Is McDonald's $1 Coffee Superior Than Your Local Café? Supporters Undoubtedly Believe This

It appears that there is both scientific rationale and deliberate design behind the drive-thru cup. Reddit concurs.

Credit: Getty Images / McDonald's

The majority of individuals appreciate McDonald's for their sumptuous burgers. They may indulge on fries or, on hectic evenings, procure a Happy Meal for their child (or adults, as well; we do not pass judgment). However, not within my residence. Throughout my life, my visits to McDonald's have solely been for coffee.

Since childhood, while seated in a booster seat, my father has consistently expressed his admiration for a steaming cup of McDonald's coffee. I have never observed him ordering a burger, fries, nuggets, or any other item from a McDonald's menu or any fast food menu, for that matter. However, inquire about his preferred coffee shop, and he will invariably respond that it is located beneath the Golden Arches.

As a coffee connoisseur, I might just dismiss this as typical paternal behavior. However, the fact remains that he is correct. He is not solitary. Simply conduct a brief Google search, and you will discover Reddit threads asserting, "I experiment with various coffee types in an attempt to replicate the flavor of that $1 large cup of McCafe, yet I nearly always fail." What is the secret of McDonald's? Commenters remarked, "I believe this occurs whenever I purchase coffee," and "I am convinced it is their coffee bean."

Instead of continuing to speculate, we consulted directly with McDonald's chef Mike Lingo for clarification.

"At McDonald’s, we are concentrating on executing the minor details accurately and utilizing strong partnerships to guarantee the selection of the finest beans for our blends and roast levels to enhance flavor," Lingo conveyed to Food & Wine. We utilize 100% Arabica coffee beans obtained from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms or those involved in our McCafé Sustainability Improvement Platform (SIP) program. This exclusive blend, crafted specifically for McCafé, features a medium-dark roast with a full body and notes of fruit, floral, and chocolate.

That is the most significant secret. McDonald's blend is exclusively available at McDonald's. We possess some knowledge regarding one of its coffee suppliers, Gaviña Gourmet Coffee, which procures coffee from various regions within the Coffee Belt, encompassing Central America, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

McDonald's sources the majority of its beans from the Gaviña family, which founded its coffee roasting facility in Southern California in 1967. Additionally, the Gaviña family provides a training program for McDonald's employees to master "the art of brewing great coffee." Pedro Gaviña emphasized that his family's enterprise is dedicated to providing "the finest coffee globally to McDonald's." Although you cannot obtain the precise McDonald's blend, which the fast-food giant acquires via Gaviña's wholesale program, you may consider purchasing a bag or two to determine whether any approximates the in-restaurant experience.

Lingo employs a straightforward "traditional hot brew" technique for its brewed coffee and a "Japanese iced coffee brew method" for its iced coffee. We meticulously attend to the minutiae of the brewing process, encompassing the quality of our roast, the selection of our beans, and the equipment employed. It grinds all its coffee on-site, thereby preserving its flavor, as ground coffee deteriorates immediately.

The Japanese iced coffee brewing method, referred to as "flash brewing," utilizes a standard water-to-coffee ratio, using a fraction of ice as the water component. Subsequently, place the ice underneath the dripper of a power-over and heat the remaining water to the optimal brewing temperature, employing it as one would in a conventional pour-over, but this time, you are producing a coffee concentrate. You are preparing a conventional hot coffee that is rapidly cooled to enhance its flavors.

When inquired about his surprise over the public's affection for McDonald's coffee, Lingo responded with an emphatic negation.

“I am consistently impressed by their affection for our McCafé beverages; they are both delectable and economically accessible for our consumers,” he stated. They can take satisfaction in our commitment to sustainability as well. We appreciate hearing the narratives of individuals' recollections and encounters with our coffee.