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Free Latte Fridays - McDonalds Makes a Move into Starbucks' Home Territory

The line has been drawn, and the battle began today at "dawn".

McDonalds about to cross the line into Starbucks' home territory

Day one of Latte Wars between giants Starbucks and McDonalds has ended, and down the street, the Starbucks Mermaid on top of the Starbucks World Headquartes seems to be crowded by one of McDonalds new billboards.

McDonalds has chosen to go head to head over coffee in the heart of Latte Land here in Seattle, home to Starbucks.

A few weeks ago I noticed a large billboard on 1st Ave. S. between Starbucks and Safeco Field with a large coffee house cup of coffee with a heart swirl of cream...looked yummy....mmmmm I want a cup now! After a couple of weeks, there were some additions made to the billboard identifying the company...on top of the cream heart swirl appeared the shape of the McDonalds "Golden Arches" and the words "McCafe".

The sneaky latte billboard that turned into a McDonalds latte just down the street from Starbucks World Headquarters

According to the article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer McDonalds is not trying to take market share from Starbucks...but the advance marketing looks differently! And check out the website, I think it also tells a different story....UnsnobbyCoffee.com

So for four Fridays (three more to go) McDonalds is offering free lattes during their breakfast hours until 10:30 AM...so here's your chance for a free latte courtesy of McDonalds to give it a test sip...so to speak!

Starbucks Mermaid peeking over the top of the Starbucks World Headquarters Building in Seattle

The Starbucks Mermaid atop the Starbucks World Headquaters Building in Seattle,

...not sure she approves of Micky D.

Posted by Deborah Burns ~ Seattle Real Estate Agent on 04/12/2008 02:22 AM

Comments (13)

starbucks, latte

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13 Comments on Free Latte Fridays - McDonalds Makes a Move into Starbucks' Home Territory

APR

2008

How did I miss visiting Starbucks' Headquarters when I was in Seattle this December??? Grr...

I've tried the new iced coffee from McDonalds on a couple of occasions. I only liked it once! 1 out of 5 isn't good. There's no coffee in it! They really don't know how to brew it right! But hey, I guess they're trying and someone out there likes it. I just wish it was a little stronger. I'm stickin' to my Starbucks.

Deborah _ I am sure many will line up for the free latte, are you going to get involved with the taste test? or are you a loyal Starbuck customer? I can be impartial I am a tea drinker English style.

Deborah: Since I am on a spending freeze, the cost is right! Let's us know what your opinion is.

Deborah, I am really surprised to hear that. I stopped there for a rare breakfast last week....and the coffee did not come with it! I was more then a little suprised. I somehow don't believe their coffee will be nearly as good as Starbucks.

Hi Ricardo, oh, I am sorry to hear that you missed seeing the Starbucks World Headquarters when you were in Seattle. Also at the Pike Place Market is the original Starbucks too, if you went to the market you probably pasted it by and maybe even stopped to get a coffee.

I also tried a McDonalds iced coffee about a week ago, and it was too milky and too much ice...I did not quite get the caffine jolt I was looking for.

Actually for iced coffee, my favorite is Costco and their latte freeze! It's a real bargin for about $1.50!

Hi Jennifer, You know, that is a fun idea! I think next Friday I will follow your suggestion and do a side by side tasting test! Could be fun!

I enjoy tea too, one of my good friends' parents are from England, and through them I learned to prefer my black teas with milk and sugar (although it's actually Equal!). Green tea is to delicate for milk, so I just lightly sweeten them.

Hi Tara, LOL! I am with you, Starbucks is a treat for me, because $3 for coffee puts it into the occasion category. Everytime I read or watch one of the money managers talk about saving that $3 a day and investing it so that at the end of 20 - 30 years (and the magic of compound interest) you end up with a huge sum of mooola, I am amazed!

Hi Carol, I have never had a good cup of coffee from McDonalds, I never seemed to be served from a fresh pot, so it's got that "hard" flavor.

It will be interesting to see if McDonalds does it's free latte Fridays anywhere else besides deep in the heart of Starbucks territory. Funny little side note to all this, Starbucks just last Thursday (4-10-08) launched its' new "Pike Place Roast"brewed coffee at 6PM with a ceremony at the original Starbucks in Pike Place Market. That happened just about 12 hours before McDonalds gave away its' first free latte! LoL!

APR

2008

Deborah,

Where's that Starbucks building?

Hi ARDELL, you remember where the Earthwise store is? (on 4th Ave S near Spokane) Well, the Starbucks building is 3 blocks west on 1st Ave S and Lander, near a Home Depot and the Sears on 1st Ave S. You can see the Starbucks Mermaid peering off the top of the building from the I-5 freeway. The building is so cool!

APR

2008

But will you really want to drink a coffee made at the Arches??? There is a certain level of training required to do this stuff. And I do pay for quality.

I am sure starbucks isn't happy about that... but do they taste the same?

Hi Sarah, well, the iced coffee I've had twice...not very good. I am planning on trying a McLatte...it will really be a test because a simple latte is what I drink, so we will see!

Hi Naoma, yes, I'm sure Starbucks is not happy, but hey it's an open marketplace...and this will keep the pressure on them to make sure they keep offering a quality product! McDonalds can never replace the ambiance that Starbucks offers....happy sigh!

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