News: Burger King - New Coffee Once Again

Burger King is changing up their coffee once again and also adding lattes to their menu. Little more than two years since they switched from BK Joe to Starbucks-owned Seattle's Best, they're still sticking with Seattle's Best, but switching to a different blend of coffee, "Smooth Roast."

The new blend is sourced from Latin American arabica beans and is a custom blend made for Burger King. The drinks remain much the same with iced or hot version along with optional vanilla, mocha, and caramel flavors.

While a BK Latte is new to the States, espresso-based drinks have already been in offered in Burger King restaurants in several markets worldwide including Germany, Japan, and Latin America. Burger King Lattes are set to arrive next month.

While switching out coffee doesn't cost too much, brewing up espresso for lattes requires some expensive machinery in a restaurant environment (somewhere in the $10,000 to $30,000 range), making the move an expensive one for Burger King franchisees.

Suggested retail prices on hot coffee at Burger King starts at $1, while iced versions start at $1.49. The Lattes, when they are arrive, will carry a suggested retail price of $2.29. The prices are very much in line with similar offerings from McDonald's.

The move leaves Wendy's as the coffee laggard of the Big 3 fast food burger chains. They continue to work on their own Red Roasters coffee platform, but a nationwide roll out has not been forthcoming.