Is the Bay Area ready for its morning McLatte? McDonald's to debut new cafe this week

sfgate.com ^ | Sunday, November 30, 2003 | Kim Severson

[kAcknor]

Ronald McDonald has seen the future: It's a latte and a focaccia sandwich.

Facing softening burger sales, an obesity epidemic and a nation whose palate is evolving, the country's biggest restaurant chain wades into the espresso business Wednesday when it opens a Starbucks-style coffee bar called McCafe inside a Mountain View McDonald's.

Walk into the restaurant, turn right and the place looks just like every other McDonald's. Turn left and you're inside a faux-hipster espresso bar, complete with comfy chairs, Frank Sinatra on the sound system and an Italian espresso machine steaming up McLattes.

"I was shocked at how much there was to learn about making an espresso drink. Technically, it's really hard to do," said Freeman, who along with his crew went through 40 hours of espresso training.

He learned that the expectations of the high-end coffee consumer is different from the average McDonald's customer. "If I mess up your latte, you take it as a personal affront," he said.

"McDonald's is going into the coffee business?" asked C.J. Johnson, a Palo Alto coffee aficionado buying three grandes. "That doesn't sound right at all."

[kAcknor]

Let's all admit it, as kids a trip to "Mickey-D's" was the best part of the day. Kids love the place! The smells, the decor, the food, the clown!..all geared to the child, and through the child the parents wallet. It's worked well for nearly three generations now.

But today's parents seem less likely to be influenced into going, or at least not as many times. At some point in our lives we put McDonald's into that category of 'Kid's stuff" and don't look back.

But many of us, when alone, secretly still pop in for a Big Mac, or whatever favorite you happen to have, and we let the memories of the old days wash over us in a guilty 15 minutes when we think nobody is looking. And breakfast. The 'Kid Stuff" stigma doesn't seem to extend into the breakfast food, and actually it's not half bad for a quick bite on the way to someplace and time is short.

So why not coffee & specialty sandwiches? Good coffee is good coffee, and like wine, unless you are REALLY into it, it's good if it tastes right and one is pretty much like another. Starbucks, Cup'OJoe, all those little kiosks in parking lots, so why not Mickey D's?

Have a McLatte with that McMuffin! :)>

[Tijeras_Slim]

Mickeys business philosophy seems to be "I'd rather do everything badly instead of a couple things well."

[kAcknor]

Still, that's hasn't changed much from the start, and it's hard to argue with the fact of "billions and billions" sold.

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[mitchbert]

"I'd rather do everything badly instead of a couple things well."

Which is exactly the opposite of the formula that made them successful in the first place.

If you don't do the fundamentals right (keep the place clean, train your staff properly in the ways of customer service) all the window dressing in the world won't turn sewage into sangria.

Once, I used to make a point of going to McD's when I was on holiday because I enjoy watching a crack retail operation work. For the past few years I've been appalled at the lack of consistency and quality from store to store. Too bad, but it's their own doing.

[No Fool]

Southerners are not qualified to judge this coffee? These people act like we haven't been drinking Starbucks for years and years...just because we're not on the coast! Come on, now...my tastebuds work just as well. I'd take on a SF coffee drinker any day! Bring it on!

[Sockdologer]

Great! I can hardly wait. The best latte in my town now comes from a convenience store called Food N Fuel. For about 77 cents. No $3.00 lattes for me. The more you pay, the worse they are in my opinion.

[martin_fierro]

If they can infuse the coffee into one of these things (with the syrup already in the muffin!), they're onto something.

<|:P~

[kAcknor]

I'd take on a SF coffee drinker any day! Bring it on!

I'm with you. Been 'doing' coffee since I was in short pants and had to cut it with half milk. Used to stop at one of the kiosks for what they called a 'hammerhead. A double espresso in a tall cup topped off with Columbian.

Wake you up real good, that. ;)

I can still appreciate a good cup just for sippin' too.

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[kAcknor]

I don't know... Sometimes it's worth it.

Although, it's hard to beat the memories of sitting at Denny's from 9 PM to about 2 AM, on weekends meeting just about everyone I knew in the process of drinking 15 to 20 cups of java for a total cost of 26 cents!!

Not counting the tip of course.. ;)

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[Clemenza]

Most people I see at Mickey-D's here in the city are fat ghetto dwellers with their fatter children, along with a few wealthier yuppie families whose parents opt not to eat.

McDonald's s--ks. Thankfully, here in NYC we have tons of other options. Middle America will probably opt for Subway.

[kAcknor]

Middle America will probably opt for Subway.

Not if there is a Jersey Mike's nearby.. ;)

I've seen what you describe around here also, but there are McDonalds (eww) Restaurants everywhere and the one would ASSume that the latte counters would be installed in the one's that make sense to have them.

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[Clemenza]

Jersey Mike's kicks a-s! I used to go to the ORIGINAL one in Pt. Pleasent (NJ) when I was a "yoot."

[kAcknor]

Jersey Mike's kicks a**

From one 'small 'L' libertarian' to another: You becha, huh uh!! ;)

What a difference from the wax-paper pre-weighed, don't give'em an extra ounce of cheese Subway joke of a sandwich.

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[Old Professer]

In my opinion, anybody who makes coffee so strong that the only way they can drink it is to dump a dollop of cream in it doesn't know how to make coffee in the first place.

[kAcknor]

BUMP!

[geros]

I recently discovered the RolyPoly fast food chain - they make delicious wrapped tortillas with fresh ingredients, it's a healthy alternative to McDonald's & their ilk.

[kAcknor]

I recently discovered the RolyPoly

I've heard of them but never tried it. There is another one, owned by the Wendy's company called "Baha Fresh' that isn't bad. A much lighter alternative to the McDonald's corporations 'Chipotle' chain.

Truth is though, I prefer the huge portions of rice & beef in a Chipotle burrito over that of a lettuce-filled wrap with salad dressing and some little spritz on the side... ;)

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