The Dunkin' drink buckets are being test marketed by the brand at participating locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts as an oversized beverage option for two of its signature refreshments. The bucket cups measure in with a 48-ounce size to offer nearly double the amount of drink that comes in an average size beverage option. The drinks include the brand's iced coffee, iced latte or Dunkin' Refreshers alongside some specialty options including the Caramel Coco Iced coffee, Blueberry Cobbler Iced Latte and the Strawberry Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher.
The Dunkin' drink buckets have already garnered buzz amongst users on TikTok and Instagram, and come as both a retro and modern product option. This is inspired by the bucket-style drink cups from the 90s, but with an updated profile thanks to the iced coffee options.
Image Credit: Dunkin’
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Oversized Portions Revival
- Large-format beverages that amplify perceived value and shareability create room for new pricing models and menu tier innovations.
- Nostalgia-driven Product Resurgence
- Retro-inspired packaging and formats reintroduce dormant concepts to modern consumers, enabling reimagined offerings that blend heritage aesthetics with contemporary ingredients.
- Social Media-fueled Microtrends
- Viral short-form content accelerates adoption cycles for novel product variants, producing demand spikes that favor limited-run and regionally tested launches.
Where This Applies
- Quick-service Coffee Chains
- Chain operators face opportunities to diversify portion portfolios and experiment with communal or novelty formats that reshape in-store consumption dynamics.
- Beverage Packaging Manufacturers
- Producers of cups and lids can explore durable, Instagrammable form factors and scalable tooling for oversized containers that balance cost, sustainability, and functionality.
- Foodservice Marketing and Media
- Agencies and brands benefit from tactics that convert social buzz into measurable trial through platform-native creative and regional testing strategies.
