A Southern Grandmother’s Coffee Review Features a ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Fan.
On January 3, Carol Chapman, an 81-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina who goes by “Grandma C” on TikTok, reviewed Dunkin’ and Sabrina Carpenter’s new Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso and quickly went viral, raising nearly a dollar. million videos and even props from the six-time Grammy-nominated singer.
“Hey there. It’s Grandma C, and you know what I have in my hand? It’s Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso,” Chapman says in the video. “So let’s try.”
In late December, the donut chain dropped the limited-time drink along with the rest of its winter menu.
Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso
The ice-cold drink contains espresso, brown sugar “notes” and oat milk. Before she took a sip, Chapman says she heard that oat milk makes the drink “creamier.”
“It’s quite strong coffee, but I’m a coffee drinker, so it’s OK, and it’s creamy – she’s right,” says Chapman, admitting that she didn’t start filming her ‘Espresso’ review until just before filming singer heard.
“Her name is Sabrina Carpenter, and I’ll read about her when I get home, but at least now I know this drink is named after her,” Chapman continues. “I have no idea why, but we’ll find out, and I’ll let you know.”
She concludes her video by noting how she enjoys the cold drink despite the winter weather. “I’ll enjoy my espresso and I’ll talk to you later.”
Chapman’s warm attitude earned much praise in the comments.
“Omg we have to protect you at all costs,” one TikTok user wrote.
“Grandma C, you are SLAYING!”, another wrote, and someone else added: “new favorite influencer.”
“This is cute,” another person commented. ‘You’re cute. I think you healed something in me. Thank you.”
But the most important comment came from Carpenter himself, who wrote, “I love you, Grandma C 💋.” And Chapman replied: “I love you❤️❤️.”
On January 4, Chapman posted a follow-up to her review, saying she had done a little research on the “Taste” singer and listened to some of her songs.
“The way to be happy is to drink an espresso and listen to Sabrina Carpenter,” notes Chapman as “Espresso” plays in the background.
“I’m happy that I make other people happy,” Chapman tells TODAY.com, adding that she likes the reactions she gets from people, both young and old. She says some “kids” have asked her to go live on TikTok and she has done so a few times.
Chapman started her account two years ago after she retired to help her daughter with child care. Including granddaughter Olivia, who introduced her to TikTok.
“She suggested I should start reviewing things, so I did the review, but she found the items,” Chapman says.
Another household name joined in the praise of Chapman’s review: Dunkin’.
“Grandma Carol Chapman’s first sip of Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso charmed us all!” a Dunkin’ representative tells TODAY.com. “It’s moments like these – full of charm and humor – that keep us going with Dunkin’!”
Dunkin’ reached out to Chapman via TikTok and thanked her by adding 1 million points to her Dunkin’ Rewards account.
“My goodness, that’s a lot of coffee,” says Chapman.
Chapman plans to write more reviews and notes that she has already picked up Valentine’s Day treats to try out for her more than 33,000 followers. She says trying new things is a bit of a family tradition.
“We didn’t have a lot of money when we were raising our kids,” Chapman says, adding that her husband was a disabled veteran, so she was always working.
“It’s so funny because new products that came out at the time, oh my gosh, you could get coupons everywhere and I would get these things at a discounted price,” she reflects. “My kids loved trying new things, so you know, we did that years ago. It’s so funny that I’m doing it again now.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
