I don’t think this is available at all locations so you might want to check it out before you head out with your mouth all set for one. You also need to realize that these are the Mini-Mickey-Mochas (Gotta love alliteration), only about six ounces, less than the small.

So, if you are looking for a cheap coffee date this is the way to go for the next couple of weeks. Just tell ‘em…Frugal: it’s is the new posh!

image: McDonalds

Post from: Kettle and Cup

But I just read that the roaster supplying McDonalds with their espresso coffee blend is Distant Lands in Tyler, Texas. Distant Lands is the same eco-friendly roaster that is supplying Panera. The beans are not organic but I believe that they are Fair Trade coffee beans.

Anyway, I like Panera coffee. That means that more than likely I will like McDonald’c coffee… and the thought scares me. You can read more about that here in the Chicago Tribune.

The Bible, in Proverbs, talks about things that the earth can’t hold up under. Things that are just too weird. Well..this may be one of them.

McDonald’s can’t get environmentally concerned and serve good coffee, that’s like Sonny Bryans BBQ place starting to serve only vegetarian meals. It is the end of the world as we know it!

It could add a whole new Happy Meal concept though. A little Happy Meal bag with a couple of biscotti, a macchiato, and maybe a section of the New York Times?   It could work!

If McDonald’s REALLY wanted to sell a lot of coffee they would turn to the brilliant, albeit criminal, minds in Malaysia.

Sometimes I know I have missed my calling and should be in marketing somewhere. Other times I know that I took way too many hallucinogenics as a teenager in the 70s and should probably be listening to Black Sabbath at 78 speed. You decide which it is tonight..I am going to bed.

Image:SXC

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Well, move on from Bride Wars to Coffee Wars.  Starbucks, Panera, McDonalds, and Dunkin Donuts seem to be in a hand to throat battle over your coffee dollar.  Don’t you feel important?

It should seriously be a simple thing.  You should go where you like.  But it isn’t that easy, largely because we have become a brand motivated society.  We live in a society where a woman will call 911 to report that McDonald’s ran out of chicken nuggets.  Do you think maybe we are taking ourselves a little too seriously? Maybe we have lost sight of reality?

The honest to God truth is that most commercially brewed coffee is only marginally different and most people will buy coffee where ever it is convenient. If there is more than one choice then most people will go with brand unless they have had a bad experience.  And then they will go with comfort.

Most people will not worry about social issues, fair trade, Rain Forest Alliance, or even taste.  And yet the purveyors of coffee will try everything in the Politician”s Guide to Dirty Tricks to woo coffee drinkers to their side.

Basically it should be pretty simple.  We live in an over-extended economy.  Most coffee drinking should probably be done at home.  If you are going to grab a coffee out you need to consider the local mom and pop place (if there is one) as priority if possible.  Why? Because keeping things local, supporting the local economy is important.  Small businesses create quality products.  The bigger your business the more likely the product will suffer.  To me an ethical small business will know when to stop increasing in size.  They will be happy with enough and not require more.

Do you realize the mark up on coffee?  One pound of coffee beans will make about 30 cups of coffee.  Let’s say a pound of coffee retail costs 8.99, just for a base figure.  That works out to just under 30 cents a cup.  Thirty cents.   Now, what are you paying for a cup of coffee?  1.50?  that is a five hundred percent mark up.  Five hundred percent! Now, you need to figure in overhead and expenses but still..you are looking at a huge mark up.

So, coffee wars? Be aware of what is happening and decide for your self if you want to play. Watch your back though.

image:sxc

Post from: Kettle and Cup

O.k..I have a major dislike of McDonalds and we all know it.  But this…THIS is too much.  I need to create an award for stories like this.

Anyway, if you have never read the Consumerist and you enjoy wry humor then perhaps you should.

It seems that Someone ordered a sweet tea sans ice at a local McDonalds and was charged 69 cents more than the advertised price because they requested no ice.  So, being the easy to get along with sort, he asked that they put a single cube of ice in his sweet tea….and they said it had to be a full cup of ice or no go.

I would really like to see a youtube video of this.   The article id not say where this occurred.  I cannot for the life of me believe that it would have been possible for it to happen south of the Mason Dixon, and yet I can’t imagine it being called sweet tea up North.

I get cranky when they charge me extra for a cup of ice.  :/   Do you KNOW that Sonic charges 89 cents for nothing but a cup of ice, even if you bring your own Bubba cup??

Don’t you miss the days of S & H Green Stamps?  I mean stores gave you a little extra.  A little customer appreciation.

So…what do you think?  Was the Micky D’s acting  in a rational manner or not?

Makes ya wonder what they would charge ya if you asked for an empty cup!

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Image:MorgueFile 

So..the battle royale rages and Starbucks and McDonalds are the new Continental Hatfields and McCoys.  It’s anyone’s guess what these guys are gonna do next in the battle for the American Cup.  Coffee cup.

McDonalds in  Seattle has parried the Starbucks’ Pikes Place thrust, with some fancy footwork and Free lattes on fridays in the Seattle area.

Check out their new ad campaign, Unsnobby Coffee.

So..I am thinking that Starbucks needs to get with it.  Maybe hire a clown…Give away free fries on Friday nights….or hey, maybe they can form a triumvirate with Jack, and the Burger King and do away with Ronald all together?  For a price…. who knows?

I am putting up a new poll ….would you could you drink a mickey d’s latte? Or do they need to stick with chocolate shakes?

And if you were doing the Starbuck’s ad campaign, what would your next move be? Leave a comment and let me know.

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