Disclosure: I received gifted product from Dunkin’. All opinions are mine.

My family and I love Dunkin’ Donuts for their coffee, donuts, croissants, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches! Dunkin’ Donuts is also nostalgic for me as it was the only place in our small reservation town, open at midnight, where my boyfriend (now husband), his friends, and I could play Magic: The Gathering. The staff would let us sit in the front, drink coffee, and eat a donut while they were in the back making donuts for the next day. And does anyone else remember Dunkin’ Donut’s iconic “Time to make the donuts!” commercial? Which is why I was super excited for the invitation to experience the Dunkin’ Next Gen store!

 

So, wait… is Dunkin’ Donuts changing their name? Yes they are! And with the new branding, Dunkin’ is adding on exciting and bold new products!

Dunkin’ on Tap

Apart from a new store design with donuts displayed in glass cases, the coolest new thing IMO is Dunkin’ on tap! The Dunkin’ tap bar has coffees, teas, cold brew, and nitro infused cold brew!

With cold brew, the coffee grounds are steeped in cold water for extended periods of time, up to 12 hours. This draws out the flavor of the coffee resulting in a smoother tasting and less acidic coffee. While I like a hot brewed coffee (even poured over ice) the taste of cold brew is distinct and can have a less bitter taste.

Now, I got to sample the newest drink to Dunkin’ – Nitro Infused Cold Brew – and I LOVED it! Nitro Infused Cold Brew is essentially cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas and then served on tap. The nitrogen gives the coffee tiny bubbles, which makes it frothy when poured. The result? Dunkin’ Nitro Coffee that is smooth and creamy with a silky taste. It was so perfect that it doesn’t need any cream or added sugar. << NOW, I don’t say this lightly because I am very particular about black coffee and more often than not I will add cream to my coffee. As you may tell, I’m really excited about Dunkin’ offering nitro coffee!

Dunkin’ Espresso

Now, the second coolest addition to Dunkin’ is their espresso speciality drinks! I’m no stranger to espresso drinks and ever since I first started college I’ve wanted to try my hand at being a barista! So, when Dunkin’ let me have their full espresso experience, which included handcrafting my own espresso speciality drink, I was stocked!

I’ve always had a special place in my heart and nicely tip my baristas who make my espresso drinks as I do customize my drink with non-dairy options and less flavoring and such. So, making my own iced caramel macchiato was such a treat to see this handcraft process!

Dunkin’ Donuts

Of course, Dunkin’ is still keeping their signature donuts. They had samples of their classic and seasonal donuts alongside their other food options for us to taste. My favorite donuts are their classic Boston Kreme and their Munchkins! What are you favorite Dunkin Donuts?

So, where can you find a Dunkin’ Next Gen store and their Nitro Coffee? Well, right now there is one Dunkin’ in Arizona, located at 4225 South Gilbert Road, Chandler, AZ 85249. Dunkin’ is rolling out their new stores and nitro coffee in other states such as Massachusetts, Southern California, and soon-to-be-in Chicago.

It’s great to see a favorite brand expand while still honoring their classic and iconic traditions. I hope Dunkin’ adds a location in Tempe! And because coffee is better with friends, I was excited to bump into my friends Alana of The Fancy Navajo and Rainboe at this event!

-Nicky