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Dunkin' has launched its new Halloween menu, headlined by the Potion Macchiato—a blend of espresso, marshmallow, and ube—but the flavor of the Southeast Asian purple yam falls short. Meanwhile, the Halloween Munchkins Bucket has become a hit with customers for its festive appeal.
Dunkin’s Potion Macchiato Blends Ube with Espresso, but the Subtle Flavor Fails to Stand Out
Highlights include the Potion Macchiato, a new addition that blends espresso with purple marshmallow ube flavoring and whole milk, a Halloween Munchkins Bucket filled with 50 Halloween-themed donut holes, and a revamped Spider Donut, now purple instead of its traditional orange.
Among the offerings, the Potion Macchiato stands out, particularly for its use of ube, a purple sweet potato from the Philippines that has gained popularity for its vibrant color and delicate flavor. Incorporating this Southeast Asian ingredient into a fall-themed beverage at a major American chain like Dunkin’ reflects the growing acceptance of international flavors in the mainstream. However, another matter is whether the ube flavor truly shines through in a coffee drink. Dunkin’ provided a sample to try, and the results were somewhat mixed.
Visually, the Potion Macchiato’s purple hue is subtle, especially compared to the dark espresso layer on top. While ube is typically known for its rich, saturated color, this drink lacks the visual punch of something like McDonald’s Grimace Shake from last year. Given how that trend went viral for unexpected reasons, a more muted appearance might not be the worst. The marshmallow flavor comes through upon tasting the drink before mixing, but the tube’s gentle sweetness is almost invisible. This isn’t entirely surprising, as ube tends to have a mild, earthy flavor, which the espresso overpowers once the drink is thoroughly mixed. Ultimately, the Potion Macchiato tastes like a sweet, creamy iced coffee, with little to distinguish it from other fast-food coffee options.
Dunkin’s Halloween Munchkins Bucket Becomes a Customer Favorite, Poised for Social Media Success
On the other hand, the Halloween Munchkins Bucket has been a hit. When speaking with the store manager, it became clear that demand for the festive buckets was high, with many customers calling to check availability. The Munchkins themselves are familiar cake donut holes coated in waxy orange and black sprinkles for the season. While they’re not particularly novel in flavor, the bucket—similar to McDonald’s Boo Buckets—adds a cute, reusable element that’s likely to be popular with kids and trick-or-treaters. Given the manager’s early-morning experience with fast-moving inventory, it seems the Munchkins Bucket could sell out quickly, especially if it catches attention on social media.
Overall, the Potion Macchiato is a fine addition to Dunkin’s Halloween lineup but falls short of its potential. While combining ube with marshmallow and coffee is intriguing, the ube flavor doesn’t come through strongly, and the muted color lacks the visual appeal many customers may be seeking for their social media posts. Still, it offers an enjoyable option for sweet and creamy coffee fans, as long as expectations are managed. The Munchkins Bucket, however, is likely to be a crowd favorite, both for its festive presentation and its potential viral appeal.
