McCafe - McDonalds

I agree I wouuld prefer the Mcd's brewed coffee over the others mentioned in the article. I have to say the Mcd's brewed coffee is a decent product. It doesn't however standup to the brewed coffee at the local coffee houses.

And I agree. You do have to clearly specify that you do not want any syrups in the espresso drinks. Again, their coffee knowledge is zero.

Well, I woke up this morning with errands to run, and I chose to sleep an extra ten minutes rather than do the McD's experiment. Probably a good choice. So maybe I'll never know, or at least until the next time the choose to give away free coffee (probably won't be long).

It is true that much of the coffee flavor gets lost when you adulterate it with milk, sugar, flavored syrups, etc. I sometimes call myself a "milk pusher" rather than a coffee roaster. But 'ya gotta stay in business, you know. But even with the "foo foo" drinks, or even with something as simple as a latte, a lot of flavor is determined by the technique one uses for steaming the milk. I've recently gotten better at creating microfoam, which provides natural sweetness as well as a creamy velvety texture if done properly. And of course we use ONLY organic milk at Ray's, which affects flavor slightly, and probably your health even more.

Anyway, I guess no McD's experiment today. Unless someone happens to bring me some by the shop.

For what it's worth, here is a review by respected coffee expert, Kenneth Davids:

"The Coffee Review, led by editor Kenneth Davids, sampled four different hot, espresso-based beverages in two McDonald’s Northern California locations offering the new McCafé menu, and the analogous four beverages at two nearby Starbucks locations: a cappuccino, caffè latte, caffè mocha (espresso, frothed milk and chocolate syrup) and caramel latte.

The quality of the products varied by the type of drink. According to Mr. Davids, who has published three books on gourmet coffee, for the cappuccinos “We gave a slight edge to Starbucks, though some may prefer the more coffee-muted McDonald’s version with its larger proportion of milk to coffee.” He added that “the difference in caffè lattes was subtle, perhaps not worth fussing over for most palates, although we found the Starbucks version livelier and more nuanced.”

However, when it came to flavored coffees beverages, Mr. Davids found “the superiority of the Starbucks versions of caffè mocha and caramel latte was dramatic, and significant, given consumer preference for espresso beverages involving added syrups.” Mr. Davids noted that the Starbucks versions cost 44 to 76 cents more than those from McDonald’s, leading him to conclude “It appears that at this front of the coffee war you get what you pay for, particularly when it comes to drinks that include syrups and whipped cream.”

Cheers

No soy. Guessing you could just get a straight shot however to taste the espresso. I am referring to espresso drinks rather than just regular brewed coffee. I've had your brewed coffee Nimbus and the roasting and deep full flavor show and is pro baseball compared to little league (mcd's brewed coffee). (never had a latte at your place)

However, when combing the steamed milk/espresso that mcd's produces compared to local shops and the gap becomes much, much less. IMO

Thanks for the nice words Brian!

-Nimbus

[Robin Garr]

And of course we use ONLY organic milk at Ray's, which affects flavor slightly,

I hope it's not ultra-pasteurized! That stuff gets weird when you foam it. We got organic milk from Rainbow Blossom a couple of times (ages ago) to use in lattes, and didn't realize until we got it home that it was ultra-pasteurized. I'm sorry, I agree with you about the potential long-time health and other "green" issues with organics, but those lattes were just too damn strange for me.

But to try it, I'd be forced to go inside a McDonald's, right?

Permit me to agree with Nimbus. I don't spend money at places like McDonald's.

Your welcome Nimbus. It took me a while to visit your place but I have been in 3-4 times now and really enjoy your coffee. I am a big Cumberland Brews fan also so that area has turned into a cool little beer and coffee hangout, always folks out front there. I didn't get to try the espresso brew that you partnered with Cumberland with last year but I hope it comes back and I won't miss it again.

I also have enjoy Quills new spot a few times now. I'd say Ray's and Quills are my favorites on B'town road now. Heine Bros is becoming the Mcd's of B'town Road so I stay away from them

As a barrista who pulls all his shots by hand, I would say the MCCafe is on a par with every other shop that uses a super automatic espresso machine.

So what factors would affect the drinks then?

Not training because it's a push button operation with those super auto espresso machines. I guess they still foam the milk by hand so this could be a factor.
Freshness of the coffee? I would assume it's not going to be nearly as fresh as a shop that either roasts or purchases locally roasted beans directly from the roaster.
Batch size of the roastings - most likely they are roasting in bulk vs. small batch roasting

McCafe is a bullet aimed at Starbucks and other drive thru chains. It's not slow food, it's not gourmet coffee it's all about commodity pricing (selling it as cheaply as possibly) and continence (drive-thrus) for the consumer - the hall makrs of the fast food industry - quick and cheap.

As a consumer you have to differentiate between getting a coffee as cheaply and quickly as possible and the idea of going into a cafe/espresso bar in order to get a coffee slowly. The atmospheres are totally different and ultimately if you're looking for the cheapest and quickest mediocre coffee around you'll likely be better off buying your own super automatic home espresso machine and making the coffee in the comfort of your own home. You'll get to choose which coffee beans are used and you'll get to relax in your own space. Over the long run you'll saver lots of money and time and increase the quality of your own lifestyle.

