# What's the deal with Tim Horton's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869 "2005-03-04T05:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/21 "2005-03-04T18:45:09Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Reporting in from South of the Border. I’ve been to Tim Horton’s a few times. Their doughnuts are ‘just okay’. They’re certainly not as good as Winchell’s or Spudnuts. I’ve only had their regular coffee. No flavours, no sugar, no cream. Black. It didn’t strike me as particularly good. I make better coffee at home, and I like 7-11 coffee on the road. IMO Tim Horton’s doughnuts and coffee aren’t _bad_; just not great. Anyone who willingly swills 7-11 coffee over Timmy’s obviously posesses defective tastebuds :D. And Tim Horton’s takes their brew seriously: just compare TH’s [Coffee Literature](http://www.timhortons.com/en/menu/menu_coffee.html) with that of [7-11’s](http://www.7-eleven.com/products/product_detail.asp?catalog%5Fname=7ElevenNew&category%5Fname=Tasty+Beverages&subcategory%5Fname=Hot+Beverages&product%5Fid=00073&thumb=1). 😛 (All kidding aside, I have drunk both, having one of each within a block of my house. Instant drinks are hands down better at Timmy’s but nothing gives you the morning battery acid kickstart like heavily adulterated 7-11 brew in a Ginormous Cup). -DF ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/22 "2005-03-04T19:53:04Z")
Well, there was the Urban Legend that Tim Horton’s put’s nicotine in their coffee, but that has been proven to be [untrue](http://coffeetea.about.com/cs/whimsy/a/timsnicotine.htm). I’m in the camp that says Tim’s coffee is “okay”… it’s not great, but it beats your run of the mill diner brown water. But I’m from Western Canada, and we’ve been over run by Starbucks (in one part of my city there is a Starbucks right across the street from another Starbucks). Starbucks is no great shakes either, but they do certainly seem to have the market cornered… with the exception of the sorta indie coffee shops, which rock. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/23 "2005-03-04T20:40:00Z")
I think their coffee sucks. And the “double double” thing is just annoying. I once heard a guy ask for a “triple triple” and wanted to smack him. (And yet, I’ll be stopping there to buy donuts on my way to rehearsal…) ---
**Author:** ![mad\_tomato\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mad\_tomato\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mad_tomato_scientist)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/24 "2005-03-05T00:14:48Z")
> [@scott evil](#): > > And the “double double” thing is just annoying. I once heard a guy ask for a “triple triple” and wanted to smack him. The double double system is brilliant! no thinking involved, just mumbling and the Timmy’s person knows exactly what you need! very important for a morning despiser like myself. I concur, however, with the triple triple thing - a DD is sweet and creamy enough, I can’t imagine what three sugars and creams must be like, more like dessert than coffee, I guess. And **Johnny LA** - you gotta have some cream in there at least, not black. There seems to be a weird synergy when you get the coffee together with the cream, otherwise, it’s pretty lacklustre. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/25 "2005-03-05T00:39:29Z")
> [@mad tomato scientist](#): > > And **Johnny LA** - you gotta have some cream in there at least, not black. There seems to be a weird synergy when you get the coffee together with the cream, otherwise, it’s pretty lacklustre. So the coffee sucks unless you add stuff to it? It’s not good coffee then. Give me Dunkin Donuts every day of the week. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/26 "2005-03-05T00:48:54Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > Sorry, but Tim Horton’s coffee is not “substandard”. I love it. It’s every bit as good as my beloved Dunkin Donuts coffee. Tim’s is better. It’s the best coffee you can buy premade, anywhere. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool or a liar. My best bud moved to San Jose, CA seven years ago. He still imports several cases a year; he can’t find a decent cup of coffee there, since everything’s Starbucks. However, it’s not QUITE as good homemade, for some reason. The WORST coffee I’ve ever had is Starbucks; they make some very good specialty drinks, but the coffee itself is just horrible. The first time I got one I brought it back and told them there was something wrong with their machine. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/27 "2005-03-05T00:51:22Z")
Well I don’t eat donuts or drink coffee… But I had a chicken salad sandwhich there once that was pretty good. The diet coke was average. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/28 "2005-03-05T02:54:40Z")
> [@mad tomato scientist](#): > > And **Johnny LA** - you gotta have some cream in there at least, not black. So the waitress said, ‘Cream in your coffee?’ I said, ‘Not lately!’ 😃 But yeah, I usually drink black coffee. You know, I like my women like I like my coffee… [spoiler]Tied up in a gunny sack and thrown over the back of a donkey. [sub]Thanks, **Rico**![/sub] 😃 [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/29 "2005-03-05T03:11:43Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > You know, I like my women like I like my coffee… I always say that I like my men the way I like my coffee: strong, very sweet, and Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/30 "2005-03-05T03:33:10Z")
