Coffee culture has created a divide that goes beyond flavor—choosing Dunkin’ or Starbucks often says more about your identity than just your caffeine preference. The cup you grab on your commute or the café where you catch up with friends can reflect broader lifestyle choices and values.

This sense of “coffee tribalism” is well-established. Brand loyalty in the category is frequently shaped by factors like socioeconomic status, geography, and personal habits—with some consumers sticking to their coffee brand for life. Understanding how Dunkin’ and Starbucks consumers engage with their preferred brands helps marketers develop stronger personas, uncover emerging trends, identify partnership opportunities, and refine competitive strategies.

In celebration of National Coffee Day and all things caffeinated, Alliant took a deep dive into its audience data to uncover differences in the buying habits and brand loyalties of Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks drinkers. Let’s explore!

The type of car someone drives often reflects their identity and can provide insights into their lifestyle and economic status.

Coffee preferences can reveal shopping patterns across department stores and various consumer product categories.

In a time when social media and influencer marketing are booming, knowing which influencers and content creators people follow gives marketers powerful insights.

Like coffee choices, QSR dining preferences often reflect factors such as income, age, and geography—key drivers of brand affinity.

When it comes to beauty products, consumers show distinct differences in brand loyalty.

Coffee isn’t just a morning ritual, it’s a window into consumer behavior, lifestyle, and brand affinity. Whether you’re comparing the differences between the leading coffee brands, or exploring the automotive or retail categories, insights like these help marketers better understand and connect with audiences through data.

Alliant offers brand propensity and custom audience segments for both Dunkin’ and Starbucks, as well as for the many non-coffee brands referenced in this analysis. Built from rich transactional data, Alliant Audiences enable brands to uncover buying behaviors and target the right consumers. Explore Alliant’s full taxonomy of 2,800+ audiences ready for activation in any channel.

Ready to brew up success? Contact us to learn how Alliant can help transform consumer insights into real campaign performance.