February 5, 2007

Starbucks vs. McDonald's

So according to a recent article in the LA Times the consumer magazine Consumer Reports is going to put an article out in its March issue that rates McDonald’s coffee better than Starbucks, which it finds “burnt”. So, while I agree that the Char-bucks nickname is well earned, no one should think that Consumer Reports should convince them to leave Starbucks and move over to the Golden Arches. The problem with these types of ratings is that the taste panel is made up of judges who probably rate the product objectively and then make a subjective call on what’s a better product. That’s where the problem lies. What’s better? Vanilla or Chocolate ice cream? These judges can't tell you what to like. People have different tastes, and coffee is a matter of taste.

When I try to write up my tasting notes of coffee, I try to include objective descriptions of what the cup was like, and then include an explanation of why I like a coffee, which may NOT be why you like a coffee. I think that the beauty of coffee is that there are so many possibilities out there, and I hope I can help you find the one that you like best; not tell you what’s best. So I am sure that people at McDonald’s are Lovin’ It that Consumer Reports will be coming out with a taste test like this, but don’t think that it’s going to make a lot of Starbucks drinkers move on over.

More at LA Times