Dave Burke - Freelance .NET Developer specializing in Online Communities

A freelance .NET Developer

Extolling the Dunkin Donuts Styrofoam Cup

Why discuss Dunkin Donuts styrofoam cups? What do they have to do with .NET development? Plenty.

After I have crossed over from my daily $1.98/pound decaf coffee supported morning coding session, and before and after my 4:00PM Labatt Blue Hour of Power, I am drinking a cold beverage from a Dunkin Donuts styrofoam cup.

Dunkin Donuts styrofoam cups (DDSCs) have the following excellent qualities:  They are light-weight, they can be used for months and years, they have fun colors, they are strong, and they are soft to the touch. 

I don't understand developers who give no serious thought to their beverages and beverage containers.  This is a part of the ritual of .NET coding, of This Developer Life of ours.

I have worked from home every day for the last 3 years, so I understand how coders who work outside of their home office might not be able to focus on these fundamentals, but there is always the late-night coding session to consider.  So this issue should be important to everyone.

And the beverage?  I was on a Kool Aid grind for a while but noticed I was really porking out.  (Damn them for coming up with those Mad Scientwist flavors!)  So I went back to a home-brewed ice tea recipee which I will share at another time.  (This ice tea recipee--even though a decaf brew--will boost your productivity, I gaaarontee!)  As a side, I always have a bag of Rold Gold Sourdough pretzels at the ready.

I love to write code, but please don't talk to me about it unless I specifically ask to hear about it.  I am, however, always interested in what coders drink and snack on while coding.  And I think everyone else should be, too.

Click on image for enlarged view

 

Comments

Roy Osherove said:

huh?
# June 21, 2003 3:14 PM

Daniel Nolan said:

Being from "quaint" old england I generally spend all day drinking tea. With the occasional coffee thrown in. I've taken a liking to the lemon/vanilla cola's they've just released over here though, mmmm.
# June 21, 2003 4:05 PM

Phil Scott said:

Best bet for me is the ol' stand bye, Mountain Dew. I don't like the flavor and sometimes it gives me an upset stomache.

I can drink Kool Aid way to fast. I would spend 10% of my time filling up my cup and the other 10% using the facilities. Mountain Dew on the other hand is a little too tough to just chug like kool aid.

As for food, you cannot beat chex mix. Mmmmmmm chex mix.
# June 21, 2003 4:06 PM

Ken said:

All about the Ritz Bitz and either Barqs Root Beer or Dr. Pepper. This isn't especially health though, so sometimes I just drink a bunch of water... and water makes for a lot of potty breaks which are good to recollect your thoughts on the problem at hand.
# June 21, 2003 8:51 PM

julie said:

styrofoam cups - GROSS. I work at home too. Nearest Dunkin' Donuts is 12 miles. If I need to get outta the house we have the best bakery in Vermont in our town (foothills bakery in Fairfax) and I bring my yuppy VPR (vermont public radio) travel mug and fill it up and get a yummy scone. Otherwise, we use our groovy Chemex coffee pot to brew up some Green Mountain Coffee which I drink out of one of the many beautiful hand made pottery mugs I have collected (or made myself) over the years. Really Dave! Styrofoam. Blecch!!
# June 22, 2003 9:57 AM

TrackBack said:

# January 14, 2004 2:10 PM

Bonnie said:

Dunkin Donuts cups rock.  You're right, the last for months and even years.  They wash up great in the dishwasher.  I wish I could buy them.  I'm not a coffee drinker but I drink ice tea all day long.  Decaf, sweet-n-low.  Yum. Yum.

# February 22, 2008 3:55 PM

Barbara said:

Where are the cups made?  Want to know if the cups and/or lids are made in China?

# June 5, 2008 11:54 AM

Bakes said:

For years I praised Dunkin Donuts for its most excellent styrofoam cups, but no more!

In the past 6 months I have had too many defective cups/lids to count.  

It has gotten to the point where I now routinely check my cup for spillage with each purchase  :(

And I know this is not only happening to me as most co-workers & friends report the same and most Dunkin Donuts employees will tell me that they have lately been receiving a lower quality, different style of cups/lids. Now when I get another one of the bad cups the Dunkin Donuts employees dont even seem surprised that I am immediately asking for a replacement cup. Its as if they are getting so many complaints that they are just used to it.

It seems pretty obvious to me that the company is trying to cut costs and is now skimping on the cups and lids.  Leaving me to wonder what else they may be skimping on?

# December 2, 2008 9:31 AM
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