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  3. Starbucks coffee is an affront to all things good about coffee

Starbucks coffee is an affront to all things good about coffee

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  • C Chris Maunder

    It was 5AM and I needed a coffee and he only option in this establishment was Starbucks. It's unconscionable. But yes: your strategy is sound. My mistake was that instead of grabbing a macchiato I went for a latte and it all went downhill from there. Michael Martin can attest to the dangers of a latte.

    cheers Chris Maunder

    W Offline
    W Offline
    W Balboos GHB
    wrote on last edited by
    #21

    Explains your ire a bit: you didn't get coffee - you got a beverage that contained coffee. Putting that much milk into coffee is guaranteed to ruin its taste (even if it went through the digestive track of a civet cat[^]).

    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

    "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert

    "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

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    • W W Balboos GHB

      Explains your ire a bit: you didn't get coffee - you got a beverage that contained coffee. Putting that much milk into coffee is guaranteed to ruin its taste (even if it went through the digestive track of a civet cat[^]).

      "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

      "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert

      "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

      C Offline
      C Offline
      Chris Maunder
      wrote on last edited by
      #22

      Exactly. Coffee flavoured beverage. Where's a civet cat when I need one.

      cheers Chris Maunder

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      • C Chris Maunder

        Discuss.

        cheers Chris Maunder

        M Offline
        M Offline
        Member 11683251
        wrote on last edited by
        #23

        Overall I dislike coffee shops so I cant throw shit at Starbucks only. For me coffee should be served black, maybe some sugar if its late in the day. The majority of what the coffee shops sell in my area isn't coffee but milk with flavor. Different lattes or frappuccinos or cappuccinos that's so creamy you might as well just put your cup straight to a cow udder. On top of this its overpriced and all their other gods are also overpriced. My wife loves going to Espresso House but I hate it, mostly because I hate buying overpriced crap. I cant fanthom how so many people can visit these places so regularly because the thought that going to one of them even once a week is sickening to me. For the price of one visit with me and my wife with a drink each and some miniscule small cookie that costs an arm and a leg I can buy enough snacks at a normal store or bakery to last several times over. This subject really got me in rant mode. :sigh:

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        • K KarstenK

          I drink my coffee at home in "turkish style". It means a tea spoon of milled coffee beans with hot water.:java: So a coffee pot costs me about 5 cent per pot. :cool:

          Press F1 for help or google it. Greetings from Germany

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          W Balboos GHB
          wrote on last edited by
          #24

          At home (and one of the two offices where I allegedly work): Me Too! It doesn't get any fresher.

          "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

          "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert

          "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

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          • C Chris Maunder

            In all seriousness, and with respect to the company as a whole (their branding, their social efforts, their consistency etc etc) I find the coffee weak and bitter. North America seems to have a fascination with coffee bean cremation. Even local cafes in Toronto often start out smooth, full bodied, and with an excellent aftertaste, and then soon enough the roast turns darker and more bitter until you're back to the norm: a coffee that has the subtlety burned out of it. The other issue is that they never seem to be able to get a decent microfosm going. Get it right and it makes the coffee smoother and sweeter. Instead they scorch the milk and break down the goodness. It really makes a huge difference. (Caveat here is I'm talking about espresso based drinks, not the coffee-through-a-wet-rag filter coffee. )

            cheers Chris Maunder

            S Offline
            S Offline
            Slacker007
            wrote on last edited by
            #25

            I see. My sophistication in such matters, is lacking. :-O

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            • C Chris Maunder

              I'm giving you a flat look for sending me research published in a British newspaper about coffee. Britian and coffee is like Australia and drizzly days: we just can't quite get it right. I would put to the jury that the secret of a good cup of coffee is to start with good coffee

              cheers Chris Maunder

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #26

              Chris Maunder wrote:

              Britian and coffee

              Compared to the dishwater I have been served in the good ol' USA, I will go for coffee here any day. However, I never go into Starbucks, Costa or any of those places, so my experience is coffee at home or in a restaurant; both of which I find quite satisfying.

