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I received coupons for free samples of McD's then-new coffee drinks awhile back, so I tried one -- I got my money's worth. I refuse to acknowledge Starbucks, preferring local shops or at least state/regional-based franchises. Frankly, I'd rather use my coffee press and some Fair Trade coffee than squander money on lesser products that cost as much as a mosquito net that could save a child's life in Africa ....

I'll hit Starbucks, but the deciding factor in that choice is that my local Starbucks has bannanas at the register. I'll grab a coffee and a bannana and I'm good to go for the morning.

With all the money I seem to accidentally waste already, I just can't justify coffee from any place other than my own kitchen. Plus, I can't imagine it tastes any better than what I can make for myself.

I had plenty of McCafe in Australia, where the offer Soy as a milk option. None of the US stores I have visited have Soy. Being allergic to cows milk, my decision has been made by Maccas and Dunkin that I will be going to Starbucks when I get chain store coffee. All of the local places I frequent also offer soy as an option.

I love McDonald's. They, as far to my knowledge, are the only fast place that has sugar-free iced coffee and, as a diabetic, makes me happy.

i actually had to stop all caffeine ingestion this week to see if it would clear up a health problem, and unfortunately, it did. so i guess i'm off the sauce.

i never go to any of those places. i always get my coffee at the small, independent cafes on my usual route.

Couple years back, I conducted my own coffee test: Starbucks, Coffee Bean (West Coast), Seattle's Best, Peete's (Nor. Cali), and Peerless (Nor. Cali). Coffee Bean had the best tea (not even close) and Peete's had the best coffee (I'm a dark roast guy). Peerless received an honorable mention for being the greenest.

Turn the clocks forward to the present (and gloomier) day, I performed yet again another coffee taste tates. This time, the fast food mosters: McDonalad's, Dunkin Donuts, and Jack in the Box. Dunkin left the competition in the dust. Coffee had a deep full flavor and tasted like it was made by my favorite barista. McDonald's coffee is actually a good value except I've noticed the quality varies DRASTICALLY from store to store, something I'm sure McD's corporate offices can't control....

Thanks for the heads up guys on the sugar-free stuff. We have Dunkin Donuts here but they are scarce and out of the way and who doesn't have Starbucks? They just are hectic on the way into work and well, McDonald's is fast and ready. I think they know me!

Any recommendations on what tastes good at Starbucks without going off on a novel?

The thing with SBUX is that some baristas are good and some aren't. Unlike McDonalds (Don't recall with DD), the barista has some say over whether the foam is good, whether the shots are pulled in a proper time, etc.

So if you can find a barista that knows what they're doing, a macchiato (foam marked with shots) or latte could be pretty tasty. Unfortunately, there's a ton of turnover, so it's hard to get talent and keep it.

That being said, my safe drink is the aforementioned iced coffee with half the amount of hazelnut syrup that they'd normally use "classic" syrup on. Once in a blue moon, I like a mocha macchiato, which is super sweet and doesn't come in sugar free.

If I know/trust the barista, any of the classic non-sweetened drinks can be good.

That's been my experience.

I am a coffee snob and here in Milwaukee we have a local vendor called Alterra coffee. They have ridiculously strong coffee. It's like a mule kicked you in your mouth. Anyway that is the way I like it, if I go anywhere else the coffee is too weak for my tastes. Alterra has ruined me for all other coffee, Starbucks doesn't even come close.

I'm sure it's a cheap beverage, so you get what you pay for, but it is lamentable that 95% of America will never taste a cup of coffee. Products like this make me angry to the point of not being able to muster a defense, and reminds me that I should spread good coffee, not bash the drugs and candy sold by Wesayso Inc.

ArchieLeach, I don't believe I pass a Starbucks on my way to work, nor is there one near me. Then again, I live in what is very firmly Dunkin territory. Indeed, I think I pass something like 5 Dunkins and there's one in the building.

For regular coffee, I prefer Dunkin. Starbucks is on the bitter side for me. Though, I'd prefer if Dunkin let me mix in my own milk and sweetener.

McCafés are great for the "misery market" of coffee. But neither Starbucks nor McDonald's not Dunkin' Donuts offer anything above the level of fast food coffee. So it hasn't changed my habits one iota.

I've tried the McDonalds Iced Coffee twice in the last few weeks and both time it was so full of sweetened cream it made me want to gag. The second time I ordered it, I asked for mostly coffee and just a tiny bit of cream, and it was still way too much. I gave it back, and asked to just add more coffee and the guy looked at me like I was from Mars. He added more (I guess) but what I got back looked like watered down coffee added at the top. I gave up, and will continue to go to my wonderful local places or Starbucks for my iced coffees in the future. I tried...