Playing the devil's advocate. Last week I traveled interstate for a few days. On the way back I stopped at what looked like a very clean upmarket cafe with what seemed to be, a very competent operator working behind the machine. My wife bought 2 coffees, brought them to the car, and we drove off. I took the first sip and said some unkind things. I took a second sip to confirm that the unkind things said were warranted....then said some more. I know what was wrong with it but dont need to go into a technical discussion about it. It was undrinkable and I threw the rest out at our next stop which happened to be a servo with a McD. Wife bought 2 coffees (McD's). They were quite acceptable and we drank them and then I went round to check the equipment which turned out to be an older (pre dating the latest Melitta's) model Franke automatic. So nothing special there. Coffee quality in the cup varies no matter where you go dependent on a number of variables, and that doesnt mean that you cant get a reasonable McD coffee in various locations from time to time...... On this occasion, I am afraid it puts paid to all the toffee nosed coffee-isti out there using various brand name multi boiler machines with their twin over head foxtail conical grinders, stepless adjusters and frustrated artist attitudes......
