Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) unveiled its new menu program today that includes an expanded lineup of beverages and lunch selections. It looked all too familiar. Coffee and salad, I thought? Can't I get that at McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)?

Before its foray into salads, Starbucks had aggressively been competing with McDonald's over the title of 'best coffee' ever since Canadian Business magazine's blind taste-test last year declared McDonald's the winner and champion.

Starbucks has already tried to compete for a spot in the crowded breakfast line-up. Back in October last year, they announced a plan to roll out its breakfast sandwiches. After a taste-test, The Columnist Manifesto thought them to be so bad that he compared them to airplane food.

With Starbucks' grinds slightly burnt, management decided to tackle McDonald's straight on: Salads. Customers now have the option to order the new Tomato Mozzarella Insalada, Champagne Pasta Salad or Albacore Tuna Penne, among other delights. Try that with your new Raspberry Mocha Frappuchino.

In addition to Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) management's recent hiring of JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM) and Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) to help review strategic options for the company, the fast-food restaurant has decided to throw its hat into the breakfast ring by signing an exclusive deal with Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG). The deal allows Wendy's to be the only major fast-food restaurant chain to offer a proprietary blend of Folgers Gourmet Selections coffee and will become part of Wendy's new breakfast menu.

What's that you say, "Breakfast menu?"

Yes folks, Wendy's just isn't for lunch or dinner anymore (or dessert – mmmm Frosty's). You can now eat Wendy's for every meal of the day. By the end 2007, Wendy's expects to have 20-30% of its North American restaurants serve breakfast along with premium Folgers coffee.

Wendy's is definitely throwing its hat into a very crowded ring. The fast-food breakfast market is growing at almost three times the rate of the overall market, with Burger King (NYSE: BKC), McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), Arby's, a unit of Triarc Co. (NYSE: TRY), Carl's Jr and Hardee's, both owned by CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) and even Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) offering similar on-the-go breakfasts to consumers. Papa John's (NASDAQ: PZZA), Dunkin Donuts and Chick-fil-A are planning new breakfast products as well. What's going to be so different to make me go to Wendy's?

When looking at the coffee aspect, one has to recall last year's Canadian Business magazine taste test between McDonald's "Café Roast" and Starbucks coffees. I'm sure all the companies I mentioned above serve some brand of coffee. Wendy's is really walking into a competitively caffeinated situation. We also can't forget about Seattle 's "Sexpresso" baristas, but that's competition on a different level.

Where do you go to get your morning cup o' joe? And would the chance to have Folgers Gourmet change your mind?