Confessions of a Tim Horton's Coffee Addict

Long before I ever saw the commercial for Tim Horton's coffee, that exposed the Tim Horton's secret ingredient conspiracy, I knew that Tim Horton's coffee was different. From the first sip, I was hooked. Tim Hortons has been brewing coffee since 1964, but until recently, the freshly brewed Tim Horton's coffee could only be savored by Canadians. Today, Tim Hortons now has approximately 400 Tim Hortons Restaurants in the United States and 2000 in Canada.

Tim Hortons Coffee Conspiracy Rumors

I am not alone in my Tim Hortons coffee addiction. In fact, there are so many others who are hooked on Tim Hortons coffee, that all types of rumors have surfaced to explain the phenomenon. One urban legend declared that Tim Hortons coffee has the secret additive of nicotine in the coffee. Another rampant rumor is that Tim Hortons coffee has higher levels of caffeine in the coffee. Both of these rumors have been tested and proved untrue, yet the mystery of Tim Hortons coffee continues.

An alternative conspiracy theory about Tim Hortons coffee centers on the rumor that Tim Hortons coffee has MSG in it. Much like the high caffeine and the nicotine rumors, this rumor also proved to be generated by the imaginations of suspicious Tim Hortons coffee drinkers. While there may be psychological addiction to Tim Hortons coffee, and a craving for caffeine, for the average Tim Hortons coffee drinker, there is absolutely no evidence of a secret addicting ingredient.

Roll Up the Rim to Win and Buy More Coffee

Each year, Tim Hortons fuels coffee consumers' need for a second cup by sponsoring the Tim Hortons "Roll Up the Rim to Win" contest. Consumers of Tim Hortons coffee and cappuccinos can purchase a small, medium, or large sized Tim Hortons beverage and get a chance to win one of thirty million prizes. Tim Hortons gives away SUVs, bikes, televisions, and many rounds of coffee and doughnuts in this popular "Roll Up the Rim to Win" giveaway. Each specially designed Tim Hortons cup has a prize or a "please play again" message underneath the rim of the contest cups. The estimated odds of winning a free coffee are 1 in 9.

Tim Hortons Coffee

One of the main reasons for why Tim Hortons coffee tastes freshly brewed at two in the morning, is because Tim Hortons has a twenty minute rule for their coffee. After twenty minutes, a pot of coffee that hasn't been served is supposed to be thrown out. The availability of Tim Hortons coffee twenty-four hours a day keeps the Tim Hortons drive-thru busy. The morning line up of cars in line for the drive thru window often wraps around the building at many Tim Hortons locations. There is something different about Tim Hortons coffee.

Tim Hortons coffee is a smooth blend of coffee beans, not nearly as strong as a regular Starbucks coffee, but more flavorful than a home brewed pot of Folgers or Maxwell House coffee. There are flavor shots available for Tim Hortons coffee, and special cappuccino blends, but the traditional Tim Hortons coffee remains the consumer favorite.

Tim Hortons coffee is a good choice for coffee lovers who don't want to pay a premium price for good coffee. A large, 16 ounce tall one, will cost $1.65, including a local 8% sales tax. Tim Hortons coffee is best served with the amazing Tim Hortons coffee creamer. The rich and creamy blend does not compare to any coffee creamer on the market. You have to get a Tim Hortons "double double" coffee to understand. That blend equates to a two cream and two sugar blend.

The Tim Hortons Coffee Addiction

To further establish the addictive potential of Tim Hortons coffee on former home brewers, one only has to witness the panic that sets in on certain holidays, when Tim Hortons closes early. The one thing that drinking a daily cup or two of Tim Hortons coffee does well, is that it changes the way home brewed coffee tastes. Maxwell House or Folgers no longer satisfies, and Starbucks regular coffees begin to taste like liquid tar. The process of becoming a Tim Hortons coffee addict begins slowly, but eventually leads to increased coffee drinking behaviors or a complete prohibition of brewing regular coffee at home. Even though Tim Hortons sells their coffee packaged for home brewing, it does not taste as good as one of their own freshly brewed coffees.

The potential for a Tim Hortons Restaurant to show up in more cities and towns across the United States is great. Just recently, a string of five Tim Hortons franchises sprung up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and the US-Canadian border towns have been enjoying Tim Hortons coffee for at least a few years now. Tim Hortons has franchises in New York, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, and Maine. Once one Tim Hortons franchise is built, there are bound to be more. Tim Hortons recently began to offer its own shares on the stock market, after successfully being linked to Wendy's International previously. The popularity of Tim Hortons coffee has just begin in the United States.