There seems to be a lot of changes in the works at McDonald's lately - switching to trans-fat-free oil, introducing Eco-friendly coffee in the U.K., and even the possibility of selling prepackaged convenience beverages to consumers who would otherwise have to make a pit stop elsewhere to pick up their favorite bottled or canned drink.Now, in an effort to attract visitors throughout the day rather than just at regular meal times, McDonald's is planning the introduction of "destination beverages" such as smoothies, lattes, iced coffee and other specialty drinks. And that's not all -- if you are the sort of person who likes something sweet to go along with your latte, they'll soon be offering a "cinnamon melt" -- described by the company as "a warm, pull-apart sweet roll with cinnamon glaze."
Does this all sound strangely familiar? I can't help but visualize Starbucks when I read the above. What is next? Big comfy chairs and couches in your local McDonald's restaurant? Dimmed lights and jazz music in the background? No word yet on when the specialty drinks will be available, but they do plan to have the cinnamon melt in select stores by the summer.
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
Iced Tea 101
Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
3-01-2007 @ 3:14PM
calamari said...
McDonald's is becoming an entire food court! They're essentially adding a Jamba Juice, a Starbucks, and a Cinnabon.
Reply
3-01-2007 @ 3:53PM
Ozymandia said...
Our local (Cambridge, ON) McDonalds has a fireplace, 2 plush chairs, mood music, and Nescafe Cappucino and Flavoured Coffee vending machines. My husband and I went in for a fasst and desperate breakfast a couple of weeks ago, and, looking at the powdered "specialty" coffees, we joked that maybe McD's was looking to compete with Starbucks.
My husband laughed very loudly when I read your post to him about the destination beverages, and asked if we could go out for a McLatte. ;)
Reply
3-01-2007 @ 4:15PM
Scottq said...
The cinnamon melts are already in-store in the mid-atlantic. I think the stores are in the Balt-Washington region.
Reply
3-01-2007 @ 5:12PM
esmereldagrubb said...
Can you really blame McDonalds for doing all this since they have become demonized ?
Reply
3-01-2007 @ 6:42PM
meeno01 said...
they have the cinnamon pull apart dessert here in LA too, along with a third pound angus beef burger. I guess McDonalds is out to "Walmart" the competition
Reply
3-01-2007 @ 6:57PM
Mike said...
I went to a McD's in New Zealand that had the "McCafe" inside. Very Starbucks like, you besides special coffees they had the glass pastry case with things that did look better than your usual McD cinnamon roll.
If all the McD's added this in the US, I'm not sure I'd notice. I can't remember the last time I walked into one. I usually go there only because I'm in the drive-through and planning to eat in the car on the run. I'd be willing to bet the last time I walked into a McD's was to use the restroom.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 8:11PM
Jen said...
I still like Starbucks better. I always will too. Mickey D's might be trying to act like them and all and their coffee is okay but I'd prefer a Starbucks cup o' joe anyday rather than one from Mickey Ds.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 8:50PM
Cheryl said...
I understand their thinking. After all the fuss
about McD trying to make us fat or kill us, they
are now trying to change that and even upscale and make us forget. I think it's great because we have one only a block from us and we're older and don't get out too much. We perfer going to a come as you are McD, even in gardening clothes and dirt under your finger nails. Maybe I'll get to go to breakfast now.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 8:56PM
Susan said...
I am glad to see McDonalds is starting to be more health conscience. Now if they won't charge for a cup of water things will be really looking up. Will be interested in seeing when the designer beverages hit the fast food market. Susan
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 9:18PM
Brittany said...
Where I live in NC one of the local McDonalds have become a McCafe and it serves smoothies and many different drinks that are extremely similar to Starbucks. They have a plasma TV in the restaurant and also serve the cinnamon rolls and bagels and other pasteries.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 9:24PM
mj said...
Wish they would have a veggie burger. I love McD's, but am a vegetarian. What's the point of going there for a salad?
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 9:27PM
Pat Martin said...
Neither mcd or charbucks impresses me with their coffee. I got the best cup on a Celebrity cruise I took about a month ago, right in the free buffet!
All I had to do was sit down to breakfast and have a good cup of java. I didn't need to be "seen", just have a great cup of coffee.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 9:27PM
JonnyD said...
I think it is awesome.. I just hope they dont rape you for a latte like starbucks does... Dont get me wrong I drink Starbuck almost everyday, but at 4.10 a latte I think smoking is alot cheaper..
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 9:41PM
Renee said...
Funny you should say that. McDonalds now have dim lights, leather couches and a nig screen tv where I live!
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 9:56PM
Mason said...
Mcdonald's is only doing this because of all there screw ups they had ion the past. I live in PA, and they charge me .30 cents for a container of honey mustard which is barbaric! Mclatte? I think not....I'd rather walk to Starbucks and get an espresso
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 10:45PM
Kgee said...
I think that someone should come up with ideas to improve on the McDonald's here in Hawaii. They are very ghetto and they serve rice with every meal. Porteguese sausage and rice with saimin on the side is not my idea of breakfast. Gross. Every one who lives here in Hawaii don't necessarily need to be exposed to ethnic food in a non ethnic restaurant. I'm all for improving things for the "greater good" but they really need to revamp their menus here. The quality of food is not as well as it is in the states. My only visits to Mickey D's are for a cup of hot joe because you will have to circle the whole island to find a starbucks or jamba juice.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 10:46PM
Michael said...
I travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou,China on the KCR KTT 2 level train just for their coffee, which beats the heck out of Starbucks and others. Good stuff in strange places. By the way, I am from Seattle and my Asia office is in China.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 11:11PM
Tom said...
Starbucks suckers that pay exorbiant prices for flavored coffee may find that McD's can do it for a whole lot less.
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 11:14PM
CB said...
I have had enough of the poor service that fast food giants give at the drive thru and have started a new site ... http://www.takeoutterror.com
Reply
3-09-2007 @ 11:25PM
apryl said...
I JUST tought that today and its the ONLY reason I read this! I like Mcds coffee, and they went red the same time starbucks did?? About 8 years ago the Mcds in England served vegie burgers. I always enjoy going into a Mcds and seeing the mommies who order apples for kids who SCREAM for fries!! :)
Reply