I Tried the New Sabrina Carpenter Drink at Dunkin’

Pennsylvania native Sabrina Carpenter just partnered with one of the Northeast’s most beloved fast food chains, leaving “quite an impression” for her millions of fans. 

To kick off the new year, Dunkin’ launched their newest drink in collaboration with the pop star: Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso. The new iced beverage is made with the chain’s espresso and is flavored with brown sugar syrup and a splash of oat milk. And yes, I tried it for the sake of journalism.

Let me first admit that Carpenter was my top Spotify artist in 2023 and my no. 3 in 2024, so clearly I’m a fan. But I’m willing to put my positive bias aside to give an honest review of this drink and break down the nutrition information. Here’s what to know before giving this beverage a taste.

Sabrina’s Dunkin’ Drink: How’s It Taste?

First, it’s no surprise that this drink is sweet, as brown sugar is in the name. But the sweetness was more subtle than I expected from a Dunkin’ coffee. I was surprised that on my first sip, I noticed the brown sugar enhancing the strong espresso flavor rather than being immediately hit with the sweetness of the drink. And I’m team oat milk any day of the week, and the plant-based milk provided a lightness that balanced the bold ingredients.

Outside of a nutrition perspective (which I’ll get into a little later), my only qualm with this drink is that it’s iced. Dunkin’ and other fast food chains alike: Can we stop launching specialty iced coffees in the wintertime? Of course this is a personal issue, but I prefer a cozy hot drink in my hands over holding a cup of ice in freezing weather. But also, the profile of Carpenter’s beverage would promise the feeling of a warm hug with a hot espresso base. 

All that said, I definitely enjoyed sipping on this drink while writing this article, but if you’re wondering if the iced brown sugar espresso at Dunkin’ is a healthy choice, keep reading.

Is This Drink Healthy?

I ordered a small, which is served in a 16-ounce cup. For a small, here’s the breakdown of Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso:

• Calories: 120
• Carbohydrates: 26 g 
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Total Sugar: 18 g
• Added Sugar: 18 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Total Fat: 1.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 70 mg

While the drink is pretty low in calories and fat, the added sugar content is worth noting. Let me be fair and say that this drink is lower in added sugar when compared to other recent Dunkin’ creations (I’m looking at you, Almond Spice Coffee). But it’s still fairly high in added sugar with 18 grams for a small serving. According to the American Heart Association, a healthy added sugar intake should be no more than 36 grams per day, and this drink is 50% of this recommended limit.

But please, please, please don’t worry: There’s an easy way to lower the amount of added sugar in this drink. The small drink comes with two pumps of the brown sugar syrup, so by ordering the drink with just one pump of syrup, you will cut the grams of added sugar in half. At EatingWell, we are firm believers that all foods and drinks can be incorporated into a healthy eating pattern, so if a sweeter beverage is what you prefer, go for it. It’s all about moderation, and this lower-added-sugar adjustment is for those wanting to include this coffee in their regular rotation.

The Bottom Line

Would I order the Sabrina drink again? Yes, but with a slight tweak. As the espresso was fittingly the highlight in this drink, next time I would order this with just one pump of the brown sugar syrup. This wouldn’t change the flavor much, but would cut the sugar content in half, making it more suitable for a regular sip.