Dunkin', the coffee and donut chain, is generating buzz with a pilot program selling approximately 1.4-liter large-format coffees at select U.S. locations.
According to Boston.com and other local media outlets, Dunkin' has launched 48-ounce (approximately 1.4-liter) extra-large beverages at select stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The new size is 50% larger than the previous maximum of 32 ounces (approximately 960ml)—large enough to hold about 25 Dunkin' Munchkins donut holes. The oversized cups are available for cold beverages including iced coffee, iced latte, and Dunkin' Refreshers, priced between $8 and $12 depending on the drink.
Though Dunkin' has not officially promoted the product, photos and videos spreading across social media have triggered sellouts. Comments on Instagram include "I want to get one too" and "Please release this nationwide."
The large-format beverage trend reportedly originated at independent cafes in the U.S. last year. The New York Times reported that "some cafes are serving iced coffee in 34-ounce (approximately 1-liter) buckets." Dunkin' appears to have seized on this trend by introducing an even larger bucket beverage.
Liter-Sized Coffee Gains Popularity Worldwide
Demand for large-format beverages is growing not only in the U.S. but also in South Korea and Japan. Several Korean coffee franchises, including Mega Coffee, Paik's Coffee, and Mammoth Coffee, already sell oversized drinks.
Mammoth Coffee, which emphasizes extra-large sizes and value pricing, has captured both the domestic Korean market and Japanese consumers. The chain opened its first Tokyo location in Toranomon in January last year, selling up to 1,400 cups daily and drawing strong response from local office workers.
At Mammoth Coffee in Japan, a large iced Americano offers 940ml for 400 yen (approximately $2.80). Compared to Starbucks Japan's Venti at roughly 580ml for about 565 yen (approximately $3.95), Mammoth Coffee's portion is 1.6 times larger at a 30% lower price. Japanese media have described this as "redefining value."