Home » 10 Best Coffees At Tim Hortons: What Are The Most Popular?

10 Best Coffees At Tim Hortons: What Are The Most Popular?

Tim Hortons has long been Canada’s most popular coffee chain. After all, it was founded by and named after a famous professional hockey player, and what’s more Canadian than that? But with over 5,000 restaurants in 14 countries, Tim’s (as we call it in Canada) has become a global force, and you’re apt to encounter one of their vibrant shops anywhere.

Wondering what to order at Tim Hortons on your next visit? We’ve got you covered with this list of Tim Hortons best coffee drinks for coffee lovers + 5 equally delicious options for non-coffee drinkers.

The 10 Best Coffee Drinks At Tim Hortons

These are the best and most popular drinks at Tim Hortons, based on sales, customer reviews, and our personal opinions. They run the gamut from basic freshly brewed coffee to fancy specialty drinks and blended dessert-like coffees.

Tim Hortons inspires incredible brand loyalty, especially in Canada, and you can learn more about what makes it special in this video:

If there’s no Tim Hortons near you, that’s a shame, but you can check out our list of the best Starbucks drinks instead!

Nothing beats a hot drink on a cold day. The Tim Hortons menu has plenty of options to warm you from the inside out, plus rotating seasonal specials. 

Tim Hortons Original Blend Double Double might be Canada’s most famous coffee order; it’s explained below for the uninitiated.

But it’s not the only toasty treat on the menu. Here is a list of Tim Hortons top five warm and cozy beverages.

1. Black Coffee

As someone who likes drinking black coffee, I always say, “When in doubt, stick to the classics.” For most of its existence, Tim’s offered only one type of hot coffee, the Original Blend. But in 2014, they introduced a bolder flavored Dark Roast for the first time (1). In 2017, they tweaked it to be even darker. Stick with the Original for a smooth sipper, or go dark for a strong coffee taste. 

2. Original Blend Double Double

As a Canadian, I can tell you that this Tim Hortons order is something of a cultural icon. It adds two creams and two sugars to the classic Original Blend coffee for a sweet drink that isn’t too indulgent.

3. Latte

Tim Hortons Original Latte was announced in 2017 as the chain first stepped into more premium coffee shop offerings. It’s a simple and unsweetened beverage – as it should be – combining only espresso and creamy steamed milk.

4. Vanilla Latte

There are three flavored lattes on the menu (Mocha, Caramel, and Vanilla), but the Vanilla Latte from Tim Hortons is our favorite of the bunch. It adds vanilla syrup to the original, which gives it wonderful floral notes and a sweetness that isn’t overpowering.

5. French Vanilla

Tim Hortons French Vanilla is a sweeter and less coffee-forward version of the vanilla latte. Think of it like a vanilla alternative to a hot chocolate but with a balanced light coffee taste. Delicious!

6. Iced Cappuccino

Growing up in Canada, I still remember the 1999 release of the Iced Capp. I was 12 and lived in a town with no Starbucks. So a drink that was half slushy, half coffee ice cream blew my pre-teen mind. All these years later, it still holds a special nostalgic charm, and I think it’s the best iced coffee Tim Hortons offers.

Tim Hortons isn’t exactly a cold coffee trendsetter, tending to follow in the footsteps of Starbucks and the other major chains with popular iced coffee drinks. A few years after the Frappuccino came the Tim Horton Iced Cappuccino; the Tim’s Quenchers arrived hot on the heels of the Starbucks Refreshers, and so on.

But just because Tim Hortons cold drinks aren’t original doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious. The menu includes classics like iced coffee, cold brew, and creamy blended confections. Here are five best Tim Hortons coffee drinks to enjoy on a hot summer day.

7. Caramel Iced Cappuccino

Creative Iced Capp flavors come and go with the seasons, but the delicious Caramel version is here to stay. The rich coffee base and a hint of salt nicely balance the super-sweet caramel. Pro tip: You can turn any Tim Hortons iced capp into an Iced Capp Supreme, which adds whipped cream and a drizzle of syrup.