> [@Miss Violaceous](#): > > I always say that I like my men the way I like my coffee: strong, very sweet, and Canadian. How’s two out of three? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/31 "2005-03-05T04:51:40Z")
I like my men like I like my coffee–strong, sweet, and just a little bitter. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/32 "2005-03-05T05:07:34Z")
I like my women like I like my coffee: hot, cheap and disposable. Kidding! I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/33 "2005-03-05T05:42:15Z")
> [@Nunavut Boy](#): > > I like my women like I like my coffee: hot, cheap and disposable. :eek: So, how’s that workin’ out for ya? Back on topic–we don’t have Tim Horton’s here. I was just talking to someone from up North (northern US, that is) who has Tim Horton’s, and I thought it sounded cool, but if the coffee isn’t good, forget it. Krispy Kreme has good coffee and donuts (and you can watch the donuts go down the little slide and get covered in mounds of artery-clogging icing). Breakfast and a show! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/34 "2005-03-05T05:57:23Z")
[hijack] Blech to Krispy Kreme doughnuts and their glutinous icing. Do they make any doughnuts that aren’t slathered with icing? Bleah. They look like sodden little lumps of teethaching oversugared lard puddings. I prefer a plain doughnut – no icing, no cocoanut, no filling, just plain, thanks. If a doughnut place can’t make a good plain doughnut they can’t make a good doughnut. There’s a guy in my town has his own little doughnut shop. Whenever I have a chance I get one of Marty’s plain doughnuts. Kicks the stuffing out of any Dunkin’ Donuts plain doughnut. Crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, light but filling, wonderful flavor. Mmmmmmmm, plain doughnut! Of course, at this point I should point out that I’m a born and bred New Englander – make of it what you will. 😃 [/hijack] I’ve bene in a Tim Horton’s a couple of tiems on a visit to Canada. Pretty good, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/35 "2005-03-05T06:10:48Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > They look like sodden little lumps of teethaching oversugared lard puddings. Oh, they are. But they’re very tasty lumps of teethaching oversugared lard. If you eat them hot, all that sugar goes straight into your bloodstream. Another hijack: Every year, my mom sends me maple donuts from a maple festival in Virginia. They always get a little dried out, because she doesn’t wrap them up very well, but they’re so tasty! I wish I could get them fresh. They’re better than Krispy Kreme maple-glazed donuts. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/36 "2005-03-05T06:19:01Z")
Maple doughnuts sound good, but the absolute best hot-from-the-cooker doughnuts are cider doughnuts, and [Russell Orchards](http://www.russellorchardsma.com/bakeryandstore.php) here in Ipswich has 'em! You line up in front of the cooker and watch them float through the process, then grab yourself a paper bagful and start munching. I generally get a half-dozen to a dozen, and have two or three eaten by the time I get to the register. Another one or two are gone by the time I’m back in my car. Which is all right because they’re best straight from the cooker. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM… the aroma alone… Little cider doughnuts hot from the cooker… ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/37 "2005-03-05T06:21:06Z")
I disliked coffee immensly until I had a sip of my mom’s Tims and I was hooked. I love Tim’s coffee, black. I can’t get enough. If I was sober enough to drive, I’d go get one right now. Hijack, I heard Tim’s was bought out by Americans… anyone know if this is true? /too lazy to research ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/38 "2005-03-05T06:23:00Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > Another hijack: Every year, my mom sends me maple donuts from a maple festival in Virginia. They always get a little dried out, because she doesn’t wrap them up very well, but they’re so tasty! I wish I could get them fresh. They’re better than Krispy Kreme maple-glazed donuts. [hijack of hijack] If you like maple syrup, you’ll love [these recipes](http://maplemadness.com/recipes.html) – including one for maple doughnuts. [/h-of-h] ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/39 "2005-03-05T06:25:41Z")
[Yes](http://www.timhortons.com/en/about/history_1995.html) , they merged with Wendys in 1995, but it seems to be a good partnership so far. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869/40 "2005-03-05T07:12:40Z")
I finally tried a Krispy Kreme donut, and I couldn’t finish it. It was just too gooey and sweet for me, give me a Tim’s honey glazed\* and a large double double any day over that. [sub]\*Actually, my favourite is the sour cream glazed… mmmm[/sub] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-tim-hortons/292869.md?page=3)