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              • C Chris Maunder

                Discuss.

                cheers Chris Maunder

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                N Offline
                Nagy Vilmos
                wrote on last edited by
                #27

                I've said it before and I'll say it again, going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex!

                veni bibi saltavi

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                • C Chris Maunder

                  I'm giving you a flat look for sending me research published in a British newspaper about coffee. Britian and coffee is like Australia and drizzly days: we just can't quite get it right. I would put to the jury that the secret of a good cup of coffee is to start with good coffee

                  cheers Chris Maunder

                  N Offline
                  N Offline
                  Nagy Vilmos
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #28

                  I can't vouch for Canadia, but last time I was in Merca I went for an emergency heart starter at around 6am before a 500 mile trip. "Double shot, strong as fuelephant!" I request. "D'ya wana decaf?" drawls Doofus T Buck-Frain. It's 6 o'clock in the morning and the eejit is asking if I want decaf!

                  veni bibi saltavi

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                  • N Nagy Vilmos

                    I've said it before and I'll say it again, going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex!

                    veni bibi saltavi

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Slacker007
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #29

                    How long were you in prison?

                    H 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • C Chris Maunder

                      Discuss.

                      cheers Chris Maunder

                      H Offline
                      H Offline
                      HobbyProggy
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #30

                      I go for starbucks now and then, when i get into a bigger town i enjoy a cappuccino toffee and i like it. But i won't go there regularly, too many hipsters, in this case i prefer good ol coffee or sometimes a fine one from switzerland or italy.

                      Rules for the FOSW ![^]

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                      • W W Balboos GHB

                        Wrong on every imaginable count. Coffee:* Most stores, at least in the US, are company stores. For that reason they discard and replace unsold coffee on schedule, not when it's all sold or too nasty. Usually, however, it's sold out first.

                        • Dark roasted - although those admittedly nasty light roasts were made available for those who used that as an excuse not to buy coffee there
                        • They use more coffee to make their coffee - never watery - and, much as some like the element of surprise, no mystery about the quality=reliably high
                        • I haven't bought a fancy mixed coffee beverage in years (that wasn't alcoholic) there or anyplace else.
                          Environment:* Each Starbucks is different - usually with real furniture - the one nearest me has a fireplace.
                        • and their business model is to encourage people to linger over their coffee - making it easy to study, use laptops, etc., with free WiFi and electrical connections
                        • Their planned niche is to make their place one of your comfort places - and there's nothing wrong with that
                          Social Consciousness:* Part Time employees, a great many of them, earn vacation time, sick time, medical benefits, college tuition, etc., which is rare, indeed, in the US for a chain (especially q.v., Walmart, McDonalds, etc.)
                        • They were trend-setter in their coffee sourcing, getting the money directly into the hands of the growers when possible - and now it seems everyone's doing it
                        • Even their 'card' program - I don't have one, but apparently the changes reflect customer requests. A customer is now 'fully credited' for buying multiple items in a transaction, rather than 'per visit'. This would not be to my advantage, but it's clearly fairer.
                          Now, they don't sh^t as sweetly as the whip-cream that tops many a beverage, and have made mistakes, but when it comes down to it, they're a reasonably socially responsible company. And they, at least in the US, are the ones who really popularized the concept of drinking real coffee instead of the traditional swill that used to pass for coffee. Uh-Oh! There goes my CP account!

                        "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                        "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert

                        "If you are searching for perfecti

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Slacker007
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #31

                        :thumbsup:

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                        • C Chris Maunder

                          I disagree. Apple (hardware) products are very, very well designed. Their phone works well as a phone. Their laptops work extremely well as laptops. Their music players shaped what we came to expect from a music player. Starbucks coffee isn't, as far as I can tell, actual coffee. It doesn't actually fulfil its basic purpose. I think people go for Apple because they like the design, the ecosystem, the simplicity (we can argue about this later) and the cache that comes with Apple products. I think people go for Starbucks because of laziness, ignorance, convenience, or because there's no other choice. There are also those who treat Starbucks as a caffeine delivery system: give me a bigun' and I'll plug 'er in and I'm good. Taste is not even part of the equation. This makes me sad.

                          cheers Chris Maunder

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Rage
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #32

                          Chris Maunder wrote:

                          hardware

                          This. This is the part you shall not miss. Well done.

                          Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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                          • S Slacker007

                            How long were you in prison?

                            H Offline
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                            HobbyProggy
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #33

                            A whole lot of Gin long ;P

                            Rules for the FOSW ![^]

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                            • C Chris Maunder

                              Discuss.

