Dunkin’ has become synonymous with delicious coffee. As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, I always seek out local coffee spots when I travel. But when it comes to consistency and flavor, Dunkin’ never disappoints. Their cold brew, in particular, is hard to beat. So, if you’re like me and can’t start a road trip without a big cup of Dunkin’ cold brew, you might be curious about its caffeine content.
Dunkin Original Blend vs Midnight Blend
Dunkin offers two different coffee roasts: Original Blend and Midnight. The standard order usually includes the Original Blend, which is a medium roast coffee loved by many. In contrast, the Midnight blend is a dark roast coffee with a more robust flavor. Unfortunately, Dunkin’s website only provides the caffeine content for the Original Blend. To estimate the caffeine content of the Midnight Blend, we can turn to Starbucks.
According to Starbucks, a 16oz medium roast coffee (Pike Place) contains 310mg of caffeine, while the same size dark roast coffee contains 260mg of caffeine. Based on this, we can estimate that a medium roast coffee typically has about 20% more caffeine than a dark roast. Applying this estimate to the caffeine content of Dunkin coffee, we arrive at the following approximations for the Midnight Blend:
- Small: 144mg
- Medium: 168mg
- Large: 216mg
- XL: 264mg
Contrary to popular belief, dark roast coffee doesn’t necessarily have more caffeine. Light-roasted coffee is denser, so when you scoop it out, you end up with more coffee by volume, leading to more caffeine.
Which Dunkin Drink Contains the Most Caffeine?
Let’s dive into the full menu to find out which Dunkin drink packs the most punch. At the top of the list is the large iced coffee, with nearly 400mg of caffeine, making it the most caffeinated drink on the menu. Surprisingly, cold brew doesn’t have significantly more caffeine, with a large cold brew containing about 347mg. However, if you prefer a smaller drink, the Americano or Macchiato will be your best bet. A small Americano or Macchiato, hot or cold, contains 237mg of caffeine, while a medium contains 284mg, and a large contains 371mg. For comparison, a small hot coffee only contains 180mg of caffeine, making the Americano a 25% higher-caffeine option.
The Dunkin Drink with the Least Caffeine
If you’re looking to keep your caffeine intake low but still enjoy coffee, opt for decaf coffee. Small decaf Dunkin’ coffee contains only 7mg of caffeine, while an XL decaf coffee still has just 18mg. For a caffeine-free option, decaf tea contains 0mg of caffeine, but it may not excite your taste buds as much. If you’re craving something more flavorful than plain tea, you can try a hot chocolate or a Coolatta. A small hot chocolate contains just 9mg of caffeine, and Coolatta drinks are entirely caffeine-free.
Simple Hacks to Increase Caffeine in Dunkin’ Coffee
Life can get exhausting, and sometimes we need an extra boost of caffeine. If you want to amp up the caffeine content in any Dunkin’ drink, here are two simple tricks:
Add a shot of espresso to any drink
Dunkin’ can add a shot of espresso to any coffee order, providing an additional 118mg of caffeine. While Dunkin’ used to sell “Extra Charged Coffee,” which was essentially this hack, you can still achieve the same effect by adding a shot of espresso to your coffee or another beverage.
Ask for less ice in your iced coffee
This is my favorite trick for both increasing caffeine and getting more value for your money. When ordering an iced coffee or cold brew, ask for “less ice.” By reducing the amount of ice in your cup, you’ll have more room for coffee, resulting in a higher caffeine content. Don’t worry about feeling awkward asking for less ice; it’s never been an issue for me. If you prefer a hassle-free experience, you can order through the Dunkin’ app, where “less ice” is an available option.
