Dunkin’ Donuts

There is a EXTREMELY HIGH level of retardation in this donut shop. That’s all I got for YA…

I’m not sure I have ever heard of anyone attempting the career change I am. I spent the past seven years wringing a meager administrative career out of nothing — no experience and as it turns out no real inclination — and have about two years of material resume experience to show for it. That and a good dose of disillusionment. This malaise is certainly familiar to my generation, even among the few of us who find themselves successful in the field where their passion lies, but the decision to go from administration to web development seems to be underrepresented. Maybe I’m the vanguard, awakening to the sort of deep dissatisfaction normally reserved for people experiencing midlife crises. That thought is somewhat comforting, that our so-​called quarterlife crises were a result not of a millennial torpor as is often ascribed but of a higher awareness of our selves than what previous generations experienced. Maybe more of us should have listened to the panicked voices as the latter half of our 20’s loomed. Maybe this wasn’t the graduation from a late adolescence to final adulthood, but a cry that adulthood is how a generation defines itself, not as it’s defined by the previous generation. But with so much wrested loose by the X’ers and the Boomers, maybe we were always doomed to stifle this cry and surrender our agency to define ourselves out of misguided allegiance to they who came before. I look at the accelerating income gap and worsening racial attitudes and wonder exactly what we think we owe the previous generations’ so venerated wisdom.
And so I find myself in limbo, not nearly confident enough to break away from the miseries of a career I’m ill-​suited for and disinclined to further pursue and engage with a new industry with the pitiful level of my current abilities. I say this as a matter of fact, not as some discouragement; in fact, I feel no discouragement. This is a frank assessment of where I am on my chosen course. Unfortunately it leaves me in a job and career I despise while I chip away towards some mantle of acceptability. I take every opportunity to get away, and the completeness of my compartmentalization every day once I leave the office is consummate. I long for the opportunity to revel in thinking about work outside of work, to puzzle over problems and integrate my professional life with my private one — something I believe web development, more each day, will afford. But it’s not here and it’s not now. Right now, all designated free time from my pecuniary responsibility feels like a liberation, an escape.
Today’s escape comes in the form of trying Dunkin Donuts new dark roast. The Dunks that’s closest to my office in Kendall is far enough to warrant a walk. I don’t have a jacket, but, true New Englander, I find the autumn wind bracing, the juxtaposition of outdoor chill and indoor warmth invigorating. And I like this Dunks. It feels secluded. It’s certainly off the path on the edge of the square and not in the direction of anything else. It represents the terminus of Kendall; beyond, only roads and the Charles. And at 2:30 on a Thursday it’s quiet, almost abandoned. Several of my friends have been raving about the new dark roast, and it’s cheap. I uncover the lid and set it steaming on the small table by the windows. This Dunks is small but the large windows make it seem bigger than it is. I don’t like scalding hot anything so it needs to cool — I likely won’t have it until I get back to the office, and the cup itself is physical anticipation. Overcast, breezy, and dropping temperature, it’s a standard autumn day, especially from my remove behind thick glass. I watch some leaves blow by and, for the moment, I feel free.

Could rank as one of the slowest dunkin donuts in the country, and if you’ve ever been to a dunkin donuts you know that’s quite a feat!

Ah, Dunkin Donuts! Who does not love it?
Well, it is OK. I am fond of the place, but pray to the Lord I will never have to eat here again. It is Dunkin Donuts, the people were very lovely and gracious. Still though, poor coffee and food that challenges the definition.

After purposely avoiding DD for the first few months of living in Kendall Square I have now once again succumb to getting a weekly dose of DD. I get free coffee at work so I usually only get 1 thing and 1 thing only — a multi-​grain bagel with strawberry cream cheese — when these 2 breakfast items combine it’s amazing — I don’t even really like cream cheese there is just something about this combo. I think there is crack or something in some aspect of this breakfast treat — because let’s be honest anything that comes from dunkin donuts is a treat (more blunt — it will fatten you up). This location is even a Baskin Robbins/​DD combo!
Now that you know way too much about my weekly breakfast indulgence, I’ll fill you in on the details of the 4 stars. I have now gotten my crack cream cheese/​bagel combo 3 or 4 times and each time the bagel has been perfectly cooked — this does not happen at all DDs — I know I have been to several. The fact I have not gotten a burned bagel and the guy has never given me the wrong kind of cream cheese is practically a miracle compared to some other DDs — this guy gets 5 stars. Most of the other workers are nice albeit a bit slow (they get 3 stars) so slow the bagel guy has my bagel ready before I have gotten my change — again 5 stars for that guy. The location — close to the T is convenient — more convenient than I would like since I try and not go, but I digress.

Excellent Medium regular coffee. that’s all I need

Average dunks. Pro’s if you are feeling really down, you can get donuts and ice cream at the same time. It’s like a double rainbow of calories.
This one is connected to my building so I can get there without going outside. This is what puts the dunks at 4 stars. Generally a line from like 8.45 to 9.30AM.

Yes. I know. It’s a chain coffee shop. It’s the same every place you go. And you might ask, «Four stars?! Really? How are they ‘Yay! I’m a fan,’ worthy?» To which I will reply, «Compared to others that I’ve been to… Yes.» They do a great job of clearing the line. I think that if you work in a place dedicated to caffeine, you should be fast. Not just for the sake of customer service, but also, because your key demographic is almost always in need of that fix by the time they walk through your doors. But, then again maybe, that’s just me.
The one down side to this particular location, it’s a friggin’ dead zone. I had to wait to leave before my iPhone had a signal and I could start to write this.