Dunkin': Coffee and Doughnuts
From Quincy, Massachusetts. Dunkin' began as the Open Kettle in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1948 and became a coffee giant. Doughnuts, Munchkins and its 2019 name change.
A Boston cream doughnut: ChildofMidnight at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
Feeding factory workers
William Rosenberg ran a business delivering meals and snacks to factory workers around Boston. He noticed that coffee and doughnuts were his best sellers, so in 1948 he opened a shop called the Open Kettle in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1950 he renamed it Dunkin' Donuts, after the habit of dunking doughnuts in coffee.
Doughnuts and franchising
Rosenberg began franchising in 1955 and helped found the International Franchise Association. Dunkin' became a New England institution, and in 1972 it introduced Munchkins, doughnut-hole snacks made from the centres of ring doughnuts.
Becoming a coffee brand
Over time, coffee became Dunkin's main business, with iced coffee especially popular year round in New England. In January 2019 the company officially shortened its name to Dunkin' to reflect that focus. In 2020 Inspire Brands, which also owns Arby's and Sonic, bought Dunkin'.
Visiting the original
The original Quincy location still operates with a retro design honouring the first shop. For more doughnut history, read our famous doughnuts page and our Krispy Kreme page.
Dunkin' also became a sponsor in Boston sports and a regular part of local pop culture, with famous New England fans loyal to the brand. For many people in the region, the orange and pink cup is a daily habit.
Menu guide
Dunkin' sells hot and iced coffee in many flavours, espresso drinks, tea, Coolatta frozen drinks and Refreshers, plus doughnuts, Munchkins, bagels, muffins and breakfast sandwiches. Popular doughnuts include Boston Kreme, glazed and jelly. In New England, ordering a regular coffee traditionally means coffee with cream and sugar, which surprises many visitors.
Did you know? Iced coffee is so popular at Dunkin' in New England that fans drink it even in freezing winters, a habit sometimes called running on Dunkin', after the brand's long-time slogan. The original Quincy shop was remodelled to show its history, and many visitors stop there for a photo.
Dunkin's nutrition guide lists sugar for each drink, and flavoured swirls add much more than unsweetened shots.
- A Boston cream doughnut: ChildofMidnight at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
Text written by Fast Food Run.
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