The Drink: Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino And McDonald’s Mocha Frappe
Type: Blended Ice Coffee Dessert Drinks
Overall Rating: Starbucks 3.75 McDonald’s 4 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs
Summer reminds most normal people of relaxing afternoons poolside and sunny days at the beach. My caffeine flooded mind thinks frap. The Starbucks Frappuccino is my favorite drink ice coffee drink. I drink it every day as soon as the temperature hits 80 degrees until they bring back the Peppermint Mocha in November, but this year it has a new competitor from McDonald’s called the Frappe that has me thinking twice about ordering another Frappuccino.
Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino
This Frappuccino tasted just like I remembered. It has a rich chocolate taste, mixed with an espresso coffee flavor and is very drinkable. However, compared to the McDonald’s Mocha Frappe, it tasted watered down.
A tall Starbucks Frappuccino will cost you about $3.50.
Overall, the Starbucks Frappuccino earned a 3.75 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale.
McDonald’s Mocha Frappe
New to the market this year, is the McDonald’s Frappe. I completely underestimated it. It had a milk chocolate taste that covered my tongue, with just a hint of coffee flavor. It tasted more like a dessert, than a coffee and it was sugary deliciousness in a cup.
A small McDonald’s Mocha Frappe cost $1.99.
The winner was the McDonald’s Mocha Frappe. It had more flavor and it didn’t taste watered down. Starbucks is coming out with a new version of their frap, which allows you to customize it more, so it should be interesting to see how it compares.
Have you tried both? What’s your opinion?
{ 22 comments }
Great blog post! I love to see posts on similar products (or beverages) and which is preferred over the other. Normally I don’t make trips to McDonalds so I haven’t tried their Frappe (not a fast food person). However I have a brother who has told me he has tried theirs and he loves them. Panera Bread has a “frozen mocha” too. Have you tried it?
Oh, and the Peppermint Mocha, you can get that beverage year round. They always have the peppermint syrup in the store.
I try to avoid fast food (doesn’t always work), but when I heard they were coming out with a frappe, I knew that I was going to have do a head to head taste test.
I didn’t know that, I’m going to head right down and get one this afternoon.
McDonald’s Frappes are way better than Starbucks & alot cheaper!
I HAVE had Panera Bread’s frozen coffee (only the caramel) and it is pretty good, but still different. Not as much of an espresso taste, but still good and the consistency is that frozen, slush (without the ice) that Sbux was known for. I understand their wanting to give their customers options to customize their drinks like the other coffee beverages, but the old frap mix was perfection to most, and not offering it like it was IN ADDITION to the customizable version will cause many to seek their caffein elsewhere. I don’t drink regular coffee, just this “dessert” version in the summer and (in the past) even in the winter.
on the whole, those drinks are way too sweet for me Mike.
I agree, having tried both, that the McDs concoction is the
more flavorful but by that i mean more a sweet chocolate
drink flavor. the Starbucks has the more hint of coffee for me.
and i guess only having a hint of coffee is why i’m not a
hot and heavy fan of either. i will share one with my
wife but wouldn’t order one alone at work or out on the road.
Knowing from what you’ve said about your palate, I can agree that you wouldn’t like it.
Mike, important question! Was your Frappuccino made with the new recipe or old recipe?? I would guess new one, but I really do not know! You really should ask your Starbucks store because that is important! I have a prior blog post about the changing Frappuccino recipe, from about the 19th of this month. (I’m pretty sure it was from 4-19)
.-= Melody´s last blog ..The Tweet Up Event At the Starbucks Headquarters on April 28, 2010 =-.
It was the old recipe, they were late in getting down in Tampa. I’m already planning to go back and taste the remix!
Hey Mike nice blog you have here…
I am from Denmark in EU and I’m a big coffee fan my self.
