Do you like Starbucks coffee?

[tvguy]

Like I said: The Morning Joe Blend has just come out and Starbucks will be donating $5 per bag to educational charity DonorsChoose.org. The sticker on the bags allows the purchaser to direct their $5 to schools in their own neighborhood if they choose.

That's cool.

 

[MattsPrincess]

I went with other, because there are a few I really like, and the rest I don't at all. I like the skinny caramel macchiato, pumpkin spice latte, mocha mint latte, and caramel frapp....the rest I can do without. I do like the new hibiscus drink a lot, too. But, Starbucks is a rare (like, one per season) treat for me, as I find it more logical to make coffee at home for a lot less money and calories, and it tastes just as good (if not better) to me.

Now Tim Hortons, on the other hand...

 

[castmember19]

I voted yes, then I realized I've never had just a plain cup of coffee. I get the frappuchinos- usually caramel. And I don't know if that entirely counts since there's probably not a lot in there. I just don't like too much of that coffee taste.

I used to drink them far more often when I was in high school, too. That was before I got sick. Then I was diagnosed with some digestive issues and my doctor cut coffee from my diet. I've had exactly 3 frapps since then and 2 of them left me curled in the fetal position in bed for the rest of the day. It's not a chance I'm willing to take any more.

 

[st4rrab0vemybed]

Now Tim Hortons, on the other hand...

Love Tim Hortons! Wish we had more stores nearby ...

 

[LBIJim]

No, don't like Starbucks. I don't think I was ever able to finish the half dozen or so cups of Starbucks I've had over the years in various locations.

Dunkin' Donuts or Wawa for me....or Tim Horton's in Canada.

 

[Stacey.]

I don't like coffee D:

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Former Starbucks Manager here. My thoughts....

Like Starbucks? It's like crack to me. I'm frugle and practical in virtually all areas of my life, but I stop at Starbucks almost every day. I get the overpriced lattes most of the time, too. At least I get a free one every 15 with my gold card. I'm not a fan of weak coffee, though.

Did y'all know that Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's coffee are done by the same company?

Did you know that Starbucks owns Seattle's Best?

Bleh. Burnt. Tastes of nothing but burnt. Undertones of charcoal. Notes of carbon. Burnt. They do burn the crap out of it on purpose; I've heard different reasons attached - from burning it to that extent ensures parity of the roast across all stores to it being a means to buy cheaper beans - hard to tell they're of lesser quality if they're just roast to carbon.

Starbucks beans are DEFINITELY not lower quality. As a matter of fact, all of the beans are even picked by hand, where most of the world's beans are picked by machinery. Starbucks has a very strict qualification process for their green products. Roasting is done in 4 roasting plants in the US and a couple of other plants internationally (unless they have added some in the past year). The roasting is done by computerized tabulations so that if you get a bag of Sumatra from the York plant and a bag of Sumatra from the Carson plant they should be the same.

Starbucks is like McDonalds. Same product at every location so they are a good measure to compare other companys with.

They are in the same boat as Krispy Kreme, their product isn't good enough to justify the price they are asking, which is why both have strugged so much in the recent economy downturn.

That's an opinion. The struggles actually come from a much deeper place in the company than the stores.

Ya know, this is extreme misinformation. Starbucks business is booming, sales are up - up a lot. Infact, in the third quarter of this year, their revenue is up 12%. They have reported an increase each quarter this year. I don't often call people on their opinion statements but yours is sooooo wrong and you just stated it like it was a fact. Just sayin'

Sales are not up in all locations and several stores that might not have been considered "company" stores were also closed. For instance, several Urban Coffee Opportunity stores were closed, they were Starbucks stores in a partnership with Magic Johnson's business in urban communities. Starbucks does not franchise, but this is just one of many "partnerships".

Fact: They announced a 5% closure and layoff of 1200 baristas on July 2, 2008. Time passes doesn't it? They reorganized and it was smart; they had overdeveloped. Their reorganization paid off. Smart management and profitable business for the last two years.

Like I said: The Morning Joe Blend has just come out and Starbucks will be donating $5 per bag to educational charity DonorsChoose.org. The sticker on the bags allows the purchaser to direct their $5 to schools in their own neighborhood if they choose.

