The Great National Starbuck's Conspiracy

[3113]

My local coffee house has been sold to Starbucks

This is the one two blocks from my home and on the corner. The one where they know me and what I drink. The place I go to write.

Now, I like some of Starbuck's drinks and stuff. But my coffee house had *free* wi-fi (well, you had to buy a coffee, but then you got two hours), a wide variety of flavored syrups and choice of teas, and much better tasting seasonal drinks (I think Starbuck's "pumpkin" latte, for example, is terrible. Nothing seasonal that I've ever tasted at Starbucks has ever been particularly good. My coffee house, on the other hand, has had pretty darn good seasonal drinks).

There was a Seattle's Best a few blocks down. Starbucks bought them out some years back--but rather than taking that space over they just closed it. I don't know if they'll close up this shop or not. I think they'd be foolish to as it's a good space and popular.

I don't know how to feel about this take over. I hate that my choices are shrinking from three or four different coffee places down to Starbucks, Starbucks and Starbucks.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

My local coffee house has been sold to Starbucks

This is the one two blocks from my home and on the corner. The one where they know me and what I drink. The place I go to write.

Now, I like some of Starbuck's drinks and stuff. But my coffee house had *free* wi-fi (well, you had to buy a coffee, but then you got two hours), a wide variety of flavored syrups and choice of teas, and much better tasting seasonal drinks (I think Starbuck's "pumpkin" latte, for example, is terrible. Nothing seasonal that I've ever tasted at Starbucks has ever been particularly good. My coffee house, on the other hand, has had pretty darn good seasonal drinks).

There was a Seattle's Best a few blocks down. Starbucks bought them out some years back--but rather than taking that space over they just closed it. I don't know if they'll close up this shop or not. I think they'd be foolish to as it's a good space and popular.

I don't know how to feel about this take over. I hate that my choices are shrinking from three or four different coffee places down to Starbucks, Starbucks and Starbucks.

Did you ever watch The Simpsons? In one eppisode, where Homer joined the Naval Reserves, Bart went to get his ear peirced. Every place in the mall was either a Starbucks, or soon to be a Starbucks. The guy behind the counter said that Bart had better hurry up because this plcae too would soon be a Starbucks. Sure enough, Bart left with an earing and a coffee, with every place in the mall being a Starbucks.

So sad that they can't just live with some competition.

 

[Liar]

Now, I like some of Starbuck's drinks and stuff. But my coffee house had *free* wi-fi (well, you had to buy a coffee, but then you got two hours), a wide variety of flavored syrups and choice of teas, and much better tasting seasonal drinks (I think Starbuck's "pumpkin" latte, for example, is terrible. Nothing seasonal that I've ever tasted at Starbucks has ever been particularly good. My coffee house, on the other hand, has had pretty darn good seasonal drinks).

I'm almost afraid to ask... as if flavored syrups wasn't heresy enough... seasonal drinks? What's that, and will the idea of it shatter my fragile European mind?

 

[rgraham666]

Never go to Starbucks. They're kind of expensive and I can't smoke there. Not even on the patio.

 

[3113]

I'm almost afraid to ask... as if flavored syrups wasn't heresy enough... seasonal drinks? What's that, and will the idea of it shatter my fragile European mind?

I've no doubt that this will be too much for that elegant, old world brain of yours...but the American coffee heresy continues:

Seasonal drinks are coffee (or non-coffee) drinks containing coffee (or not), milk/cream and either flavored powders or syrups. For fall, you get Pumpkin and caramel--that's Pumpkin Lattes, or Pumkin ice-blended mochas. Caramel would be flavored with caramel syrup. Here's an example:

http://www.coffeebean.com/images/HP/pumpkin.jpg

For Winter you get egg nog, gingerbread and peppermint. Maybe white chocolate.

For spring you might get strawberry. For summer coconut or banana. You never quite know what they'll come up with for the months just after the holidays, spring or summer. That's when they experiment and they might try any strange flavor that they think will sell. Fall and Winter you can pretty much expect they'll stick to the usual favorites.

I know you're probably shuddering in horror right now but, hey, I like 'em.

 

[rgraham666]

I used to listen to regular Starbucks customers ordering. I never had the slightest idea what they were saying.

Perhaps in the next big war we can use them as windtalkers.

 

[3113]

I used to listen to regular Starbucks customers ordering. I never had the slightest idea what they were saying.

Perhaps in the next big war we can use them as windtalkers.

Grande mocha double-shot hold the foam descending on target now?

 

[NoJo]

Well, at least Starbucks has raised the coffee bar in America from undrinkable to terrible.

 

[3113]

Well, at least Starbucks has raised the coffee bar in America from undrinkable to terrible.

Part of our plan to bring Democracy to the world

 

[elsol]

Grande mocha double-shot hold the foam descending on target now?

oh god... I actually know what that is and what it tastes like :wallbang (we really need that particular smilie here).

 

[Guest]

Part of our plan to bring Democracy to the world

Okay - now THAT made me spit out my rum.

 

[elsol]

Okay - now THAT made me spit out my rum.

Err... I read a slightly different word there and was thinking "Wow... that's a AVID poster!"

 

[Oblimo]

"Wow... that's a AVID poster!"

That has got to be one of the funniest damn things I have ever read.

I can't possibly top that, but here's The Onion article, Starbucks to Begin Sinister 'Phase Two' of Operation, anyway.

 

[Lisa Denton]

I will never go to starbucks again. All I done was ask for a plain black coffee, the two employees froze into "deer staring into headlights" mode. They finally called the manager up and he started suggesting crap from the signs.