8. Iced Coffee

For the purists, you can’t go wrong with a Tim Hortons iced coffee, made with Tim Hortons Original Blend brew that has been quickly chilled over ice. Enjoy your coffee black or with your choice of dairy and/or sweeteners.

9. Vanilla Cream Cold Brew

The plain cold brew at Tim Hortons is so smooth as to be almost bland. So we think the vanilla cream version is the best cold brew on the menu, packing just the right amount of flavor. It adds a lovely vanilla syrup to the coffee base and tops it off with a layer of cold cream.

10. Iced Mocha Latte

The combination of chocolate and coffee is a common theme on the Tim Horton’s menu – as it should be. We think the Iced Mocha Latte is the best showcase of the iconic flavor pairing. It combines espresso, chocolate syrup, 2% milk, and ice for a sweet treat that feels far more decadent than its 200 calories.

What Kind Of Coffee Does Tim Hortons Use?

Tim Hortons uses a carefully crafted coffee blend of 100% Arabica beans for both their Original and Dark Roast coffees. The company doesn’t reveal the exact composition of the blend, which likely changes slightly with the growing season to maintain consistent flavors year-round. But it is said to contain four to six different origins, with the bulk made up of coffee beans from Colombia and Guatemala.

Quality control is paramount at the Tim Horton’s roastery, with each batch sampled repeatedly throughout the roasting and packaging process. Tim Hortons specializes in consistency, which is a big part of its appeal. Every cup of Tim’s coffee tastes the same every time, and that’s no coincidence, explains roasting plant manager Lyle Fleetham (2).

We will stop, debrief on the problem and will discard anything that isn’t up to our specifications. We’ll work back through the system until the point at which it was clear.

We may not know the exact origin of Tim’s coffee, but we certainly know what to expect when we order. It’s known for being smooth and mild in flavor. It is balanced and crowd-pleasing, with notes of toasted nuts and dark chocolate. Tim Hortons brews their coffee relatively weak, so it is generally lower in caffeine than other well-known coffee companies – the kind of coffee you can sip all day long.

Tim Hortons At Home

Tim Hortons offers pre-ground coffee, K-Cups, instant coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and French Vanilla powder for anyone who would prefer to enjoy their Tim’s experience in the comfort of their own kitchen. They also have a selection of grocery store items, including fun options like Timbit Cereal and Salted Caramel Iced Capp Ice Cream.

The Best Non-Coffee Drinks At Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons is a full-service cafe and restaurant with a wide variety of drinks, not just a coffee house. So even if you’re not a coffee lover, there’s no reason to head elsewhere. Here are five wonderful coffee-free options – both hot and cold.

  1. Strawberry Creamy Chill: This pink drink is a newer addition to the Tim’s menu. It certainly wasn’t around when I was growing up, but it has become a quick hit among adults and children alike. Tim Hortons’ Strawberry Creamy Chill is like a lightened-up strawberry milkshake, combining cream, ice, and strawberry sauce. It’s topped with whipped cream and a strawberry drizzle.
  2. Strawberry Frozen Lemonade: For a lower-calorie, dairy-free Strawberry drink, go for this sweet-and-tart icy treat. Once upon a time, it was the Tim Hortons secret menu strawberry lemonade, but it now has a prized place on the official Tim Hortons menu in many jurisdictions. 
  3. White Hot Chocolate: We love traditional hot chocolate, but Tim Hortons also offers a white hot chocolate, which is a unique take on the standard drink. It’s sweet and creamy, with a more subtle chocolate flavor and hints of vanilla and fresh cream. It’s a soothing choice to fend off the winter blues.
  4. London Fog: At Tim Hortons, they treat this iconic tea latte right, using real-deal Earl Grey tea brewed extra strong and pairing it with vanilla syrup and steamed 2% milk. 
  5. Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quencher: The Quenchers are Tim Hortons not-so-subtle knock-off of the Starbucks Refreshers, but in this case, I think Tim’s has the upper hand. The caffeine-free Blackberry Yuzu flavor is wonderfully tart, like a high-class lemonade, and just screams summer. And the use of sparkling water makes it even more refreshing… er, I mean, quenching.

