Starbucks Vs. Black Rifle Coffee: Which One Wins the Coffee War?

I have always been picky about the coffee I drink and where I get it from. Finding the perfect coffee house is honestly like finding gold. There are so many factors I pay attention to before giving a coffee shop my stamp of approval. I recently visited Black Rifle Coffee and decided to compare it to the veteran Starbucks to see which of the two is better. Read on to see what I think.

What Are the Differences Between Black Rifle Coffee Vs. Starbucks?

Features	Black Rifle Coffee	Starbucks
Ambiance	Black Rifle Coffee is explicit on its pro-America, pro-guns, and pro-Trump beliefs.	Starbucks is an inclusive company that encourages diversity
Location	Black Rifle Coffee has around 1,700 locations in the United States	Starbucks has 35,711 stores around the world
Menu	Black Rifle has a limited selection of coffee flavors and blends	Starbucks offers a wide variety of coffees, from classics to seasonal flavors
Price Range	Black Rifle Coffee is fairly priced	Starbucks is slightly more expensive than Black Rifle Coffee
Beverage Sizes	Black Rifle Coffee offers coffee drinks in 12 oz, 16 oz, and 24 oz cups	Starbucks serves coffee in either 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz, 24 oz, or 31 oz cup sizes
Environmental Consciousness	Black Rifle Coffee has not expressed any stance on adopting environmentally conscious policies.	Starbucks has policies and goals for environmental conservation
Coffee Beans	Black Rifle Coffee uses a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans	Starbucks uses only 100% Arabica coffee beans to make their coffee

Black Rifle Coffee Vs. Starbucks – How They Compare

Ambiance

A significant difference between Black Rifle Coffee and Starbucks is the general ambiance of the establishment. Black Rifle is very open about its conservative political views. They have adopted a “pro-America, pro-gun, and pro-Trump” stance. So much so that they use this as a marketing strategy, from their name and logo to even coffee descriptions. Starbucks, however, is the opposite. It is openly liberal and prides itself on its policies about diversity and inclusivity of all groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. This is evident in their décor and staff.

Starbucks is the winner here as it is more accepting and inclusive in terms of ambiance. The energy is more inviting as compared to Black Rifle Coffee.

Location

Black Rifle Coffee can be found in over 1,500 stores across the country. In addition to its physical stores, its products are on sale in gun shooting ranges, 5.11 Tactical stores, and Bass Pro shops. We’re not so sure that this is a great idea, though. How many people want to go to a firing range to get their coffee? On the other hand, Starbucks has its brand spread to almost every corner of the world. With over 35,000 stores globally and 15,000 in the US, you can grab Starbucks coffee at nearly every block. One of the company’s strategies is having multiple stores to increase foot traffic.

While Black Rifle’s reach is suitable for a relatively new company in the industry, Starbucks beats it out in this case. Starbucks has sunk its roots in even the most remote areas, making it more accessible.

Menu

Starbucks offers its customers a wide range of coffee flavors and blends, with festive and seasonal ones such as Maple Pecan and their Spring Day blend. The coffee powerhouse is considered a pioneer in the coffee industry as it has a reputation for having the trendiest coffee drinks that are always going viral. In comparison, Black Rifle Coffee sticks to more classic coffee options and isn’t as experimental with its flavor blends. Expect to get light, medium, and dark roast coffee, with the occasional caramel, vanilla, and hazelnut options.

Although classic flavors can never go out of style, we appreciate the variety of flavors Starbucks offers, and so it is the winner in this category.

Price Range

In terms of price, Black Rifle Coffee is fair. It doesn’t have exorbitant prices for its coffee menu. They range between $2.35 and $7.25 depending on the size and type of coffee one chooses. On the other hand, Starbucks is slightly more expensive than Black Rifle Coffee. Their prices start from $3.00 and can go up to $15 if you customize your drink and add extras.

It is safe to say that in this category, Black Rifle Coffee and Starbucks are not miles apart. There isn’t much price difference, but Black Rifle Coffee is still the cheaper of the two, so it wins here.

