I read the Sun-times article and didn't draw the same conclusion of non-story that you did. I think that many people, when they want a cup of coffee think Starbucks. It's become synonymous with coffee and espresso drinks. I've also known for a long time that Starbuck's coffee almost always tastes like it's been roasted too long; the burnt taste described by consumer reports. On the other hand, I had no idea that Mcdonald's coffee was acceptable. I brew my own coffee from a local roaster each morning. For people that don't brew their own coffee it is probably surprising that Mcdonald's coffee won a taste test vs the ubiquitous Starbucks.

One chain that has surprisingly good coffee is 7-11. They have better drip coffee than any other chain I've tried.

I'm not surprised, insofar as Starbucks has become the McDonald's Of Coffee. I deign to drink the brewed swill from Starbucks when traveling because it's consistent from store to store, but I buy my beans four or five pounds at a time from a roaster in St. Louis.

There was a promotional campaign from McDonald's when they switched from their no-name coffee to Folger's. Did they switch again to a no-name, self-described "Premium Blend", or is it still Folger's? Just wondering.

Here's the difference in Starbucks and McDonald's coffee: Starbucks' coffee tastes burnt because it's overroasted; McDonald's coffee tastes burnt because they keep it heated for hours too long.

Come to Australia, quite a few of our Macca's have McCafes attached which sell coffee in all (well probably most of) its forms.

My local paper did a similar taste test last year -- and they decided that Burger King coffee was the best, while most of the people I actually know swear by Dunkin' Donuts. (Don't ask me, I loathe it all.) What does it all mean? Probably bubkis.

Back home in Canada, lots of people swear by Tim Horton's coffee. I have no clue why.

i would seriousily consider making your own! I'm not a coffee drinker but a chef and if its taste you are after your own is always best. Nobody can make something better than me!

McDonalds recently switched the coffee they use. I think the new coffee at McDonalds is Seattle Bests. Seattle Bests is owned by Starbucks.

Even if espresso is their forte (I claim their forte is flavored milk, not coffee) SBUX should be embarrassed not to produce a better drip than McDonalds.

Of course taste is subjective. But SBUX is all about premium beans (and prices) and supposedly discards brewed coffee before it gets bitter and ground coffee if it isn't used wiithin a few minutes.

My take on this was that the brewed coffee at McDonalds is probably fresher.

I think the brand attached to McD's revamp varies by region. I've seen them advertise Green Mountain in the Northeast; in the midwest, they're just calling it a generic "premium blend." No surprise, as they use different suppliers and have different specialty menu items based on region.

Didn't Cook's Illustrated do a taste test where they determined that the lighter roast retail coffees were preferable when drinking coffee black, but with milk, darker roasts were prefered? How did CR do their tests?

I don't trust their test, but of course I know my tastes are different than most folks. I like coffee that knees me in the groin and takes my wallet, so if I'm out and about, I drink Starbucks drip coffee -- but I'll go with Dunkin or McD in a pinch.

I think it is funny that there is such a debate as this going on, over McDonalds Coffee vs Starbucks Coffee. This to me is like saying a Chrysler LeBaron is better than a Mercedes, because both have four wheels and doors, so why would I pay so much for a car when I can get the Lebaron for way cheaper.

The first and most important thing about tasting coffee is to know where the taste comes from. The taste starts with the oil that is suduced out of the bean via roasting. The more you roast the more you coax the oil out of the bean. Another thing to add to this factoid is that caffeine is water based, so the more you roast the more water is evaporated, so your lighter roasted coffee will have slightly more caffeine (it is in the miligrams very small difference, but a fun fact). Tasting coffee is very much like tasting wine. You don't start off with the Driest Merlot out there. You start with something light and refreshing. I have been drinking coffee for a few years now in the habit of developing my palat. You will not get the different flavor profiles without the different roasts. Just as in wine you will not get the different flavors by just one way.

Second, both companies have some of the highest standards in restaurant history. So you are going to be getting basically the freshest from each source.

Thirdly, you will want to at first when tasting coffee and wanting to do some real comparing with coffee's pair your coffee with a pastry. You can ask for recommendations for the type of coffee you are drinking from the barista or here is a easy guide, Butterhorns (something cinnamony, nutmeggy) are good with Asian Pacific coffees, Chocolate is good for African coffees (although a blueberry muffin with an ethiopian coffee will do you right aswell), and Citrisy (blueberry muffins, lemon pastries) pastries are good for Latin American coffees. The coffee you are tasting at McDonalds will most likely be Latin American coffee, roasted very lightly to appeal to the widest amount of people and needing cream and sugar. The coffee at Starbucks will come from all parts of the world having its own characteristics having a deeper roast to bring out that precious oil that gives coffee that wonderful smell.

In conclusion, box wine has it's place but so does that $100+ bottle of wine . The nice thing about coffee is that you don't have to be rich to enjoy the best coffee the world has to offer. Go down to your local Starbucks, Peets, Tully's or what ever and pick some up and have it freshly ground and french pressed.

