Dunkin vs. Starbucks: Who Has the Best Peppermint Mocha?

Sasha Plotniak, Staff Reporter

The peppermint mocha, a very popular holiday drink, is available at both Starbucks and Dunkin. I tried an iced peppermint mocha from both Starbucks and Dunkin to decide which one was best. 

Dunkin:

My expectations were very low for Dunkin. I was expecting a sugary, milky-tasting drink with just a hint of coffee, and that is exactly what they delivered. The color was a light, murky brown, which was very unappealing. I got a medium, which contained 24 ounces for $4.98. When I took a sip, it tasted like chocolate milk with a very faint peppermint flavor. I could barely taste any coffee. I really did not enjoy drinking it and I could not finish the whole thing.  I give the Dunkin peppermint mocha one tiger paw. I would not order it again.

Starbucks:

I expected more from the Starbucks peppermint mocha because it costs more. A Starbucks venti contains 24 ounces, but it costs $6.68. I enjoyed this one much more than Dunkin, though. I could taste an even balance of all flavors. The peppermint and mocha flavors were both present, but they did not overpower the taste of the coffee. It felt much higher quality as well. Even though the drink was more expensive, it felt like I was paying for better ingredients. It was still pretty sweet, so I’m not sure how often I would order it again. I give the Starbucks peppermint mocha three tiger paws. 

Overall, the Starbucks peppermint mocha was much better than Dunkin’s. The only downside is that it is more expensive. If you’re looking to try a peppermint mocha, I would recommend going to Starbucks. It is worth the cost for a nice holiday drink.