Whether it’s a morning cup of coffee to jump-start your brain or an afternoon pick-me-up, for many coffee is essential. On average, Americans will drink just over three cups of coffee a day, the National Coffee Association reported. Some brew their coffee at home, but many grab a daily cup (or two) from their favorite chain. And even though major coffee chains are doing their best, they have been caught making mistakes that have damaged their reputation.

Leading corporate coffee chains are constantly attempting to accomplish the impossible by serving up great coffee in a fast and convenient way. Obviously, some things will end up falling through the cracks. Between staffing shortages, enormous product waste, customer dissatisfaction, and bad press, some coffee chains may have lost a few customers.

In the end, you want great taste and just the right amount of cream and sugar, but a good experience never hurts. If you’re as big of a coffee drinker as the stats say, keep reading to find out which coffee chains have gotten bad reputations.

And if you’re headed out for a bite to eat, check out 8 Major Restaurant Chains With a Bad Reputation.

As the largest grossing coffee chain in the country, Starbucks has had a surprising number of scandals tarnish its reputation. Most recently customers have attributed the company’s price increases to corporate greed.

In October 2021, Starbucks reported that their net profit for the last quarter of 2021 was up by 31%. This big jump in revenue makes it sound like the company is thriving, but it has become a big reason for customer backlash. Despite the major profit increase, Starbucks has continued to significantly increase its product prices. The company did not specify an increased percentage or amount for products since prices vary in every state. For example, a venti Frappuccino cost $6.25 in New York compared to $5.95 in Florida, USA Today found. Starbucks claims the price increase is based on the increased cost of labor and major supply chain shortages, Thrillist wrote.

Ongoing shortages in products, employees, and reduced store hours have also damaged the coffee chain’s reliability. Customers are outraged by these shortages because of the inconsistency and the inconvenience it puts on their day. You can read about customers’ frustration with Starbucks, as it’s now a popular topic trending on Twitter. In addition, many stores across the country are dealing with huge losses of staff due to COVID outbreaks, exhaustion, and a plain lack of employees overall. Also, there have been reports of some stores having to reduce their hours due to ongoing issues.

Dunkin’ is a classic coffee and donut chain that’s created a very loyal fanbase after decades of being the coffee America ‘Runs On’. On the other hand, its reputation has become questionable after some very public brand and company standard protocol choices.

Back in 2019, the company attempted to reinvent its image by changing its name from Dunkin’ Donuts to just Dunkin’. This rebranding tactic was meant to help update and modernize the company as it redesigned its menu to complement the unique seasonal items it rolls out. However, some customers weren’t as pleased with the uproot as Dunkin’ had hoped.

Customers in the company’s home state of Massachusetts, felt the rebrand would turn Dunkin’ into another “snooty fast-food coffee chain,” explains Mashed. Customers were also afraid their precious donuts were going to be taken away; they thought Dunkin’ dropped the ‘Donuts’ because it was no longer going to be selling its legendary treats (thank goodness that wasn’t the case).

Also, thanks to a viral TikTok video, Dunkin’ got major backlash about its end-of-day closing protocol for employees to throw out mass amounts of donuts and bakery products. The TikTok creator told Newsweek that “throwing away the food at the end of each day is the company’s rules.” This health precaution didn’t sit well with enraged Dunkin’ fans, who watched 30 trays of donuts and bagels being tossed away.

Even though Tim Hortons is a staple for many Canadians, its sales have begun to tank in recent years and one reason for that is its mediocre coffee chain reputation. Not only is the corporation not adapting to current trends, it’s also received outcry for better treatment and compensation for its workers.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Tim Horton’s has suffered from an inability to remain relevant. Over the years, the chain has been a safe place that’s a “reflection of Canadian values and society” said the Toronto Sun, but now it can’t keep up as a corporation as a welcoming place for the younger generations. Millennials are more interested in coffee chain competitors—Starbucks and Dunkin—due to a high social media presence, ‘trendy’ products, and a big focus on connecting with customers at each location. It’s possible that if Tim Hortons incorporated more iced beverages, Instagrammable drinks, and ‘hip’ snacks their Canadian customers wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.

Another Tim Hortons controversy was brought up after the company renewed their annual ‘Roll Up The Rim’ contest (but now digitally). Over the years this contest had customers rolling up the tops of their coffee cups to see if they’d win prizes, but since the pandemic, it took its sacred competition to a mobile app. Many people were thrilled they brought back the opportunity to win rewards, from free coffee to $1,000 gift cards, while others were disappointed in the way the corporate coffee chain was spending its time and money. Social media users took over the contest announcement and demanded better conditions for workers in the form of higher pay rates, regulated meal breaks, and the inclusion of consistent benefits for Ontario employees.

With unpredictable earnings and an uneasy reputation, Tim Hortons has a lot of work to do if it wants to continue to stay afloat in the future.

RELATED: 10 Secrets Coffee Companies Don’t Want You to Know.

The reputation of West Coast-based Peet’s Coffee has remained relatively unscathed when it comes to negative headlines. But there have been some hiccups and a matter of being accused of shortchanging customers on coffee sizes.

In 2015, a lawsuit was filed against Peet’s by a Cook’s County man who alleged that the chain misrepresented the amount of coffee it serves in French press containers. The man claimed that he received at least 25% less French press coffee volume than advertised, which meant he was overcharged.

The coffee chain’s Chief Marketing Officer, Tyler Ricks, responded that “the 12- and 32-ounce sizes on the menu refers to the press pot, not the liquid within,” Eater reported. Shortly after, the case was settled, but Peet’s reputation took a hit with West Coast customers.

While this Michigan-favorite coffee chain had a late start to the game, being founded in 1995, it also had a rough start making a good impression on the coffee industry.

Originally, Biggby Coffee was called Beaner’s Coffee, but rebranding struck after Latino groups came forward with concerns. The term ‘beaner’ is considered an offensive word to describe a person of Mexican or Hispanic descent. The corporate coffee chain quickly reacted to the roar of complaints in 2007 and made an official announcement to share that changing the brand name was the right thing to do.

Lucky, Biggby’s reputation wasn’t completely tarnished. In fact, since the rebranding of the company name, they’ve expanded exponentially. Detroit Free Press reported that “in a normal year, the retailer expands by up to 40 contracts,” which has grown the company tremendously throughout the Midwest.

Looking for more coffee shops to try? Here’s The Best Coffee Shop in Every State.