Latest news with #MikeLingo
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
McDonald's chef spills why their coffee 'tastes better' as thousands name it as their go-to each morning
Australians have always been serious about starting their morning with a good coffee - and there's a reason thousands have named McDonald's as their go-to spot. A recent Fox News report confirmed that McDonald's McCafe coffee was highly rated by a loyal following of customers, who said it offered 'understated quality' - perhaps to the surprise of coffee aficionados. McDonald's chef Mike Lingo then provided the US media outlet with rare insight into the reason why the fast-food giant's coffee 'tastes better'. Mike, who is the senior manager of innovation in the US head office, explained that the food chain had long been a foundational McDonald's menu item, appearing on the menu as early as 1948. As a result, the McDonald's chef said the company had subsequently spent decades perfecting their coffee offering. Mike described the beloved McCafe blend as 'a medium-dark roast with a full-body fruity, floral and chocolate note'. Although there isn't one closely guarded secret ingredient behind the taste of Macca's coffee, the chef explained that the unique flavour was a result of a combination of factors. 'From the selection of our beans and quality of our roast to the equipment we use, we're paying attention to all the details to help ensure the best result,' he said. The coffee blend is currently made from 100 per cent Arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, or farms participating the McCafe Sustainability Improvement Platform (SIP) program. In Australia, Macca's sells an average of 600,000 cups of coffee per day, which is equivalent to around one in every four coffees sold in the country each day. FEMAIL spoke to a McDonalds Australia spokesperson, who confirmed that Aussies are dedicated to the getting their caffeine fix at Maccas. 'With over 1,000 locations in Australia, McCafe is now one of the largest coffee retailers in the country, representing an impressive one in every four coffees sold in Australia,' the spokesperson said. They added that the Aussie branch of the global business was especially proud of having pioneered the McCafe brand - with that success rolled out to McCafe locations worldwide. 'McCafe changed McDonald's approach to coffee across the world - inventing a new way of serving our customers and defining what it means to offer great-quality, barista-made coffee in our restaurants.' However, the spokesperson hinted that the fast food giant is by now means resting on its laurels - hinting that customers might have already recently 'noticed some changes to the McCafe blend'. '[W]e're excited to share more details on that asap!' they added. Indeed, on social media platform Reddit, numerous threads are dedicated to heaping praise on the taste and quality of Aussie McCafe coffee. 'McDonalds coffee in Australia is often amazing,' read one lengthy comment, which concluded with the defiant statement, 'Screw the snobs'. Another commenter was impressed by the consistency of the caffeinated beverage across various stores, describing it as 'solid' and 'better than some actual cafes'. A similar comment echoed that it was as a 'reliable' coffee option - adding that they was always preferable over 'a complete gamble' of an unknown café. Another added that it was obvious from the flavour that 'McDonalds takes it coffee very seriously'. In a similar vein, some commenters noted that Maccas appeared to take extra care with the quality of their coffee within Australian stores from the get-go. 'I think Maccas did this deliberately because they knew they were up against the Aussie coffee culture, and maybe it made sense on the bottom line to put quality in. It damn well worked, they've got the early riser coffee drinker market fully captured,' said one observer. 'Absolutely,' echoed a follow-on reply. 'They knew Australia has a very strong coffee culture when they started McCafe. That meant they knew that in order to be relevant they had to be able to serve a decent cup of coffee.' One surprised overseas traveller even declared that a flat white purchased from a local Maccas was the 'best coffee I ever remember'. McDonald's first launched McCafe in Melbourne back in 1993, with the Victorian city chosen as a nod to the city's reputation as Australia's coffee capital. The McCafe brand has since grown into over 1000 stores across Australia and has also grown overseas, with more than 4000 outlets in 60 countries around the world.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘So good': Why Aussies secretly prefer to drink Macca's coffee
A McDonald's chef has revealed why the coffee served by the fast-food giant 'tastes better' than anywhere else. Macca's sells an average of 600,000 cups of coffee per day, which represents about one in every four coffees sold in the country every 24 hours. But while Australia is the home of 'coffee snobs', many drinkers claim the McCafé offering is one of 'the best', despite the fact it is considerably cheaper than other chains and independent coffee houses. It's not just Aussie drinkers who are fans of a Golden Arches brew, with American's also claiming Macca's coffee is 'consistently good'. Now the global fast-food chain has finally revealed the secret to the cult drink, after Mike Lingo, the senior manager of menu innovation at McDonald's, gave a rare interview discussing its popular blend. 'Over the years, we've worked to perfect the blend to give it the delicious, great flavour it has today,' he told Fox News. 'From the selection of our beans and quality of our roast to the equipment we use, we're paying attention to all the details to help ensure the best result. 'This blend is specifically made just for McDonald's McCafé, It's a medium-dark roast with a full-body fruity, floral and chocolate note.' McDonald's uses 100 per cent Arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms or from farms participating in the McCafé Sustainability Improvement Platform (SIP) program in all of its restaurants. In Australia, the beans are roasted in Melbourne, with Macca's stating the most popular coffee order is a cappuccino. Data shows a McCafé coffee is now included in one in 10 of all McDonald's orders globally. McCafé first launched in Melbourne back in 1993 in recognition of the city's reputation as Australia's coffee capital. Now, the brand has become an Aussie success story and global phenomenon, with more than 1000 McCafé's across Australia and more than 4000 in 60 countries across the world. Lingo, a professional chef and food scientist, said he's not surprised that McDonald's is appreciated for its coffee just as much as its iconic Quarter Pounder and fries. 'While people love our burgers and fries, when we first open our doors in the morning, we were a breakfast restaurant,' Lingo said. 'Nothing compares to starting your morning with a delicious cup of coffee, and we've spent decades perfecting it.'