Consumer Reports saying that McDonalds is "cheap and best" or "make your own", doesn't really say much at all. So really, your own coffee is best, isn't that right? How hard is it to dump the maxwell house into the dripmaker? I read that they sent people INTO a McDonalds. Is that how you do a taste test? Aren't you supposed to pour coffee into several unlabled cups for testers to drink? What is up with that? So they're drinking the coffee knowing it's McDonalds. Which means, they're expecting it to be crap. And it's not crap it's normal coffee, which surprises them and makes the coffee score skyrocket. And they're smelling fast food while they're drinking it? Doesn't that also change their taste buds? I mean, who can resist hot fries? I say pour different coffee into a plain cup, away from food, and fix it as you normally would. Which means if it's a strong brew that works well with cream, then add it. Lay it out on a table, and then taste all of them. The shine from McDonalds will surely fade. Of course, if you're looking at price, then that is a different story. That cheap coffee suddenly tastes pretty good. Starbucks became a huge success for a reason. They sold high quality coffee in an innovative and attractive way. There was plenty of diner coffee to go around back then, and there still is now. One is not "better" necessarily than the other, they are just different, as the other poster pointed out with the wine example.

Actually, my local McDonalds DOES sell espresso based drinks now. I had a cafe mocha there the other day and you know what? It was damned good and definitely cheaper than Starbucks. Don't know if it was really /better/ than Starbucks but it wasn't bad.

You're forgetting that McDonald's have McCafe's now. That is, places that are like a coffee shop and a traditional McDonald's in one.

If you ever go to a McCafe you'll find that the espresso type drinks they have there are also better than Starbucks espresso drinks.

Although, if you're addicted to Starbucks, like some are, then you may think differently.

I am currently drinking a Mcdonalds coffee. Only because I had heard someone compared it to my beloved starbucks. This coffee is not good at all, if fact so bad that I had to add creamm and sugar just to get it down. I think that whoever compared this to Starbucks coffee had no idea what they were talking about. My fiance works at starbucks and I have tried all their coffees. I would have to say that even the one that I liked the least was still better than the crap i am currently sujecting my taste buds to. I know that I am not an offical taste tester and don't even know the lingo when it comes to comparing foods of beverages but I know what tastes best, and it is certianly not McCrappy's coffee.

You go to McDonalds because its fast and you don't have to get out of the car. You go to starbucks for the theater, the wifi, or the flavored caffinated milk. If you want good coffee you buy green, roast it yourself, grind it yourself, and brew it yourself before the flavor is gone. Anything else is just everything else

More than my opinion of Starbucks or McDonalds, what this review most changes was my opinion of Consumer Reports. They might be right... or wrong. The problem is that this is really just a junky evaluation. CR is become competent at reviewing things like autos, washers & dryers, and leaf blowers. But they've got a loooong way to go when it comes to providing rich and useful information about evaluating coffee (any food or beverage).

McDonald's just started opening McCafes in Hawaii. I visited one yesterday near my house. They serve shockingly good Americanos, $1.75/8 oz. cup, described on the menu as "double-shot espressos with hot water." (I haven't confirmed it locally, but same as a previous poster, I hear McD's uses Seattle's Best coffees now: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Commentary/Experts/Markman/Jon_Markman.aspx?msn=1)

I don't know why this isn't widely known, but I did see information a couple years ago about McDonald's changing their coffee. Although I don't think there was an official press release, I do have a family member who works for Lavazza here in the United States, and he also believes this to be true. The company McDonalds contacted is Lavazza, and it is the number one coffee of Italy. McDonalds worked with them to create a couple different blends. Lavazza is only known here in the smaller coffee chains and at Italian restaurants. Even Olive Garden serves Lavazza espresso, but not their brewed coffee.

Btw, I'm a huge coffee fan, and my experiences with McDonald's coffee, if it was made right, was surprisingly good. I do admit that I like making Starbuck's Sumatra coffee at home because it is easy to get, and I think it is one of their best blends.

Well I'm a recent convert to McD's. I had heard that they compared favorably (didn't even know about the CR review) and gave them a try. The one by my house here in L.A. CA has a "McCafe" and serves all the espresso based drinks with all the silly names. My wife is a latte and I am a "premium blend" guy. We both regularly go to Starbucks. Now I go to McDs. The brew simply tastes better. The fact that it's cheaper is just a plus but in no way colors my choice.

McDonald's has "dropped" espresso machines in 14,000 of their fast food restaurants.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1702277,00.html

Actually it doesn't surprise that consumer reports said that mcd's is better than starbucks drip. McDonalds uses seattle's best coffee, which is in fact owned by starbucks. but thats beside the point. I work at starbucks and i've done many taste tests with many different brands of coffee and seattle's best always comes out on top. but i'm not worried about people going to McDonalds for their iced triple tall two-pump with whip and drizzle americanos because people go to starbucks for the experience not the actual taste of the drinks.

Consumer Reports is right on the mark. Just as previously stated, "go to Starbucks for the experience, not the actual taste". If you want a great cup of coffee, at a great price, conveniently, go to McDonald's! McDonald's is THE coffee destination of choice, and they offer great espresso based drinks. Lattes, cappucinos, espressos, mochas, iced lattes, iced mochas, and the latest, frappes (in the northeast). The machine they use creates a consistant product, time after time. Sorry Starbucks fans, the overwhelming majority of people don't like the bitter, burnt, taste at a $4 price tag. It's the experience, not the taste. For me, I'll take taste, thanks.....

i use to be be addicted to Star bucks coffee just had to have it! But every since they built a MacDonald's up the street from me with their McCafe OMG! it's so good! i have not bought Star bucks since! i go to MacDonald's and order the mocha and the ice vanilla coffee i can not get enough of them sooooooooooo good and cheaper so im all smiles (: