Dunkin’ Donuts, which is now just called Dunkin’, has been a coffee and quick-service restaurant chain for a long time.
Since it opened in 1950, Dunkin’ has added more than just coffee and donuts to its menu. It now has a lot of breakfast and lunch options, as well as a wide range of cool drinks.
The Coolatta Dunkin, which came out in the early 1990s, is one of the most famous and well-known of these iced drinks.
We will talk about the history, flavors, ingredients, nutrition facts, and more of the popular Coolatta Dunkin’ Donut in this blog post.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve liked this frozen treat before or have never tried it. Everyone can learn something new and enjoy!
Nothing beats sipping on a frosty, velvety Vanilla Bean Coolatta from Dunkin’ on a hot summer day. Between the sweet, lush vanilla flavor and creamy soft serve texture, it’s pure refreshment in a cup But if you’re caffeine sensitive, you may wonder – does Dunkin’s iconic Coolatta contain any caffeine to keep you wired and awake?
As a Coolatta connoisseur, I’ve done extensive research into whether there’s any caffeine buzz in Dunkin’s frozen vanilla beverage. Keep reading to discover the truthful verdict on this refreshing cooler.
Demystifying the Coolatta’s Composition
To unpack whether the Vanilla Bean Coolatta contains caffeine, let’s first explore what goes into this frozen drink. Its two main ingredients are:
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Soft Serve Ice Cream – Creamy vanilla soft serve makes up the Coolatta’s frosty base Frozen dairy provides rich flavor and thickness,
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Flavor Syrup – For the Vanilla Bean variety, Dunkin’ adds its proprietary vanilla syrup to infuse bold vanilla taste
The vanilla soft serve and syrup get blended together to create the signature Coolatta consistency. Customers can choose from four sizes ranging from small to extra large.
Some additional key details:
- Coolattas contain no coffee or espresso
- They’re non-carbonated
- Customizable with various flavor swirls and toppings
Now let’s investigate the caffeine content of the two main components.
Looking at Vanilla Soft Serve’s Caffeine Levels
Since soft serve makes up the bulk of the Coolatta, this is the biggest determinant of its caffeine content. Here’s what to know about vanilla soft serve:
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It’s made from a blend of cream, milk, sugar, and natural or artificial vanilla flavoring.
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Dairy naturally contains a tiny amount of caffeine. But the level in vanilla soft serve is extremely low.
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An 8-ounce serving of vanilla soft serve only has about 1-2 mg of caffeine on average.
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For comparison, an average 8 oz cup of coffee has around 95-165 mg of caffeine.
So straight vanilla soft serve lacks any significant caffeine kick. But what about Dunkin’s vanilla syrup?
Evaluating Caffeine in Dunkin’s Vanilla Syrup
Dunkin’s vanilla syrup gives the Coolatta its signature rich, bold vanilla flavor. Here’s the scoop on whether the syrup contains any caffeine:
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The main ingredients are sugar and natural or artificial flavors.
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Dunkin’s doesn’t add any coffee extracts or espresso to the syrup.
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It’s highly unlikely for vanilla flavoring itself to contain caffeine.
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Without coffee or tea extracts, the vanilla syrup itself is caffeine-free.
Since neither the soft serve nor syrup provide any real caffeine content, we can deduce caffeine isn’t present in the final Coolatta beverage.
Why Other Dunkin’ Frozen Drinks Contain Caffeine
If you’ve ever sipped a Frosted Coffee Coolatta or Frozen Chocolate, you’ll notice an unmistakable caffeine kick missing from the Vanilla Bean variety. So why do these other frozen Dunkin’ beverages contain caffeine?
It comes down to two caffeinated ingredients that may be blended in:
1. Coffee Extract
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Gets added to coffee and mocha flavored Coolattas.
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Provides authentic coffee flavor along with caffeine content.
2. Chocolate Syrup
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Used in chocolatey frozen varieties.
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Chocolate naturally contains tiny amounts of caffeine.
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Dunkin’s likely uses real chocolate or cocoa in their syrups.
So coffee and chocolate are the caffeine culprits, while vanilla stays innocent.
Caffeine Content Varies by Coolatta Size
While the Vanilla Bean Coolatta has no caffeine on its own, keep in mind that caffeine levels can rise if you customize it with coffee swirls or toppers.
Caffeine will also increase if you size up since larger sizes contain more soft serve and syrup. To compare:
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Small (16 oz) – No caffeine from vanilla soft serve and syrup
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Medium (22 oz) – No caffeine
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Large (32 oz) – No caffeine
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Extra Large (40 oz) – No caffeine
So feel confident choosing any size Vanilla Bean Coolatta, knowing it won’t disrupt your sleep!
