Maccas best coffee??

Brett H

on 1309782042:

Fortunately 'Speciality Coffee' is contained within several existing Trademark names so short of trying on the laughable 'Gloria Jeans Speciality Coffee' they would most likely fail. I suspect this is as Mycuppa puts it partly counter spin against MuckD's.

Specialty coffee is dealt another blow by the populist media and their penchant for reporting and researching the lowest common denominator...

Digging up this thread for Round 2!  Someone now give us a simple explanation of null-hypothesize and P-values: http://www.news.com.au/business/mcdonalds-voted-number-one-coffee-chain/story-e6frfm1i-1226127146025

O Dio, l'orrore....

Muscles

Next thing you know they will be awarded 3 hats and pigs will fly

beanflying

The home of dubious research used is here http://www.canstarblue.com.au/food-drink/coffee-shops/ MuckAfe 4 stars for ambience  ::)

Muscles

LOL I guess if you are worn out enough to find the environment at McDonalds ambient anything could taste good.

Brett H

If your enjoying tabloid style statistical data gathering and analysis cheek out this gem: http://www.canstarblue.com.au/appliances/espresso-coffee-machines/ Canstar have also compared domestic machines and when you see the results you're gonna freak out!

beanflying

And I thought choice were bad at Espresso machine and grinder reviews.

shape_shifter

I think that it is really telling when it comes to how many people out there actually know what real FRESH coffee!

DoubleRistretto

take a look at this for a badly written article: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/maccas-coffee-beats-the-best/story-e6frea8c-1226127719819 (or is it badly researched). Doesn't even mention that it was a 'battle of the coffee chains' with no baristas from independent coffee stores included, in fact do some of these chains even use baristas?? A :o

Dry_bean.

Ya know McDonalds coffee really has come a long way, I've had far worse coffee than their current offerings from so called speciality cafes offering SO beans from exotic locations being prepared by specialist barista's. Perhaps some of these self same cafes are feeling a little threatened by this onslaught from the golden arches. As with Macca's food, their coffee and ambiance is not for everyone. Credit where credit is due.

beanflying

Hi DR and DB, merged in some chat from yesterday. MuckD's must be loving the free publicity even if they don't pay the fee to use the Canstar "award" of dubiousness.  ::)

madpierre

http://www.perthnow.com.au/would-you-like-mccivet-poo-coffee-with-that/story-fn6mhct1-1226067288012 Not necessarily in response, but I got a giggle out of this one anyways. As DB said, credit is there for making something which is somewhat less than grating for the palate. I don't see how they can be classed as a coffee chain, though. I'm not sure how in this article where they are quoted as "beat specialty rivals" GJ's, Hudson's and the Coffee Club and the like can be called 'specialty rivals'' http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/maccas-coffee-beats-the-best/story-e6frea8c-1226127719819 I loved P deB's quoted response in our local rag up here. But him being quoted almost gives them 'instant' :D credibility. http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/barista-tip-for-mccafe/story-fn6cc53j-1226124812147 

Dry_bean.

When you get the likes of Phillip Di Bella making statements defending the place of specialty stores in the industry you know that Macca's has them somewhat concerned, the arches must be having an impact.

Brett H

on 1314932066:

When you get the likes of Phillip Di Bella making statements defending the place of specialty stores in the industry you know that Macca's has them somewhat concerned, the arches must be having an impact.

That is an excellent point and all the more reason for us to strongly urge our friends, family and acquaintances and in fact anyone who'll listen to make the move to support those quality roasters the we love.  We need them to stay in business!  Mediocrity is the saddest feature of our modern lifestyles. 

admin

on 1314851626:

The home of dubious research used is here http://www.canstarblue.com.au/food-drink/coffee-shops/ MuckAfe 4 stars for ambience  ::)

scary... they don't talk much about their methodology, so it's pretty hard to guage their accuracy; didn't Cafe culture do some sort of 'challenge of the coffee chains' at one stage?

on 1314919994:

in fact do some of these chains even use baristas?? A :o

actually have to admit I haven't been into a macca's for a few years, but I think dR is right - don't they use Caffeina [industrial] auto machines?

Koffee_Kosmo

Apologies if I am wrong but I was also of the impression that Maccas have Super Auto machines I think they train the staff how to froth milk not make the coffee itself I am basing my answer purely on the current advertisement commercial on TV  Its what you don't see You don't see the staff member making the coffee just the milk frothing KK

Cuppacoffee

I think they have both KK - I believe the superautos are at the drive through and the espresso machines are in the cafe.  Though it doesn't really matter when you haven't had a good one from whatever they use.

Brett H

I'm just totally shocked... Canstar that bastian of statistical integrity and McDonalds... unsh!ty coffee (yeah right) are unscrupulously fudging the ratings.  I'm just shocked... who could possibly have guessed  ::) http://www.news.com.au/business/firm-fury-how-our-biggest-firms-are-paying-for-star-ratings/story-e6frfm1i-1226186674823

Brett H

on 1314849691:

Specialty coffee is dealt another blow by the populist media and their penchant for reporting and researching the lowest common denominator... Digging up this thread for Round 2!  Someone now give us a simple explanation of null-hypothesize and P-values: http://www.news.com.au/business/mcdonalds-voted-number-one-coffee-chain/story-e6frfm1i-1226127146025 O Dio, l'orrore....

