I Tried 7-Eleven’s Iced Coffee to See If It’s Better Than Starbucks
My husband and I have a solid marriage. We have two longstanding fights. The first: Will our kids be Yankees or Mets fans? (This year, we're good with neither.) The second: Should we stop at Starbucks or 7-Eleven for coffee and drive while we drive around because the aforementioned kids fell asleep in the back seat, and it's quiet?
My vote is always Starbucks. I know this will sound obnoxiously snobby, but why would I stop at a convenience store for coffee when I can stop at Starbucks, the most notable coffee chain on the planet? My usual order is a hot vanilla latte with skim milk. But sometimes (especially this summer), I go for something colder and lighter and spring for vanilla iced coffee with skim milk.
I love the familiar taste — it's comforting in a world where so much seems out of my control.
My husband has been nagging me to try 7-Eleven, but he wisely subscribes to the idea that a happy wife means a happy life and sits in the drive-thru line at Starbucks.
So, when an editor asked me to try out 7-Eleven's iced coffee to compare it to Starbucks, I laughed and nearly spit (water, because it was mid-afternoon when I cut myself off from caffeine for sleep quality purposes).
I set out to prove my husband wrong.
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Iced Coffee Is Trending in Quick-Service Restaurants
If you're noticing iced coffee is trending, you're not alone. A QSR Magazine report fold cold-brew coffee orders at quick-service restaurants heated up from April 2021 to April 2022, increasing by 27%.
The report suggested several reasons for the surge, including the idea that coffee is no longer an exclusive first-thing-in-the-morning necessity but an anytime treat. Quick-service restaurants have also gotten more sophisticated with their offerings, including flavors and nitro brews.
Starbucks fans crave the customization the chain orders, but others — including 7-Eleven — are catching up.
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The 7-Eleven Iced Coffee Experience
The ability to customize an iced beverage was the first thing I noticed when I ventured into 7-Eleven shortly before noon on a Wednesday. I was honestly surprised. I typically associate 7-Eleven with Slurpees and grab-and-go beverages like sodas. But the cold coffee station had numerous taps, including Nitro, decaf and vanilla. I was tempted to sample the Nitro but decided to play fair and compare apples to apples (or vanilla to vanilla). I decided to get my same order from Starbucks, a vanilla iced coffee with skim milk.
I despise black coffee, but I took a sip after pulling the tap and putting a few drops into my medium cup.
Uh-oh.
Even without milk, the coffee tasted good. Really good. Better than Starbucks good? I wasn't ready to say.
Here are a few other notables about the 7-Eleven cold-coffee experience:
You get to be your own barista. Unlike Starbucks, 7-Eleven's coffee is self-serve. While some may prefer the small luxury of having someone else prep your order, people who want total control over their Big Gulp of Joe will love this freedom.
There is less variety. Starbucks has numerous types of milk and creamers, like almond and oat. Though 7-Eleven did have a canister of non-dairy creamer, you'll mostly find your standard milk options (fat-free, whole, half-and-half) and International Delight flavored creamers like hazelnut.
It's cheaper. Not surprisingly, 7-Eleven's iced coffee is cheaper. A medium vanilla iced coffee ran me $2.29, compared to a grande at Starbucks, which is $2.69. Every bit counts in this economy.
7-Eleven also has a 7Rewards promotion running, where the seventh iced coffee is free. The cashier mentioned this option, but I politely declined. Upon further review, I would once and for all decide Starbucks was better.
Oops.
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The Verdict
I got into my car and prepped for the four-minute ride home. The coffee was gone before I pulled into my driveway.
I found 7-Eleven's iced coffee lighter and sweeter than Starbucks, perfect for an almost mid-day pick-me-up. Frankly, I was also in and out much quicker than sitting in a drive-thru at Starbucks (or waiting in a wrap-around line). I'm trying to phase out dairy in my diet and drink oat milk at home, but I am still using cow's milk in my coffee. The lack of milk options at 7-Eleven could be a problem for me later, but maybe the brand will also hop on the nut milk bandwagon.
For now, I hate to say it — and it's a rare occurrence — but my husband was right, and I think I will head back to take advantage of that promotion.
Our kids are still going to be Yankees fans.