Starbucks has a history of giving to many organizations, and I think that's great! What you don't mention was that those "baristas" that were laid off were mostly salaried Assistant Managers that had worked their way up in the company and had invested time into Starbucks as a career. These were not the 15 hour a week baristas working their way through college, these were dedicated career minded partners. This decision affected everyone in the stores, as most of the laid off were offered Shift Supervisor positions at an hourly rate. Most of them took it. This meant lower hours for everyone else in the stores. What that means is that the partners who only worked 15 hours a week didn't mind, as most are just working for spending money. The partners who were working over 20 for health care now lost it because there were no more hours. Starbucks lost a large group of partners who were dedicated and kept partners who were in it for extra cash. Then, a lot of the Assistants that stayed got over the shock of what happened and had a totally different outlook on the Company. I can't speak for every district, but the ones here are no longer with the company in any aspect. IMHO Starbucks' recent troubles escalated immeasurably after that decision. Oh, and the decision to fire Jim Donald and "bring back" Howard Shultz, when Howard never really left.

My daughter works part time as a Barrista at Starbucks and they are super busy at all times. Her particular store stays open until midnight every night, and never slows down. She has had people banging on the doors as she is closing at midnight begging for one more cup.

She occasionally works the drive-thru and said that she will see the same customer come thru the drive-thru 2-3 times in her 4-hour shift. People are definitely seriously addicted to it.

As for me, I like their specialty drinks more than their brewed coffee. I get them free all the time though, so I can't complain at all. I've ever been one to kick a gift horse in the mouth.

Be careful with your free coffee if your daughter values her job. I'm just sayin. I have seen baristas and managers fired for less, recently.

The behavior you describe from customers is quite normal. Part of the appeal of Starbucks is SUPPOSED to be the experience. Baristas SHOULD get to know their customers, and not just the drinks. It's been a year and a half since I worked there and my DH still receives new business quite a bit from customers that I got to know while I was there. Starbucks is supposed to be like "Cheers", where everybody knows your name.

In my experience, some are and some aren't. I just hope that the company is very careful over the next couple of years. They have made some very big decisions in the last 3 years and the effects might not be felt for a while. Time will tell!

Having said that, I was not a coffee drinker prior to working there, and I'm not now. I will however, sneak a G/2pPS/S/-W/L every once in while.
(Grande 2pump Pumpkin Spice Soy noWhip Latte)

 

[PollyannaMom]

I never buy it, but it used to be the closest to DH's work, so he got it a few times. - He agrees that it tastes burnt, and goes somewhere else now.

 

[ReneeA]

I drink lots of coffee. For years, I worked the midnight shift in a hospital and drank my weight every night I worked. Starbucks is probably down at the bottom of my list. I just don't really love the dark roasts...they taste burnt to me as well. I really love Dunkin Donuts and Tim Hortons. I do like a milder roast that has been brewed strong...that way you get a nice strong coffee without the bitter flavor of the dark roasts.

I am from a very rural area without Starbucks (GASP!) and when my mom came down to visit me one time, we stopped for Starbucks in the local Target. She loves black coffee, but took one sip of her plain Starbucks and was going to take it back. "It tastes like I'm licking the tar off the pavement" is what she said. I told her she couldn't take it back cause that's just what Starbucks tastes like.

 

[stacy347]

I love it! I like my coffee to be extremely strong though, which Starbucks is. I find other coffee places to just have too weak of a flavor for me.

I have to compromise at home, because I would gladly use about twice the recommended amount of grounds per pot, but DH can't stand strong coffee.

 

[Jeafl]

Former Starbucks Manager here. My thoughts....



Be careful with your free coffee if your daughter values her job. I'm just sayin. I have seen baristas and managers fired for less, recently.

The behavior you describe from customers is quite normal. Part of the appeal of Starbucks is SUPPOSED to be the experience. Baristas SHOULD get to know their customers, and not just the drinks. It's been a year and a half since I worked there and my DH still receives new business quite a bit from customers that I got to know while I was there. Starbucks is supposed to be like "Cheers", where everybody knows your name.

In my experience, some are and some aren't. I just hope that the company is very careful over the next couple of years. They have made some very big decisions in the last 3 years and the effects might not be felt for a while. Time will tell!

