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bConsumer Reports recently taste-tested four widely available brands of coffee - McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts - to see where you could find the best coffee in the country. They were treading old water with their report, as both AOL and USA Today have done identical taste offs in the past. Unlike the previous tests, however, CR picked McDonald's as offering the best coffee of the bunch, describing it as "decent and moderately strong. Although it lacked the subtle top notes needed to make it rise and shine." USA Today, in their test, picked Starbucks.
Needless to say, you can do a lot better than McDonald's - no matter what CR says. One option is to brew coffee at home. With a little practice, you can beat out any store bought coffee, and it's less expensive in the long run. Another option is to try different local coffee houses, where you will be able to find a real cup of coffee, not just fast food coffee that is better than the rest.
New Yorkers can get started with the recommendations in the NY Post, where they didn't look too kindly upon CR's taste in coffee. Their top picks include Amy's Bread, 71 Irving Place and the MUD Truck.
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2-08-2007 @10:37AM Doug said... As for CR, I guess it's good to know where to get the best coffee at interstate exits, but the Post article really misses the boat with its recs. No Cafe Grumpy, 9th St. Espresso, or Gimme! Coffee???
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2-08-2007 @10:57AM Kersplatt said... Tim Hortons (now available in the US, too) would win, hands down!
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2-08-2007 @11:23AM Terrence said... As far as quality, Cafe Grumpy takes the cake. The Clover really is that good, and then some -- decent beans taste great and great beans become stunning. First time I've actually been able to taste the flavors that the coffee geeks talk about.
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2-11-2007 @1:00PM KevinM said... Doesn't McDonald's use Seattle's Best for their coffee which is owned by Starbuck's?
I really think there was a some cash being spent to fix the outcome. I have tried McD's coffee and it is horrid. At 11am it tasted old, so no thanks.
Making coffee at home is great with practice, and can save you a lot of cash!
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2-15-2007 @5:47PM leslie said... Only in Vermont where McD's uses Green Mountain Coffee would I agree with you. We traveled 1/2 way across this country and every cup of McD's we purchased (with the hopes of a great coffee) was tossed. Burnt flavor, bitter and just plain awful...sorry McD's - you need to offer Green Mt. nationally!!
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2-15-2007 @6:52AM Ed said... To #2 , Kersplat,,,, Yea Right
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2-15-2007 @7:05AM Kay said... BP Connect gas stations have "The Wild Bean" coffee-ITS THE BEST. If anyone out there has tried this coffee I'd like to hear from you.
Kay from Georgia
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2-15-2007 @7:07AM warehome said... It's terrible.
NO THANKS
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2-15-2007 @9:34AM Rachel Heath said... I think the new McDonald's coffee they've come out with recently, is very good, at least the decaf, which is what I drink. Decaf at Starbucks is TERRIBLE! And they usually only brew one decaf coffee, the awful one. Tim Horton's decaf is excellent too, except I don't like their "no refill" rule, when everyone else on the planet lets you have a refill. But my best cup of coffee? The one in my hand right now that I brewed myself!
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2-15-2007 @8:13AM Getbkjojo said... Cold Drip, Community Coffee at home for me. Better than anything you can buy.
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2-15-2007 @12:08PM Brian said... Salem Farms Campground has the best coffee in Salem CT. area. To bad they are a seasoanl buis.
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2-17-2007 @12:48AM LeeAnn said... I agree partially with CR.....not only does McDonalds serve a good cup of coffee (which at last I knew was Maxwell House), but Dunkin Donuts serves a great cup too. Granted their warmers are very hot and if the coffee is left too long on the burner, the coffee does burn getting a bitter taste. Another trick to a great cup of coffee is to remove the grinds from the basket as soon as it is done brewing. By doing so you prevent bitterness.
I live in a tropical climate and the cold water from the tap is room temp at best as the pipes are warmed up by the sun. I have found out that by keeping water in the fridge and using cold water to brew my coffee at home, makes for an excellent pot of coffee which I have always received great raves about it. My home brand choice is Folgers Columbian, but no matter what brand you use, it is in the amount of coffee you use, the water temp, and of course a clean pot and brewing system.
As for Starbucks....I find it to be over rated and over priced. Having come from NYC, there were many local deli's that sold a great cup of coffee for 50 cents back in the late 90's. Even if it was a buck now, it still would be worth it!!!
But like anything else, taste is in the eye of the beholder or in this case the "tastebuds" of the beholder.
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2-15-2007 @12:04PM AnnA said... What? no 7-Eleven?
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2-15-2007 @9:22AM peacekeeper0415 said... Barnie's Coffee is by far the best, with 40 different kinds of coffee beans to choose from!
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2-15-2007 @11:52PM George said... Who is CR and why would anyone choose them to rate coffee. Starbucks is terrible and Mc Donnie's is only marginal at best. BK coffee is more consistent from coast to coast on a national basis.
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2-15-2007 @9:54AM Meredy said... In November of 2005, McDonald’s announced that it will be serving Fair Trade Certified™ coffee in 658 of its restaurants in New England and Albany, NY. Starting Nov. 1, participating locations switched 100 percent of their coffee products over to Fair Trade Certified™ organic coffee from Newman’s Own Organics, roasted by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
“McDonald’s commitment to fair trade is an important step,” said Seth Petchers, coffee program manager for Oxfam America. “This is a sign that the fair trade market is growing in strength and numbers. Other retailers and coffee companies should see this as a wake-up call and follow their lead.” He added, “We are excited about this regional launch, and we hope to see it spread across the country.”
The market for Fair Trade Certified™ coffee has grown by an average of over 70% each year since 1999. Fair trade coffee is available from over 400 coffee companies at 20,000 retail locations across the country—a sign that consumers are making their voices heard.
“Fair trade provides significant benefits to coffee farmers, including enough income to invest in their harvest and in quality improvements,” said Lorenzo Castillo, head of the Junta Nacional del Café, an organization representing small coffee farmers in Peru. Fluctuations in the price of coffee jeopardize small-scale coffee farmers’ businesses. Fair trade, by providing a stable price, helps to mitigate the impact of the coffee crisis, which many farmers continue to suffer through. Castillo continued, “It’s great that McDonald’s has recognized that to secure the highest quality coffee they need to pay farmers a fair price.”
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2-15-2007 @9:25AM Kari said... McDonald's does have a decent cup of coffee now, I think it is a fairly recent development though. Starbucks coffee tastes just awful - way over priced and overrated. We grind and brew HEB brand coffees at home and are much happier with that option - with a timer on the coffee make there really isn't a reason not to.
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2-15-2007 @12:50PM Gabrielle said... I love Folgers Columbian, it fits my taste the best. As one poster stated, it's not only the coffee but how much you use per cup, how clean your maker is, and what kind of water you use. You can use the best coffee and still make it taste like dishwater if you don't do it right. In the end; however, tastes are so different and what taste like dishwater to me may very well please someone else perfectly.
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2-15-2007 @10:45AM Zebra365 said... My best coffee at home comes from grinding my own beans. I don't drink fast food coffee so I have no opinion there.
IMHO the best value in whole bean coffee is Eight O'Clock Columbian if you can find it. For Decaf, Folgers Whole Bean Columbian comes in a close second to Eight O'Clock Columbian Decaf.
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2-28-2007 @7:43PM Javacoast said... Everyone should try H&C Coffee from Roanoke Virginia..Like their ad says," Its the crowning touch to every meal!" Delicious coffee!
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