Slate Taste Tests Chain-Restaurant Coffee

A few coffee snobs at Slate have done a blind taste test of regular drip and cappuccino coffees at Starbucks, McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. Results? Dunkin’ Donuts had the best regular drip; McDonald’s, the best cappuccino.

Based on the judges’ scores alone, though, the differences between the different coffees is pretty minor. All the regular drips hovered around 20 points out of 60.

Perhaps the more significant finding here is that Slate staffers have godlike expectations for what coffee should taste like. Even the highest rated of these chain-restaurant brews scored a mere 33.5 points out of 60.

Which chain brews the best cup? Starbucks, McDonald’s, or Dunkin’? [Slate] (Thanks to Joanne!)

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