There is another way- Dunkin' Donuts!

The Dunkin’ Donuts across the street from the Starbucks- not facing it head on but a little over to the right- seems without a doubt the Everyman’s Cup. Situated a bit unobtrusively, not proudly or haughtily on a corner like its larger, more prominent competitor, it sits quietly in its modest locale a few stores in. Plunked on the wrong side of the street as well, it's sandwiched between the optometrist and vegetable place, the entire location bent on proclaiming itself proudly ordinary!

You have to scuttle past crates of cantaloupes and peaches in good weather and mounds of grayish yellow snow in winter to get to the heavy orange handled door; once inside you immediately scan the few skimpy tables and window stools for a possible seat not too near the garbage or condiments. The place is smaller than its rival and the soundtrack pure Seventies- think Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”- a confluence of happy, uplifting beats that makes you glad you came. 

Likewise the clientele is more down to earth and at least slightly if not more bedraggled than the spirited bunch at Starbucks, or perhaps just seems that way because of the setting. There are the usual toddlers, moms, retirees and busy folks on their breaks, a few sleek looking residents from some of the newer, more expensive condos, and now and again the itinerant overweight NYC cop huddled in a corner scarfing down some quick form of  sustenance. But whether rich or poor, young or aged, infant or teen, fat or thin, shlumpy or well dressed, the space induces a kind of strange transformation where everyone suddenly seems old and distinctly working class. It just has that kind of effect on people, like a sort of social time machine that propels you to a simpler, stupider time, which is all part of the ineffable charm. 

The coffee at Dunkin’ is much better than that of its competitor, and their brewed decaf- always on hand- infinitely drinkable, if not exactly designer quality like the brew served at the very spiffy and brand newest café around the corner, the one with the high prices and low seating capacity. This latter place whose trendy Italian sounding name eludes me and has a sound track of soft jazz- and is now the third caffeine dispensing pusher in the neighborhood- declares itself socially sustainable, or something vaguely moral like that. And in truth the java is tolerably good and the smallish space impeccably pristine; but there’s a coolness about the venue that makes you not wish to settle in for too long, which is probably the whole idea behind the shiny, metallic feng shui. In and out fast, as the computer chings up as many quick sales as possible! Whereas at Dunkin’ you can hang out for as long as you wish, even if you don’t necessarily crave to sit under those unforgiving, cheap, flickering lights for too long on rickety stools.

Another distinctly human feature of our very own neighborhood Dunkin’ Donuts is that they accommodate requested do-overs, and without a gripe,  if it turns out the brew served was tepid, having sat near the bottom of the urn for far too long with no takers. They just put on another pot and tell you it will be ready in a few minutes without fear of corporate reprisal. The counter people seem part of a small family owned enterprise- Indian or Pakistani perhaps, not super caffeinated, cheery or sullen wannabe hipsters moving fast and dancing madly behind the Starbucks counter after (or maybe instead of) school. The teens in fact who man Dunkin’s percolators- no matter the ethnicity- clearly seem much more like cousins or nieces or nephews though they may not even be related. The disparity in ambience no doubt has to do with the idea of a chain like Starbucks versus a franchise operation like Dunkin' Donuts.

Both places are dirty naturally, but the dark color of the tables and strategic lighting tend to camouflage this sorry state at Starbucks, while at Dunkin’ there is no denial possible- it’s just all too real. This may be a small price to pay though, the lack of any semblance whatsoever of an esthetic factor, given some of the other alluring qualities, the fact that it's cheaper not being the least of these. 

I am willing to acknowledge that I just may wind up disillusioned about my new coffee spot one of these days, and I have been known to frequent the newer hip place too because I love the tasty brew; I also freely admit that Dunkin' coffee is not exactly gourmet level and that you have to go there at certain times and avoid the after school crowd. But probably my dislike will never grow to the level of contempt I now feel for Starbucks and their unconscionable, discriminatory practices toward among other things decaf drinkers.

Finally, Dunkin Apostrophe Donuts has me totally convinced it or "they" truly and genuinely are down home, simple, hardworking, good-hearted, typical American folk because they drop the final “g” in the name and in this way manage to sound so very familiar and real and comforting and downright regional; ironically however, as far as the actual, specific region, I’m not  exactly sure whence. . . .