Starbucks, America’s home to long lines at 8:55 a.m., introduced a line of breakfast sandwiches in 2014. We still believe McDonald’s Egg McMuffin is the standard bearer for chain breakfast items, but one Starbucks sandwich might give it competition.
Vegetable & Fontiago Breakfast Sandwich
Nutritional: 470 calories, 17 g fat, 910 mg sodium
Ad copy: “Spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and Fontiago cheese on a multigrain ciabatta bun.”
Our take: Flavors reminiscent of eggplant parmesan. Overwhelmingly sweet with sun-dried tomatoes. A bit sloppy and calorically high. Ciabatta has density of Formica.
McGrade: C-
Bacon & Gouda Breakfast Sandwich
Nutritional: 350 calories, 18 g fat, 820 mg sodium
Ad copy: “Bacon, Parmesan frittata and aged Gouda cheese on an artisan roll.”
Our take: Digging the crispy edge of toasted roll. A bit skimpy on the bacon, but a good balance of Gouda’s sweet finish and bacon’s applewood smoke.
McGrade: B-
Slow-Roasted Ham & Swiss Breakfast Sandwich
Nutritional: 490 calories, 25 g fat, 830 mg sodium
Ad copy: “Deliciously flavored ham and Swiss cheese on a buttery croissant.”
Our take: This is quite good. Ham has an aged character, croissant discus arrives warm, flaky and crisp. Calories and fat on the high end, but so are most tasty sandwiches.
McGrade: A-
Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich
Nutritional: 230 calories, 6 g fat, 560 mg sodium
Ad copy: Reduced-fat turkey bacon and reduced-fat white cheddar cheese on an organic wheat English muffin.
Our take: Usually reduced fat equals reduced deliciousness. Not so here. The cheddar’s sharpness carries the flavor, and the turkey bacon tastes like a salty-cured ham.
McGrade: B
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