Get ready for this.

By mid-2009 in the US, McDonalds is planning to:

roll out premium coffee drinks — including smoothies, frappes and bottled beverages — priced just below that of Starbucks. The goal: to gain a bigger share of the $60 billion U.S. coffee business, of which the burger chain now says it holds about $6 billion.

Yes folks, McDonalds will try to snatch away loyal Starbucks patrons through lower prices.

How local coffee places like Figaro and Bo’s Coffee will react is a thing to watch.