I like to follow you blog but I must admit that I am a bit jealous of all the different types of coffee you can get at Starbuks in the US…
I would like to try them all
.-= Michael Jensen´s last blog ..Vegas Regal Casino – Global Cup Soccer Bonuses =-.
We’re definitely lucky to have all of the choices, sometimes I forget how great that can be.
Thanks for stopping by!
a question for Mr Jensen of the EU.
can it be that the love the Danes have
with coffee doesn’t extend to a good variety
of coffee? i find that hard to believe.
not saying it doesn’t happen.
if Mr Jensen ever browses back, maybe
he can fill us in on the lowdown of Danish
coffee in this day and age.
the little i know about consumption facts
is in this URL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coffee_consumption_per_capita
it shows Denmark coffee use about 2x that of the
USA in 2008 when the comparison was done.
if as Mr Jensen says, he envies our variety of coffee
in the USA, i’d suggest he immediately open and
franchise his own ‘Denbucks’ coffee empire pronto.
Dear Howard
Sorry that I have first seen your reply post now.
Well allot of Danish people (almost everyone) love coffee, but all the variations that you have in the stats are not here yet…
I mean ofcause we have the most common one and more are coming everyday… But well Denmark is small so maybe the problem is lack of demand from the consumers.
So Howard I think that the problem are not that Danish people ain’t drinking coffee (as you also point out we drink 2x more the us per citizen) the problem is that we are only 5 million people in Denmark.
LOL our nation can live in just one f your city’s
Well I hope you got a answer and yes I often browse by this nice Coffee, and once again sorry I miss you reply post until now.
Kind Regards
Michael Jensen
Hi Mike and all,
Recently I commented here so this is a repeat about the same subject. My taste buds liked McDonald’s frappe best. To me Starbucks coffee has a burnt or over roasted taste to it that is not very pleasant. Some might call it robust but to me it’s burnt. A few years back worked as a barista at Books a Million coffee shop Joe Muggs and we made everything from scratch no mixes. If you have a Joe Muggs in your city give them a try. I guess BAM is still in my blood. Once a coffee shop worker it stays with you.
I keep meaning to stop by Books A Million, there’s one near me, but I seem to be getting all of my books from Amazon or a book trade site called Swap Tree right now.
Joe Muggs has the BEST mocha frappe! I like to have mine with both white and dark chocolate mixed in- delish! I’m not a starbucks fan at all and I’ve tried the McD’s caramel frappe (good for the price but does not compete with Joe Mugg’s- has a burnt caramel flavor). Guess I’ll try their mocha frappe next.
I know for a fact that when I make mine at home it would beat these both hands down. With a double shot of my “440 Octane” mixture, along with good Norwegian chocolate and a packet or two of splenda, this former wardog’s coffee would beat em both. Hands down.
For the life of me, I still don’t undertand why people pay for crud coffee at Starbucks when you can now make it at home. With the new coffee makers of today, with the auto timer, fresh grind, great flavor and a good travel mug!? Coffee lovers unite! -Laughing-
Bottom line – Save money, make your own. Not only cheaper, it’s more refreshing.
.-= Jeff Erickson-Veteran US ARMY Airborne´s last blog ..Cadillac Rock Box posted a new blog entry: Cadillac Rock Box Seeking FT Bassist/Backing Vocalist/Screamer =-.
I tried the McD’ Frappe when it first came out and thought it had an aftertaste. I really LOVE the Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino, so I thought I would try the McD version since it was cheaper. I couldn’t stand it and quickly drove to a Starbucks, dumped the McD Frappe in their garbage and ordered my usual.
THEN Starbucks changed their Frappuccino base and it ALSO has that same aftertaste. I have seen many, many blogs about the new base they are using and many people who don’t like it and are criticizing it. I don’t know where the aftertaste is coming from, but I can’t take it. I am really considering on making my own at home now. I didn’t before because of the time and just wanting to get out of the house quicker. The 2-4 minutes it took to stop for one, was far shorter than if I had done it myself at home. But now? I really appreciate that it is “however-you-want-it and can customize low-fat or whatever, but I can’t take the taste.