Oh... I guessed.  But I didn't count on 'any advertising is good advertising!'

beanflying

I am sure Canstars statisticians wore white coats when doctoring working out the results of where the best net return to their bottom line would come from  ::) Holy Today Tonight Expose Batman  :D

askthecoffeeguy

Hmm....  It's no surprises that retails with the biggest advertising bucks 'win' all the awards under canstar's innovative polling system I'm reluctant to use the term 'cash for comment' - but they wouldn't be the first follow the dark path...

DoubleRistretto

on 1320536893:

Hmm....  It's no surprises that retails with the biggest advertising bucks 'win' all the awards under canstar's innovative polling system. I'm reluctant to use the term 'cash for comment' - but they wouldn't be the first follow the dark path...

Not sure if you read the article Pat - it's not just that Macca's is a big advertiser, they actually do pay Canstar for the result!  ???

Brett H

on 1320577610:

Not sure if you read the article Pat - it's not just that Macca's is a big advertiser, they actually do pay Canstar for the result!  ???

Which beggars belief that any journalist that wants to rise above the level of 'crap dispenser' would actually refer to them in an, or any article.  The whole sordid tale is so unsurprising that I am only more saddened by the fact that the average punter seems to not notice or to not care.  Crapstar Blew will tell you that they are just trying to pay their bills; but, if they trade on their credibility, then sell out, they'd better have got a great price. This operational deviousness will result a business that rather than maturing, will go stale!

Espresso Store

I find McCafe review & advertising hilarious

FreshCoffee2

Playing the devil's advocate. Last week I traveled interstate for a few days. On the way back I stopped at what looked like a very clean upmarket cafe with what seemed to be, a very competent operator working behind the machine. My wife bought 2 coffees, brought them to the car, and we drove off. I took the first sip and said some unkind things. I took a second sip to confirm that the unkind things said were warranted....then said some more. I know what was wrong with it but dont need to go into a technical discussion about it. It was undrinkable and I threw the rest out at our next stop which happened to be a servo with a McD. Wife bought 2 coffees (McD's). They were quite acceptable and we drank them and then I went round to check the equipment which turned out to be an older (pre dating the latest Melitta's) model Franke automatic. So nothing special there. Coffee quality in the cup varies no matter where you go dependent on a number of variables, and that doesnt mean that you cant get a reasonable McD coffee in various locations from time to time...... On this occasion, I am afraid it puts paid to all the toffee nosed coffee-isti out there using various brand name multi boiler machines with their twin over head foxtail conical grinders, stepless adjusters and frustrated artist attitudes......

Brett H

on 1327717661:

Playing the devil's advocate. Last week I travelled interstate for a few days. On the way back I stopped at what looked like a very clean upmarket cafe with what seemed to be, a very competent operator working behind the machine. My wife bought 2 coffees, brought them to the car, and we drove off. I took the first sip and said some unkind things. I took a second sip to confirm that the unkind things said were warranted....then said some more. I know what was wrong with it but dont need to go into a technical discussion about it. It was undrinkable and I threw the rest out at our next stop which happened to be a servo with a McD. Wife bought 2 coffees (McD's). They were quite acceptable and we drank them and then I went round to check the equipment which turned out to be an older (pre dating the latest Melitta's) model Franke automatic. So nothing special there. Coffee quality in the cup varies no matter where you go dependent on a number of variables, and that doesn't mean that you cant get a reasonable McD coffee in various locations from time to time...... On this occasion, I am afraid it puts paid to all the toffee nosed coffee-isti out there using various brand name multi boiler machines with their twin over head foxtail conical grinders, stepless adjusters and frustrated artist attitudes......

Brilliant... particularly the last sentence!  My favourite part of the saga is that it is commonly reported that Canstar can be bought in one form or other: http://www.news.com.au/business/firm-fury-how-our-biggest-firms-are-paying-for-star-ratings/story-e6frfm1i-1226186674823 Yet McDonalds persists with the adds.  Is it really true that any form of advertising...

Dry_bean.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, McDonald's can make quite acceptable coffee nowadays, sure it varies from place to place, when travelling through a strange area and needing a brew I head straight for Macca's rather than risk what's being served up at the local greasy spoon. You know there are still places out there that will serve you a cup of hot water a teaspoon of instant coffee and charge you $3, talk about the great babychino ripoff. ::) 

RichardM

on 1327721979:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, McDonald's can make quite acceptable coffee nowadays, sure it varies from place to place, when travelling through a strange area and needing a brew I head straight for Macca's rather than risk what's being served up at the local greasy spoon. You know there are still places out there that will serve you a cup of hot water a teaspoon of instant coffee and charge you $3, talk about the great babychino ripoff. ::)

Ahh, but a Lipton teabag in a pot can often be $4.50, so even instant coffee often works out to be better value than tea at the local swillery.

askthecoffeeguy

I've been on the road for a month recently up and down the east coast from Melbourne to Bellingen and back again (ok it was a family holiday but we still covered a lot of ground) - and whilst I picked and chose my coffee destinations along the way I was pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion by how much our collective coffee culture has grown and improved over the last little while it seems to me that national coffee standards are on the rise, and with the economic outlook still pretty gloomy, punters have every right to be discerning about how and where they spend their coffee dollar So was the coffee that I had in some unexpected destinations amazing? No, but it was good and of a very acceptable standard without obvious fault - good enough to warrant another cuppa more often than not Of course I will stand by the sidelines and watch how a barista makes their coffee and or check out the quality of the product being served and or access the general level of customer satisfaction before I order, and most places I wouldn't even bother because at a glance they have failed to meet some if not all of the above criteria - but, and this is a big but, in some of the little out of the way towns that we stopped at we did manage to find good and perfectly acceptable coffee, which I'm sure would not have been the case even several years ago