Photo: Elizabeth Hait, AOL
We're not exactly making a New Year's resolution to count our calories, but when we saw that both Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts were launching two new "healthier" breakfast sandwiches this week, we took the bait. Here, the details and our panel's scorecard:
The Contenders: Starbucks' New Veggie Artisan Breakfast Sandwich vs. Dunkin' Donuts' Wake-up Wraps varieties (Egg White Turkey Sausage and Egg White Veggie).
The Claims: Starbucks' new Veggie, Egg, & Monterey Jack sandwich is, "an ... omelet with fire-roasted green and red peppers and diced onion topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese nestled in a hand-scored oven-toasted artisan roll." (350 calories)
Dunkin's Wake-Up Wraps "feature a five-inch tortilla filled with egg whites, turkey sausage, spinach, and reduced-fat cheddar cheese," and the Veggie Wake-Up Wrap has "egg whites, peppers, onions, mushrooms and reduced-fat cheese." (150 calories)
The Price: From January 4 (yes, that's today) through the 10th, Starbucks has a deal going: Buy one of their handcrafted beverages and get a Breakfast Sandwich for $2. Dunkin' Wraps sell for $1.29 each.
The Verdict: Starbucks Veggie ABS (Grade B-): Although the sandwich was fresh, and the bread was a better quality than the Dunkin' Wake-Up Wraps' tortillas (which were kind of hard), our panelists thought there was just too much bread, not nearly enough vegetables (we only had two or three peppers buried in each sandwich's egg), and it was bland. "More salt," begged one panelist. "More flavor!" When it came to the cheese, though, the Monterey Jack of Starbucks had an edge over Dunkin's low-cal cheese, which, said one panelist, "tasted like fake cheese food." Starbucks, add more vegetables and amp up the spice, please.
Dunkin's Wrap (Grade B+): Everyone on the panel agreed this wrap (which isn't really a wrap at all) had the kick you want in a breakfast sandwich. It was more highly spiced than the Starbucks Veggie ABS, and the sausage had good flavor. The tortilla, though, could use a remake. It tasted just a touch stale. Dunkin', we'll come back for the spice, and the low-cal ease, but freshen up the tortillas, please.
1-04-2011 @6:08PM Seth said... Just an FYI - An Egg McMuffin has 50 less calories and 6 grams less fat than the Starbucks "healthy" artisan veggie sandwich. Your much better off with their reduced fat turkey bacon egg white english muffin, or their spinach feta wrap.
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1-06-2011 @10:25AM KASEY said... They really should be offering samples of the sandwiches. If they're that good, people will get addicted and come back to buy them morning after morning. They could just make them and cut them up in bite size pieces (like those warehouses or walmart does for samples). Customers would flock in for the free taste and no doubt feel the need to buy an over-priced beverage while there in there, since we're all so addicted. I know Http://savecreatively.com/FreeStuff.aspx has a ton of free samples and on the coupon tab of the site you can print out coupons for free restaurant items usually. I had free arby's shakes last week, no purchase necessary!
1-06-2011 @11:24AM Joel said... Seriously, why would anyone want to eat all the processed and artificial crap they serve at the big chains?. Instead ,,why not opt for your locally owned independent cafe or coffeehouse.
The Coffee Club Cafe near my house in a Cleveland suburb has fantastic egg sandwiches!
They use REAL eggs, REAL cheese and the bagels and croissants they come on are fresh baked right out of of the oven. Absolute heaven. !! Boycott the corporate chains!!!l
1-05-2011 @9:16AM Elizabeth said... I'm a big fan of the Starbucks breakfast sandwiches, especially the black forest ham one. They're warm and tasty, and have enough protein and carbs (without overloading on calories) to carry me through my morning. I'm definitely planning on checking out the $2 sandwiches this week!
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1-06-2011 @7:40AM Cervelli said... I just fell into the trap of the Starbuck's... I bit.... no veggies... I went back to the store and asked. "the veggies are inside", I was told... Hmmmm cracked it open in front of the barista.... Yep... inside alright.............ONE LONELY green pepper.... that was it, nothing more... good thing it was only $2... Not buying THAT again..
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1-06-2011 @7:58AM robert said... went to my local starbucks and found that they are not offering the breakfast sandwiches saying they don't have an oven..maybe I could bring them a toaster over to heat the sandwich in...come on, lame excuse for not having a promotional item to offer
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1-06-2011 @8:03AM Koz said... The first time I had Starbucks coffee was back a few years ago in Chicago s O Hair airport. It took me a few minute to explain what a coffee was and then they gave me a cup of black water and told me the cream and sugar was over there. That was the last time I ordered a Starbuck. I said ordered because one sip and I through it in the trash.
Large decaf extra extra at Dunkin get me just what I want.
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1-06-2011 @9:02AM Tony Carlos said... If you take your coffee with "extra extra," it's no wonder you don't like Starbucks. The reality is you don't like coffee. You are drinking a coffee-flavored sweetened milk drink.
1-06-2011 @9:38AM Nicole said... Did you taste the DD Wake-up Wraps or the Veggie Flatbread sandwich? From your post, it sounds like you tested the Veggie Flatbread, which is much more substantial than the wrap.
I love the DD Veggie Flatbread sandwich and have never been even remotely interested in trying the similar sandwich from Starbucks.
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1-06-2011 @9:58AM PeanutButter&Jenny; said... The D&D; wake up wraps are a completely different menu item (which are actually wraps.) The items you reviewed are their egg white flatbread sandwiches (which are actually flatbread sandwiches.) Stellar journalism!
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1-06-2011 @10:41AM GENE KANOFSKY said... For a good, tasty breakfast sandwich, one should try Subways new menu. I don't know about calorie counts, but it taste good and has fresh veggies and eggs whites only.
Gene
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1-06-2011 @11:31AM joey3quarters said... First both of these things stink nothing but 5 or 6 $ artery cloggers. Both stores stink over priced , big money for a littile sandwitch.
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1-06-2011 @12:18PM iBombshell said... Subway is healthier honestly and for the same price you get basically the same thing on your choice of bread and choice of cheese veggies ect. not to mention at the price of $2.50 you also get a 16oz of Seattle's Best coffee :]
Your argument is irrelevant, Starbucks robs you of money :]
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1-06-2011 @2:52PM Egglectic Cafe said... Looking for a cozy Wheaton breakfast restaurant? I recommend Egglectic Cafe.
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