Starbucks 'Pike Place' coffee better than McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Food
In a taste test that, for once, is not accompanied by a press release from Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks Pike Place Blend coffee was unanimously deemed the best hot coffee -- better than McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts and 7-Eleven. The blind taste test, conducted by the St. Petersburg Times and five "java junkies," also rated iced mochas; Starbucks came in second in that contest, after McDonald's. McDonald's iced mochas were perfect, said the panel: "fairly intense coffee flavor, we felt this one had the best balance of chocolate and coffee, refreshing and not too sweet. A blob of whipped cream gave it a rich texture, and it had a satisfying, lingering aftertaste."
Thank goodness, as the regular coffee came in last: "with a strange bitterness like it had cooked on a burner for a while, this was our least favorite."I have to say that I'm relieved to see a taste test confirm my own biases; many of you Walletpoppers continue to insist that Dunkin' Donuts (or Tim Horton's, in the northeast) is far better than Starbucks. I would only drink coffee from McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts or 7-Eleven at the very extreme end of caffeine desperation. And it has me wondering: are those taste tests Dunkin' Donuts continues to promote truly unbiased? Or is this sample size just too small? What do you think?



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
6-24-2009 @ 10:26AM
Peter said...
With all the different coffee's in the Market, SB's French Roast to me is by far the best. The SB coffee testes is as results showed far better than others. Surprised with the iced mocha though.
Micky D makes the best fries and Burger King the best Burger Wendy's the best Chicken. They should stay with what they are good with.
SB just needs to bring the Mocha pricing down to get competitive again.
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6-25-2009 @ 6:17AM
MonicaB said...
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6-25-2009 @ 12:42PM
helln said...
I am not sure what Mcdonalds everyone that was polled goes to....because I have tried Mcdonalds coffees at alot in my area and what a waste! For 1.00 I can get better coffee at the local gas station. Their fancy coffees are the EXACT coffees that come out of those automatic machines at the gas station..powders with too much sweetness. I pretty much only have the choice of starbucks here...no D & D and just local coffee houses that specialize in burnt coffee..I enjoy my coffee outside my home at starbucks..inside my house its Starbucks or D & D..after reading the comments I think I shall try the 8 o'clock! THanks
6-24-2009 @ 11:53AM
raymond said...
if i read the reports right, SB Coffee didnt even make the top 10 in best coffees in the US. the no. one coffee was (get this),
8-OCLOCK COFFFEE. been 35 years since i have seen a bag of that...and that was at Winn Dixie..my choice in coffee, is what ever i can afford, but maxwell house is good if i can aford the 9.00 a can from time to time.
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6-25-2009 @ 6:58AM
KAS said...
Raymond, I believe your answers were probably the best.
Because it is truly coffee.. no latte.. puff of this or that.. big or small etc.
Just plain coffee.
I will add... Starbucks etc are all way over priced . It is for the yuppie.. puppies.
If your going out to buy a cup of coffee then you have way too much money and Way too much time to spend it.
You like to be "seen" .. your too vain.. to sit at home and brew your own in 5 minutes while dressing.. for work.
U probably wouldn't know the taste of dunkin donuts or home brew if it hit you in the face.
Take the money your spending on Starbucks, and donate to the local women's abuse, or Animal crulity shelters.
6-25-2009 @ 9:00AM
Max said...
I started buying Eight Oclock a few months back after reading somewhere that it is the best coffe. I agree, it is great and the price is good and I have gotten coupons for it as well. If you can find it, give it a try.
6-25-2009 @ 9:42AM
Jeff said...
The best coffee I have found, travelling the world, is Cafe Rebo from Haiti. It is a fair trade product so it is not overpriced and the growers get their fair share of the profits. It has a rich coffee flavor with no bitterness. You can buy it online at Cafe-rebo,com
6-25-2009 @ 12:43PM
leveyn said...
Publix, here in Fla., has all the bags of 8 o'clock coffee you could possibly buy. I agree, it's good. Priced right as well. Last purchase, on sale - $3.00.
6-25-2009 @ 1:13PM
lovethejava! said...
you don't say where you are located, but I can always get 8 o'clock at my Giant! they have whole bean and ground and is always cheaper than anything else on the shelf
6-25-2009 @ 1:39PM
Amanda said...
