McDonald's Chilled Lattes: Better Than Starbucks?

Give McDonald's credit for attempting to revamp its image in the coffee market. Yes, this is the McDonald's notorious for its bad coffee - coffee so bad that some will bypass the value menus and order breakfast items a la carte, simply to avoid a cup of Joe. But recently, in response to high frills, high priced coffee beverages offered at other chains, McDonald's decided to introduce lower priced alternatives packaged under a gourmet guise.

Go to a McDonald's, and your cup of coffee will not be housed in a sterile white cup anymore; instead, you'll find a beige cup sitting on your bright orange tray, just to the left of your McGriddle. Beige is earthier, suggestive of coffee plantations and freshly ground beans. And for added reassurance, the word "Premium" is stamped on the cup, too. Even the name - "McCafe" - represents McDonald's concerted effort to salvage some respectability in the coffee industry. The company's ad campaign features healthy young adults indulging in life's quiet moments by way of a McCafe.

Their traditional coffee is not bad - not as strong or burnt-tasting as Starbucks; in fact, Consumer Reports conducted a taste test in which McDonalds coffee was rated as better than that of Starbucks. But what about the all-important, sugary, chilled coffee "beverages?"

Promotional gimmicks (i.e. freebies!) are always a welcome method of introducing new products to the consumer. Throughout the month of August, when oppressive summer heat makes anything cold look good, McDonald's has offered free samples of its iced lattes every Wednesday: mocha and vanilla.

Curious, a friend and I visited McDonald's to try the new product. We pulled through the drive-thru, each ordering a chilled mocha latte. The employee handed us what essentially looked like something Starbucks would serve - a big, clear cup full of iced coffee and topped with a large puff of whipped cream, protected by a Starbucks-esque plastic dome. My friend and I both prefer the blended versions of this type of drink - more like a smoothie or milkshake - but weren't going to complain.

After my first sip, one thing became very apparent. Two minutes earlier, this beverage had been hot. In fact, the beverage still was warm, and quite strong. We both found that allowing the drinks to sit for a few minutes, and integrating the whipped cream into the liquid helped to dilute the flavor. Five minutes later, the drink was welcome relief on a muggy August day.

Three hours later, we visited a different McDonald's in order to try the vanilla drink. As we pulled up to place our order, the employee did not know that his company was offering any sort of free latte promotion. After we pleaded with him, he reluctantly obliged and handed us a vanilla latte. Maybe this was not a "participating McDonald's?" Whatever the case, we were skeptical of beverage tampering and decided not to partake. We simply stared at it; and the vanilla latte automatically lost points for lacking that tall puff of whipped cream.

Would I spend the $2-3 for a McDonald's chilled coffee beverage? Probably not. If I wanted a cold kick of caffeine, I'd splurge, pay the extra buck, and get a Frappuccino. But if I really wanted something cold, creamy, and decadent on a hot day, I'd go for the best deal in the business: a Wendy's Frosty.