What I’m Drinking – McDonald’s McCafe Cappuccino

McDonald's McCafe

McDondald’s McCafe Cappuccino Rating – 3 Coffee Cups

Sunday afternoon, I went for a half hour drive and saw six Mcdonald’s McCafe billboards. I couldn’t miss their new advertising campaign and it was more than enough to convince me that I was lacking caffeine and needed to stop at the next McDonald’s to try another one of their McCafe drinks.

This time, I gave their cappuccino a shot. It beat my expectations and then some. The taste was a little light and the body was thin, but I couldn’t get over the fact that it tasted like a genuine cappuccino, the kind that I’d expect to get at a coffee shop, not a fast food restaurant.

I wouldn’t say that I’m a completely converted McCafe fan, but this was a major improvement over the iced mocha that I tasted a few weeks ago.

It tasted and even looked like a cappuccino, complete with the foam on top. While it wasn’t the best cappuccino that I’ve ever had, it was miles above the so-called cappuccino that I’ve gotten at some gas stations, which was more along the lines of what I was expecting.

I talked to Abbey Hartmann, a representative from McDonald’s and found out about the process in which they make many of their McCafe drinks actually use an espresso machine and freshly ground beans. You can definitely taste the difference.

Also like Starbucks, you can also customize your drink by adding flavor shots, whipped cream and more.

They’re giving Starbucks a run for their money. Overall, the taste of McCafe drinks aren’t far behind Starbucks. It’s a major improvement for McDonald’s and the prices are still reasonable.

The only thing that makes Starbucks stand out is the atmosphere. I’d rather go hangout with my friends at Starbucks because I’ve seen some pretty interesting people at McDonald’s. However, if you don’t want to pay extra for atmosphere or are in a hurry, the inside of the store really doesn’t matter.

It looks like it’s now up to Starbucks to make the next move.

Oh and if that isn’t enough, McDonald’s is willing to bribe you. You can submit a story and photo about why you or someone you know deserves $50,000. All you have to do is tell them how a McCafe could perk up your day (their words, not mine) and make things a little better. Click here for all of the details.

Photo by Ballistik Coffee Boy