The real story behind Dunkin' Donuts' mysterious 'Black Card' of the donut Illuminati

May 2024 · 3 minute read

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You may have heard of the McDonald's Gold Card, but have you seen the Dunkin' Donuts Black Card?

The coffee-and-donut chain has an exclusive club, made up of its most loyal fans, who pay for Dunkin' with a glamorous black card. According to the company, the card has been around for several years.

However, for most people, the question remains: How do you get a Black Card of your own?

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Black Card-carrying Dunkin' customers include donut-loving celebrities such as actor BJ Novak, who received the card for his birthday in 2015.

Thank you @dunkindonuts for the coolest birthday present I could ever imagine having

A photo posted by B.J. Novak (@picturesoftext) on Jul 31, 2015 at 8:56am PDTJul 31, 2015 at 8:56am PDT

You don't have to be a celebrity to get a Dunkin' Black Card. Dunkin' superfans have been awarded the card for other things, including becoming the 1 millionth member in Dunkin's loyalty program and simply being a frequent visitor at the chain.

#likeaboss#dunkinblackcard#vaglife#vw#inlove

A photo posted by Caitlin (@cpandabear) on May 28, 2014 at 8:19am PDTMay 28, 2014 at 8:19am PDT

"The Dunkin' Donuts Black Card has been around for several years, gifted on occasion to select fans in appreciation for their loyalty and passion for the brand," Lindsay Cronin, a public relations senior manager at Dunkin' Brands, told Business Insider. However, Cronin would not name anyone who earned the Black Card badge of honor.

A number of Dunkin' lovers have expressed interest in receiving a Black Card on social media:

—Bam•ola (@BamolaMmm) August 1, 2016

—Shane Moore (@P0CKET_SIZED) June 29, 2016

—AJ Anstiss (@xRainBowAJx) March 25, 2016

Unfortunately for these Dunkin' loyalists, there doesn't seem to be a proven path to join the exclusive club of Dunkin' Donuts Black Card holders. On the other hand, the Black Card may not be as enviable as many customers believe.

"The Dunkin' Donuts Black Card is not any kind of formal program, but rather a personalized, rechargeable gift card that Dunkin' Donuts occasionally sends to guests as a token of appreciation," Cronin said.

That's right — even if you have the Black Card, you still have to refill the card to pay for your coffee.

Seems like you'd be better served sticking to your normal DD card — or downloading the chain's app — and hoping that someday Dunkin' Donuts will notice your dedication.

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