Isn't that what Starbucks is doing now? I thought I remembered seeing someone posting something along those lines here.

That does seem like it would be about right. I did the case study in '06, and haven't kept up on the numbers of how they're doing.

Technically, yes, since their machines are set up so that the shot timing is automatic. I was guessing she meant something that's just a step above those little gas station-convenience store machines that at a press of a button makes you a drink.

I'm trying to think of what the vile smell might be, but perhaps you just don't like coffee? To me, unless I'm craving over-salted french fries (which I crave from time-to-PMSy-time), McDonald's already smells pretty greasy and vile. I can't imagine coffee would smell very good with that.

Bleh.

Yes, it is the coffee smell that most people love that I loathe. On the other hand it gives me cantankerous joy when dragged along behind Lani to walk through a Starbucks/Peets/etc. commenting under my breath (but just loud enough) about how the place reeks.

It is only slightly better than a Body Shop store and almost as bad as walking through the cosmetics section of a Macy*s.

I can't honestly say that I find the greasy smell of a McDonald's all that great but it is magnitudes better (to me) than the smell of coffee. I don't eat a lot of McDonald's except when on the road but if they started to smell like coffee shops it would be a huge incentive for me to go elsewhere.

McD and I parted ways eons ago. coffee or no, I dont see myself changing that.

I do have say that the current coffee (that McD's switched to a couple of years ago), is actually not too bad.

I'm with Kevy... and as a coffee lover, I was pleasantly surprised that it was pretty good (plain, black) coffee that I got there. I still don't think I'm going there for lattes any time soon.

I was surprised that this wasn't in all McDonald's already. There's a McD across from my morning Starbucks that's been pushing lattes for quite a while. And no, they're not self-serve.

Quite a few of ours here have "McCafe's" and have for many years, but I've never had coffee there, I prefer a cafe that was opened as a cafe, not as an adjunct to a burger store.

Very true. I much prefer Robert Harris, but it's a nice alternative if you have a family group or a toddler who has cabin fever and needs to burn off some energy at the McD Playland.

That's a good point. McDonald's cannotexpect the public to pay as much for their latte's as they do for a Starbuck;s latte. McDonald's is still a fast food joint. Starbucks has always been a few grades above that in their presentation.

I don't yet know how to quote more than one person's statement in one response, but Alex mentioned that he won't like the smell. McDonald's has always had coffee, so if you can stand it now, I doubt the smell with change very much if they have more coffee. It that's any consolation.

I was aware that McD's was in a bit of a slump, and I'd noticed that they were finally doing the logical thing- just being a burger joint. I think a good part of their problem what that they were overextending. McD's makes Big Macs. Stick with that, you know?

That said, I'm actually doing research to see which road food joints have the healthiest food (for my cross country drive), and I doubt Mcdonald's will be high on the list, so there's that, too.