According to one taste test performed among four experts in Canada, anyway. Yes, that's four coffee aficionados living in the Toronto area and working in the gourmet coffee field. Canadian Business magazine conducted blind taste tests comparing various drip premium coffees: McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD), Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX), a brand called Tim Horton's, and a new Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) coffee called "Far Coast."
That's the order in which they ranked: McDonald's "Café Roast" blend being the winner with 6.5 "cups" -- as they called their ratings points. Starbucks came in a not-that-close second with 5 cups, Tim Horton's right on its heels with 4, and Far Coast dead last with one single point. And that's only because two judges were nice enough to award it a half point, while the others handed it a goose egg.
Coke introduced Far Coast to market to fast food outlets and convenience stores within the last year.
More news about Starbucks:
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More news about McDonald's:
-- Beef = sex in China
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 11)
10-17-2006 @ 8:50PM
J.P. said...
CARIBOU. Find their shops in the mid west and they are far better than Starbucks, and priced reasonably. Their only possible negative is they are owned by an Arab Company or Arab owners, or so I've been told, but leaving politics aside, the Coffee is great. Last One I went to was in St. Charles, Ill., when we were at the Bloomington Gold Corvette Show, but I have seen their shops in other cities in Ill., Wi., Minn., and Mo. I am sure they are in many other cities/states.
10-17-2006 @ 8:49PM
Arnold Breitung said...
McDonalds coffee is good however Dunkin Donut has the very best coffee--I have tried them all-- Starbucks to strong for me
10-17-2006 @ 8:49PM
JohnL said...
Starbucks coffee is recycled motor oil, bitter, overroasted gunk. Dunkin Donuts used to be great, now it's just ok. McDonalds has a nice balanced taste.
10-17-2006 @ 8:49PM
Dick said...
I am continually amazed that people drink Starbucks (and I am from the Seattle area). It's overroasted and bitter. It may have become some kind of status symbol, sad as it may be. Almost anyone's coffee - as long as it hasn't been sitting on a burner all day - is better than Starbucks!
10-17-2006 @ 8:52PM
kristina said...
Well I had Mcdonalds new coffee only once and it was terrible. Perhaps it was old but it was not very good. My friend and I are avid coffee drinkers and we were both disapointed that day! I like to drink beaners coffee. They're a chain popping up all over michigan and expanding to other states. They're over priced like starbucks but if you buy a cup of theirs you can refil it for only a dollar and there is a variety to choose from.
10-17-2006 @ 8:52PM
Car said...
Barnie's Coffee is so much better than Bucky's * Starbucks)! They have 40 different kinds of coffee beans for starters, their employees are well trained, don't have HUGE tip jars on the counters, the Santas White Christmas is to die for, and their "freezers" are awesome!
10-17-2006 @ 8:52PM
GENAI said...
if you retards knew anything about coffee you would know that starbucks brews differents types of coffee everyday so it will be a different flavor...also the baristas are trained very well I should know because I work there and plus we have standards as to how to brew the coffee mcdonalds has always had watered down coffee. I am a true coffee drinker so I know my stuff on this....and you guys still have a problem with the taste of the coffee then you can customize it anyway you want at starbucks its not a problem. One last note starbucks is not expensive when it comes to coffee...it cost $2 dollars at the most for the largest cup of coffee.
10-17-2006 @ 8:52PM
Jim said...
I was just thinking the other day, how I wished Mc Donald's still had their old coffee. I hate the (so- called) premium coffee. I also can't stand Starbuck's. It is way too bitter. Even with four creamers, I can't drink it. I really miss the Dunkin Dounut coffee we used to get, and I also like the 7/11 coffee. Smooth and not bitter. Thats the ticket with me. We are not all Cajuns, from La.wanting a chicory fix.
10-17-2006 @ 8:56PM
yuri. said...
How can they make a sweeping judgement like this? That ALL McDonals' coffee is the best. Coffee at one McDonalds or Starfucks is not going to be the same as another. Some places leave their coffee sit for too long while others don't use enough coffee grinds or whatever. When I need coffee, I either use the places that I know are good or I just make my own.
10-17-2006 @ 9:17PM
GENAI said...
oh yeah you guys maybe should try a french press you get a better taste of coffee...and it's fresh ground.
