Iced black coffee is my go-to order, and getting it from fast-food chains would make my morning fix quick and cheap.
I decided to a small coffee from Wendy's, Burger King, and McDonald's to see which is best.
Wendy's iced coffee is described on the menu as "extra rich and super-smooth," but I didn't find it smooth at all. In fact, I found it difficult to finish because of how bitter it was.
I regularly drink black coffee, so I'm used to it not being sweet, but this felt undrinkable. If you're a big fan of bitter coffee though, this might be for you.
The small iced coffee was the most expensive I tried at $2.39 — but Wendy's version of a small was bigger than the other two chains', so value-wise it seemed on par.
Wendy's iced coffee was hard for me to drink because of the strong flavor, but Burger King's was so watery that I couldn't taste much.
It was easy to drink because of this, but it wasn't as rich or powerful as I expect an iced black coffee to be.
When I previously tried the chain's hot black coffee, I thought it tasted burnt, so this was at least a step up from that experience.
On the bright side, Burger King's small coffee only cost $1.19.
The iced coffee at McDonald's was full and rich, and it had a sweetness to it that made it enjoyable to drink.
This felt the most like a quality iced coffee I'd get at an actual coffee chain, but for a fast-food price.
The small was priced between the other two, at $2.19, which felt fair for a good cup of coffee.
As I expected, ordering iced coffee at fast-food chains was cheap (under $2.50 a piece) and quick.
But between Wendy's coffee being pretty bitter and Burger King's coffee tasting watered down, McDonald's was my clear favorite.
Beyond fast-food taste tests, this is an iced coffee I'd genuinely try again — I even liked it more than some coffee-chain varieties I've had.
When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufony4tMicn2aekajBbrLOqJtmm5iWtq95x5qqZpqVqMFutcKem2abn5uzprGMqZ%2BorJ%2BoenN8kWtkbw%3D%3D