Step outside of the Boston and Greater Boston area, and suddenly the coffee-chain craze fades. In no other city, of course, can one find a Dunkin’ Donuts on nearly every block, some within a mere donut hole’s throw from the next. If anyone in this country runs on Dunkin’, it’s us.

But that doesn’t mean the Dunkin’ Donuts parent company, Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., which also owns Baskin Robbins, is resting on its soft, sugary laurels. The chain announced this week that they’ll be opening up to 800 new locations in the United States, according to the Boston Globe, a considerable jump from the 371 locations that opened in 2013, mostly franchises.

Dunkin’ Donuts has been planning to take on the Western frontier – namely, California – since this time last year, officially at least, when CEO Nigel Travis posted to the Dunkin’ Donuts blog to make the announcement that Dunkin’ would start popping up all over Cali by 2015. With such a hefty number of expansions slated for this year, it looks like the chain may be cropping up even before the next new year. The coffee shop had already reached a milestone before 2014 even hit, making the announcement earlier this month: The first UK Dunkin’ Donuts officially opened on December 17, 2013, bringing Boston Creme donuts all the way across the Atlantic.

According to a recent statement from Travis posted by the Boston Globe, the company has already “executed agreements for 100 traditional restaurants” in California, and Travis goes on to say that the company’s growth success can be attributed to their dedication to franchise economics. Said economics can also be attributed to why Boston Dunkin’ prices differ among locations, and why some stores will charge you for a hot cup to protect your iced coffee.

So we here in Boston can take comfort in the idea that America could be saying hello to 800 new Dunkin’ Donuts by the end of the year – meaning that venturing out of the city doesn’t mean we have to head to Starbucks. Phew.

Can’t get enough Dunkin’ news? Check out the biggest DD headlines we covered in 2013.