Comparing McDonald’s New CosMc's Coffee to Dunkin’ and Starbucks (Which Is Best?)

A fresh cup of coffee in the morning is a must for many shoppers, and with so many fast-food coffee options, it can be overwhelming to decide which brew is the best to start your day. And now, McDonald’s has thrown another contender in the great coffee race: their new drink chain, CosMc's. Let’s dive into how popular coffee brands compare and which one you should try for that perfect morning brew.

What is CosMc's?

CosMc's is a coffee and drinks restaurant that has the McDonald’s name behind it. This new venture has a location in Illinois, with more planned in 2024. This drink chain hopes to allow customers to customize their beverages more than typical McDonald’s locations allow, from coffees to slushes.

McDonald’s looks like it’s aiming to capitalize on the booming coffee market, but how will it compare with notable brands like Starbucks and Dunkin?

Coffee at CosMc's

Right now, this chain offers a select menu of drinks and quick bites, similar to Starbucks and Dunkin (discussed below). Their selection includes iced teas, lemonades, slushes, frappes, hot coffees, cold brews, and a mix of sweet and savory treats like classic soft serves and breakfast sandwiches. 

While CosMc's has classic flavors of everyday favorites, like cappuccinos and chai lattes, they also seem to offer more variety than both Starbucks and Dunkin. Customers so far have been raving about the novelty, the new treats, and the wide range of products on their menu. 

However, they’ve also complained the drinks can be too sweet and that the price for certain items, like the boba slush, can be a bit much. Only time will tell if keeping money in your wallet or taste will be more worth it to McDonald's target customers. 

Coffee at Starbucks

Starbucks is a staple for many customers, with a name almost as synonymous with coffee as tissue is with Kleenex. This shop has a rotating menu of seasonal favorites, like pumpkin spice, that keeps customers coming back for more. 

Starbucks also has a mix of teas, coffees, hot drinks, and cold beverages with their hot breakfast items and sweet bites, but this store also usually has a retail section full of coffee cups, take-home coffee beans, and more. 

While a cold-brew Frappe from CosMc's costs around $5.19, a similar item at Starbucks costs $5.45 for the same size.

Coffee at Dunkin'

Dunkin, formerly Dunkin Donuts, has dropped the second word in its name because of its new focus on coffee in recent years. This shop has a wide selection of drinks, from hot coffees to frozen drinks, but it has even more food options than CosMc's or Starbucks. 

You could easily grab a donut, breakfast sandwich, or bagel with your morning coffee when you visit this store. Their frozen coffee drink costs $5.73, the priciest of the three chains.

Bottom line

So, who reigns supreme in the great coffee race? It likely depends on whether you're trying to save money shopping for coffee or if you want the best flavor. Ultimately, only time will tell since CosMc's has plans for expansion if their Illinois location proves successful. So far, customers seem overall happy with the selection and new menu items that aren’t on McDonald’s menus. But Dunkin and Starbucks loyalists might have trouble shifting to a new chain.

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