McDonalds Vs Starbucks...ding ding

[MacDougalbry]

#1 Regarding the breakfast wars, some Starbucks in Vancouver are now offering breakfast sandwiches that are similar to Tims... they have them in the cold sandwich case and they have a special convection oven to warm them up. My taste test verdict: yuck.

#2 Most of what Starbucks peddles in its pastry case is worse for you than what you would get at McDonald's for breakfast. All the simple carbs, fats and sugars and none of the protein. In the US they have a lemon scone that clocks in at 700 calories of nothingness. (By comparison, an Egg McMuffin has 300 calories.)

#3 I think those that dislike Starbucks coffee actually don't like the taste of coffee. Also Tim's has an advantage in that they add way more sugar and full-fat cream to their coffee than people would normally add themselves at Starbucks. Having said that, SB coffee is generally over roasted. When I go to Timmies I have to ask for "half a cream". A double double doesn't even taste like coffee to me, it just tastes like milk fat.

#4 You can brew good coffee at home with a French Press. Don't waste money on fancy machines.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by MacDougalbry

#3 I think those that dislike Starbucks coffee actually don't like the taste of coffee.

TOTALLY disagree. Starbucks coffee tastes bitter and burnt. Coffee should taste nutty and mellow, much like it smells. As for their espresso--it's weak and has very little of the yellow crema on top, because they don't tamp the coffee properly. The fact that they failed a taste test against McDonald's coffee is not because McDonald's coffee is surprisingly good--McDonald's coffee is awful. Starbucks failed the test because their brewed coffee is unbelievably bad.

Agree on the French Press, though. A very cheap way of making very good coffee at home--but you have to grind the beans a little bit coarser than you would for a drip machine.

I have an earlier version of this coffeemaker at home and I love it--though the "grind and brew" feature is more trouble than it's worth. There's a model that doesn't have it that goes for about 50 dollars less, IIRC.
http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/...fee-Maker.aspx

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

As for their espresso--it's weak and has very little of the yellow crema on top, because they don't tamp the coffee properly.

The tamping is the least of their problems. Bigger issues are the beans that aren't freshly roasted and their superautomatic espresso machines.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by MacDougalbry

#1 Regarding the breakfast wars, some Starbucks in Vancouver are now offering breakfast sandwiches that are similar to Tims... they have them in the cold sandwich case and they have a special convection oven to warm them up. My taste test verdict: yuck.

I was at a *$'s in Florida that had these. Because of the ovens they were pimping their pastries served warm.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by MacDougalbry

#1 Regarding the breakfast wars, some Starbucks in Vancouver are now offering breakfast sandwiches that are similar to Tims... they have them in the cold sandwich case and they have a special convection oven to warm them up. My taste test verdict: yuck.

To each their own. I've only had the one kind, reduced fat Turkey, and I love it.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by 4X4

With the sushi craze that has grasped today's society I'm surprised that I can't order McSushi when I'm at old Rotton Ronnie's...

I'm already suspicious enough with their ability to handle cooked meat...
French press was super common in Europe. Definitely the best way to brew coffee IMO

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

For those who spend lots at places like Starbucks, consider this. I bought for my office a Braun Tassimo coffee maker. It makes regular coffee and tea, but also makes cappuchino and other specialty coffees for a fraction of the cost. It works slick and the coffee is good. Maybe you can't deduct the cost from taxes like I can, but it's still a good deal. Someone made the puchase for me so I'm not sure of the cost, but I think it's around $110.

To make a cappuchino, you put into the machine a small bar-coded package of coffee. Machine reads the code so it knows what you're making and then puts through the right amount of water. Once the coffee is made, you put in another bar-coded milk package to finish the cappuchino. Same thing with the other drinks. Nice.

Not sure of the cost so I'm guessing here, but I think it's well under a buck for a cappuchino compared for $4-$5. And you don't have to drive to get it. Sure beats going into Mcdonalds, which I try to avoid at all costs.

Great minds think alike!!! We also have the same machine in our office (and I also have one at home). I have broken my addiction to Tim Hortons now and I make it to the office about 20 minutes faster as a result!

[MacDougalbry]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I have an earlier version of this coffeemaker at home and I love it--though the "grind and brew" feature is more trouble than it's worth. There's a model that doesn't have it that goes for about 50 dollars less, IIRC.
http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/...fee-Maker.aspx

Funny, I had that same coffee maker. When it worked properly it made a great cup but, my god, the mess!

This was the most fun coffee maker I ever had, though it looks like something that would be more at home in the meth lab:

[MacDougalbry]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

To each their own. I've only had the one kind, reduced fat Turkey, and I love it.