That said I only go to McD's for the bi annual double cheeseburgers. I wish I could say I never went there but I do on road trips on occasion.

There are many reasons why I avoid McDonalds but this is why I don't drink the coffee and never will:

http://smallnotebook.org/2008/06/10/mcdonalds-iced-coffee-just-say-no/

I believe most coffee shops are a rip-off; their product is horrible; and people are suckers for paying $6.00 to drink one cup of coffee. But,hey, as long as it's healthy. Right?

I think most of what you said is fairly ridiculous. If you choose to not patronize a coffee shop, brew at home and save money then I don't believe anyone would argue with that and respect your opinion. However, the exagerated generalizations below for the most part are totally illogical and untrue.



I believe most coffee shops are a rip-off

their product is horrible

and people are suckers for paying $6.00 to drink one cup of coffee

But,hey, as long as it's healthy. Right

However, the exagerated generalizations below for the most part are totally illogical and untrue.

For the most part. Could you be a little more specific? Since, it seems, you're agreeing with my opinion too?

I believe most coffee shops are a rip-off
You are paying for a service/product just as you would any where else. If you are getting locally roasted beans and coffee or epsresso produced by an expert then you are paying for that. You are paying for the atomosphere. If you want to stay at home and enjoy your coffee then that is your choice. But for those who go to a shop they are getting a value for what they pay for. For me, going to a coffee shop is something I consider a non essential purchase and something I do on occassion to relax and enjoy good coffee. I could go to the coffee shop, get a medium coffee for $1.50 - $1.75 or so and enjoy the coffee and atomosphere. I don't consider that a rip off.

their product is horrible
Obviously, this statement just doesn't make any sense. Please feel to elaborate.



and people are suckers for paying $6.00 to drink one cup of coffee
$1.50 to $2.00 for a brewed coffee is not $6.00. Usually, large espresso drinks are in the $3 to $4 range so a pretty large exageration. Where I agree is that spending $3 to $4 everyday of the week on an espresso drink can get quite expensive. As a treat on occassion I feel is a differnt story.

But,hey, as long as it's healthy. Right
Not sure what this has to do with your other points. There do seem to be some health benefits with coffee but that doesn't require you to go to a coffee shop. You can choose to brew your own at home.

Love it Brian. Thanks for some rationality.

Fine.

Go on believing I dislike every coffee shop in Louisville. You couldn't be more wrong. I lack the technical knowledge and capacity to make many specialty drinks I enjoy when the mood hits.


You really want an explanation when someone say their product is bad? Should I get out my Thesaurus and use other words? Of course, this is my opinion. And frankly, I don't care if you like it or not.


Yes, I know people paying $5 a day on their specialty drinks from Starbucks or wherever because they have to have it. To me, that's silly. But, hey, that's my opinion.

But,hey, as long as it's healthy. Right
Not sure what this has to do with your other points. There do seem to be some health benefits with coffee but that doesn't require you to go to a coffee shop. You can choose to brew your own at home.

There are many reasons why I avoid McDonalds but this is why I don't drink the coffee and never will:

http://smallnotebook.org/2008/06/10/mcd ... st-say-no/

Oh Kyle, I'm sorry to hear you "don't drink coffee and never will." Now, I'm not advocating McDonald's iced coffee (and if I ever had the article that you cited would quickly change my mind) but check out this abstract from the The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease,Volume 17, Number 3, July 2009

Pages 681-697
Chuanhai Cao, John R. Cirrito, Xiaoyang Lin, Lilly Wang, Deborah K Verges, Alexander Dickson, Malgorzata Mamcarz, Chi Zhang, Takashi Mori, Gary W. Arendash, David M. Holtzman, Huntington Potter
Caffeine Suppresses Amyloid-β Levels in Plasma and Brain of Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mice
Abstract: Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that caffeine may be protective against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Supportive of this premise, our previous studies have shown that moderate caffeine administration protects/restores cognitive function and suppresses brain amyloid-β (Aβ) production in AD transgenic mice. In the present study, we report that acute caffeine administration to both young adult and aged AD transgenic mice rapidly reduces Aβ levels in both brain interstitial fluid and plasma without affecting Aβ elimination. Long-term oral caffeine treatment to aged AD mice provided not only sustained reductions in plasma Aβ, but also decreases in both soluble and deposited Aβ in hippocampus and cortex. Irrespective of caffeine treatment, plasma Aβ levels did not correlate with brain Aβ levels or with cognitive performance in individual aged AD mice. Although higher plasma caffeine levels were strongly associated with lower plasma Aβ1-40 levels in aged AD mice, plasma caffeine levels were also not linked to cognitive performance. Plasma caffeine and theophylline levels were tightly correlated, both being associated with reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in hippocampus. Our conclusion is two-fold: first, that both plasma and brain Aβ levels are reduced by acute or chronic caffeine administration in several AD transgenic lines and ages, indicating a therapeutic value of caffeine against AD; and second, that plasma Aβ levels are not an accurate index of brain Aβ levels/deposition or cognitive performance in aged AD mice.

I understand that this is the equivalent of 2 1/2 large or Grande cups of coffee a day - coffee, not latte or cappaccino.