Latte, Crappe, Cream with Chocolate Berries and Cookies, all I wanted was a damn plain black coffee. I finally got the idea they didn't have any, although they wouldn't say so, but acted like they had never heard of it, and I hate ordering something and having peoples say "what you really want is ...."

So I turned around and walked out.

I like regular plain superstrong coffee, I don't care if you throw in a couple old cigarette butts for extra flavorings or somethin.

A coffeehouse that don't sell coffee sux, in my opinion.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I will never go to starbucks again. All I done was ask for a plain black coffee, the two employees froze into "deer staring into headlights" mode. They finally called the manager up and he started suggesting crap from the signs.

Latte, Crappe, Cream with Chocolate Berries and Cookies, all I wanted was a damn plain black coffee. I finally got the idea they didn't have any, although they wouldn't say so, but acted like they had never heard of it, and I hate ordering something and having peoples say "what you really want is ...."

So I turned around and walked out.

I like regular plain superstrong coffee, I don't care if you throw in a couple old cigarette butts for extra flavorings or somethin.

A coffeehouse that don't sell coffee sux, in my opinion.

How odd. You can get "regular coffee" at Starbucks here. I just tastes like shit.

I have nothing against Starbucks. I see them as free enterprise at work. I just don't patronize them. $4.00 for a latte? Noway.

 

[Oblimo]

It just tastes like shit.

I agree, although after adding a thousand calories of syrupy goodness, it tastes nice. Not $5.00 nice, but nice.

Does all Seattle-style, double-roasted coffee taste like that, or is Starbucks' a particularly unspectacular implementation of the double-roast technique?

Will some kind coffee gourmet educate me on these matters?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I agree, although after adding a thousand calories of syrupy goodness, it tastes nice. Not $5.00 nice, but nice.

Does all Seattle-style, double-roasted coffee taste like that, or is Starbucks' a particularly unspectacular implementation of the double-roast technique?

Will some kind coffee gourmet educate me on these matters?

Starbucks was an original franchise idea, oblimo. Ten or twelve years ago Starbucks regular coffee was "drinkable". Then Seattle Coffee and a couple other franchise chain grew up and Starbucks went to finding the worst coffee beans possible to compete with the bitter, nasty flavor of Seattle Coffee.

The difference in the taste of coffee beans is from two things: Where the coffee was grown and the length of time the coffee beans are roasted.

Most coffee is imported into the U.S. from Columbia and surrounding countries. There is coffee grown in Hawaii (Kona) which is quite good but expensive. Also coffee is grown in parts of Asia and Africa for the Middle East market. I've tasted that coffee and found it rather bitter.

Generally, commercial coffee in cans at the grocery store is sun dried and roasted for a short time. The taste is fairly mild. The producers also sometimes mix certain herbs (weeds) with the coffee to offset the bitterness.

Starbucks and Seattle Coffee buy their beans roasted until they are nearly black. Some of the beans are coated with brown sugar before roasting. The longer the roasting, the darker the bean, the more bitter the coffee is the general rule.

These days, bitter is trendy. Then to cover the bitterness with cream, half & half, milk, sugery syrups etc make them drinkable. I'm not really into it. Haven't been to either Starbucks or Seattle Coffee in 3 or 4 years.

 

[cantdog]

It ceases to signify where the coffee was grown, once it has been roasted entirely to a cinder. It is the opposite of gourmet.

 

[JamesSD]

Starbucks coffee is acidic and expensive.

Peets Coffee is alright. I love Caribou Coffee, but I only know where they are in Minnesota.

Choice is good in anything. I view Starbucks like McDonalds, I generally only go there when it's convienient.

 

[cantdog]

It always saddens me to be at B&N and want a coffee, because it's That Place With The Blackened Beans every time. You just can't get a good cuppa joe at the place.

 

[Oblimo]

[coffee wisdom]

Thank you, Jenny, Saint of the Bean!

 

[NoJo]

Starbucks have not a single branch in Italy, for a number of reasons, all obvious.

The Parisians, whose "cafe express" is shitty compared with Italian espresso, have a few branches.

Here in London there are lots of Starbucks, and they're actually one of the better franchises (Caffe Nero is a lot better, cheaper and much more authentically Italian).

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I used to listen to regular Starbucks customers ordering. I never had the slightest idea what they were saying.

Perhaps in the next big war we can use them as windtalkers.

LOL. I drove through a Starbuck's once and was forced by my French companion to order(and even worse, pronounce) "macchiato". You'll never hear me do it again and especially not with a French accent.

 

[Liar]

Choice is good in anything. I view Starbucks like McDonalds, I generally only go there when it's convienient.

Weird thing is, at least here in Stockholm, McDonalds actually make a decent cuppa since about a year back.

I said decent, not good.

 

[SeaCat]

Starbucks, oh my.

I've been in a couple fo them, but only when I was desperate. I usually, if I'm out and about and want a cup, find either a local Greasy Spoon or a Barney's. usually good coffe at both, although they do charge more than I like to sepnd for a cup.

If I know I'm going to be out for a while and will be wanting a cup brew a pot at home and dump it into a thermos. (Half and half mix of Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain.) Then I know what I'm drinking, I like the flavor, and I don't have to pay through the ass for a good cup of mud. (Most people don't like my coffee, they complain it's too strong even though I haven't noticed any hair growing on my wifes chest from it. Maybe the hot sauce and other spices I add to our food burns it off before it becomes noticable?)

Cat