Just want to be sure that we are talking about their breakfast sandwiches and not their regular sandwiches... generally I like their regular sandwiches. As for the breakfast sandwich, I had the plain sausage and egg one and it was almost identical to the thing that Tim Hortons sells except it wasn't as fresh (if you can imagine that is possible.)

I would be happier if they would just bring back the cheese scone.

[Marv]

Perhaps I am the only person here who actually works at Starbucks, but I feel a need to stand up for my employer. There are healthy drink options same as anywhere else, you just have to look for them. Don't order drinks with the white mocha syrup - it's nothing but calories. But a soy or nonfat chai latte is not that bad. The pastries may not be all healthy, but again you shouldn't be eating 3 or 4 cream cheese danishes a day, right?

As for the taste of the coffee, it is an aquired taste. But at the same time, the brewed coffee changes all the time and we have coffees from all over the world and the different regions have specific flavours. Starbucks coffee is much like wine - aromas and taste vary by region, the method of drying and roasting the beans, etc. It's meant to a be a luxury statement in coffee, which is not everybody's taste. Some people simply want coffee and favour whatever off-the-shelf brand they're comfortable with, while some people like the uniqueness and personal touch of getting their coffee made to order.

[4X4]

So... Uh.... How many facial piercings do you have?

[Marv]

Originally Posted by 4X4

So... Uh.... How many facial piercings do you have?

Was this directed at me? If so, not a single one. Think the practice is stupid. But thanks for the stereotype...

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Marv

Was this directed at me? If so, not a single one. Think the practice is stupid. But thanks for the stereotype...

Tell the truth...

[Marv]

Sorry dude, we're not all hemp-wearing hippies. But I appreciate the jab (I'm assuming it's all in fun)

[Got Miikka?]

I gotta say that until I worked for Starbucks (for anyone who's keeping track, I have worked EVERYWHERE), I thought their coffee tasted burnt and shytty. Even when I worked there I thought it tasted like crap. But they give you 3 free drinks per shift (which for me at the time was usually a 4 hour shift, and I'd drink 3 quad-shot concoctions in those 4 hours - you could have powered a small city using my heartbeat I reckon), and slowly but surely that flavor brands itself onto you. Now I drink almost expressly Starbucks, and I love it (it helps that downtown there are a hundred million Starbucks locations, there are Starbucks INSIDE Starbucks).

Timmy Ho's I enjoy too. I was on Timmy's the summer I did electrostatic painting. Large/extra large double double every morning. I still have it every so often (ie when I feel like braving the breadline queue in Gulf Canada Square - yikes) but I can say this: 10 pounds dropped since I stopped having it daily.

It's true about the pastry case at Starbucks being death. There is no redeeming value in anything in that case. I read the nutrition facts binder at work once. It was hideous. But it's hard to resist, when you're standing in line and it's beckoning to you...

[Marv]

It's true about the pastry case at Starbucks being death. There is no redeeming value in anything in that case. I read the nutrition facts binder at work once. It was hideous. But it's hard to resist, when you're standing in line and it's beckoning to you...

###!

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by Got Miikka?

It's true about the pastry case at Starbucks being death. There is no redeeming value in anything in that case. I read the nutrition facts binder at work once. It was hideous. But it's hard to resist, when you're standing in line and it's beckoning to you...

Curling the line around the pastry case is the smartest thing coffee shops have ever done. So many times I go into a coffee shop for just coffee and end up with a drink and a cookie.

Timmy Ho's I enjoy too. I was on Timmy's the summer I did electrostatic painting. Large/extra large double double every morning. I still have it every so often (ie when I feel like braving the breadline queue in Gulf Canada Square - yikes) but I can say this: 10 pounds dropped since I stopped having it daily.

Last year during exams, it was a particularly bad semester, so I ended up staying up long hours to study. 1 large double double every single day while sitting at a desk = 10 lbs gained. This was done over a 2 month period. Exams ended, no more coffee, weight lost. It's definitely the cream and sugar that does it. But the fact that I wasn't really doing much exercise probably didn't help.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Got Miikka?

It's true about the pastry case at Starbucks being death. There is no redeeming value in anything in that case.

Unless taste counts for something.

Their Ginger Molasses cookies are unbelievably good.

[Marv]

^^^ Sweet Jesus, the oat fudge bar. My kryptonite....

[Got Miikka?]

Originally Posted by Marv

My kryptonite....

Just reminded me of another tune for the Worst Song thread

I'm all over the blueberry scone, 10000 calories but goddamn is it ever good (gotta have enough blueberries and icing on it tho - unfortunate lack of consistency in this department by the Starbucks pastry crew)