Report: McDonald's coffee tastier, more economical than Starbucks' brew

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A Consumer Reports taste test found McDonald's Corp.'s coffee tastes better and costs less than brew from Starbucks Corp., Burger King Holdings Inc. and Dunkin' Donuts Inc., Bloomberg News reported today.

"We compared the rivals with Starbucks, all in basic black -- no flavors, milk, or sugar -- and you know what? McDonald's beat the rest," Consumer Reports said in its March issue.

McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner introduced coffee made from 100 percent Arabica beans, the kind used at Starbucks, a year ago. The move helped drive 2006 sales up 36 percent, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said last month.

A message left with Seattle-based Starbucks' media hotline before regular business hours wasn't immediately returned.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/UPDATE/702020440

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Consumer Reports

Starbucks

In before the hatred!

- M4H

 

[oogabooga]

Now I want Chicken McNuggets.

 

[Lola]

I honestly love Mc D's coffee. Much better than tim hortons or starbucks.

 

[K1052]

That's odd, every cup of McDonald's coffee I have ever had has been horrid almost beyond description. Like drinking battery acid someone peed in and left on a hot plate since the Blitzkrieg.

 

[Kirby]

The last couple of times I broke down and got Starbucks it was awful. It tasted like it was burnt.

 

[jlbenedict]

I've never had Starbucks.. but I can confirm that McDonald's coffee tastes 100x better than that $hit Dunkin Donut's calls coffee

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: K1052
That's odd, every cup of McDonald's coffee I have ever had has been horrid almost beyond description. Like drinking battery acid someone peed in and left on a hot plate since the Blitzkrieg.

I like your description, but I dont know that its accurate.
Have you tried it lately, or was this back in their "25 cent" days?
Cuz 25 cent coffee is exactly that.
But the new stuff that costs about 1.25 to 1.75 is even better than normal 2 dollar coffee.
And since starbucks makes *!&@^#%$ and charges a lot more, it seems to be a good deal.

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
The last couple of times I broke down and got Starbucks it was awful. It tasted like it was burnt.

I agree, Starbucks black coffee always tastes burnt for some reason.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

I'm pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed a cup of McD's coffee. Not the same swill they served when I worked there as a teenager 20 years ago.

 

[Sphexi]

Depends on where you go, but in some parts of the US, McDonald's serves Green Mountain Coffee, some of the best coffee you can get (IMO). A lot of franchise stores switched to local suppliers, and it worked out great, since they kept the prices low and got fresh product that people recognized.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: K1052
That's odd, every cup of McDonald's coffee I have ever had has been horrid almost beyond description. Like drinking battery acid someone peed in and left on a hot plate since the Blitzkrieg.

I like your description, but I dont know that its accurate.
Have you tried it lately, or was this back in their "25 cent" days?
Cuz 25 cent coffee is exactly that.
But the new stuff that costs about 1.25 to 1.75 is even better than normal 2 dollar coffee.
And since starbucks makes *!&@^#%$ and charges a lot more, it seems to be a good deal.

It has been a good six months or so since I've had any from them, mainly because I have a lot more options locally these days.

The last time was scarring though. I was half surprised it didn't eat through the cup/desk/floor/foundation like the blood acid in Aliens.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: K1052
That's odd, every cup of McDonald's coffee I have ever had has been horrid almost beyond description. Like drinking battery acid someone peed in and left on a hot plate since the Blitzkrieg.

They probably left it out too long.. I don't remember the exact shelf time that coffee has at McDonalds (as I used to work there, but never at the front counter. I was the burger flipper/craftsman ), but I know it isn't supposed to be left out for too long (I'd say maybe 1-2 hours?)

 

[Mermaidman]

Heh, I was telling my co-workers about how good McD's coffee is. Another good place for cheap coffee is Chik Fil A.

 

[jlbenedict]

Starbucks is just a trend.. you know.. its cool to go to Starbucks..

 

[foghorn67]

I actually hate Starbucks coffee. I like their flavored and sugary stuff, but I mostly avoid them.
I am really picky when it comes to coffee, I hate acidic aftertastes that plagues 99% of the world's coffee.
Too bad Diedrich's sold out to Starbucks.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
The last couple of times I broke down and got Starbucks it was awful. It tasted like it was burnt.

That's always been their trademark. Their nickname is "Charbucks". They can't roast their beans at all. That's why all of their drinks need ounces of sugary syrup to cover the taste of the coffee and espresso.

 

[torpid]

Do they still keep it 40 degrees hotter than most places so they can use less coffee grains/beans?

Starbucks regular black is pretty bad, although somehow it tastes a lot better at my car dealer which has one of those brew while you wait starbucks machines.

 

[Dirigible]

I bought McD's coffee once in the past year. One sip and it was in the trash can. Yucky.

I haven't had Starbucks in a long time. Don't remember what it was like. I think it was fine.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I never see anyone ordering starbucks coffee black anyways.

 

[JulesMaximus]

McDonalds coffee isn't bad actually. I can actually drink it...Starbucks on the other hand is undrinkable, it's just waaay too strong.

 

[vi edit]

I go to McDonald's just for the coffee some mornings...oh and the magnificant creation known as the the McGriddle.

Starbucks is horrible.

 

[Descartes]

The reality is that the overwhelming majority of the public doesn't know what proper coffee even tastes like. They're likely appealing more to what's familiar than what's considered good. Most people that drink Maxwell's House at home probably find McDonald's fairly aggreable. Starbucks doesn't cater to those trying to decide between McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts.

That said, Starbucks isn't really good either. What it is, or at least has been, is better than the alternatives. I might have to insult my taste buds over the weekend and order a McDonald's coffee just to see if it's changed since I last had it.

 

[CTrain]

McDonalds coffee tastes great ever since they switched it.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Descartes
The reality is that the overwhelming majority of the public doesn't know what proper coffee even tastes like. They're likely appealing more to what's familiar than what's considered good. Most people that drink Maxwell's House at home probably find McDonald's fairly aggreable. Starbucks doesn't cater to those trying to decide between McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts.

That said, Starbucks isn't really good either. What it is, or at least has been, is better than the alternatives. I might have to insult my taste buds over the weekend and order a McDonald's coffee just to see if it's changed since I last had it.

You might want to dial back the snobbery a bit before you order, or your coffee will be tainted with the "special sauce."