The coffee barons are here. But will they do battle?
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has a home in East Hampton. Dunkin' Donuts CEO Jon "Jack" Luther has just purchased a home in Southampton. Is a coffee battle brewing for the Hamptons?
With the recent purchase of a five-bedroom home on Pheasant Lane in Southampton, Dunkin Donuts' CEO Jon Luther is now the second coffee baron to have a second home in the Hamptons. Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, has long had a home in East Hampton. (No word on whether or not Peet's Coffee CEO Patrick O'Dea or Tim Horton's CEO Paul House are looking for East End properties.)
But how will the brew barons match up? And who will win the coming coffee wars? We took a rigorous look at the facts to try and figure it out.
Tagline:
Dunkin' Donuts: "America Runs on Dunkin"
Starbucks: none really, though they like to call themselves the "Third place—not home, not work."
Number of Stores in the Hamptons:
Dunkin' Donuts: 1 (Hampton Bays)
Starbucks: 4 (East, Bridge, South, Bays)
Cost to Size Ratio:
Dunkin' Donuts: Large coffee: 20 ozs./$1.99
Starbucks: Large (Venti): 20ozs./$2.28
Packaging:
Dunkin' Donuts: Pink and Orange/Styrofoam—risk for clashing with Pucci outfit and not so enviro-friendly
Starbucks: Subtle Green/Paper—coordinates well with most outfits. 10% recycled paper cups nearly guilt-free for self-styled enviro-chic.
Perceived Cache:
Dunkin' Donuts: Says "I'm a blue-blooded American not fooled by fancy names and perceived cache."
Starbucks: Says "It's good coffee and I don't care that I just payed $5.23 for a no-fat, half-cafe double pump vanilla latte."
The Men Behind the Cups:
Dunkin' Donuts: Luther says that he bought the "home as a summer
retreat for their family, making sure there is plenty of room for the
grandkids." Awww.
Starbucks: Schultz is given to throwing star-studded parties (his benefit for Jance Goodall two years drew the big names) and is very much a man about town in East Hampton.
Verdict:
We suspect that Dunkin' is going to have a hard time making inroads with the Hamptons crowd. The Hamptons' love affair with conspicuous consumption and ostentatious displays of wealth is perfectly suited to Starbucks' high-prices and proclivity for giving their coffees grandiose names (Venti, Grande et. al.). But we can't rule out a backlash to all this. With the sub-prime market still tanking and grimer days ahead, we wouldn't count Dunkin' out just yet.
Dunkin' Donuts Chief Buys in Southampton [Newsday]
I'm voting for
I'm voting for Starbucks.... not because of the Hamptons "conspicuous consumption and ostentatious displays of wealth" (do I detect a bit of cynacism here), but because I just happen to like their lattes,and their comfy couches. Just my 2 cents........
Maybe we should take a vote.....
Ok Lisa. You asked and we
Ok Lisa. You asked and we now deliver. Take our Plum poll on the subject and we'll see who's the more popular coffee giant.
It's quite simple really?
It's quite simple really? Dunkin Donuts is an instituion, Starbucks drinkers should be institutionalized. At Starbucks you feel like you're being mimicked, "Could I get a tall coffee?"
"Tall coffee!" says employee #1
"Tall coffee!" repeats employee #2
It's like working in an echo factory. At least when you go to Dunkin Donuts you are confident the voices in your head are your own. At Starbucks, you can't even be sure you're drinking real coffee. So, go enjoy your blah-te, I'd rather drive to Riverhead for a real cup of joe.
I would like to add my two
I would like to add my two cents....i prefer Dunkin' Donuts, just because the coffee tastes much better to me...However when i need to run around the park, i drink Starbucks simply because it charges me up! I agree, the couches in Starbucks are comfy, cozy and it has a much better atmosphere so hence, i bring my cup of Dunkin' Donuts and sit on the comfy couches and enjoy the atmosphere.
Dunkin Donuts
Dunkin Donuts RULEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
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