Beverage Sizes

If you were to visit a Black Rifle Coffee, you would have the choice of either a small (12 oz), medium (16 oz), or large (24 oz) coffee cup. These are the usual standard sizes you would find in just about any coffee shop. Starbucks is a bit extra, though. It has a short (8 oz), tall (12 oz), grande (16 oz), and venti (20 oz for hot drinks and 24 oz for cold drinks).

Starbucks wins in this case. They offer a wider variety of beverage sizes over Black Rifle Coffee and therefore edged them out.

Environmental Consciousness

Starbucks has illustrated commitment as a company to environmental conservation. They even have policies in place to support the cause. For instance, they have paper straws and reusable cups to reduce plastic use. The company is also working on expanding its vegan menu items. However, Black Rifle Coffee does not have any known initiatives toward preserving the planet.

Starbucks is the clear winner in this category, as they have shown great purpose when it comes to making a positive impact on the environment. Black Rifle Coffee is yet to catch up.

Coffee Beans

Black Rifle Coffee is a medium roast blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, while Starbucks goes for 100% Arabica coffee beans. So, what’s the difference between Arabica and Robusta? Several factors differentiate them, but one of them is the taste. Arabica is known to be sweet, fruity, and smoother. Robusta tends to be more bitter, grainy, and strong. It also has more caffeine per gram than Arabica. Additionally, Robusta is cheaper to cultivate and process.

Starbucks wins in the Coffee Bean category because we think that Arabica is the superior coffee bean. Its flavor profile is better, and it is of overall better quality.

Black Rifle Coffee Vs. Starbucks – A Comparison Overview

Black Rifle Coffee Overview

Black Rifle Coffee is a newbie in the coffee space but has been able to create quite some buzz around it. It was founded in December 2014 by Green Beret Even Hafer, a veteran soldier. He aimed to use Black Rifle Coffee as a means of helping Jewish refugees get employment. This company has had some controversy, though. It outrightly supports the 2^nd Amendment and right-wing ideologies. In 2023, there are approximately 1,700 Black Rifle Coffee locations spread all over the country.

As for its coffee, Black Rifle Coffee offers classic coffee with deep flavors that are synonymous with stereotypical coffee tastes. It is bitter, smoky, and earthy. They offer medium and dark roast coffee that is full-bodied and slightly grainy. Robusta and Arabica coffee beans from Colombia and Brazil are what Black Rifle Coffee uses.

Starbucks Overview

Starbucks was founded in 1971 and has exploded since then. It used the past few decades to catapult itself to billion-dollar status and worldwide fame. There are currently over 35,000 Starbucks stores around the world, and the number keeps growing. Starbucks is known for setting trends in the coffee industry, particularly with its coffee drink flavors and combos. They are constantly adding new flavors and drinks to their coffee menu.

Starbucks uses 100% Arabica coffee which makes Starbucks coffee have a sweet, fruity, and floral flavor profile. Additionally, Starbucks markets itself as a conscious company that not only cares about its employees and community but the environment too.

Final Verdict: So, Which Is Better? – Black Rifle Coffee Vs. Starbucks

We believe that Starbucks is the better of the two. This coffee house offers high-quality coffee that is easily accessible to many people worldwide. While Black Rifle Coffee’s prices are lower, Starbucks has a wide variety on its menu and seems to be a holistic company that cares about social issues and the environment.

FAQ SECTION

Is Black Rifle coffee better than Starbucks?

No, Starbucks is better in terms of menu variety, quality tea, and great ambiance.

Is Black Rifle coffee more popular than Starbucks?

While Black Rifle Coffee is very popular, it is not more popular than Starbucks. Starbucks is a global company that has thousands of locations around the world. Starbucks is the most popular coffee company in the world.

Which came first, Black Rifle coffee or Starbucks?

Starbucks founders opened the first Starbucks store in 1971, while Black Rifle Coffee was started in December 2014. Starbucks, therefore, came first.