Fast Food Coffees Ranked From Worst To Best

Almost everybody loves coffee. Whether you're sipping from a mug at a posh coffeehouse or downing a cup that you made yourself at the breakfast table, coffee is the answer when you need a little boost. 

Coffee is rich in antioxidants, lowers the risk of some diseases, and may even aid weight loss. But let's be honest, most of us drink coffee for the caffeine. As good as some coffee tastes, it's the caffeine that has us coming back for more. 

When you're craving a cup of java in the morning, sometimes a fast food joint is your best bet. Is it the best coffee in the world? Heck no. But, it's quick. It's usually hot. And it'll provide that kick of caffeine that you need to start your day. If you're lucky and you pick the right place, it'll taste really good, too. Here we take a look at fast food coffee, ranked from worst to first.

Taco Bell has coffee? Yes, unfortunately they do. While it doesn't have greasy, gastric-disrupting properties like a lot of what else that is on their menu, it's also not good. Taco Bell's coffee is really, really weak. In hot sauce lingo, it's extra, extra mild. 

Apparently, Taco Bell wants to avoid the bitter or burnt flavor at all costs and, to accomplish that, they make their coffee flavorless. Their standard coffee is basically hot, discolored water. Their iced coffee somehow has even less flavor. It's like they take their flavorless hot coffee and water it down more by pouring it over ice. Taco Bell claims that 60 percent of their coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified. They don't say what the other 40 percent is made out of but we're guessing, judging by the taste, it's a whole lot of nothing. 

Honestly, if you're eating Taco Bell's inauthentic Mexican food, you might as well just add to those empty calories by ordering a sugary soda.

Once upon a time, Jack in the Box actually had distinctive, good-tasting coffee. Back then, about ten years ago, they used genuine Kona coffee beans sourced from Hawaii. Unfortunately, Jack's bean counters evidently decided that unique choice was too exotic and switched to Arabica beans, which is the go-to choice for generic drive-thru coffee these days. While Jack in the Box has decent coffee, there's nothing special about it any longer and there's no reason to go out of your way to acquire it. If you're already there getting a pair of tacos or a Sourdough Jack and have a hankering for coffee, go ahead and get it. You won't be overwhelmed or underwhelmed — just adequately whelmed. 

Of their three iced coffee flavors, go with the original. The caramel and mocha iced coffees are way too syrupy, to the point that you can hardly tell you're still drinking something that has coffee as a base.

When it comes to fast food coffee, Krispy Kreme is the try-hard of the bunch. Their coffee isn't particularly notable, but their effort is commendable. What they call their Rich Brewed Coffee is made with Central American, African, and Indonesian blends. Krispy Kreme has a more forgiving version called Smooth Brewed Coffee that is made with a blend from South America. They also offer lattes of various flavors, including hazelnut and caramel. 

Krispy Kreme's try-hard ways extend to the other end of the thermometer, as well. They have iced coffees and iced lattes with flavors such as mocha and vanilla. It doesn't stop there, as you can also order a frozen latte, which is basically their iced coffee taken for a spin in a blender. 

While the execution of each option is only a few shades above satisfactory, they earn bonus points for the wide variety. Oh, and if you're not completely satisfied with coffee you ordered, just wash it down with their hot and fresh doughnuts and you'll have no regrets. Well, other than the regrets you'll have from the untold calories you just inhaled in the form of the box of doughnuts that you had originally planned to take to the office, that is.

If you're looking for a fast food joint with consistently good coffee and a budget-friendly price tag, consider Whataburger. While this Texas-born burger restaurant doesn't promote their coffee much — or even give details about it online — you can rest assured that their coffee will taste exactly the same from location to location.

Whataburger doesn't offer flavored coffee, iced coffee, or anything else beyond the basics. You first decide whether you want regular coffee or decaffeinated coffee. Then, you select the size: a 12-ounce small, a 16-ounce medium, or a 20-ounce large. That's it. Soon, you'll have your hot cup of coffee in your hands and a consistent taste ready to hit your taste buds. If you are looking for fancy coffee, look elsewhere.

An extra bonus when it comes to Whataburger coffee is you get it in a heavy duty Styrofoam cup that isn't hot to the touch. If you'll be carrying your coffee for a long period of time, this detail comes in handy.

Wendy's keeps it simple when it comes to their coffee. They use 100 percent Arabica beans like most fast food joints. They don't currently offer iced coffee or any fancy flavors to tempt your taste buds. But despite the simplicity, Wendy's still manages to offer an impressive product. How? Their coffee is legitimately medium-roasted, which helps bring out the flavors of the Arabica beans and stops it from tasting watered down. It may smell a little bit more burnt than the competition, but the taste is rich.

But Wendy's doesn't stop there. Their coffee is cheaper than other fast food restaurants. They also seem to serve hotter coffee than the competition. And their cups are not only bigger, they have some sort of magic insulation that keeps their hot coffee hotter longer. It's all simple, really, but if you want a big cup of hot coffee that won't dent your bank account, Wendy's is a smart choice.

When you're on the go and scanning through your mental library of coffee spots, Panera Bread probably doesn't pop into your head.  But it should. Panera doesn't have a ton of options, however the options they do have they execute exceedingly well. If you like your coffee hot, go with the spectacular hazelnut coffee. If you like it cold, their Iced Madagascar Vanilla Latte is special. Another cold option that is well worth your money is the vanilla almond version of their cold brew coffee.

While decaf coffee is usually disappointing and an afterthought for most restaurants, Panera has freshly brewed decaf that can compare with the best stuff you can find anywhere else. 

Earlier in the year, Panera Bread decided to focus more on their coffee. The early returns have been outstanding. They're now more than just a fast casual restaurant known for their freshly baked breads, sandwiches, soups, and tasty sweets.

Coffee is surely part of the reason why Chick-fil-A is America's favorite fast food joint. Maybe their coffee tastes so good because they get their beans from Thrive Farmers, a company that allows South American farmers to sell directly to large corporations. Whatever the secret is, it's working for Chick-fil-A because their coffee literally couldn't get much better. 

Their regular coffee, which is made from 100 percent Colombian coffee beans, is great. But even better is Chick-fil-A's iced coffee. You can get it small or large, and either regular or vanilla. They blend together the perfect amount of pure cane sugar and fresh milk with the coffee, and the result is otherworldly. While the vanilla version is great, the regular is the cream of the crop. 

Next time you order a chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets, or a chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-A, don't forget the large iced coffee. Your taste buds will thank you.