When it comes to iced coffee, you have two kinds of people. Some folks enjoy a refreshing iced coffee during the hot summer season, but prefer to sip on a hot coffee when the weather cools down. And then you have people like myself who order a coffee any day of the week, month, season! Have the employees behind the counter looked at me strangely when I order an iced coffee and it's snowing outside? Yes! But I will not be judged. Iced coffee is my go-to for life.
There's just something about iced coffees that I love! The flavor is unmatched. From mocha to vanilla, you have several choices, and all come with a boost of caffeine? Yes, please! The only down side to iced coffee is that you can't prepare it as easily or quickly at home as you would a hot coffee. No worries, though, there are fast food restaurants at every corner ready to pour an iced cold coffee! But there are so many options! Which one is your go-to?
Below, I rank the iced coffees from eight fast food chains I frequent the most. Check them out and let me know if you agree or disagree with my picks.
#8: Taco Bell
If you didn't even know that Taco Bell had iced coffees available, welcome to the club. It wasn't until a few months ago that I happened to see the person in front of me at the drive-thru get an iced coffee that I knew they were available. I was quick to order one the next time I stopped by for a Taco Discovery Box and I learned why Taco Bell doesn't advertise their iced coffees. Simply put, Taco Bell's iced coffees are nothing to brag about! Are they the worst? No. But I would much rather get the Wild Strawberry Freeze (and these are cheaper, too).
Regular size Taco Bell iced coffees are $1.79 and the Iced Cinnabon Delights coffee is $2.29. Please note that prices vary based on location.
#7: Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box gets a lot of hate, but you'll never get any of that from me! I enjoy Jack in the Box tacos from time to time, as well as the mini churros, shakes, and you can't beat all-day breakfast. But as far as the iced coffee flavors go, these can be hit and miss. On the plus side, Jack in the Box has many iced coffee flavors available. Some of these flavors include vanilla, mocha, caramel, and churro. Prices vary depending on where you live. At my local Jack in the Box, iced coffees start at $1.99 for a small and $2.89 for a large.
#6: Burger King
When I first had an iced coffee from Burger King I was very pleasantly surprised! I ordered a vanilla iced coffee that was served with the perfect amount of cream! Want to WOW your tastebuds even more? Order a Mocha Frappe! Now, you may be wondering, why am I singing Burger King's iced coffee praises and yet I'm ranking it at number 6? Well, it's complicated.
For starters, there aren't as many Burger King locations close to me as there are McDonald's, Jack in the Box, and the other chains on this list. And the times that I have made it to this particular Burger King, the iced coffee is hit and miss. More often than not, unfortunately, the iced coffee is not well made. And the other times, Burger King is suspiciously "out of iced coffee" when I stop by (even when it's pretty early in the day). Simply put, Burger King's iced coffee is not reliable, but if you get lucky it'll blow your tastebud's minds. BK's iced coffee drinks range from $1.69 to $2.69 and the frappe drinks range from $2.49 to $3.49 -- prices vary based on location.
#5: McDonald's
Similar to Burger King, I'm ranking McDonald's coffee towards the middle of the list because of its inconsistency. From the quality not being the best, the flavor being wrong, or the drink not being blended or proportioned correctly, you just never know what you are going to get! And sometimes, you have time and patience to deal with the wrong order, but other times it is not worth the risk!
Pro tip: Your best bet is to ask for a vanilla (or flavor of your choice) iced coffee with extra vanilla. That way, there's a better chance your coffee will be perfectly creamy and sweet! The average price for an iced coffee from McDonald's is $2.49, depending on your location.
#4: Starbucks
The coffee chain is technically not a fast food restaurant, but how can we not include Starbucks in a coffee ranking? Foodies either love or hate Starbucks. The biggest complaint about Starbucks that I see from the haters is that the prices are too high. As a fan of the chain, I get it. But I also believe that you get what you pay for. The variety of drinks available at Starbucks is seemingly endless, and you also have the option to substitute any ingredient -- or even create your own! Another big plus? The customer service! I've yet to meet a rude barista.
I'm not ranking Starbucks in the top three because the chain is not for the average coffee drinker. People who go to Starbucks know their stuff and are not simply there for a quick caffeine fix. For example, for the purpose of this feature, I went to my local Starbucks to order a vanilla iced coffee and was met with one too many questions about how I wanted my drink prepared. I kept the drink order as simple as possible to try to match what I would get from a fast food chain and simply put, it was just not great.
#3: Dunkin'
Dunkin' has a sorta unfair advantage here because you can't get a coffee (hot or iced) without also ordering a donut. And an iced coffee paired with a donut? Perfection! Tastebud heaven. But even alone, Dunkin' iced coffee is delicious. Like Starbucks, Dunkin' allows you to customize your drink, but not with as many options, which is great if you're in a hurry. My favorite coffee from the chain is the French Vanilla Swirl, and a close second is the Mocha Swirl. But I don't love these drinks more than the next two fast-food iced coffees.
Prices vary based on location, but they are on the higher end as far as fast food coffee goes (but still lower than Starbucks prices). In my area, a small iced coffee is nearly $3, while a large will cost you over $4.
#2: Chick-fil-A
I was already a big fan of Chick-fil-A's waffle fries, its breakfast menu, and the grilled nuggets, among several other menu items. But then I discovered the chain's iced coffee and you bet I began to stop by Chick-fil-A more often. I have never received a vanilla iced coffee from Chick-fil-A that is not prepared to perfection. It's always a sweet delight! The only reason this vanilla iced coffee is not number one on the list is because this is the only flavor Chick-fil-A offers. It's either vanilla or flavorless "regular iced coffee." But the biggest disappointment, at least in my opinion, is that there is one size available and one size only.
That's right, it's either a small vanilla iced coffee or go home. And this should be a crime. How dare Chick-fil-A serve me something so tasty that I'll run out of it after only a few sips? Are they trying to get me to order two of these $3.29 iced coffees? Because I'm not going to do that, I'd rather head to my number one go-to fast food chain for a large that'll cost me less than a small at Chick-fil-A.
#1: Wendy's
Were you expecting Wendy's to take the top spot when it comes to iced coffee? Probably not. But that's because Wendy's iced coffee menu is criminally underrated. Have not enough people discovered this sweet treat, or what am I missing here? Do yourself a favor and try one today.
If you love the iconic Wendy's Frosty, you'll absolutely adore the chain's Vanilla Frosty Cream Cold Brew. Trust me. Oh, and be sure you order one of Wendy's crunchy chocolate chip cookies to accompany the beverage. It's the perfect duo. Again, prices vary depending on where you live, but at my local Wendy's, iced coffee prices start at $1.99 and run up to $3.49.