Having said that, I was not a coffee drinker prior to working there, and I'm not now. I will however, sneak a G/2pPS/S/-W/L every once in while.
(Grande 2pump Pumpkin Spice Soy noWhip Latte)

Thanks for the heads up. Strangely enough, it is the manager that always gives us free coffee, my daughter never rings up her own family. The other thing I find interesting is how much free coffee they give to "good" customers, and customers that got the wrong drinks accidentally. They called it "marking it out" or something. In any case, I certainly don't want anyone to lose their job over a free cup of coffee, so thanks for letting me know.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I said no for the same reasons the OP said. I LOVE coffee, just not Starbucks. I prefer to get mine from several really great local shops that get their coffee from local roasters and it is awesome. Not at all burnt and gross like Starbucks. Now the drinks at Starbucks with no coffee, I like. Chais, teas, hot chocolate, But I prefer better coffee than what they offer there. I've yet to have any coffee product at Starbucks that tasted good.
For at home brewing, we buy locally roasted organic, fair trade beans. And have never come across any that have that burnt, gross aftertaste all Starbucks blends have.

 

[surfergirl602]

I drink starbucks a lot, and its only been burned once. I had to drive back, but it was worth it. They gave me a double size upgrade and my money back. Starbucks is the only coffee place we have here, and most of them know me and my little coffee drinking group by name. I love hanging out there to write when I'm kidless.

 

[surfergirl602]

I guess I should add that I never get just a regular cup of coffee. I get a pumpkin spice in the fall, or caramel apple spice or caramel macchiatto.

 

[Grog]

I like their seasonal drinks that come out in the Fall and Winter. Just tried the salted caramel mocha the other day and it's become one of my favorites.

I rarely drink their regular coffee unless I feel like something really strong with the taste of burning tires. Usually get this if I'm driving and need that extra jolt to help me go that last fifty miles.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Thanks for the heads up. Strangely enough, it is the manager that always gives us free coffee, my daughter never rings up her own family. The other thing I find interesting is how much free coffee they give to "good" customers, and customers that got the wrong drinks accidentally. They called it "marking it out" or something. In any case, I certainly don't want anyone to lose their job over a free cup of coffee, so thanks for letting me know.

No worries! I was totally one of those managers. There are certain customers who randomly got free drinks and family almost always. And yep, it's called marking out. It's rung in and "comped" so that the product is accounted for but no money is taken. Some District Managers are good with it and some are not. I had a soldier (rare here as there is no base) that came in daily. He was the recruiter for the area. He always got a Grande drip in a Venti cup. I never charged him, neither did anyone else in my store. We were allowed 3 drinks a day, so I just rang one of mine up for his drink. He ALWAYS offered to pay. He volunteered to go overseas to Iraq for a year and we collected coffee for him and sent cases of it to him monthly. When he got back he gave me a plaque with a flag patch framed, I cried like a baby. Around this time was when things started to "change". We were giving coffee beans away like crazy to churches, schools, whoever. But I had to validate why we were collecting coffee for my soldier. The rules were that we could only give to non-profit or charitable places, and the US Military wasn't one of those places. So I had to get with another partner's dad who was a Shriner and send the coffee to him that way. I also had to say I was collecting for MY SPECIFIC SOLDIER, not coffee for the troops. That was a new rule and a new hoop we had to jump through. It was the first of many things that changed to rub me the wrong way.

At any rate, I hope you still get free coffee! And take advantage of that free pound of beans a week too!

 

[tar heel]

Thanks for the heads up. Strangely enough, it is the manager that always gives us free coffee, my daughter never rings up her own family. The other thing I find interesting is how much free coffee they give to "good" customers, and customers that got the wrong drinks accidentally. They called it "marking it out" or something. In any case, I certainly don't want anyone to lose their job over a free cup of coffee, so thanks for letting me know.

My DS's girlfriend's manager was often the one who gave us coffee, too, before he was fired for giving away drinks. He probably went too far with the AMC Theatre folks who were giving the barristas free movie tickets, though. In any case, he had a district manager who was not okay with it.

 

[zippitydoo]

I do not like coffee, but I do not mind their Chai latte

 

[bunkkinsmom]

My DS's girlfriend's manager was often the one who gave us coffee, too, before he was fired for giving away drinks. He probably went too far with the AMC Theatre folks who were giving the barristas free movie tickets, though. In any case, he had a district manager who was not okay with it.

Was that in Concord?

 

[WowLookAtThat]

I love it but then again I love coffee in general. I like their pumpkin spice latte and skinny caramel macchiatos. I used to work there so I learned how to make cappuccinos, latte and macchiato at home. Starbucks beans are pretty good quality but I like branching out to other brands.