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There are a lot of different coffees out there, and the names can blur together fast.
One of the drinks that is hardest to miss is the Charli at Dunkin, mostly because it kept popping up on social media.
I can see why people keep asking about it, so this guide covers what the Charli is, how it tastes, and how to order one.
What is “The Charli” from Dunkin? (The famous Charli D’Amelio drink explained)
The Charli is a Dunkin Donuts drink created in collaboration with Charli D’Amelio.
If you follow TikTok, Charli D’Amelio hardly needs an introduction.
Her follower count changes all the time, which is part of why anything attached to her gets so much attention.
The Dunkin Donuts Charli is inspired by Charli D’Amelio’s favourite ingredients and the Dunkin drink she used to order growing up.
It’s made with a cold brew base, whole milk, and 3 pumps of caramel syrup or caramel swirl, and the first thing I notice is how quickly the sweetness softens the coffee. It still tastes like coffee, but it feels smoother and sweeter than a regular iced coffee.
It was first released in 2020 as a limited-time drink, and it started trending almost immediately. Since then, Dunkin has brought it back in promotional runs, so availability can shift.
The connection to Charli D’Amelio is a big part of the appeal, but the drink still has enough going on to stand on its own.
It’s not the Dunkin drink I’d hand to someone who wants a pure coffee hit, but it does feel more like a treat than a routine order.
I usually think of it as a warmer-weather order, partly because cold brew suits summer so well. It is also fairly sweet, so it does not come across as a lighter option.
If you’re keeping an eye on sugar or calories, this is more of an occasional order than something I’d reach for every day.
You’ve probably seen the Dunkin Donuts Charli drink on social media without even realising it. If you like iced coffee, the flavour profile is easy to understand: sweet, cold, and very easy to drink.
When it is on the menu, you can usually ask for The Charli and be understood straight away.
How it tastes
The Charli Drink is based on a Dunkin cold brew with sweet cold foam. Dunkin cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 12 hours.
That long steep gives the drink a smoother, less acidic taste, and it still feels pretty punchy even when the coffee flavour is softened by milk or foam.
The mix of Dunkin cold brew with whole milk and a caramel swirl gives it a rich sweetness, but it does not tip into the heavy, dessert-style sweetness of some of their chocolate drinks.
It is sweet, but it still drinks like coffee, which is why it works so well on a hot day.
The cold brew and caramel combination suits anyone who likes a sweeter iced coffee, but I would not treat it as a low-sugar energy drink.
Ordering the Charli drink at Dunkin Donuts (How-to & cost)
The Charli Drink was first launched by Dunkin in 2020 as a limited-edition drink made famous by Charli D’Amelio.
It took off quickly, but Dunkin did not keep it on the permanent menu. It has been brought back in later promo periods, which is why the menu status can feel inconsistent.
How to order
The Charli Drink is usually available during a promotional run, so you can order it in store or through the Dunkin App.
The Dunkin App makes it easy to build the drink yourself, and I like that you can tweak the sweetness or add extra flavour without having to explain it twice at the counter.
When it is back on the menu, you can usually order it straight away. The catch is that promotional drinks often only stay around for a short run, so it pays to check before you set your mind on one.
If it is not listed, that does not always mean you have missed your chance.
Dunkin usually has the ingredients for The Charli Drink on hand, so if you do not spot it on the menu, you can ask for a medium cold brew mixed with milk and 3 pumps of caramel syrup or caramel swirl.
You can also order the Charli and Charli Cold Foam drinks through the Dunkin App, even if they are not on the regular menu. Just select the medium cold brew, whole milk, and caramel swirl to build it.
You can add sweet cold foam and cinnamon sugar to make it a Charli Cold Foam drink instead.
You can even get Dunkin on DoorDash , so you can have your Charli drink without leaving home.
How much it costs
The Charli Drink at Dunkin is available in small (16 ounces), medium (24 ounces), or large (32 ounces), and a medium is listed at $3.19 in the source used for this guide.
You can customise your Charli Drink with different milks, sugar syrups, cinnamon sugar, sweet cold foam, or other toppings.
That is an easy way to put your own twist on this Charli D’Amelio drink, although the extras may cost more.
How to make the Dunkin Donuts Charli drink at home? (Full recipe)
Not everyone can get to Dunkin easily, and coffee-shop drinks can add up quickly.
That does not mean you have to miss out. A home version is easy enough to throw together, and once I started making it myself, I realised the main trick was keeping the sweetness in check.
This drink is essentially cold brew with whole milk, so it is one of the easiest home coffees to make because there is no heating or complicated brewing involved.
It usually takes about 5 minutes, and the ingredient list is short if you already have cold brew ready.
To make The Charli Drink at home, you only need a few basics.
The process is simple enough to follow without much equipment.
- 1If you’ve bought cold brew, then move on to step 2. If you're making your own, take 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds and mix them with cold water in an airtight container. Leave for 12 hours, and then filter out the grounds to leave you with some fresh cold brew.
- 2Pour the cold brew into a large cup.
- 3Mix in 2 tablespoons of caramel syrup to the cold brew with whole milk combination. This will probably make the mixture lighter.
- 4Add half a cup of whole milk.
- 5Stir to combine.
- 6Taste, and add extra sugar if needed.
FAQs
Is the Charli still at Dunkin Donuts in 2022?
The Charli isn’t always on the regular Dunkin Donuts menu, but you can still order a version of it by asking for cold brew mixed with 3 pumps of caramel syrup and whole milk.
What is the difference between the “Charli drink” and the “Charli Cold Foam” at Dunkin?
The Charli Drink started as the original collaboration between Charli D’Amelio and Dunkin Donuts, and the Charli Cold Foam version adds sweet cold foam and cinnamon sugar on top. The extra foam softens the coffee even more and gives the drink a smoother, more dessert-like finish.
Conclusion
The Charli Drink became one of the most talked-about Dunkin orders almost immediately.
The sweetness and cold brew base are the main reasons it works for so many people, and this should make it clearer what The Charli Drink is and how to order it.
Once you know the build, the Charli Drink is straightforward to ask for, whether it is on the menu or not.
