Starbucks and Dunkin' are both household names when it comes to coffee. But when it comes to their cup sizes, you’re probably curious if you’re getting the same amount.
The main difference between Starbucks and Dunkin’ cup sizes is that Dunkin’ generally has larger cup sizes. This makes Dunkin’ more cost-effective, but Starbucks offers more variety and customizable coffee options.
This article will make an in-depth comparison of the Starbucks and Dunkin’ cup sizes. We will also explain why cup size isn’t the only thing you should consider when choosing where to get your coffee.
Table of Contents
- Hot vs. Iced Coffee Cup Sizes
- Starbucks Hot Coffee Size Options
- Dunkin’ Hot Coffee Size Options
- Starbucks Iced Coffee Size Options
- Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Size Options
- Which One is the Better Bang for Your Buck?
- Things to Consider Besides Cup Size
- Can You Ask Dunkin’ or Starbucks to Use a Reusable Cup?
- Final Thoughts
Hot vs. Iced Coffee Cup Sizes
Before diving into cup sizes, let’s talk about how hot and iced coffee cups differ.
Hot coffee cups will always be smaller than iced ones for the same size drink. This is because the iced coffee cup has to have room for the ice.
The bigger cup for iced coffee doesn’t mean you’re getting more coffee. It just means that the ice displaces the coffee and adds to the overall volume of the drink.
If you put your small-sized hot coffee cup next to a small-sized iced coffee cup, you will immediately see the difference.
Starbucks Hot Coffee Size Options
Now that we understand the difference between hot and iced coffee cups, let’s talk about Starbucks' hot coffee cups.
Starbucks’ hot coffee comes in 4 different size options. These options include a short, tall, grande, and venti.
When you break down each hot coffee cup size by fluid ounces, this is what you’ll find:
- Short is 8 fluid ounces.
- Tall is 12 fluid ounces.
- Grande is 16 fluid ounces.
- Venti is 20 fluid ounces.
You might wonder why the Starbucks trenta size is missing from the list. Unfortunately, the trenta size is only available for iced drinks.
Dunkin’ Hot Coffee Size Options
When it comes to hot coffee, Dunkin’s cup sizes will be larger than Starbucks' if you put the lists side by side.
You can also get one out of four sizes of hot coffee from Dunkin’. You can pick from a small, medium, large, or extra-large cup options.
The breakdown of each hot coffee cup size at Dunkin’ looks like this:
- Small is 10 fluid ounces.
- Medium is 14 fluid ounces.
- Large is 20 fluid ounces.
- Extra-large is 24 fluid ounces.
The names for the Dunkin’ cup sizes obviously make more sense than Starbucks’. Being able to get up to 24 ounces of piping hot coffee can come in handy.
Starbucks Iced Coffee Size Options
Moving on to the realm of iced coffee, Starbucks will once again offer four sizes.
The difference is that Starbucks does not offer a short size in their iced coffee. But they do offer the larger trenta for iced beverages.
The following is a list of the iced beverage cup sizes with the corresponding fluid ounces:
- Tall is 12 fluid ounces.
- Grande is 16 fluid ounces.
- Venti is 24 fluid ounces.
- Trenta is 30 fluid ounces.
So if you want the largest amount of coffee you can get at Starbucks, the iced trenta size is your best bet.
Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Size Options
When it comes to iced coffee, Dunkin’ only offers three cup sizes. But once again, these cups will be larger than Starbucks.
Here is a list of the Dunkin’ iced beverage cup sizes with fluid ounces in each:
- Small is 16 ounces.
- Medium is 24 ounces.
- Large is 32 ounces.
So if a large iced coffee is what you’re looking for, you can definitely find one at Dunkin'.
Which One is the Better Bang for Your Buck?
Across the board, Dunkin’ will be cheaper than Starbucks for coffee.
For example, a tall plain black coffee at Starbucks currently costs about $2.95. The same small hot coffee at Dunkin’ will cost you $1.59.
Clearly, Dunkin’ will be a better bang for your buck when it comes to the amount of coffee you get for the price.
Seasonal drinks will also be cheaper at Dunkin’ than at Starbucks. So if you want a cheaper pumpkin spice latte in any size, opt for Dunkin’.
Things to Consider Besides Cup Size
While Dunkin’ will give you more coffee for your dollar, it’s not the only thing to think about.
Dunkin’ does not offer quite as many customization or drink options as Starbucks. While Dunkin’ will offer seasonal options, they are far fewer than Starbucks.
Starbucks also tends to have coffee of a higher quality. Generally speaking, coffee lovers will describe Starbucks coffee as stronger with a more robust flavor.
This isn’t to say Dunkin’ isn’t a good option. But if you’re looking for a highly customized drink or more choices, Starbucks may beat Dunkin’ despite the cup sizes.
Can You Ask Dunkin’ or Starbucks to Use a Reusable Cup?
If you want to skip the paper or plastic cups, you might be wondering if you can bring your own cup.
Both Dunkin’ and Starbucks allow you to bring your own reusable cup for use as long as it’s clean. Also, make sure it’s big enough to hold the size of drink that you want.
However, the rules regarding reusable cups changed a bit with COVID-19. Both Dunkin’ and Starbucks temporarily stopped allowing this to prevent the spread of the disease in 2020.
Many locations are back to allowing the use of reusable cups. But it’s best to check by calling your preferred location ahead of time.
In some cases, they may even slightly give you a discount if you bring your own cup. So consider skipping their cups altogether and bringing your own to help the environment.
Final Thoughts
When comparing Starbucks vs. Dunkin’ cup sizes, Dunkin’ will typically offer larger cup sizes for both hot and iced coffee.
Keep in mind when you order a hot vs. iced coffee that the iced coffee cup will look larger to account for the ice. This is true at both Starbucks and Dunkin’, but this doesn’t mean you’re getting more coffee than the equivalent hot coffee size.
Starbucks does not offer their trenta size for their hot coffee. And Dunkin’ does not offer an extra large size for their iced coffee.
Dunkin’ will be the most cost-effective option of the two. This is true even when it comes to seasonal or specialty beverages.
While Dunkin’ is cheaper and offers you more coffee per cup, Starbucks will give you more choices and customization. The cup sizes may differ, but you can find a tasty cup of joe at either place!
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