Starbucks vs McDonalds

[MarsLasar]

Starbucks won't slug it out in ad wars
Coffee chain says it'll take high road
By ANDREA JAMES
P-I REPORTER

McDonald's has erected a billboard in sight of Starbucks headquarters declaring, "four bucks is dumb."

If Dunkin' Donuts' taste test commercials were the schoolyard equivalent of blowing spitballs at the coffee giant from afar, then the latest from McDonald's is like pulling a wedgie. Starbucks employees driving northbound can see the billboard on their way into the city.

Another billboard slogan jabs, "large is the new grande." The two phrases are displayed on 140 billboards in Western Washington, some of them near Starbucks cafes.

"The billboard placement was done because we picked high visibility locations," said Alan Finkelstein, who owns four McDonald's in King County. "We really wanted to point out that ordering an espresso at McDonald's is quick and simple. Small, medium and large. It's easy."

Earlier this year, McDonald's started unsnobbycoffee.com to promote the launch of espresso drinks in the Seattle market.

I prefer Starbucks coffee myself. And McDonald's staff usually seems a lot grosser than the Starbucks staff. I only get drip coffee so the price difference is too small for me to care.

[td25er]

I like Starbucks more, but get McDonald's more b/c of the price. Note, I've only had the premium 'black' coffee and iced coffee @ McDonalds'.

[Darkness Falls]

I go to Starbucks for my daily (often more) Espresso Macchiato or Triple/Quad Lattes. They aren't the best (many good small coffee shops in Mtl), but they are by far the best of the chains. Not that I can't make better espresso at home too.

The fact is I personally would never set food within a McDonald to begin with, for many reasons from the awful greasy smell to the fact it's McDonald's. I'm sure a large part of Starbucks clientele is similar.

[_BullDog_]

Starbucks generally have friendlier service, less kids running around and quicker drive throughs.... and the prices really aren't that much different.

[oedipus rex]

some people drink wine out of a box. quality is not cheap.

[Rockhound]

Originally Posted by darkness_falls

I go to Starbucks for my daily (often more) Espresso Macchiato or Triple/Quad Lattes. They aren't the best (many good small coffee shops in Mtl), but they are by far the best of the chains. Not that I can't make better espresso at home too.

The fact is I personally would never set food within a McDonald to begin with, for many reasons from the awful greasy smell to the fact it's McDonald's. I'm sure a large part of Starbucks clientele is similar.

$4 x 365 = $1,460

[_BullDog_]

this is a consumer economy, he is just doing his part.

[Patrick Bauer]

Originally Posted by durex

some people drink wine out of a box. quality is not cheap.

You really think Starbucks is quality?

[oedipus rex]

Originally Posted by Patrick Bauer

You really think Starbucks is quality?

compared to mcdonalds, yes. i do prefer the stuff i get from the organic fair trade coffee shop down the street that roasts their own beans...

[Darkness Falls]

Originally Posted by Rockhound

$4 x 365 = $1,460

Thanks for putting into perspective... Actually pay more due to Canadian prices, though during my last internship I got to know the staff at Starbucks so well I'd get free Lattes often now it's just upgrades to triple or quads. Once I go back to school in January most of my coffees come from my espresso machine at home though.

I'm a little afraid to think about how much I'll be paying when I start working full time though!