Caffeine Content for All Dunkin’ Drinks
If you’re curious about the caffeine content of your favorite Dunkin’ drinks, look no further. Here’s a breakdown of the caffeine amounts in different Dunkin’ coffee and espresso drinks:
- Coolatta: 0mg
- Decaf Tea: 0mg
- Frozen Chocolate: <5mg
- Decaf Coffee: 7mg
- Hot Chocolate: 9mg
- Iced Tea: 42mg
- Refresher: 66mg
- Green Tea: 70mg
- Chai Latte: 70mg
- Matcha Latte: 80mg
- Black Tea: 90mg
- Espresso Shot: 118mg
- Cappuccino: 118mg
- Latte: 118mg
- Espresso Hot Chocolate: 127mg
- Cold Brew: 174mg
- Hot Coffee: 180mg
- Iced Coffee: 198mg
- Americano: 237mg
- Macchiato: 237mg
Small Dunkin drinks ranked by caffeine
Coolatta: 0mg
Decaf Tea: 0mg
Frozen Chocolate: <5mg
Decaf Coffee: 7mg
Hot Chocolate: 9mg
Iced Tea: 42mg
Refresher: 66mg
Green Tea: 70mg
Chai Latte: 70mg
Matcha Latte: 80mg
Black Tea: 90mg
Espresso Shot: 118mg
Cappuccino: 118mg
Latte: 118mg
Espresso Hot Chocolate: 127mg
Cold Brew: 174mg
Hot Coffee: 180mg
Iced Coffee: 198mg
Americano: 237mg
Macchiato: 237mg
Medium Dunkin drinks ranked by caffeine
Coolatta: 0mg
Decaf Tea: 0mg
Frozen Chocolate: 6mg
Decaf Coffee: 10mg
Hot Chocolate: 13mg
Iced Tea: 63mg
Green Tea: 70mg
Refresher: 99mg
Black Tea: 90mg
Chai Latte: 105mg
Matcha Latte: 120mg
Espresso Hot Chocolate: 131mg
Cappuccino: 166mg
Latte: 166mg
Hot Coffee: 210mg
Espresso Double: 237mg
Cold Brew: 260mg
Americano: 284mg
Macchiato: 284mg
Iced Coffee: 297mg
Large Dunkin drinks ranked by caffeine
Coolatta: 0mg
Decaf Tea: 0mg
Frozen Chocolate: 8mg
Decaf Coffee: 15mg
Hot Chocolate: 18mg
Iced Tea: 84mg
Refresher: 132mg
Espresso Hot Chocolate: 136mg
Green Tea: 140mg
Chai Latte: 140mg
Black Tea: 180mg
Matcha Latte: 200mg
Cappuccino: 252mg
Latte: 252mg
Hot Coffee: 270mg
Cold Brew: 347mg
Espresso Triple: 354mg
Americano: 371mg
Macchiato: 371mg
Iced Coffee: 396mg
How Much Caffeine Does Nitro Cold Brew Have?
Nitro cold brew is a personal favorite of mine, but unfortunately, not all Dunkin’ locations offer it. Though Dunkin’ doesn’t provide exact caffeine content for nitro cold brew, we can make an educated estimate. When you order a Nitro Cold Brew, it only comes in a small size. That’s because nitro is served without ice, resulting in the same amount of liquid as a medium cold brew. Therefore, it’s estimated that nitro cold brew from Dunkin’ contains roughly 260mg of caffeine.
Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks: Caffeine Showdown
While the flavor preference between Dunkin’ and Starbucks is subjective, we can compare their caffeine content. In general, espresso-based drinks have more caffeine because they contain multiple shots of espresso. Whether you order hot or cold drinks, the caffeine content tends to remain consistent. For example, the medium hot latte and medium iced latte have similar caffeine amounts because the iced latte may be larger in size, but the ice occupies space that coffee would normally fill. An exception is cold brew, which differs from coffee and iced coffee in terms of caffeine content.
For a detailed comparison between Dunkin’ and Starbucks, refer to the handy graphic below. It provides an overview of the caffeine content in popular items from both coffee chains. Please note that these caffeine counts are approximate and may vary due to various factors. The cup sizes between Dunkin’ and Starbucks differ slightly, but the differences don’t significantly affect the caffeine content.
Remember, this information is a close approximation based on available online data. Factors like additions of dairy or flavor shots can affect the final caffeine content. Nonetheless, this guide should help you make informed choices when selecting your favorite Dunkin’ coffee.
So, the next time you’re craving a cup of coffee from Dunkin’, you’ll know exactly how much caffeine you’re getting in each sip. Enjoy your perfectly caffeinated brew from Marmalade Cafe!