How to Order From Dunkin

Although the “best coffee chain” is a hot debate and vastly different across the country, Dunkin is definitely up there in some parts. With over 10,000 stores worldwide, it’s pretty likely that there’s at least one Dunkin in your area. Dunkin is a consistent, fast coffee place with a lot of different coffee roasts, flavors, and food items. Even though it’s popular, its customizable coffee options and large menu can be daunting to order from.

In this post, I’ll explain the Dunkin menu, the general store layout, and the overall ordering process at a standard Dunkin. I’ll also include a quick script that you can use to base your order on when you’re ready to try it out.

After reading through everything, if you still don’t feel like you’re ready to order from a Dunkin and need more information, please use the contact form on the sidebar and reach out. If there’s something that’s still fuzzy, there’s a good chance you’re not the only one who thinks so!

What’s on the Dunkin Menu?

Short of ordering online, the best way to reduce anxiety from ordering at a restaurant is to take time beforehand to look at their menu. Understanding your options, knowing what you’re going to get, and knowing the cost of your meal moves almost all of the decision making out of the restaurant and into a place you can feel comfortable.

In this section, I’ll outline the Dunkin menu for a typical store in the New England area. Although likely fairly similar, you should make sure to check your local Dunkin’s menu in case they have regional differences. You can access the Dunkin menu with the button below:

Before you head into Dunkin, there are a few things you should already know about your order. In the order you’ll use them when you place your order:

• What size you want:
  • Small, medium, large, or extra-large (only available for hot drinks)
    
    
• If you want:
  • Hot, iced, or frozen (if applicable).
    
    
• What type of drink you want:
  • Coffee, cold brew, americano, latte, flavored latte, macchiato, cappuccino, espresso, tea, hot chocolate, dunkaccino (half coffee half hot chocolate), coolatta.
    
    
• What flavor you want (if applicable):
  
  
  Flavors come in two different types and can be added to your coffee. They come flavor shots or flavor swirls. Flavor shots are unsweetened and sugar/dairy free. Flavor swirls are creamy and typically contain dairy (with the exception of mocha).
  
  
  • Dunkin’s flavor shot options include:
    • Vanilla, hazelnut, toasted almond, blueberry, raspberry, and coconut.
      
      
  • Dunkin’s flavor swirl options include:
    • Caramel, French vanilla, hazelnut, mocha. (And holiday flavors like peppermint mocha or butter pecan)
      
      
      
• If you want cream and sugar:
  
  Cream and sugar is the most “difficult” part of ordering at Dunkin and warrants a small discussion. I put difficult in quotes because it’s actually a pretty straightforward system, but if you’re not privy to it it can kind of seem like witchcraft.
  
  When the barista asks you if you want cream and sugar, their following question will typically be “how many?”. “How many?” is a strange thing to quantify for cream and sugar if you’re not familiar with their measurements. It’s not really clear on their in-store menu and requires you to somehow already know the standard cream and sugar amounts. This is kind of a trial-and-error situation to figure out exactly how you like your coffee, but hopefully I can give you a starting point.
  
  At Dunkin, each size drink has a specific count of cream and sugar that they deem “regular”. I believe the cream count is in 1/4 cups and the sugar is in teaspoons, but it’s based on a machine so I’m not 100% certain.
  

When you order a coffee at Dunkin and want the standard cream and sugar you can ask for it “regular”. If you’d like it black, that’s an acceptable way to order it too. If you’d like to further hone the amount of cream and sugar in your coffee, you can ask for a specific number based on the table above.

For example, to get a slightly darker yet sweeter medium coffee I would ask for a medium with 2 creams and 4 sugar (typically 3 cream and 3 sugar). You can also ask for a “extra, extra” if you want double the cream and sugar and feel like a regular!

Keep in mind that if you’re adding a flavor swirl those are cream based and will lighten your coffee even further!

You can also ask for a certain amount of sugar alternative (Sweet and Low, Splenda, Equal) instead. If you’d prefer to put it in yourself you can just ask for it on the side!

What to do inside Dunkin

Although Dunkin is a massive chain, they’re not quite like a McDonald’s or other franchise that “copy-pastes” buildings around the world. Dunkin has a really large variety of store designs that are unique to their location and come in a many shapes and sizes. However, in the grand scheme of things the layout and process is fairly similar and with explanations of a few key features hopefully you’ll feel like you know it inside and out.

Typically, the store will have three distinct sections; the line/cash registers, the pickup area, and a dining area. The line usually forms between stanchions (rope or belt barriers) and has a sign that says “line starts here” or similar. Sometimes, the store will have multiple small lines instead of one major line depending on how many workers there are and how busy it is.

If you haven’t planned out your order ahead of time online or want to double check the menu/check for local specials, instead of getting into line just stand back take a look. As long as you’re not in the line no one will care and people do it all the time! When you are ready, get into line and head over to the cashier.

This next paragraph is an outline of the ordering process. A more detailed example script/mad lib is further below.

The ordering process for Dunkin is usually pretty quick. Unlike our Chipotle or Subway guides, Dunkin doesn’t have as much customization in menu items besides cream and sugar for your coffee. I’ve included a script below that goes into more detail, but how I typically like to order from Dunkin to avoid confusion is to order my drinks first then any food. If I’m ordering multiple “meals” for people, I try and order all of the coffees first then sandwiches/donuts/etc.

When you’re ordering your coffee from the cashier there are a couple of things that could happen. Sometimes, while you’re placing your order a second employee will be making the coffee(s) as you’re speaking. By the time you finish ordering and paying, your coffee is right there waiting for you beside the cash register! Other times, the cashier will finish taking your order (which prints out a sticker for them) and stick it to the cup sizes for you order so someone else can make it when they have a chance. Your drinks will then be available at the pickup area instead of at the cash register.

If you’re ordering donuts (a single one or more), the cashier is usually the person who will get them for you. If you’re ordering a dozen (or more!) you can either have the cashier choose which donuts (random) or ask for a specific quantity of each time.

If you’re not immediately handed your complete order you should step off to the pickup area. Your receipt will have an order number on the back and there will be a screen over the counter with the order number they’re currently servicing. Once they call your number, your food and coffee(s) should be there waiting. Double check to make sure everything’s there and you’re good to go enjoy your caffeine. You did it!

I’m proud of you.

The Script

The script for how to order Dunkin is on it’s way! Stay tuned!