                              cheers Chris Maunder

                              R Offline
                              R Offline
                              Rage
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #34

                              No starbucks where I live, so no discussion.

                              Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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                              • N Nagy Vilmos

                                I can't vouch for Canadia, but last time I was in Merca I went for an emergency heart starter at around 6am before a 500 mile trip. "Double shot, strong as fuelephant!" I request. "D'ya wana decaf?" drawls Doofus T Buck-Frain. It's 6 o'clock in the morning and the eejit is asking if I want decaf!

                                veni bibi saltavi

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Chris Maunder
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #35

                                They saw you coming a mile away.

                                cheers Chris Maunder

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • L Lost User

                                  Chris Maunder wrote:

                                  Britian and coffee

                                  Compared to the dishwater I have been served in the good ol' USA, I will go for coffee here any day. However, I never go into Starbucks, Costa or any of those places, so my experience is coffee at home or in a restaurant; both of which I find quite satisfying.

                                  C Offline
                                  C Offline
                                  Chris Maunder
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #36

                                  To be fair I'm finding the coffee in the UK has improved a lot.

                                  cheers Chris Maunder

                                  C 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • H HobbyProggy

                                    I go for starbucks now and then, when i get into a bigger town i enjoy a cappuccino toffee and i like it. But i won't go there regularly, too many hipsters, in this case i prefer good ol coffee or sometimes a fine one from switzerland or italy.

                                    Rules for the FOSW ![^]

                                    if(this.signature != "")
                                    {
                                    MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature);
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {
                                    MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
                                    }

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    Maximilien
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #37

                                    There are no hipsters in Starbuck; only (overly sweetened ) coffee; maybe there were hippies there back in the day it was only a Seattle business. Hipsters go to 3rd wave coffee houses that serve good coffee from sustainable coffee growers around the world. (I'm not a hipster, but I go to 3rd wave coffee houses, because the coffee is better and they don't misspell my name).

                                    I'd rather be phishing!

                                    H 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • M Maximilien

                                      There are no hipsters in Starbuck; only (overly sweetened ) coffee; maybe there were hippies there back in the day it was only a Seattle business. Hipsters go to 3rd wave coffee houses that serve good coffee from sustainable coffee growers around the world. (I'm not a hipster, but I go to 3rd wave coffee houses, because the coffee is better and they don't misspell my name).

                                      I'd rather be phishing!

                                      H Offline
                                      H Offline
                                      HobbyProggy
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #38

                                      So you know the people i see when i go to starbucks? I say the most of them are hipsters, those going to 3rd wave economic whateverdouche shops are environmentalists that got blinded on both eyes.

                                      Rules for the FOSW ![^]

                                      if(this.signature != "")
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                                      }
                                      else
                                      {
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                                      • C Chris Maunder

                                        Discuss.

                                        cheers Chris Maunder

                                        N Offline
                                        N Offline
                                        Nathan Minier
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #39

                                        Starbucks doesn't sell coffee. They sell those Chai Lattes that my wife likes. Or some crazy Mocha Pumpkin Cinnabon Mocchiato Penguin Layabout Fluffed Disillusionment Frappe, with or without whipped cream.

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                                        • C Chris Maunder

                                          I disagree. Apple (hardware) products are very, very well designed. Their phone works well as a phone. Their laptops work extremely well as laptops. Their music players shaped what we came to expect from a music player. Starbucks coffee isn't, as far as I can tell, actual coffee. It doesn't actually fulfil its basic purpose. I think people go for Apple because they like the design, the ecosystem, the simplicity (we can argue about this later) and the cache that comes with Apple products. I think people go for Starbucks because of laziness, ignorance, convenience, or because there's no other choice. There are also those who treat Starbucks as a caffeine delivery system: give me a bigun' and I'll plug 'er in and I'm good. Taste is not even part of the equation. This makes me sad.

                                          cheers Chris Maunder

                                          Richard DeemingR Offline
                                          Richard DeemingR Offline
                                          Richard Deeming
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #40

                                          Chris Maunder wrote:

                                          and the cache[^] that comes with Apple products.

                                          Do they all have lots of fast temporary storage? Or did you mean cachet[^]? ;P


                                          "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

                                          "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined" - Homer

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