The Gas Station Chain With The Absolute Worst Coffee For Your Money

Coffee snobs, look away — sure, third-wave, artisan coffee has its place, but sometimes, you also just need a quick shot of caffeine to get you through a late-night (or early-morning) drive. And in those desperate moments, gas station coffee is somehow always there for you. Sometimes, a plain black cup of joe without all the bells and whistles is just what you need, and they're not all bad — but when Chowhound set out to rank every gas station chain coffee, one watery, flavorless brew was easily sent to the bottom of the list. So next time you're on a road trip, or trying to catch the sunrise, we've got a pro tip: Skip the coffee at Chevron.

All the gas station coffee stops on the bottom of the list had a couple of things in common: They were watery, burnt, and diluted, with not much to note when it came to flavor. They were missing the variety of creamer options that the higher-ranking stations set out, a choice of decaf, and the smoothness that's usually characteristic of decent coffee. As for why Chevron is specifically placed last? Maybe our reviewer just caught them on a bad day, but she cited high costs, minimal creamer choices, and bad flavor as the deciding factors.

No one's going to a Chevron expecting to be served a latte as though they're at a cafe, even if some American gas stations are now serving craft coffee drinks. But even if a cup of straight black coffee is what you've prepared yourself for, there are likely a few standards that you're expecting even your gas station brew to live up to. First of all, strength. We turn to gas station coffees when we're desperate for a full-bodied caffeine buzz to help us push through those last two hours of driving, so when a cup of coffee is served diluted, it kind of defeats the purpose. And at least for the Chevron our reviewer stopped at, that was the case.

But even if caffeine is the ultimate objective, it doesn't hurt for the coffee to also taste good. And while coffee technically is just hot water with a little bit of a roasted bean flavor, good coffee takes that simple concept and transforms it into a nutty, smooth, creamy beverage. The Chevron coffee was more like a watery, burnt brew. So when you're craving a caffeine fix, maybe skip refueling at this location — but if you're looking for a quick and delicious meal, Chevron might just be the place for you. One Chevron location in the South unexpectedly houses Georgia's best burger joint, while another serves Mississippi's best chicken skewers.