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Why doesn't Dunkin Donut coffee taste the same at home?

by Mario
(Centerport, NY USA)


QUESTION:

Why does store-bought coffee smell and taste better at their location than at my home? I use a French press coffee maker. I bought the grinds at the same location as I buy the coffee in a cup.

ANSWER:

Interesting question! I think there may be two reasons.

The first, and probably biggest reason, is the influence of the aroma and atmosphere in a coffee shop. There's something about the strong aroma of fresh-brewed coffee that just permeates the whole place. The environment of coffee-making, donuts and people likely combine to make the coffee taste a little bit better.

It's probably the same deal at Starbucks. You can buy their coffee too, and make it at home. But I bet it tastes better in a Starbucks store.

The second reason may be that the coffee beans being used in the store are almost certainly fresher. By the time you get that can of ground coffee home, it's probably quite a bit older, and a little staler, than the coffee used in the store.

As for your coffee maker, a French press is an excellent way to make coffee. So I don't think you would have a problem with the brewing process itself.

Comments for
Why doesn't Dunkin Donut coffee taste the same at home?

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Jun 17, 2009
 Mystery Even At The Top
by: Caffeinated

First - I agree with Ian and most of the replies - the official answer at the top of the page is not credible (aroma and freshness of beans). I don't drink DD coffee in a DD store and I get fresh beans from DD corporate.

I have questioned and talked to a friend in snr management at DD for years about this question and even he isn't sure ... all he has is an hypothesis, no firm conclusions. From my conversations with him and experimentation, it most certainly has to do with the temp of the water, the grind of the beans and possibly also the equipment used (but this really gets back to temp of water grind of beans). So, I suggest following the steps layed out here. It's the closest you can get (french press with temp 200 deg and strain your ground beans after grinding).
Mar 18, 2009
 Dunkin Donuts Coffee
by: Anonymous

Dunkin Donuts coffee taste bad to me lately. Is it possible that they are using something else in their coffee to substitute the original blend?
Feb 21, 2009
 The real reason...
by: Bruce

I was informed by a Dunkin Donuts shoppe owner that it is all in the temperature of the water.
Feb 03, 2009
 I think I figured out how to get Dunkin Donut coffee to taste better at home
by: Jamy Kunjappu

I had the same problem... I was trying to get my home made dunkin donut coffee to taste just as good as fresh store made coffee, because it tastes great in the store! (most of the time)... after a few months and many tests I now believe I am making a better cup of coffee... (at least a more consistent good tasting cup of coffee)

Here are some tips:
#1 Buy whole bean Dunkin Donuts coffee

#2 Use the French press method like you are currently doing.

#3 Really Important! Grind your beans at a larger size with a quality burr mill grinder. If you have a blade grinder than you must use a metal strainer to "sift" or "beat" out the smaller dust like grind... (the small grind can really make your coffee taste bad because they will be over-extracted)

#4 Read this article and try and follow it to a "T".
http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/presspot

#5 If you are brewing a smaller amount of coffee? try reducing your steeping time to within the 2 ? 3.5 minute range.

If you follow the above steps you should get a great tasting cup of dunkin donuts homemade coffee. I?ve been able to achieve what I believe is a better tasting, more robust cup since I?m using the French press method and the stores are not.

Let me know how it goes! :o)
http://www.noworrycurry.com
Jan 23, 2009
 From what I have heard
by: Anonymous

I listened to a sports talk show one night and they were talking about DD coffee. A guy called in and said he used to own a DD and the reason you can't get it to taste the same at home is the temperature of a coffee maker wont get hot enough. He suggested boiling your own water to 190 to 220 degrees and then using a French Press. He said this will bring out the flavor in the coffee. I'm not sure if this will help, but that is what the caller said.
Jan 10, 2009
 Lame Answer
by: Ian

I am from New England, the land of Dunkin Donuts, but I have now lived a few more places around the country. There are very limited to no Dunkin Donuts stores.

I have tried their store bought ground coffee, but I cannot get it to taste like a cup of coffee purchased from a Dunkin Donuts store. I don't know if it's the cream I use compared to theirs or the water used, etc. I do know that it's not due to the aroma of the Dunkin Donuts store. I know this, because I can't remember the last time I went into a Dunkin Donuts store due to the advent of the drive thru. I am not getting the aroma of anything but my car and the cup of coffee I purchase still tastes better than the one I make at home and eerily similar to what I remember from going in the store. Your response to this dilemma has not helped and I will now continue my search.

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