Ranking the 5 Best Fast Food Places to Get a Coffee

You may have heard the story of the woman who, in 1994, won $3 million from McDonald’s over a spilled hot coffee. What you might not know is that the suit’s reward had merit – McDonald’s used to keep its coffee ridiculously hot – to the point that it knew it could hurt customers. Plus, the woman suffered third degree burns that required skin grafts! Nearly 30 years later, McDonald’s coffee is safer – and more delicious – than ever, specially with the advances we’ve made in disposable coffee cup technology (did you know there are dozens of patents for disposable coffee cup lids?).

With all of that in mind, we’re sharing our five favorite fast food coffees. We do have some ground rules – 1. Coffee forward places (looking at you, Starbucks and Dunkin) don’t count. 2. It must have a drive-thru or drive-in. Give us a tip on any drips you think we missed at @atlantaeatstv.

5. Sonic
Sonic Drive In serves Green Mountain Coffee – yes, the purveyors of those ubiquitous pod coffee flavors. But let’s be honest, we’ve all been fine having one to get through the morning. A coffee from Sonic is no different in this case, but also, they have French Toast sticks that you can dip into the coffee, if you’re so inclined. You can also try to hack the menu by adding iced coffee to a milkshake. Just saying.

4. Bojangles
Another coffee that delivers exactly what you are looking for in the morning – a balance of bitterness, acidity and sweetness in one drink. It’s great to drink black with a morning biscuit breakfast, or as a canvas to add all of the extras you might like in your cup of Joe.

3. Wendy’s
Wendy’s has a very solid coffee option with the Arabica bean blend most fast food places provide (see above), but what makes them really stand out from the other fast food coffee is their Frosty-ccino. Taking the delicious flavors of their iconic ice cream dessert, it drinks less as a smoothie and more like an iced coffee. An excellent addition to the Wendy’s menu!

2. McDonalds
Everyone knows McDonalds’ coffee line is called McCafe, but did you know that the concept was tested in Australia all the way back in 1993? The idea was a coffee shop to compete with the Starbucks of the world – a stand alone McCafe opened in Chicago in 2001. But after the concept didn’t quite hold, McCafe became the name for all the coffee products available at McDonald’s stores. But the coffee shop offerings didn’t change – you can still get anything from a caramel macchiato to an iced latte to a French Vanilla cappuccino. In fact, people love the flavors so much, you can get McCafe products at home – perfect for the pandemic!

1. Chick-Fil-A
Once again, the champs are here, the champs are here. Chick-Fil-A offers delicious coffee that also supports an incredible cause. Their vendor, Thrive Farmers, gives their sourced coffee bean farmers a higher share of profits than other roasters, encouraging economic development in South America and Africa. They also have a fancy coffee shop with tons of incredible options you can try at the Atlanta Dairies Cold Brew Bar.