Nothing is better than sipping an iced, cold French vanilla coffee with cream and liquid sugar when it costs me no dollars.
In honor of National Coffee Day, when the bank account starts crying, I know it’s time to use my points.
The blessings of the old Dunkin’ rewards meant that every $1 would become 10 points. I could trade in 500 points (about $50) for a free small, medium or large coffee, but that’s about to change.
Dunkin' announced this month that they were revamping their rewards program. They are inflating their point system and expiring points a year from the last day of the month they were earned, starting in October, according to an email they sent their rewards members on Sept. 6.
This means that for the same coffee, it will cost me an additional 100 points, so about $10 more (600 points total).
As a college student who pays interest on my loans and rent every month, every penny counts. An extra $10 here or the extra $15 for a cold brew is a lot on my budget spreadsheet.
Here is a deeper dive into the skyrocketing point changes:
Dunkin's revamped point system was sent in a rewards email to customers. | Graphic by Calla Patino | The Setonian
While the new Dunkin’ point system is not a slam dunk, it is another example of how consumers are receiving less for their money as inflation rises on imported coffee beans.
Dunkin’ coffee is made from 100% Arabica coffee beans, which are primarily produced in Colombia and Brazil. As of Aug. 6, Brazilian import tariffs to the United States rose 40% after President Trump signed an executive order on July 30 claiming national security threats from Brazil.
This brought the total tariff on Brazilian goods to 50%, including President Trump’s 10% baseline tariff as a part of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) "Reciprocal” tariffs.
The baseline tariff took effect on April 5 and fell under the executive order, “America First Policy,” announced on January 20.
An increased price of coffee is a result of the rise in tariffs on coffee beans. For an avid coffee drinker like myself, who last year spent over $1,400 on coffee alone, reward deals are vital to maintaining a daily caffeine dosage.
On Aug. 29, the Court of Appeals declared the IEEPA tariffs illegal, stating that the president lacked authority to enact them under his emergency powers. It was appealed to the Supreme Court, where it will be discussed on Nov. 3.
I can only hope this means the tariffs will go back down, and I can enjoy coffee again. Until then, I suppose I will have to deal with the prices and slowly accept that I will have to pay half my stomach away to rack up enough points to have moments of peace.
The timing of the Dunkin’ rewards change is, comically enough, right around when the campus Dunkin’ is being renovated to include mobile ordering.
While I am ecstatic for the new renovations to the Dunkin’ on campus, the change in the point system, which will be enacted before the renovations are completed, means I have to spend more regardless. The Dunkin’ renovations are aiming to be completed by mid-October, according to University Relations.
This point inflation system and Dunkin’ renovation on campus are pushing me to brew my own coffee at home.
The “Dunkin’ Rewards Refresh” doesn’t irritate every penny in my pocket. Rewards will include a specialty coffee category, where I can now collect rewards on a Dunkalatte or a shaken espresso. They’ve also reduced the points for “Bagels and Bites” from 600 to 500 points.
Although Dunkin’ has seen so many parts of my life, including one too many impromptu, unpaid TikTok promos, and my purse, I am left in astray from the point inflation of their rewards changes.
Calla Patino is the head editor of The Setonian’s Opinion section. She can be reached at calla.patino@student.shu.edu.
