Ranu's Reviews

I have to admit that I was a little nervous about doing this product review. Since I started my diet and exercise plan, I haven't walked through the enticing entrance of a Dunkin' Donuts ("DD") in months. Even though I am still a student at Weight Loss University, it was going to be a challenge to resist the dean of donuts!

I had flashbacks to the days of extra-large Coffee Coolattas, Dunkaccinos and chocolate glaze donuts while I was waiting in line. The drive to work would consist of drinking the Dunkaccio while it was hot and eating the donut. In the parking lot, I would quickly dispose of the evidence and walk into work with just one drink, so nobody would know that I already had a pre-breakfast meal. Then I remembered huffing and puffing up one flight of stairs and suddenly slammed on the brakes before I got too far down memory lane. This was one route that I instantly deleted from my mental GPS system.

Check Out My Package

Both drinks come in a clear plastic cup with accompanying mushroom cap lid. Unlike Wendy's, DD went the extra mile and produced "Frozen Cappuccino" cups with a "cool" new logo. Unfortunately, mine was packaged in the same old Coffee Coolatta cup that has been around for years. It is a new product, so I wanted it served properly in the new cup. I know the cup has nothing to do with the taste, but presentation does count for something in my book.

Just the (Nutrition) Facts, Ma'am

I made a little chart below for the direct comparison of nutrition facts. The DD drink was made with whole milk and I later found out that they do offer a Frozen Cappuccino with skim milk. It would have been nice if the girl that took my order gave me that option.

Sources: Wendy?s: http://wendys.com/food/Nutrition.jsp  and Dunkin Donuts:
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/nutrition/Product.aspx?Category=Beverages&id=DD-1139

The Frozen Cappuccino

First up was DD's Frozen Cappuccino. What I have noticed about any DD frozen beverage is the amazing consistency of the ice part of the drink. Each minute piece of ice is about the size of a granule of sand. I wish they sold DD blenders for the home because every time I attempt to make a frozen drink, there is always a renegade iceberg lodged at the bottom. This is never the case with DD's frozen beverages. It's like they have their very own population of Oompa Loompas hidden inside that silver monolith that dispenses the frozen perfection.

Now maybe it was appropriate that I was served my morning pick-me-up in a Coolatta cup because that is what it tasted like--just more coffee and less chocolaty. This is probably what a Coffee Coolatta should taste like. I hate coffee, but love Coffee Coolattas--why?--because they don't taste anything like coffee. Don't get me wrong--I enjoyed the drink, but calling this drink a "frozen cappuccino" is as believable as Jon Gosselin's hair plugs.

The Frosty-cino

The afternoon drive home was the perfect time to try Wendy's Frosty-cino. For the record--this could possibly be the stupidest name ever for a liquid fast-food offering. (Not to be rivaled by Domino's Pasta Bread Bowl--the stupidest non-liquid fast-food offering of all time!)

Before trying the product, I thought, "Why didn't Wendy's just call it a Frosty Cappuccino?" I'll tell you why--it doesn't taste anything like a cappuccino either. WTF? (What the Frosty?)

I love the fact that Wendy's totally ripped off McDonald's McCafe by slapping a chocolate drizzle letter on top of their drinks and depending on how you look at it--it's even the same letter! However, the person that made my drink must have made their signature "W" with their foot, because it didn't even remotely resemble a "W."

The first four sips of this drink were pretty good. There was a nice, creamy mixture of chocolate and coffee. By sip number five, the coffee flavoring disappeared faster than Ed Hardy went out of style. I was left with a chocolate Frosty, some whipped cream and an indistinguishable chocolate drizzle blob on top.

The End Result

The bottom line is that if you like DD's Coffee Coolatta and enjoy the taste of coffee--you'll like the Frozen Cappuccino and if you like Wendy's Chocolate Frosty and the taste of coffee--you'll like the Frosty-cino. For the same price or maybe a few pennies more, I would go to a real coffee house and get yourself a real frozen cappuccino, but for convenience and taste--DD's Frozen Cappuccino is the winner. Plus, I'm sure there are a lot more DDs in your area than Wendy's, so you really shouldn't have to upset your daily routine just to get a frozen treat.

Neither drink really tasted like it was advertised, but they both hit the spot on a muggy summer day. I would still exile both contestants in this java joust to the Island of Misfit Fast-Food Menu Items--along with that that pizza that thinks it's a bowl of pasta!

For more product information, visit Dunkin' Donutsor Wendy's web site.