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Do Dunkin’ Refreshers have caffeine? Here’s what I discovered after trying one

Dunkin's refreshers are more than just refreshing

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Dunkin' Guava Refresher
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

Dunkin’ Refreshers have been around since 2020, yet my first taste test was just a few days ago (yes, it took me five years to order a non-coffee drink at Dunkin’). After the latest launch of the Tropical Guava flavor, I finally gave in to try this fruity drink — just in time for the warmer weather. The new Tropical Guava flavor, launched as part of Dunkin’s early summer 2025 menu, joins existing refresher flavors such as Strawberry Dragonfruit and Mango Pineapple.

These fruity and colorful drinks will surely catch your eye if you’re rolling through the Dunkin’ drive-thru. But do Dunkin’ refreshers have caffeine? I only asked this question after drinking one. As it turns out, these drinks are more than just a refreshing drink for a hot day. They’re also excellent as an energy booster (for those of you, non-coffee drinkers).

Do Dunkin’ refreshers have caffeine?

Dunkin' refreshers
Dunkin’

Caffeine content isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I see a photo of Dunkin’ Refreshers. The fruity beverages look delicious and refreshing as a soft drink, but they don’t seem like energy drinks. Dunkin’ doesn’t market them as energy drinks in the name itself. Unlike other beverages from competitors, such as Panera’s Charged Sips Energy Drinks, the name “Refreshers” doesn’t suggest a large dose of caffeine. Because of this, I’m confident many Dunkin’ customers (like me) have ordered this drink while unaware it contains caffeine.

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As a regular coffee addict, I’m fairly numb to the effects of caffeine (assuming I stick to two to four cups of coffee per day). When I first ordered the Tropical Guava refresher, I had already had three cups of coffee. About an hour after slurping it down, I started to ask myself (and Google), “Do Dunkin’ refreshers have caffeine?”

I soon learned Dunkin’ refreshers contain about the same caffeine as a regular cup of coffee. If you read the drink description carefully, Dunkin’ describes it as made with an “energizing green tea base,” which is perfect for a midday slump. This is clearly Dunkin’s way of hinting that the refreshers are a drink designed to boost your energy (though not quite an “energy” drink, which typically has 150 to 200+ mg of caffeine per serving).

Caffeine in Dunkin’ Refreshers

Dunkin' Guava Refresher
Dunkin’

Per Dunkin’, a small refresher contains 66 milligrams of caffeine, and a medium and large contain 99 mg and 132 mg of caffeine, respectively. For comparison, this means a small refresher contains around the same caffeine as one shot of espresso, whereas a medium contains about (or slightly more) caffeine than a standard cup of hot drip coffee.

Although I wouldn’t consider the caffeine in Dunkin’ Refreshers unreasonably high, it could be problematic if you drink these in addition to other caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, energy drinks, or pre-workouts with caffeine. On their own, Dunkin’ Refreshers are a tasty way to get a light energy boost (and a great option for people who hate the taste of coffee). However, if you’re like me and are sipping coffee all day, you might want to skip that last cup of coffee to order a refresher.

Emily Caldwell
Emily Caldwell
Contributor
Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving… Read Full Bio
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