This week I decided to look up what other bloggers’ favorite Dunkin’ iced coffee flavors were. People who go to Dunkin’ usually have their go-to and advocate strongly for their favorite coffee flavor, just like I did two weeks ago in my Gracie Go-To blog post.
So, after a long school day, I got in my car and went to Dunkin’ and searched the internet for people’s opinions of Dunkin’s best iced coffees, and decided on Ryan F’s suggestion from his blog post on Restaurant Click’s.
I never remember being a fan of Hazelnut coffee flavors in the past, but I thought I might give it a try. He also suggested using almond milk in this drink, and I took his advice. I’m usually the type of person running straight to the creamer at Dunkin’ or the oat milk at Starbucks, so I was hesitant.
This drink was definitely a step out of my comfort zone for an iced coffee order since I have my heart set on a select few from Dunks. I don’t regret trying something new, but it didn’t make the rotation.
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The Hazelnut & Almondmilk Iced Coffee
When exploring the Dunkin’ menu, there is a wide array of flavor shots and flavor swirls that you may decide to add to your iced coffee. A flavor swirl is sweetened, and a flavor shot is unsweetened. Rocco Smith on Restaurant Click’s describes the hazelnut flavor shot as “nutty and warm … reminiscent of the holidays”. This paired with the almond milk makes for an overall nutty flavor that will have you feeling like you’re sitting by a warm fire in the winter again.
But that’s not the case with the iced version. I should’ve listened closer to Ryan’s suggestion when he advocated for getting the hazelnut flavor shot in primarily hot drinks. I should’ve also listened when he said it was reminiscent of the holidays. Maine has many seasons, and the appropriate flavor shots tend to change with the seasons just as the leaves do. If it was the dead of winter rather than April, I’m sure I would’ve found this drink much more enjoyable, especially if it was hot rather than iced.
The Rundown
When I took the first sip of this drink, my expectations and hopes were high and I was excited to discover a potential addition to my Dunkin’ coffee rotation, which is pretty limited. I definitely understood why the aforementioned blogger Ryan F. described this as a nutty drink, especially with the combination of the almond milk.
I just wasn’t digging it.
I tried to like it. I did the whole thing where you take a few sips after the initial one, in denial of the mistake you’ve made in ordering the coffee. We’ve all been there, and that’s exactly what happened tonight. Instead of feeling warmth, I felt like this coffee didn’t align with the mood of the season. It’s April, not December, and this drink tasted just like the latter.
Review Breakdown
BITTERNESS: 9 – Not even a hint of bitterness.
FLAVOR: 4 – In the context of spring and especially as an iced drink, the flavor isn’t my favorite.
SWEETNESS: 5 – This drink is not that sweet, besides the almond milk. It is much nuttier than it is sweet.
AFTERTASTE: 6 – Not necessarily an unpleasant aftertaste, but not a pleasant one either.
BALANCE: 5 – Not bitter, not sweet, but very nutty.
OVERALL DRINK RATING: 5.8
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’d say this drink is nothing particularly special – It’s just mundane and okay. You aren’t going to spit it out when you drink it, but you probably aren’t going to be amazed at how great it is, either. It’s mediocre, and its overall rating of 5.8 reflects that pretty well.
However, I do think that my opinion may be biased due to it being the beginning of April and spring. I should’ve tried a hot version of this drink on a cold day. I think then I would like it more. So if that’s your situation right now, go for it. It may warm you up on a cold morning. It’s a comforting drink, just not my style.
Come back next week for a new brew, new review!
Next week I will be trying a new Starbucks drink I haven’t tried yet – These one’s are usually great, so make sure you don’t miss it!
