During the Starbucks freebie discussion the other day, WSB frequent contributor/Forum Community member JanS mentioned in comments here she’d heard McDonald’s would offer free espresso on Friday. Now, 3 days later, the official announcement, and a cutesy website to accompany it. (Not nearly as amusing as this new website, though.)
The FREE latte coupon on the website (http://unsnobbycoffee.com/) seems to have a “catch†in the small print:
“Price of required purchase posted on menu board.â€
Kind of a sneaky approach to make you go into the store before you know how much you have to pay to get the “free†coffee!
From the looks of it, you can print a coupon from the McDonalds unsnobbycoffee.com web site and use it to get a free espresso any time you want. Looks like there’s even a “locations” link to see which McD’s are already making the new espresso’s.
My Mom already tried a latte at a Bellevue McDonald’s and said that it wasn’t very good. I’ll try anything if it’s free…at least I won’t feel bad if I throw it away. Their prices also aren’t significantly cheaper than Starbucks or other coffee shops so I think that quality will win this battle. And what’s with their lame website? The implication that Starbucks and other competitors are snobby or pretentious because of their naming conventions is pretty stupid. If you want to really dumb it down for your customers, you shouldn’t be calling your latte a latte since some people don’t know what that is.
I’ve tried the McDonald’s espresso drinks. I would not accept another one even if it were free. Absolutely disgusting. I think their “unsnobby coffee” marketing is a misstep – they know they can’t talk up the quality of their espresso and beverages, so they’ll just take some ridiculous jabs at Starbucks. I’ve been to Starbucks a lot, and I can tell you the majority of customers are anything snobby. It’s an interesting way to sell something, but it’s pretty laughable really.
If McD’s wants to give me some free espresso I’ll gladly try it out. I find it amusing that this country loves Dunkin Donuts coffee (which I find repulsive, unlike their donuts- sigh), and that McD’s coffee rated high in Consumer Reports a while back. At that rate (and based on the feedback here), I’m sure I won’t like McDs but can’t wait to try it anyways!
I’ve tried the Micky D’s expresso before, and I actually quite like it… I think that people might just be of the mindset that it’s McDonalds, so it must be cheap and bad…
Thanks for the link, guys. I’m glad people are enjoying The Naked Loon.
I Just used the coupon at the Westwood Village McD’s…got a FREE Latte. I have to say, it was actually quite tasty. Nothing amazing, but good. I think I’ll print off another coupon for tomorrow!
Pretty fun pinball game on unsnobbycoffee.com. Printed the coupon I’m going to try it…
So WHAT if McDonalds has Mc-espresso. Fine you think Starbucks is snooty or over priced or too bitter. This isn’t Wyoming. We’re blessed to live in a town full of dozens of exceptional independent coffe shops that have coffee you don’t have to choke down or say “it’s just ok”.
Have you tried Java Bean down by the Luna Park restaruant? How about Suger To a Tea, Cupcake Royal or Uptown Espresso in the Junction? There’s Revolution Coffee in the Admiral district. God forbid you have to travel outside of West Seattle to MonoRail, Vivace, Caffe Vita, Victrola, Stumptown, etc, etc, etc, etc.
You know… it’s too bad. Starbucks strives to be a good company, and quite frankly, they are one of the best fortune 100 companies. They are one of the few (if only) large company that gives great health insurance to part time and full time employees. Any smart independent coffee shop owner knows that the specialty coffee industry wouldn’t exist or be appreciated if it wasn’t for Starbucks. You don’t have to get your cup of coffee there, but it’s kind of irritating when people bash them like they’re the antichrist.
Heard it here first? On a few larger sites (450 million unique viwers per month at mine – a’hem!) and Metro bus billboards long before WSB broke the story.
Sorry. I’m cranky…
Definitely don’t want to sound like I’m “bashing” Starbucks. I think they are a great company as for as big corporations. They do give back locally and aren’t “evil”. They’re just a local small mom & pop which made it big. Good for them. They have plenty of nice unique ‘coffee drinks’. I’d only say there are plenty of local places with far better actual espresso/coffee. But if you want a big venti black iced-tea, or a Vanilla Bean Frap…those kind of unique drinks, Starbucks is just dandy.
Went to the California McD’s to try the free espresso this morning. I assumed that all McDonald’s were set up for this offer but not the California McD’s. I know the coupon says “participating restaurants” but I didn’t see that in the article in the Seattle PI. The only thing the employee said was it was only available at Westwood. So, I spent $5.00 to buy breakfast and an iced coffee, when I wouldn’t have gone there except for the promotion. How much to do think McDonald’s made this morning by getting customers to go to the store for something free that wasn’t available?
I meant the McDonald’s on California Ave. by the Thriftway……not an actual McD in the state of California.
Westwood and White Center are the only locations with espresso in/near WS.
Tried the McD’s iced mocha yesterday. WAsn’t that impressed. I’ve had worse (from some of those road-side stand places), but I will likely not be heading back.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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