What Should I Eat At Tim Hortons?

Tim’s has a far-ranging menu with something for everyone. The chain really shines at breakfast time, when you should sample a donut, Timbit, or classic breakfast sandwich – or all three. If it’s too late in the day for donuts (impossible!), the chili is something of a tradition. It’s so popular that you can even buy it canned in Canadian grocery stores to make at home or, better yet, over a campfire.

Tim Hortons also offers kid-friendly meals; the adorably named TImmies Minis Kids Menu was launched in 2018. It includes classics like grilled cheese and chicken fingers.

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s your first visit to the famous coffee chain or you’re a veteran Timmy’s customer just looking for some new ideas, this list of the best Tim Hortons menu drinks available is stocked with enough hot, cold, classic, and creative offerings to please any style of coffee lover.

Did you visit a Tim Hortons to try any of the suggestions on this list? What did you think was the best drink? Do you have a favorite Tim’s order that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

FAQs

Starbucks is widely considered better than Tim Hortons, though coffee is a matter of personal taste. Starbucks has more options on the menu for plain brewed coffee (different roast levels, blends, and single origins) and is more transparent about itsr sourcing, which generally means higher-quality beans. Tim Hortons is famous more for its low prices and comfortable community feel.

Starbucks is the most popular coffee brand in Canada to brew at home, according to a survey conducted in 2022. That is a new development and a sign of Canadians’ evolving tastes, as research showed Tim Hortons was the top pick just a few years prior.

People love Tim Hortons coffee in Canada partly because of its crowd-pleasing coffee flavor and low price, but mostly because it is tied to national identity. Many Canadians have fond nostalgic memories centered around Tim Hortons, and most outlets have regulars who are well-known and well-treated by staff (3). 

A Timbit is the Tim Hortons version of a donut hole – a bite-size ball of fried dough that may include a filling. Timbits come in various flavors, including apple fritter, sour cream glazed, jelly-filled, old-fashioned, and chocolate glazed (my favorite).

Tim Horton was a professional ice hockey player from Ontario, Canada. His hockey career spanned 25 years, from 1949 to 1974, during which he won four Stanley Cups. He opened the first Tim Hortons location, the Tim Horton Doughnut Shop, in 1964. He died tragically in a car accident in 1974, aged 44.

  1. Bundale, B. (2021, January 4). Tim Hortons launches new dark roast as part of chain’s plan to get back to basics. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/tim-hortons-launches-new-dark-roast-as-part-of-chain-s-plan-to-get-back-to-basics-1.5252676?cache=
  2. Waterloo Region Record. (2012, June 26). The bean is key at Tim Hortons roasting plant. Retrieved from https://www.therecord.com/news/canada/the-bean-is-key-at-tim-hortons-coffee-roasting-plant/article_21a2574c-0e25-5be6-9230-cba317672278.html
  3. Marsh, C. (2018, January 30). How did Tim Hortons come to be synonymous with Canada; and why do we continue to embrace that identity? Retrieved from https://nationalpost.com/life/food/why-do-we-continue-to-allow-as-mediocre-a-coffee-chain-as-tim-hortons-define-canada
Julia Bobak
Julia is a west coast Canada-based professional coffee specialist who has spent nearly a decade immersed in the world of coffee research and professional brewing. She loves trail running, rock climbing, coffee, food, and her tiny dog — and writing about all of them. She starts every morning with a fresh Americano from her home espresso machine, or she doesn’t start it at all.

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