Whether it’s a morning cup of coffee to boost your brain or an afternoon pick-me-up, for many, coffee is essential. On average, Americans drink just over three cups of coffee a day, the National Coffee Association reported. Some brew their coffee at home, but many grab a daily cup (or two) from their favorite channel. And even though the big coffee chains do their best, they have been caught making mistakes that have damaged their reputation.
Major corporate coffee chains are constantly trying to accomplish the impossible by serving great coffee in a quick and convenient way. Of course, some things will end up slipping through the cracks. Between staff shortages, huge product waste, customer dissatisfaction and bad press, some coffee chains may have lost a few customers.
Ultimately, you want a great taste and just the right amount of cream and sugar, but a good experience never hurts. If you’re as big of a coffee drinker as the statistics say, keep reading to find out which coffee chains have gotten a bad rap.
And if you’re going for a bite to eat, check out 8 big chain restaurants with bad reputations.
As the nation’s most profitable coffeehouse chain, Starbucks has seen a surprising number of scandals tarnish its reputation. More recently, customers attributed the company’s price increases to corporate greed.
In October 2021, Starbucks announced that its net income for the last quarter of 2021 had increased by 31%. This big increase in revenue gives the impression that the business is thriving, but it has become a big reason for customer reaction. Despite the sharp increase in profits, Starbucks continued to significantly increase the prices of its products. The company did not specify an increased percentage or amount for the products, as prices vary in each state. For example, a Venti Frappuccino costs $6.25 in New York compared to $5.95 in Florida, USA today found. Starbucks says the price increase is based on rising labor costs and major supply chain shortages, Thrillist wrote.
Continued shortages of products, employees, and reduced store hours have also hurt the coffee chain’s reliability. Customers are outraged by these shortages because of the inconsistency and inconvenience it brings to their day. You can read about customer frustration with Starbucks, like it’s now a popular topic on Twitter. Additionally, many stores across the country are facing huge staff losses due to COVID outbreaks, burnout, and a dire lack of employees overall. In addition, some stores have had to reduce their opening hours due to ongoing problems.
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Dunkin’ is a classic coffee and donut chain that has built a very loyal fanbase after decades of being America’s Runs On’ coffee shop. On the other hand, its reputation has become questionable after some very public brand and corporate standard protocol choices.
In 2019, the company attempted to reinvent its image by changing its name from Dunkin’ Donuts to just Dunkin’. This rebranding tactic was intended to update and modernize the business as it redesigned its menu to complement the unique seasonal items it offers. However, some customers weren’t as happy with the uprooting as Dunkin’ had hoped.
Customers in the company’s home state of Massachusetts felt the name change would turn Dunkin’ into another “pretentious fast-food cafe chain,” says Mashed. Customers also feared that their precious donuts would be taken away from them; they thought Dunkin’ gave up on ‘Donuts’ because he wasn’t going to sell his legendary treats anymore (thank goodness he wasn’t).
Additionally, thanks to a viral TikTok video, Dunkin’ got a major backlash over its end-of-day shutdown protocol for employees tossing out massive amounts of donuts and baked goods. The TikTok creator said Newsweek that “throwing away the food at the end of each day is company rule”. This health precaution did not sit well with rabid Dunkin’ fans, who saw 30 trays of donuts and bagels thrown away.
Even though Tim Hortons is a staple for many Canadians, its sales have started to drop in recent years and one of the reasons is the lackluster reputation of its coffee chain. Not only is the company not adapting to current trends, but it is also creating an outcry for better treatment and compensation for its workers.
Tim Horton’s has suffered from an inability to stay relevant. Over the years, the channel has been a safe place that is “a reflection of Canadian values and society,” said the Toronto Sun, but now it can no longer sustain itself as a society as a place of welcome for the younger generations. Millennials are more interested in the coffee chain’s competitors – Starbucks and Dunkin – due to a strong social media presence, “trendy” products and a strong focus on connecting with customers at each location. It’s possible that if Tim Hortons incorporated more frozen drinks, Instagrammable drinks and “hip” snacks, its Canadian customers wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.
Another Tim Hortons controversy has arisen after the company renewed its annual ‘Roll Up the Rim’ contest (but now digitally). Over the years, this contest has had customers rolling the tops of their coffee cups to see if they’d win prizes, but since the pandemic, it’s turned its hallowed competition into a mobile app. Many people were delighted to have brought back the opportunity to earn rewards, from free coffee to $1,000 gift cards, while others were disappointed with how the corporate coffee chain was spending its time. and his money. Social media users took to the announcement of the contest and demanded better conditions for workers in the form of higher pay rates, regulated meal breaks and the inclusion of consistent employee benefits. Ontario.
With unpredictable revenues and a shaky reputation, Tim Hortons has a lot of work to do if it wants to continue to stay afloat in the future.
RELATED: 10 secrets coffee companies don’t want you to know.
West Coast-based Peet’s Coffee’s reputation has remained relatively untouched when it comes to negative headlines. But there were a few hiccups and an issue of being accused of misleading customers about coffee sizes.
In 2015, a lawsuit was filed against Peet’s by a Cook County man who alleged the chain misrepresented the amount of coffee it served in French press containers. The man claimed he received at least 25% less French press coffee volume than advertised, which meant he was overcharged.
The coffee chain’s marketing manager, Tyler Ricks, responded that “the 12 and 32 ounce sizes on the menu refer to the press pot, not the liquid in it.” Eater reported. Soon after, the case was settled, but Peet’s reputation took a hit with West Coast customers.
Although this favorite Michigan coffee chain got off to a late start in the game, being founded in 1995, it also got off to a rocky start in making a big impression on the coffee industry.
Originally Biggby Coffee was called Beaner’s Coffee, but the rebranding hit after Latino bands came forward. The term “beaner” is considered an offensive word to describe someone of Mexican or Hispanic descent. The corporate coffee chain quickly responded to the roar of complaints in 2007 and made an official announcement to share that changing the brand name was the right thing to do.
Fortunately, Biggby’s reputation was not completely tarnished. In fact, since the rebranding of the company name, they have grown exponentially. Detroit Free Press reported that “in a normal year, the retailer grows up to 40 contracts,” which has grown the business tremendously throughout the Midwest.
Looking for other coffees to try? Here’s the best coffee in every state.