Dunkin’ Donuts Cold Brew Review

What’s the difference between Dunkin’ Cold Brew and an iced coffee? Are they that different? And why would I choose one over the other? Iced Coffee is strongly-brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold Brew Coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours and then steeped and prepared in different ways, depending on who’s making it. Iced coffee is cold and tasty with some caramel undertones. Cold Brew tastes more like chocolate and toasty nuts, and it has some interesting health benefits, which we’ll talk about here. 

History

Dunkin Donuts’ Iced Coffee has been a favorite for years in a process called double brewing. It’s brewed with double the amount of coffee, cooled, and then poured over ice, and this process preserves the freshness and flavor in each serving. Taking it a step further, Dunkin’ Donuts followed the recent trends that have gained popularity among small coffee houses by introducing their version of the Cold Brew in 2016. Crafted by hand in small batches, the Cold Brew is prepared by steeping a special dark roast coffee blend in cold water for about 12 hours.  

Inspiration

Dunkin Donuts was inspired to offer Cold Brew after the success of their Original Blend Iced Coffee and the Cold Brew trends emerging from small coffee shops. You might remember that Starbucks also introduced a Cold Brew to its customers, so this drink is on the fast track to becoming even more popular. However, each beverage’s unique brewing process and signature flavor profile is what sets them apart from each other.

Dunkin’ Donuts Cold Brew Review

Dunkin’ Cold Brew’s process extracts uniquely-distinct flavors from the coffee beans, which gives the coffee a rich, smooth taste, similar to dark chocolate. You can enjoy it black, as is, or you can add your favorite flavors, like milk or sweeteners.  

1.      Taste and Texture [4/5]

This Cold Brew is sweet with a deeper, richer flavor than iced or regular coffee. The secret is in the lengthy seeping time and the temperature. The longer the coffee grounds seep in cold water, the bolder the flavors are. And because the grounds aren’t exposed to high temperatures, the cold brew is more flavorful and less bitter. Even though it’s naturally sweet, it’s a strong drink, so if you want to cut the strength with a bit more sweetness, add a pump of caramel or a bit of milk. 

2. Are they healthy? [5/5]

Cold Brews are surprisingly healthy. In recent research, scientists have found a link between cold brew and immune and heart health. Cold Brew contains compounds that actually improve your health, including phenolic compounds, magnesium, trigonelline, quinines, and lignans. A serving of cold brew has less than 25 calories, whereas a medium iced coffee with skim milk and no sweeteners contains about 40 calories and 5 grams of sugar. It’s about 67% less acidic than hot brewed coffee, resulting in a coffee that’s easier on the stomach. You can feel good about regularly consuming Cold Brew coffees. 

3. Are they Worth it? [5/5]

An artisanal coffee drink that’s good for your health makes it a worthy drink for any time of the day. But even better than that, it actually tastes great. Sweet and nutty in flavor, uniquely-brewed, and fairly-priced, the Dunkin’ Cold Brew is a winner. 

Final Verdict

If you’re a fan of iced coffee, I’d recommend giving the Dunkin’ Cold Brew a try. Iced coffee generally needs sweeteners and the flavors are a bit watered down by the ice- even if it’s brewed twice as strong as a normal cup of coffee. But the Cold Brew gives you chilled coffee with deeper flavors and health benefits. Dunkin’ offers their Cold Brew at a decent price- below their competitors, making it an excellent choice for a morning brew, or even a mid-day boost.  

Dunkin’ Donuts Cold Brew Nutrition Facts 

• Calories – 3
• Total Fat – 0g
• Saturated Fat – 0g
• Trans Fat – 0g
• Cholesterol- 0mg
• Sodium – 5mg
• Total Carbohydrate – 0g
• Dietary Fiber – 0g
• Sugars – 0g
• Protein – 0.5g
• Calcium – 6mg
• Potassium – 69mg

Dunkin’ Donuts Cold Brew Pricing 

Dunkin’s prices and quality of their menu items are always competitive. For comparison, their Cold Brews are just a bit more expensive than their iced coffees, but given the time investment in the process of preparing Cold Brews, this is an excellent price. It also costs less than Starbucks Cold Brews which begins at $2.95 for a small and increases from there.

• Iced Coffee (Original Blend, Dark Roast, Decaf)- Small $2.19
• Iced Coffee (Original Blend, Dark Roast, Decaf)- Medium $2.69
• Iced Coffee (Original Blend, Dark Roast, Decaf)- Large $3.19
• Cold Brew- Small $2.59
• Cold Brew- Medium $3.09
• Cold Brew- Large $3.59

What do you drink?

Which Dunkin’ drink do you prefer in the mornings – a classic cup of coffee, an iced coffee, or a cold brew?  Let us know in the comments below.