By ordering coffee from places not necessarily centered around serving the beverage, people can avoid long lines and steep prices associated with the morning rush at popular coffee places.
With the increasing number of coffee consumers, places not designated to serve caffeinated drinks have broadened their menu to appeal to this population.
According to the National Coffee Association 2020 study, Americans’ coffee consumption has increased by 5% in the past 5 years, resulting in 62% of the adult population drinking coffee everyday.
Fast food restaurants act as a quick service sector, providing cheaper and faster food options than traditional restaurants. As fast food becomes more socially acceptable, the range in products grows to appeal to a variety of different people.
This can be observed with the addition of coffee to many different quick service menus, even if the company’s main specialty is cheeseburgers.
But, does the coffee compare?
This coffee reviewer decided to find out.
All coffees were ordered as hot beverages with one sugar and one cream and were rated on a scale out of 10.
Burger King: This is the only coffee that was cool enough to drink as soon as receiving it. Simply put, this coffee was bitter. It almost tasted burnt. However, the initial sip was nothing compared to the lasting aftertaste, which was somehow five times worse. 2/10
Wendy’s: “Why didn’t you go to Dunkin’?” the Wendy’s employee said as I was receiving the coffee. “No one comes here for coffee.” I wish I went to Dunkin’. I had high hopes for Wendy’s, as they offer the most diverse coffee options on this list, however the coffee was mediocre. It smelled like a Wendy’s chicken sandwich. 3/10
McDonald’s: This hot coffee was just that, scorching hot. It took a good eight minutes until I was comfortable drinking it without fear of burning off my tongue. The coffee was bitter and tasted watered down. 3/10
Chick-fil-A: Although this hot coffee was the most expensive, it was the best out of those tested. The addition of one cream and one sugar was noticeable, unlike the other bitter coffees. Chick-fil-A also recently created a new recipe for their hot coffee and offers iced coffee. 8/10
Another popular option on the rise is brewing coffee at home.
According to the National Coffee Association, in 2019, 79% of people drinking coffee within the past day brewed coffee at home.
Skipping the line altogether, making coffee at home is both a non-time-consuming, cheaper and more customizable way of creating the perfect coffee.
There are many different options when it comes to starting the day off with coffee. Trying a variety of different options allows coffee consumers to find their perfect match.