Dunkin' Recipe

Brew 2 cups of very strong coffee using your preferred method (drip, pour-over, or French press). Aim for a coffee-to-water ratio slightly stronger than usual so the final drink remains bold after milk and ice are added.

If you want extra espresso-like intensity, stir the instant espresso powder into 2 tablespoons of the hot brewed coffee until dissolved, then return it to the coffee pot and stir to combine.

In a small saucepan or microwave-safe container, heat the whole milk and half-and-half gently until steaming but not boiling (about 150°F / 65°C). If you prefer iced, skip heating and use cold milk and cream.

Whisk in the vanilla-flavored powdered creamer (if using) until fully dissolved. This adds the slightly sweet, rounded flavor reminiscent of Dunkin' creamers.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Add 2–3 tablespoons of the hot brewed coffee and stir until sugars dissolve to form a syrup.

Taste and adjust sweetness or vanilla to preference. If using flavored syrup instead of the sugar blend, stir 2 tablespoons of syrup into the brewed coffee at this stage and omit one or both sugars.

Combine and Froth

Pour 1 cup of brewed coffee into each serving cup (this recipe makes two cups). Stir in half of the sugar-vanilla syrup (about 1–1.5 teaspoons per cup) or 1 tablespoon flavored syrup per cup. Add 1/4 cup heated milk and 1/4 cup half-and-half to each cup and stir to combine.

If you like a foamy top, froth 2–4 tablespoons of the warmed milk with a handheld frother or by shaking tightly in a heatproof jar for 30 seconds. Spoon froth on top of each cup.

Top with a dollop of whipped cream and dust lightly with cocoa powder or ground cinnamon, if desired. Serve immediately.

Fill two tall glasses with ice. Pour 1 cup of brewed coffee (cooled) into each glass. Stir in the sugar-vanilla syrup or 1 tablespoon flavored syrup per glass until dissolved.

Add 1/4 cup cold whole milk and 1/4 cup cold half-and-half to each glass. Stir gently to combine so the drink gets the characteristic layered look.

Top with whipped cream if desired and dust with cocoa or cinnamon. Serve with a straw.

Adjust milk-to-cream ratio to taste — more half-and-half or cream for a richer, creamier cup. For a lower-calorie version, substitute low-fat milk and skip powdered creamer and whipped cream.

Scale the recipe up or down keeping proportions: 1 cup brewed coffee : 1/2 cup combined milk + cream : ~1–2 tps sweetener per cup as a starting point.