Each week I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories: (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup. I will conclude each review with an Overall grade. This week I tackle a legend in the coffee business: Dunkin Donuts and their Original Blend K-Cup.
Aroma: 7
Each time I drop a "DD" Original Blend K-Cup in my Keurig and the coffee starts dripping into my cup, I am transported to a Dunkin Donuts store. Unfortunately, there are no donuts waiting for me when my coffee is done brewing. The DD K-Cup gives off that fresh coffee pot scent that is familiar when you stroll into a Dunkin Donuts. Best part: You are the first customer in line every time. No waiting behind Mr./Mrs. Over-the-Top catering order for the office!
Strength: 6
Dunkin Donuts' Original Blend isn't the strongest coffee out there. If you want to hover over your own body, you should try Black Tiger or even DD's very own Dark Roast.
Taste: 10
I love overhearing others get involved in the Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts debate (and yes, I used "vs." instead of just "v." This is Anything But Law. If you want to see a "v." go read a casebook). This is a K-Cup review, so I won't go there. All I know is that this is a delicious cup of coffee. I drink my coffee black, not with a scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream like I've witnessed others do at 7:30 am. I find the taste to be very rich and smooth.
Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup: 7
This is a tough category to grade for this particular K-Cup. It's Dunkin Donuts! They don't need to have the face of a tiger on their K-Cup (or do they). I wouldn't mind seeing Michael Vale on a K-Cup reminding me that it's "Time to Make the Coffee."
Overall: 9
This is a true go-to K-Cup. Until recently, these K-Cups were only available at Dunkin Donuts. However, I recently purchased a pack of K-Cups at my local Publix. I will say that the K-Cups purchased at Dunkin Donuts taste better than the K-Cups I purchased at Publix.