13 Sugar Filled Drinks to Avoid at Dunkin’

If you're like me, you need a strong caffeinated beverage to get you ready for a big day of work, parenting, commuting, and everything else. The coffee that usually does the job for me is at Dunkin' with their large selection of hot and cold beverages. However, when I started to look at the nutritional information on the drinks I was purchasing, I realized what they contained — a lot of sugar.

You may be surprised at some of the most sugar-filled drinks currently available at Dunkin'. Many drinks, including cold brews, lattes, cappuccinos, and even some of the black coffee options, contain more sugar than you should have in an entire day. To help you stay healthy, I've compiled this list of sugar-filled drinks to avoid at Dunkin'.

This post was updated in October 2025 to include relevant information about some of the coffee drinks available at Dunkin' Donuts.

When you go out for coffee or eat out in general, it's important not to consume too much sugar. Eating too much sugar can put your body in danger. According to the CDC, having too much sugar regularly can lead to serious ailments, including heart disease, obesity, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and more. That's why, as parents, it's essential to monitor how much sugar our kids eat.

According to Heart.org, men should consume no more than 36 grams of sugar and women should have no more than 25 grams of sugar per day. As you'll see on this list, many of the drinks at Dunkin' and other fast-food restaurants have a sugar content that is dangerously high. Be cautious of the drinks on this list if you value your health.

First on the list of sugar-filled drinks to avoid at Dunkin' is just about any cold brew coffee with cream and sugar. A simple glass of coffee doesn't seem that bad, but when it's ordered without modifications, you'll get around 56 grams of sugar in a large size. That's more than your daily allowance. Think about that if this is the first beverage you get in the morning.

If you're looking to add more oomph to your coffee by going for a caramel cold brew, you may be getting even more sugar than you realize. When you order this drink as it comes, you'll be getting 67 grams of sugar in a large size. That's more than twice your daily allowance. If you drink this every day or you drink more than one per day, you'll be in bad shape.

Most Dunkin' restaurants will offer either a blue raspberry or strawberry Coolatta. Both can be very tasty when you need something refreshing without the added caffeine. Sugar is added to provide more flavor. However, if you get the medium coolatta, you'll also be taking in 83 grams of sugar. That's a massive amount. Do yourself a favor and get a healthy smoothie elsewhere instead.

One of the sugar-filled drinks to avoid at Dunkin' is the Caramel Swirl Frozen Coffee, especially if it's made of whole milk. It's hard to avoid ordering this when you see it on the menu. It's a tasty coffee beverage covered with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle — who wouldn't want to order that? Well, you shouldn't. The drink contains 124 grams of sugar in a large size. That's enough to cause major health issues over time.

Most people don't go to Dunkin' for a regular black coffee. Usually, they want something sweet with a little more flavor. That's why many folks go for the French Vanilla Swirl Hot Cappuccino. However, if you're one of them, be careful. A medium of this beverage will contain 46 grams of sugar, which is above your daily recommended maximum.

This amazing drink has it all. Tons of ice cream, a heaping serving of whipped cream, and a swirl of chocolate on top. It's like a liquified dessert that provides the caffeine you need to get through the day. The downside is that the drink also has 124 grams of sugar. That's more than you should have in several days, so be careful with this one.

If you're going to order black coffee as a healthier option, then you'll want to avoid the extra frills. Case in point: the Caramel Swirl Hot Coffee. When you order this hot beverage, you'll be getting 38 grams of sugar.

This is another one of the sugar-filled drinks to avoid at Dunkin'. If the regular caramel swirl hot coffee is unhealthy, adding cream makes it worse. This combination provides 53 grams of sugar in a medium size, which is really pushing it. It may taste better, but if you have a few of these in one day, your health may take a hit.

A latte is a great choice for a caffeine pickup. That's why it's one of the most popular drinks at any coffee shop. Add a caramel swirl to the mix, and you'll have a recipe for deliciousness. However, they may have made it too tasty. As a result, the drink has 53 grams of sugar in a medium size, which is a lot for a single beverage.

The Caramel Craze Signature Hot Latte is another of the most delicious-looking coffee drinks you'll ever see. It has that amazing caramel drizzle and the option for whipped cream. It's mouthwatering indeed. However, it's also full of sugar — 57 grams, to be exact. It's a lot for one drink, and it's bad for your health.

This French vanilla treat is great for a cold day, and it has the caffeine you need to get through a long day at work. However, it also has an enormous amount of sugar. With 45 grams of sugar, you're asking for trouble. It's fine to order once in a while, but don't go overboard.

You also need to be careful when ordering an iced cappuccino at Dunkin' because you may get more than you bargained for. One of the most dangerous cappuccinos is the Butter Pecan Swirl, which has 45 grams of sugar. Be cautious not to drink this too often. Instead, go for the standard iced cappuccino, which has a fraction of the sugar.

The last of the sugar-filled drinks to avoid at Dunkin' is the standard sweet tea. To make the drink so tasty and sweet, it requires a lot of sugar. A large typically contains around 45 grams of sugar. You're better off making the same drink at home. You'll save money, and you'll likely have a healthier beverage.