I dont know what starbucks you guys go to but I always make it a point to have the best for my customers!
10-17-2006 @ 8:57PM
Nitesky said...
MOST OF MY CO-WORKERS AND I PREFER STARBUCKS BECAUSE WE PREFER OUR COFFEE STRONG FOR THE MORNING RIGHT BEFORE WE BEGIN WORK. ALSO THE STARBUCKS HOUSE COFFEE IS ALSO GOOD AND STRONG FOR THE MORNING BOOST AND LESS EXPENSIVE.
AGREE WITH OTHERS THAT MCDONALDS IS TOO WEAK.
STARBUCKS CUSTOMER.
10-17-2006 @ 8:57PM
Katie said...
My high school teacher owns a Daily Grind in Stafford VA, it is awesome. If you choose a "double shot frappahooziewattzzie napalm-mocchiatto in a vente cup " you can have it but if you prefer a great cup o Joe he has it also. I tried the "Dark Side of Life" today and it is very dark and not even the Slightest bitter.
Try a PUMPKIN or Carmel Apple Smoothie for the kids while you are there.
By the way it has great food also!!!
10-17-2006 @ 8:57PM
Ray said...
Those of you from NJ/PA/DE/MD know WaWa coffee is really good, and so is Quick Check in NJ
10-17-2006 @ 9:00PM
Mitch said...
Starbucks is the best coffee hands down!!!!!!
10-17-2006 @ 9:01PM
Cathy said...
McDonald's coffee is certified, organic coffee. (Google the attached Press Release from last year - see below) So no need to worry about chemicals. I switched from Dunkin Donuts a long time ago when the taste started to become weaker and go down hill. Went to Starbucks instead. Now I've switched to McDonald's coffee. Great, smooth, full bodied, and a delicious "clean" cup of coffee. I was really surprised to discover this coffee at McDonalds. Price was never a factor for me, but I am happy to be paying way less at McDonald's. Try it for yourself. Cathy
Ceres | McDonald's & Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Announce Partnership
10-20-2006 @ 6:33AM
paula simon said...
after coming home this weekend from a visit to seattle for a week.. there is an unbelievable amount of coffee shops in downtown seattle... i must say being from south florida... seattles own coffee is awesome'SEATTLES BEST' it is yummy.
10-17-2006 @ 9:04PM
Diana said...
In Buffalo, western New York, Ontario, etc., NOTHING beats TIM HORTON'S coffee! I don't think Buffalonians can live without it! Number One around here. On any given Sunday morning, you don't see any traffic on the roads at 7:00 a.m., but Tim Horton's drive-through snakes into the street!
10-17-2006 @ 9:06PM
Denise said...
Gary Crowe (#17) knows what he is talking about. I'm a Louisiana girl, now living in Maryland, and I have to have my Community Coffee. It isn't sold here, but I can get it from the web site, www.communitycoffee.com; God bless the internet. I'm talkin' SMOOOOOOOTH tasting coffee. I get the dark roast - for the serious coffee drinker. Try it once - you'll be hooked!
10-17-2006 @ 10:05PM
Mr. Magoo said...
McDonald’s used to have the best coffee. This new premium blend s*c#s. Now I go to Dunkin Donuts, they have the best coffee.
McDonald's and Starbuck's EAT YOUR HEART OUT.
10-17-2006 @ 9:11PM
S. said...
I used to be the largest consumer of coffee I ever knew. I drank a pot before I left in the morning and then, usually, made a cappuccino on my own machine and then sometimes, if I still hadn't left the house, an instant. YIKES. Then I drank the stuff all day at work and again when I came home at night. If I woke in the night, I'd have a cup of coffee and go right back to sleep. One morning I woke up and it was over...kaput! I had a very quick heartbeat and my hands shook perpetually. I felt awful. I quit caffeine. I thought it would be difficult but it wasn't the caffeine I loved, it was the taste of coffee. Switiching to decaf has not deadened my yearning for that coffee taste. I love Starbucks and start my day there but I think the coffee, without doctoring, all has a very bad taste and the aftertaste stays on forever. Yuk! I do decaf lattes, upside down. I have to do their coffee concoctions in order not to taste the bitter coffee.
Never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but a good decaf is as good and as satisfying as a caffeinated. I'm perpetually wired anyhow, so giving up caffeine didn't change a thing.