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
What Makes McDonald's Coffee So Delicious? Its Chef Shares The Secret
Quick Reads Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. McDonald's coffee is loved by many coffee enthusiasts. A McDonald's chef has spilled the beans on what goes in this coffee. A special blend, created exclusively for McDonald's, enhances the flavour. McDonald's is popular among food lovers not just for its burgers, fries and soft serves, but also for its coffee. Many coffee enthusiasts on social media have called it the "best coffee in the world", claiming it tastes better than what is served at most coffee shops. People often wonder about the fast-food giant's secret recipe that gives its coffee a distinct flavour they struggle to recreate at home. "Why is McDonald's coffee almost always better tasting than just about anything I buy and brew myself?" a Reddit user asked. "I try all kinds of coffee, trying to duplicate the taste of that one-dollar large cup of McCafe and almost always fail. What is McDonald's secret?" "McDonald's one-dollar coffee is the best coffee in the world," another person commented. A user even added that McDonald's "may have a lock on a source of the good stuff." Now, the secret is finally out. A McDonald's chef has revealed what goes into the chain's much-loved coffee that makes it a fan favourite among customers worldwide. "For our coffee, we use 100 percent arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms or farms participating in our McCafe Sustainability Improvement Platform program - it is a special blend made just for McCafe, a medium-dark roast with a full body, fruity, floral and chocolate notes," corporate chef Mike Lingo told Food & Wine. The blend is made exclusively for McDonald's, which is why it cannot be found elsewhere - and why replicating the exact taste at home is nearly impossible for most people. McDonald's also trains its employees to consistently brew quality coffee, the New York Post reported. Each outlet grinds coffee on-site, helping to preserve the rich flavours. For hot coffee, they follow a "traditional hot brew" method, and for iced coffee, they use a "Japanese iced coffee brew method." "At McDonald's, we're focusing on making sure the little things are done right and leveraging great partnerships to ensure we are selecting the best beans for our blends and roast levels to bring out that great flavor," Lingo said. "We pay attention to the details while we brew, from the quality of our roast and selection of our beans to the equipment we use."
