The Big Gulp might have some new competition in the realm of giant beverages from an unlikely dark horse: Dunkin’.
Over the weekend, Dunkin’ customers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts began posting head-turning images of giant coffee buckets on the menu at their local stores.
While some commenters doubted the veracity of these reports, a Dunkin’ spokesperson confirmed in an email to Fast Company that the doughnut chain is indeed testing out a 48-ounce collectible bucket at select stores after noticing buzz around coffee buckets taking off on social media.
A “coffee bucket” is exactly what it sounds like: a giant iced latte served in a plastic container that looks more like a garden tool than a cup.
The novelty beverage took off this summer and appears to have been sparked by several different small businesses, including Noctua Coffee in Missouri, Dulce Vida in Oklahoma, and Wicked Southern Coffee in Connecticut—all of which attracted thousands of views on social media.
Dunkin’ is no stranger to jumping on a trend, so it makes sense that the brand would arrive at this moment in the social media zeitgeist with a bucket in tow. In the past few years, Dunkin’ has experimented with wacky concepts such as an alcoholic drink line, a doughnut deodorant, and a horny Halloween doughnut. Here’s what to know about its latest launch.
Where can I find the Dunkin’ bucket?
Dunkin’ told Fast Company that the coffee bucket test is taking place at select stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but the company did not provide an official list of locations.
Internet sleuths and coffee fanatics have uncovered a few stores that reportedly carry the bucket, according to a cursory search of social media. We have requested the full list of participating stores from Dunkin’ and will update this story if we hear back.
What comes in the bucket?
According to the Dunkin’ spokesperson, guests can fill their coffee buckets with classics like iced coffee, iced lattes, or Dunkin’ refreshers.
Also available are three featured drinks: the blueberry cobbler iced latte, caramel coconut iced coffee, and strawberry dragonfruit lemonade refresher. (We shudder to imagine the nutritional contents of these creations.) Customers report paying between $7 and $10 for their buckets.
How are customers reacting?
So far, customers’ main complaint for this behemoth of a beverage appears to be the impossible prospect of transporting it.
One Instagram Reel with almost 85,000 likes, from creator Elijah Boivin, shows him cradling the bucket while driving. The caption reads: “Me holding my Dunkin’ Bucket because I don’t know where to put it because it doesn’t fit in the cup holder.”
A modern conundrum, indeed.