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There’s nothing like a great cup of coffee.  I prefer the stronger, more tart flavors, like some of those from Sumatra, Guatemala and a few from Brazil. After reading some online reviews, I recently ordered Hacienda La Esmeralda from Panama and while it was wonderful, at over $100 a pound, it’s a rare purchase for me. My fall back is generally Café du Monde’s chicory coffee because I like a strong cup of coffee and I can usually get it at one of the specialty stores in town.

The problem is that I’m not a morning person, so it takes everything in my power to get out of the house at a decent hour so I’m not late to work.  Hence I rarely have time to make coffee in the morning.  And that sludge that comes out of the machine at our office is horrific, so I often stop at Starbucks on my way into the office.

This morning, I needed a caffeine hit badly, but I was late and there were 10 cars in line at the Starbucks drive through.  As I sighed, I glanced over at McDonalds next door and saw there were only 2 cars in line.  Crap.  I needed the hit, but I hadn’t ordered a cup of coffee at McD’s for years.  I’d seen all the advertising about their coffee, so what the hell…I swung around and pulled into McDonalds.

Much to my surprise, the coffee was better than I anticipated. Much better. Maybe my expectations were very low, or maybe I’ve been influenced by the advertising, but I can honesty say I’d do it again.  And that realization surprised me, because I don’t do McDonalds.  And haven’t since my kids were in grade school and demanded their McNuggets.

Maybe there is something to all the hype.