Raymond,
Eight O'Clock coffee is still alive and well. My father lives in NJ and has been drinking it religiously since I can remember. Before Dunkin Donuts came out with their own brand of coffee, my father was insistent that Dunkin Donuts used Eight O'Clock coffee. In fact, he still buys Eight O'Clock to drink at home and buys Dunkin Donuts coffee when he's out. And again...he's still insistent it's the same coffee with a different label and price.
Amanda
6-25-2009 @ 1:50PM
JT said...
Brother. I grew up in NY with Eight O'Clock Coffee and now live in Florida. It's available everywhere. It was only in Winn Dixie & Publix in very limited amounts. Only Red Bag (I think the best coffee there is or certainly as anyone but a complete nut with money to burn could want) Their excellent Columbian Roast which is to me too much like the thin bodied, more tinny Dunkin' Donuts, the dreaded Mousetrap scent Hazelnut - go buy a Glue trap for mice & I promise you'll never eat or drink anything "Hazelnut again", And they carried the decaf.
They've put a big push on their web site to bring Eight O'Clock prominently into the public eye again & have a great site. Record the numbers on the bottoms of the bags & get prizes. I'm on my 2nd $25 Visa Gift card.
I wrote them twice to complain that BJ'S Wholesale & Target who their site says carries them didn't & those who do don't carry their awesome new Italian Roast and their more French Roast like "Bokar" which used to be considered their premium when Eight O'Clock was store brand of the old A&P Grocery Chain.
They answer their emails and they make it happen. My 2 Publix now carry almost their whole line.
I was spending $12 & up in the 80s for coffee beans without a thought. I have so many $1.00 coupons from the bags of Eight O'Clock's big push of the past year or two I'll likely not spend more than $3.99 for 3/4 lb. of coffee for the next 2 years.
Anyone who can't find a coffee that LOVE in that company's line is just a TOOL who will always think that coffee, like wine among other things MUST be expensive to be good.
Idiots.
Go check out their site and send them a list of your local stores and watch how soon you start seeing it in all of them.
If I had the money I'd buy into their pre-setup Franchise system. It would blow Starbucks to kingdom come.
And no, I don't work for them. I'm just a proudly frugal connoisseur who doesn't compromise & doesn't need to.
6-24-2009 @ 1:14PM
Mike said...
Tim Hortons!
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6-24-2009 @ 1:30PM
DEAN said...
ALL ABOUT PEET'S COFFEE.. BAY AREA TRADITION FROM BERKELEY, CA
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6-25-2009 @ 7:03AM
jim said...
SB is just awful and overpriced. McD should stick to burgers and fries their 15 year old employees cannot give coffee prep what it deserves.
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6-25-2009 @ 7:09AM
marge said...
Dunkin D'S Coffee is the best - hands down- McDonalds coffee not bad.Starbucks is a trend from the 90's thats seen better days.Why pay that much ?
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6-25-2009 @ 7:15AM
Beanie said...
I Love Coffee !!! SB coffee is way to strong, McDee's is way to sweet and Dunkins is awesome. I sound like the 3 lil bears..lol !
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6-25-2009 @ 7:20AM
EVA said...
Starbucks is for losers that think tofu tastes better than a steak! Dunkin Donuts has the best cup of coffee for the $$.
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6-26-2009 @ 3:29AM
Jimmy said...
Beg to disagree...I've tried Dunkin's but it's not for me...same with McD...love Coffee Bean and/or Seattle Best...I drink my coffee black...no sugar...no cream...and I always get the Americano...
6-25-2009 @ 7:21AM
Susan said...
I buy Starbucks, and I just get COFFEE. The prices on those coffees are no higher than DD. So, I don't believe that Starbucks is for "yuppie puppies" I think DD coffee is just AWFUL. It tastes fake, it is over sweetened (even if it's not supposed to be) and it tastes burned AND it is served in styro foam cups. Even if you ask for skim at DD, you get full fat milk...the service in most of them is just terrible.
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6-25-2009 @ 7:24AM
Connie said...
You obviously have not tried carribou's french roast the best ever!
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