initially shocked me, as I’m sure it did most of you. As a coffee enthusiast, I was interested and also confused. Changing a Starbucks to a Dunkin’ at a college? It almost sounds, unprogressive? But after some consideration, I realized that we caffeine addicts here at Hofstra are indeed receiving a blessing from the coffee gods.
Think about it:
A medium coffee at Dunkin’ costs $1.89. A medium (grande) coffee at Starbucks is $2.10. As a broke college student who occasionally picks up dimes off the floor to help pay for her gas – this is making a huge difference. Bank account? Blessed.
Also, at Dunkin’, the breakfast food options are undeniably better. Granted, the menu is not considered primarily healthy or vegan-friendly in the way Starbucks’ is, but they actually do have a few conscious and vegetarian friendly breakfast options. And those options are more appealing than any sat-on looking sandwich Starbucks is serving up. Dunkin’ has bagels, muffins, croissants, bacon/sausage egg and cheese and (hello) doughnuts. And munchkins! Belly? Blessed.
And, my penultimate point: The drinks are actually so much better at Dunkin’! Starting with the coffee.
In an article called “DUNKIN’ DONUTS COFFEE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN STARBUCKS IT’S STUPID,” Steve Gazibara wrote, “As I type this, I am sitting in a Starbucks … the coffee tastes like someone microwaved an old Chevy tire, then mixed it with burnt hair, and served it to me in liquid form.” Another article from theworldofcaffeine.com, called “Burned Beans – The Shame of Starbucks” focuses on the fact that “Consumer Reports” magazine actually consistently rates Starbucks brew as some of the worst tasting coffee and Dunkin’s among some of the best. In a blind taste test study, “Consumer Reports” magazine actually ranked both Dunkin’ Donuts’ Brew and McDonalds’ brew above Starbucks’ brew, which they reported as “strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open.” My point here is, anyone who really drinks coffee, and has taken time to compare the two, knows this. And yeah, we don’t always want to admit it. Because sometimes Starbucks’ Blonde espresso really does feel like it’s worth the $5 and change I’m willing to scrap together to pay for it (like, actually in couches and pockets for change). But the truth is, I know I can get a large coffee at Dunkin’ for $2.10 that is going do the same exact thing and also (honestly) probably taste better.
Bringing me to my final point, (it’s really important that you hear me all the way out with this one) and that’s the cups. I know that plastic foam is bad for the environment. Cutting down on plastic foam and toxic waste is incredibly important to the earth and our well-being, especially today. But if there’s anything out in the cold cruel world with a reasonably good excuse for using plastic foam: it is piping hot drinks that you occasionally run with in your hands (i.e. coffee/hot caffeinated beverages). I love mother earth, and I recycle the heck out of all my plastic and paper products. But when I’m grabbing coffee in the quad as I rush in to my next class, my hands (and books and sleeves) are 100 percent grateful for that super-tight seal, and thick warm cup that doesn’t hurt to hold, or get messy when I’m running. “The Odyssey” said it best: “America doesn’t run on Starbucks.” And I guess Hofstra doesn’t have to either!
The views and opinions expressed in the Editorial section are those of the authors of the articles. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors. The Chronicle reserves the right to not publish any piece that does not meet our editorial standards.
