There has always been a rivalry between coffee shop chains for who has the best coffee. Starbucks and Dunkin’ are tied at the top, but only one can be the winner. Dunkin’ is superior at providing coffee lovers with their coffee fix.

As someone who prefers frozen or iced coffee, a frappuccino from Starbucks—mocha sauce and Frappuccino® chips with coffee and milk and ice, then top with whipped cream and mocha drizzle—and a frozen coffee from Dunkin’ are being compared.

Scenery and the shop itself
As someone who has an unhealthy infatuation with coffee, the smell of the coffee shop is important. Most of the time, if the coffee shop has that strong, rich scent of the roasted beans of the black coffee being made, it is automatically a ten out of ten. Surprisingly, both locations smell equally as good—just like coffee.

Dunkin’ also has many more options food wise, as they provide breakfast foods—bagel sandwiches, Wake-Up Wrap Sandwiches, hash browns and more—as well as the primitive donuts. But no matter the food preference, coffee is what it really is about.

Dunkin’ is more visually appealing than Starbucks. Dunkin’s are usually orange while Starbucks are kind of drab-looking with the dark colors, green and black.

Enough small talk, let’s get down to the coffee.

Pricing
Starbucks is highly overpriced. A medium (grande) java chip frappuccino is 16 fluid ounces for about $4.75. The price can vary depending on location.

Dunkin’ is slightly cheaper. A medium frozen coffee is 32 fluid ounces for about $4.29. The price can vary depending on location.

A customer who goes to both Starbucks and Dunkin’ would get more for their money if they got coffee at Dunkin’. Although prices are similar, in the long term, someone would get a lot more coffee for the lower price at Dunkin’ than at Starbucks. A customer gets more bang for their buck at Dunkin’.

In terms of caffeine
At Starbucks, a grande java chip frappuccino contains 110 milligrams of caffeine.

At Dunkin’, a medium frozen coffee contains 295 milligrams of caffeine.

For those who drink coffee for the energy boost, once again, Dunkin’ is the clear winner here.

The drinks themselves
For someone who prefers the actual taste of coffee in their drinks, Dunkin’s frozen coffee is a better option. The Starbucks’ frappuccino does not taste like coffee; it is more like a chocolate milkshake with chocolate chips in it.

The final result
Dunkin’ has some of the best coffee around. The coffee tastes better, their frozen drinks have more of a coffee taste than any other, and their frozen/iced drinks do not get watered down when the ice melts.

Starbucks drinks that do not contain coffee are better than their coffee, and that says something. Dunkin’ remains superior to Starbucks.

Starbucks locations in Altoona:
1000 Logan Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602 (inside Martin’s)
153 Sierra Dr., Altoona, PA 16601 (inside Target)
175 Falcon Lane, Altoona PA 16602 (serves Starbucks products)

Dunkin’ locations in Altoona:
3132 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602
200 Sierra Dr., Altoona, PA 16601