• Dunkin’ tested an oversized iced coffee that quickly drew attention in New England.
  • The limited-time launch sold out fast in select markets.
  • Nutrition experts say the drink’s size raised important questions about caffeine and sugar intake.

As anyone from Boston and the greater New England area can attest, iced coffee isn’t seasonal. It’s a year-round drink. There just is no weather bad enough that can deter someone in this part of the nation from heading out to get their Dunkin' iced coffee. (I’m from Rhode Island and went to college in Boston; thus, I am the authority on this.) And the coffee chain knows it, which is why it's rewarding customers with even more iced coffee than they could get before.

Dunkin’s 48-ounce iced coffee buckets

Earlier this week, Dunkin' rolled out absolutely massive 48-ounce buckets of coffee. And no, this isn't us attempting to be cute by calling it a "bucket." It's a literal bucket, with a handle and everything. It also comes with a thick straw so you can drink straight from the bucket.

Here’s the bad news: The buckets were only being tested for a limited time in New Hampshire and Massachusetts—and they sold out almost immediately.

How much coffee is too much coffee?

Now, here's the good news: You probably shouldn't be drinking an entire bucket of coffee in one go anyway.

"The safe amount of caffeine per day is around 400 mg, according to the FDA. These 48-ounce buckets can pack anywhere between 550 and 960 mg of caffeine per bucket, meaning it could be more than double the recommended safe limit in a single container,” says Dan Miller, a nutritionist and founder of Eternum Longevity Center. "People need to understand that coffee is a stimulant, not hydration. Water is the official beverage of the animal kingdom; for health and longevity, it must be yours, too."

Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian at MyHealthTeam, puts it another way: "For reference, a standard canned energy drink contains about 100-200 mg of caffeine. A 48-ounce iced coffee 'bucket' contains about as much caffeine as about five 12-ounce Red Bulls."

And that’s just plain coffee. Things only go down from there, health-wise, if you add anything other than coffee to your bucket.

"On its own, the iced coffee bucket just contains brewed coffee. Once you add other ingredients like cream, sugar, and syrups, the health concerns start increasing," Zenker explains. "Dunkin’s specialty flavored iced coffees contain up to 63 grams of sugar for a medium, and up to 87 grams for a large. That’s more than three times the maximum amount of added sugar for the entire day."

Scale that up to a 48-oz bucket, and the whole drink "could contain a whopping 126 grams of sugar, which is like five entire day's worth of sugar in just one beverage," Zenker says.

So what’s the move?

Instead of slugging a whole bucket, Zenker suggests sipping and savoring something smaller instead.

"Enjoy coffee in moderation. Black coffee is linked to health benefits, including improved heart health and longevity. Practice mindfulness when drinking your coffee by slowing down and paying attention to the present moment," she says. "Notice the taste, temperature, mouthfeel, and smell of the coffee."

Nikki Kuhlmann, a registered dietitian at WellTheory, agrees, sharing that it's best to stick to a more moderate serving size like 12-16 oz, and "consider using low-fat milk or unsweetened alternatives with minimal added sugar to keep your coffee enjoyable without overdoing caffeine or sugar."

Kuhlmann also suggested it's best to enjoy your coffee earlier in the day to "better support sleep later on." But, if you like having an afternoon boost, you can "always refill with a second, smaller cup later in the day if needed, spacing out your caffeine intake for better energy balance."

The bottom line

If you’re set on the bucket experience—and lucky enough to snag one from Dunkin’ the next time they have them in stock—pacing yourself (spacing it out over a few days) or sharing it with friends may be the smarter play.

And, don't worry. Even if you can't find one of the buckets, you can still get a decent amount of iced coffee any time at Dunkin' with its 24-ounce medium drinks or its 32-ounce large options. And if you happen to be in a Dunkin' location in Boston, say hello to ya motha for me, will ya?