As a Starbucks “partner” you had to taste every drip coffee that they serve. While not my favorite part of the job (especially since if I am going to drink coffee, I want it to be as froufrou as possible) it is still a very important one.
When you have to taste, compare and contrast every single coffee that Starbucks offers, you do actually get a sense of what makes one coffee different from another. Much like a wine taster. ((**Not to compare my tastes to that of a Wine taster, but in a very real way they are very similar**))

Therefore, if you *really* want to go into the debate of whether or not McDonald’s will, can or is going to take some profits away from SBUX, you have quite a few things to consider.
1) What kind/taste of coffee does the average consumer look for?
2) How convenient is the closest McDonald’s v. Starbucks for the average consumer?
3) Are we talking about the hot coffee at McD’s v hot coffee at SBUX? Iced coffees?
3a) Not to mention that Starbucks has things like tea, blended beverages, espresso drinks etc. etc. etc…. Are we going to compare those as well?

For *my* OPINION on things: As I said earlier, I only like coffee with stuff in it: latte’s, mochas you get the idea. I do not like McD’s hot coffee, but I don’t like Starbucks drip coffee either. I do not mind McD’s iced coffee, as long as it has the vanilla or hazelnut flavor added to it, and even then I still doctor it up a bit.

I’m sure that is more the answer you were looking for, but you asked!

Hugs and stuff, Cariann

Ambiance influenced my choices more than coffee quality, and I’d have to give Starbucks the edge there.

But I will add this: at Grandma’s Marathon yesterday there was a bi-plane flying around with a a banner adverstising McDonald’s iced coffee. They certainly are trying their damndest to get a bite of the Starbuck’s pie.