Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is giving away free samples of its new summer drink.On Monday, the coffee-and-donut chain launched its new Frozen Coffee - a blended beverage that is replacing the chain's cult favorite Coffee Coolatta. To drum up excitement for the drink, Dunkin' Donuts announced that it will be giving away free samples of the beverage on Friday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while supplies last.
Dunkin' Donuts decided to swap the Coffee Coolatta with the Frozen Coffee because the Coolatta simply wasn't up to the chain's standards, executives said at the brand's media day in March.
While the Coffe Coolatta was seen as a decadent dessert - a large Frozen Mocha with cream packed 990 calories and 133 grams of sugar - the Frozen Coffee is supposed to be seen as a more nutritionally reasonable option. While a large with cream still contains 840 calories and 125 grams of sugar, Frozen Coffee is intended to target customers looking for a warm weather caffeine fix.
However, some customers are less than enthused about the loss of the Coffee Coolatta.
"The only thing I ever go to Dunkin for is coffee coolatta. My daughter too," one customer wrote on Dunkin' Donut's Facebook page Monday morning. "Tried the frozen coffee this morning. Not impressed. It's like getting an iced coffee that's too light. Won't be going back."
Dunkin's decision to swap its Coffee Coolatta for Frozen Coffee is part of a bigger effort to emphasize more coffee-centric beverages as coffee culture becomes increasingly mainstream. Last summer, the chain launched cold brew coffee, something that Dunkin' says helped "democratize" the drink. Now, the chain is serving nitro cold brew in five locations, with plans to expand the test in the near future.
Omg @DunkinDonuts why would you ever discontinue the coffee coolatta?! I'm disappointed 😔
- Lindsey Warner (@lindsey_warn3r) March 23, 2017That's me when I heard @DunkinDonuts is discontinuing coffee coolattas pic.twitter.com/00jI3QLEED
- Kevin McGowan Jr (@kevinmcgowanjr) March 22, 2017The coffee coolatta is the greatest invention of the 90's. Crazy. I'm legit crying 😭😭 #SaveTheCoffeeCoolatta
- ShipMasterFlex (@KidNamedShippee) March 23, 2017