Everyone in America has their regional fast food chain they’ll go to the mat for. In California it’s In-N-Out Burger. Along the southeast its Bojangles. White Castle in the middle part of the country. The deep loyalty to these eateries is due as much to nostalgia as it is to the food itself. It’s what we grew up eating, and it’s all subjective.
And also completely incorrect. The best fast food chain is Whataburger, objectively speaking. The Texas-based (and now Chicago corporation-owned, which woof) burger joint with the iconic orange W and the A-frame design is unrivaled in terms of burgers, breakfast, even milk shakes, it’s not up for debate. Now, Whataburger is looking to expand their territory with a revamped and elevated coffee menu. And unlike some more cowardly fast food joints (cough Wendy’s), they aren’t afraid to give the people what they want.
Speaking of beloved Texas chains, let me be the first to tell you that Buc-ee’s is trash. It’s a monument to opulence and fossil fuels, a gauche incarnation of late-stage capitalism that surely won’t be a 100-pump wasteland scarring the countryside in the coming years. You want food? Go to literally any fueling station with a taco stand attached to it. If you need a gas station to love, go to Wawa.
As reported by Forbes, Whataburger, like many other fast-casual eateries are looking to distinguish themselves in the crowded marketplace and cater to a younger demographic. “Our customers wanted iced coffee, so we took the opportunity to elevate our entire coffee lineup,” Whataburger’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Scott Hudler tells Forbes. “Our research shows that cold drinks are especially popular with younger consumers, particularly Gen Z.”
And elevate they did. Along with a new line of iced coffee—a dark-roasted based with flavors like mocha, vanilla, caramel, and sweet cream—Whataburger has updated their hot coffee offerings. Their new coffee is a “premium blend of 100% Arabica” from Colombia, Honduras, and Nicaragua, medium roasted “with a medium body, smooth finish, and citrus and brown sugar flavor notes. And perhaps the largest edition to the menu is the Caramel Latte Shake. For a limited time, Whataburger is offering a coffee version of the classic milk shakes and malts that contains actual honest-to-goodness coffee (well, instant coffee anyway).
A Bonus Texan Aside: The lowkey best thing on the menu in the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich, served on Texas toast. Get the combo meal and sub out the drink for a vanilla malt to dip your fries in, though the spicy ketchup is also a can’t miss. But if you crave the beef, you gotta go either Patty Melt or the classic Whataburger, add grilled jalepeños. For breakfast, the move is the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit with a bacon, egg, and cheese taquito sidecar.
Being a journalist—and refusing to live no more than one mile from a Whataburger—I took it upon myself to try out the new coffee items and test the veracity of the quality claims. For journalism. And I have to say, the coffee is pretty good (you gotta say it with the inflection slightly rising). Will it keep me from going to a specialty cafe? No. But is it better than Starbucks? I meeeeeeeeean, a pretty good acidity, no bitter roasty flavors, just a solid, balanced, middle-of-the-road cup of coffee. It’s arguing, it’s making an argument. Meanwhile the Caramel Latte Malt is above reproach and easily the best ice-cream-type treat on any fast food menu anywhere. It will hopefully become a permanent menu item.
And yes, the Caramel Latte Malt makes for a great dip for your fries.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
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Zac Cadwalader
June 4, 2024