I’ve been a huge mocha Frappuccino fan for years, but I’m not crazy about Starbuck’s new version. This morning I was far from a Starbucks, so I ordered a McDonald’s mocha frappe. I got it without the whipped cream, like I do at Starbucks, to save a few calories. I loved it!!!!!! Nice and smooth, no chunks of ice. It was thick, not watery, with lots of flavor, unlike many frappuccinos I’ve gotten. Much better price, too. Sorry, Starbucks!
Have you had the McD WITH the whipped creme? I’m curious if THAT is what is causing the aftertaste. I’ve asked Starbucks many times, and I get different answers…..the aftertaste is in the the new base or it’s in the Roast coffee they use instead of the espresso (was told to get espresso instead), to there is no aftertaste!!…but many have commented so it’s not just me. The McD one was more like a dessert instead of a coffee drink, and with the whipped creme, I couldn’t stand the aftertaste (almost like a medicinal, asprin-like taste). I actually thought it was a mistake when I tasted it. I agree that the McD version is similar to the consistency of Sbux OLD base mix, but not the taste. Comparing the McD version with the OLD Sbux (in my opinion) there is not comparison….Sbux wins. BUT with the new base, I might have to give McD’s another try (if the aftertaste is in the whipped creme).
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE MCDONALDS MOCHA FRAPPE, IN FACT I THINK I AM ADDICTED TO THEM! THEY HAVE THE FRAPPE CARDS WHERE I LIVE AND EVERY 5 YOU BUY YOU GET ONE FREE…AND ITS GOOD TWICE PER CARD. buy 5 get 1 free then buy another 5 get another free one all on one card. I HAVE BEEN THRU 4 CARDS ALREADY! I DO NOT LIKE ICED COFFEE AND I DO NOT DRINK COFFEE BUT THIS IS THE BEST! ITS AMAZZZZZZING!!!
I have to re-comment on the McD Frappe….After being away from the Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino for some time since they changed their frap base (and it had an after-taste) I tried the McD Frappe and it ALSO had the same after-taste. I decided to give McD another try (and a free coupon helped), and went in and noticed they were using the Redi-Whip “squirt” whipped cream for the topping. There was NO aftertaste anymore. I still didn’t find it to have a stronger coffee flavor (like I liked with the SBux fraps), but it was much better than the SBux new version fraps, with no aftertaste and a pleasant coffee flavor. It was still a little thinner than the older frap version, but it was much better than the new. Panera Bread’s frozen caramel coffee would still be my first choice, then the McD frappe. I wish there was a Joe Muggs nearby….I’d try that too.
Happy drinking!
I love Mcdee’s mocha frappe. I put mine in the freezer for a few hours. Then I enjoy eating it as a desert like ice cream! I’m addicted to them! My husband prefers to just drink them. I used to buy Starbucks mocha frappucinos in bottles from the grocery store. I would also freeze them as well. Because I couldn’t stand to drink them. I started making my own and they would actually taste just like Starbucks. After trying just one of Mcdee’s, I don’t make them anymore. Mcdee’s has good hot coffee as well. I’ve tried a lot of coffees from the grocery stores to brew at home and I have found “Millstone’s Breakfast Blend” to be the best coffee I have ever tasted! It doesn’t have that bitter burnt taste which makes me sick at my stomach. I used to drink Folgers or Cains. But I don’t know what they did to them to make them start having that bitter burnt taste. I cannot stand to drink them and a lot of others that have that taste now, including Starbucks. If you buy the Millstone’s coffee, make sure it’s the “Breakfast Blend” because the others have that bitter burnt taste. And they have one that is just “Breakfast”. Don’t buy it if it doesn’t have “Blend” on it. If anyone can tell me what the coffee companies have started doing to their coffees to have that bitter burnt taste, I would appreciate it if they would leave a comment.
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