Choosing a Hazelnut Drink at Dunkin’: A Guide to Nutty & Malty Flavours

If you love the warm, toasty taste of hazelnut, Dunkin’ has several delicious ways to enjoy it. The simplest and most popular choice is adding a hazelnut flavour shot or swirl to your coffee, but you can also find hazelnut in cold brews, lattes, and even non-coffee drinks like hot chocolate or chai. Each option balances nutty and malty notes differently, so your perfect drink depends on whether you want a subtle hint or a rich, dessert-like treat.

What Does Hazelnut Taste Like at Dunkin’?

Dunkin’s hazelnut flavour is a blend of nutty, roasted, and slightly sweet notes with a subtle malty undertone—think of toasted hazelnuts with a hint of biscuit or cereal. You can get it two ways: a flavour shot is unsweetened and adds pure hazelnut taste without extra calories, while a flavour swirl is sweetened and creamy, giving a richer, more indulgent flavour. Most hot and iced coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, and even cold brew can be customised with hazelnut.

How to Choose Your Hazelnut Drink

Start by deciding how strong you want the hazelnut flavour and how much sweetness you prefer. Then consider the base drink and temperature. Here’s a breakdown of the main options:

Remember, you can always ask for extra or fewer pumps of hazelnut to adjust the intensity. Dunkin’ typically uses 2-3 pumps for a small, 3-4 for a medium, and 4-5 for a large, but you can customise.

Customising Your Hazelnut Drink

Dunkin’ makes it easy to tailor your drink. Here are some popular customisations for nutty and malty fans:

• Add oat milk or almond milk for an extra nutty, slightly sweet creaminess.
• Combine hazelnut with mocha for a chocolate-hazelnut (Nutella-like) flavour.
• Ask for half sweet by mixing one pump of swirl with one shot, or request fewer swirl pumps.
• Add a shot of espresso to any drink for a stronger coffee kick.
• Top with cold foam (if available) for a creamy finish on iced drinks.

Hazelnut Drinks for Memorable Get-Togethers

Hazelnut drinks are versatile for social occasions. For a casual brunch, set up a Dunkin’ run with a variety of hazelnut choices: iced hazelnut lattes for warm days, hot hazelnut coffee for cool mornings. For a movie night or game night, a large iced hazelnut cold brew to share (poured into cups with ice) keeps everyone satisfied without alcohol. If you want a dessert-like treat, order hazelnut hot chocolates with whipped cream for all ages. Pair these drinks with Dunkin’s bakery items: hazelnut coffee goes wonderfully with a glazed donut, a croissant, or a blueberry muffin, as the nutty flavour complements buttery pastries and fruit.

Non-Alcoholic Hazelnut Drink Ideas

All Dunkin’ hazelnut drinks are naturally alcohol-free. For a fun mocktail, order a large iced hazelnut latte with extra ice, then blend at home with a banana and a spoonful of cocoa powder for a hazelnut-banana smoothie. Or mix half iced hazelnut coffee with half cold milk and a dash of cinnamon over ice for a refreshing hazelnut milk punch. These are great for guests who want a festive drink without spirits.

Understanding the Malty Note

The “malty” aspect of hazelnut comes from roasted grain flavours often found in coffee beans themselves, especially in Dunkin’s original blend, which has a mild, nutty, slightly malty profile. Adding hazelnut enhances this, creating a toastier, more comforting taste. If you want to amplify the maltiness, try a hazelnut latte made with oat milk—oat milk naturally has a cereal-like sweetness that pairs beautifully with hazelnut.

Final Tips for Your Next Visit

Don’t be afraid to ask your Dunkin’ crew for a recommendation based on your preferences. Tell them if you like strong coffee, sweet drinks, or creamy textures, and they can guide you. Start with a medium iced hazelnut swirl coffee if you’re new to hazelnut—it’s balanced and refreshing. And remember, hazelnut flavour pairs well with chocolate, vanilla, and caramel, so feel free to experiment.