Who Should Choose Caffeine-Free Coolatta Varieties
Understanding that Dunkin’s vanilla, strawberry, and other fruit flavored Coolattas are caffeine-free can help certain customers make the best beverage choice:
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Those sensitive to caffeine or who limit intake
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People who abstain from caffeine like children or pregnant women
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Anyone wanting a Coolatta later in the day/evening
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Customers seeking a dessert-like frozen treat without stimulants
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People taking medications that interact poorly with caffeine
The availability of caffeine-free choices makes Coolattas easily enjoyable any time of day!
Alert: Beware of Added Espresso Shots
One last word of caution – while the standard Vanilla Bean Coolatta has no caffeine, baristas can add a shot of espresso upon request. So if you want to avoid any caffeine, be sure to specify no espresso.
A single shot of espresso (about 1 ounce) contains roughly 64 milligrams of caffeine. That’s nearly the same as a small cup of coffee. So steer clear of those add-on espresso shots if you want your Coolatta completely caffeine-free.
Satisfy Sweet Cravings Without the Jitters
With its ultra-rich vanilla soft serve and syrup, Dunkin’s Vanilla Bean Coolatta provides a sweet, decadent milkshake-like treat. The next time a Coolatta craving strikes, rest assured you can quench it without getting buzzed on caffeine.
Stick with the classic vanilla or other fruit flavors to enjoy a completely coffee and caffeine-free indulgence any time of day! Just be mindful to avoid espresso add-ins for a guaranteed caffeine-free experience.
Sip, slurp, repeat – let yourself get refreshed by creamy, dreamy vanilla bliss swimming in Frozen Dunkin’ heaven. With no caffeine to keep you up, the Vanilla Bean Coolatta lets you satisfy your sweet tooth both day and night!
Alternatives To Coolatta Dunkin
Iced Coffee: If you’re looking for a caffeine boost, iced coffee is a great alternative. Dunkin’ Donuts offers a wide range of iced coffee flavors, including French vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel.
Iced Latte: Similar to iced coffee, an iced latte is made with espresso and milk. It can be flavored with syrups such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut.
Iced Tea: If you’re looking for a non-caffeinated option, iced tea is a great choice. Dunkin’ Donuts has flavored iced tea, like peach and raspberry, as well as sweetened and unsweetened iced tea.
Frozen Coffee: If you want something that feels like a Coolatta but tastes like coffee, try a frozen coffee. Dunkin’ Donuts offers several flavors, including mocha, caramel, and vanilla.
Frozen Chocolate: If you’re in the mood for something chocolatey, try a frozen hot chocolate. It’s similar in texture to a Coolatta but with a rich chocolate flavor.
Smoothies: Dunkin’ Donuts also has a variety of fruit smoothies that are a great choice if you want something healthy and refreshing.
You’ll Also Like: Dunkin Donuts Avocado Toast
Where To Get Coolatta Dunkin?
You can get Coolatta Dunkin from any Dunkin Donuts outlet near you. Dunkin Donuts is a multinational coffee and doughnut company that has over 12,000 outlets in 36 countries.
You can find Dunkin Donuts outlets in most major cities around the world. You can also order Coolatta Dunkin through their online ordering system and have it delivered to your doorstep.
Along with their physical locations, Dunkin’ Donuts also has an online ordering system that lets you get your Coolatta Dunkin from home.
You can visit their website and select the Coolatta Dunkin flavor that you want to order. After picking out a flavor, you can make your drink unique by picking out the size and amount of ice you want.
You can then proceed to checkout and pay for your order using your preferred payment method. Dunkin Donuts will then deliver your Coolatta Dunkin to your doorstep within the specified delivery time.
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Does Dunkin Coolatta have caffeine?
Dunkin Coolattas have no caffeine because these are frozen drinks made without coffee. Previously Dunkin used to sell a Coffee Coolatta, but it has been phased out and replaced by Frozen Coffee in 2017. Is There Milk in Dunkin Coolatta? Yes, the Vanilla Bean Coolatta contains milk according to the nutritional information found on Dunkin’s website.
How many calories are in a vanilla bean Coolatta?
A medium Vanilla Bean Coolatta contains 590 calories and 125 g of total sugar. As you can imagine, these frozen drinks are not the healthiest option on the menu. But was anything fun to drink or eat ever made the healthiest option? With high sugar and calorie content, it’s important to enjoy Coolattas in moderation as an occasional treat.
Does Dunkin Donuts have a vanilla bean Coolatta?
Try a Dunkin Vanilla Bean Coolatta! This copycat recipe of the popular coffee chain, Dunkin’ Donuts, is sweet, creamy, and very simple to make at home. Our reader Michele on Pinterest said: ” Made this for my 9yo son, he loved it! said it was better than DD! ” ★★★★★ Want to save this recipe?
What is the difference between a frozen coffee and a Coolatta?
The main difference was a frozen coffee typically had less sugar than a coffee coolatta. Now that there is no coffee Coolatta, the difference between a frozen coffee and Coolatta is that a Coolatta does not have any coffee or caffeine added to it.