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Fox News
McDonald's chef reveals why coffee from fast-food giant tastes so good
Print Close By Gretchen Eichenberg Published May 13, 2025 Coffee aficionados probably weren't expecting to read news items about McDonald's McCafé, yet the fast-food giant made headlines this month for its coffee's understated quality and loyal cult following. "It's consistently good," Donna Locklin, of Salado, Texas, told Fox News Digital. She started drinking McDonald's coffee about 20 years ago, she said, when she became eligible for the 25-cent "senior cup," but it quickly became one of her favorite brews. WHAT IS MUSHROOM COFFEE? CAFFEINE ALTERNATIVE OFFERS SURPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS "It's not too strong but has a rich brown color," she said. "It's never bitter and always fresh. And if it's ever not fresh, they will make you a fresh pot on the spot." Locklin isn't alone in her sentiments. McDonald's coffee drinkers have also taken to social media for some serious java talk. "Why is McDonald's coffee almost always better tasting than just about anything I buy and brew myself?" one Reddit user asked. MCDONALD'S SECRET DRINK ITEM WITH 'COTTON CANDY FLAVOR' GOES VIRAL "Don't be ashamed," another user responded. "I like it, too." "Can't be beat for the price," another person wrote on Reddit. "We're paying attention to all the details to help ensure the best result." With coffee options available on nearly every corner these days, what makes McCafé special? McDonald's chef Mike Lingo revealed some of the history and science behind the blend in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Coffee has been on McDonald's menu since 1948, when the menu had just nine items," he said. FAST-FOOD MENU ITEMS THAT CHEFS LIKE TO EAT "Over the years, we've worked to perfect the blend to give it the delicious, great flavor it has today. From the selection of our beans and quality of our roast to the equipment we use, we're paying attention to all the details to help ensure the best result." Lingo shared that McDonald's uses 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms or from farms participating in the McCafé Sustainability Improvement Platform (SIP) program. "This blend is specifically made just for McDonald's McCafé," he said. "It's a medium-dark roast with a full-body fruity, floral and chocolate note." Lingo said he's not surprised that McDonald's is appreciated for its coffee just as much as its iconic Quarter Pounder and fries. "Nothing compares to starting your morning with a delicious cup of coffee, and we've spent decades perfecting it." "While people love our burgers and fries, when we first open our doors in the morning, we're a breakfast restaurant," Lingo said. "Nothing compares to starting your morning with a delicious cup of coffee, and we've spent decades perfecting it." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER There's not one closely guarded secret to McDonald's coffee, Lingo said. It's a combination of things that keeps customers coming back. "At McDonald's, we're focusing on making sure the little things are done right," he said. "We have great partnerships in place to ensure that we are selecting the best beans for our blends and roast levels to bring out that great flavor." For more Lifestyle articles, visit Though the price of the senior cup has gone up, Locklin and her three sisters, who all live in different cities, still meet up regularly for coffee at McDonald's. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "It's always just right," she said. Print Close URL
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
McDonald's chef spills why the fast food chain has the best coffee — and the secret hack
There's a reason McDonald's fans are lovin' the coffee so much. The coffee at the fast-food chain has developed a cult following — and some coffee enthusiasts even go out of their way to get coffee from the Golden Arches rather than a fancy coffee shop. Many people on social media claim that it's the best coffee they've ever had. Advertisement 'Why is McDonald's coffee almost always better tasting than just about anything I buy and brew myself?' one person on Reddit asked. 'I try all kinds of coffee, trying to duplicate the taste of that $1 large cup of McCafe and almost always fail. What is McDonald's secret?' And they weren't the only ones to think so. 'I think that every time I buy coffee anywhere,' someone responded. Advertisement 'Well, the secret's out. McDonald's 1$ coffee is the best coffee in the world,' another noted. 'I've had enough McCafe to KNOW it tastes better than what I make at home,' a user commented. 'McDonald[s] may have a lock on a source of the good stuff.' A McDonald's chef finally revealed the secret to Food & Wine, sharing that they get the perfect blend by focusing on 'the little things.' 3 McDonald's corporate chef Mike Lingo revealed the secret behind the chain's beloved coffee blend. RYAN MCBRIDE/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images Advertisement 'For our coffee, we use 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms or farms participating in our McCafé Sustainability Improvement Platform (SIP) program — it is a special blend made just for McCafé, a medium-dark roast with a full body, fruity, floral, and chocolate notes,' Chef Mike Lingo told the outlet. The blend is made just for McDonald's — meaning you literally can't get it anywhere else. 3 Many people on social media claim that McDonald's has the best coffee. í¢í¸íâ¦í¾í½ íÅ¡íÆí¿íâ¬íµí²í¸íâ¡ – McDonald's has previously shared that one of its coffee suppliers, Gaviña Gourmet Coffee, which sources most of its beans from the Gaviña family in Southern California, offers a training program to McDonald's employees. Advertisement The program allows employees of McD's to learn 'the art of brewing great coffee.' For all of McDonald's brewed coffee, it's a 'traditional hot brew,' while they use a 'Japanese iced coffee brew method' for the iced coffee. 3 The coffee at McDonald's has developed a cult following. Mariia – 'At McDonald's, we're focusing on making sure the little things are done right and leveraging great partnerships to ensure we are selecting the best beans for our blends and roast levels to bring out that great flavor,' Lingo shared. 'We pay attention to the details while we brew, from the quality of our roast and selection of our beans to the equipment we use.' It also grinds all its coffee on-site, which helps to preserve its flavor as ground coffee begins to degrade instantly.
