First off, everyone here is right, well...almost everyone. 1) The coffee you like best is the best coffee for you. However, we cannot say that these two companies are better or worse than other franchises or independants because we are talking about a franchise on a whole. Some stores will produce a better quality coffee than others, with the same coffee, machine, training, operational manual, ets. We also cannot compare companies to all independant or boutique style cafes. If anyone is saying that they prefer a coffee from one of these chains, to a coffee from a well renowned cafe (email me I'll pass you personal reccomendations around the country), then you have to question what criteria you are basing that preference on. If you are drinking anything bigger that 8oz of coffee, any flavours, or whatever trendy drink has made it to the marketing department, than I have every faith that these franchises do make a better cup. However, if you are dinking any traditional coffees where the coffee flavour is priority and you appreciate flavour over everything, than I could seriously open your tastebuds with a push in the right direction. 2) Franchises do not chemically or otherwise treat their beans. As much as it can taste like they do, I assure you its not the case. Often coffee (franchise or elsewhere) can have a metalic/chemical taste. This is the result of the combination of poor extraction and stale beans. As the beans are often packaged to avoid going rancid (not preserve freshness, but not let them progress past staleness) they quickly deteriorate once opened. The rancid taste would be obvious but generally these places have poor training about dose/distribution, undersized baskets for generously long pours, and unskilled barista, so the resulting rancid taste is underextracted to a mildly mettalic/chemical taste. 3) Most people will never be offended (unless you are a coffee snob, which you should be) at franchise stores. Why? Because the franchise philosophy is consistent mediocracy. Just like Maccas, KFC, or any other franchise. Don't argue it, it is true. These places roast their beans to be as unoffensive as possible when made badly. Often using mild roasts, controlling aging, and clever blending, the franchise heads can control how much the cup can be stuffed up. It is fact, that the closer you get to perfection, the harder it gets, the more skill is required, and every little mistake makes a dramatic difference. So I welcome criticism of these places, but do it rationally and logically to avoid discredit to your cause.
