Posted Tue Aug 2, 2005, 8:11pm Subject: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
So, I’m at work today tapping away at my keyboard like a mad man when my co-worker peeks over the cube wall and says she’s feelin like a coffee beverage. She knows better than to ask me if I want one, too, from The Mermaid place seven floors below, so she asks if I feel like taking a break and tagging along? I agree.
At The Mermaid’s counter, my co-worker orders a half-caf-half-regular-skinny-soy-cap.
Or something like that.
While we’re waiting for her drink, I spy the Coffee of the Day sign which reads: “Fair Trade”.
I utter, what I refer to as, the “Ray-Romano-That’s-Interesting” sound: “Huh.”
Immediately and like before, my co-worker glances at me with pleading eyes that say, “Please don’t embarrass me again.”
But I can’t resist.
I turn to The Little Mermaid behind the counter and ask, “What’s ‘Fair Trade’?”
The Little Mermaid stares at me blankly and replies in the form of a question, “What flavor?”
And I say, “Nooooo. What is the ‘Fair Trade’ coffee of the day?”
My co-worker pokes me in the rib.
The Little Mermaid turns to The Mermaid Manager, who swaggers over like the John-Wayne-of-the-coffee-industry and says, “It’s a middle-of-the-road coffee, not too mild, not too bold. Very smooth!”
I simply nod.
“But what do you mean by ‘Fair Trade Coffee of the Day’?" I try to clarify.
The young Mermaid Manager stares at me blankly before finally replying, “That’s the name of the coffee”.
I was waiting for the word "dude", but it never came.
I nod again, just before my co-worker pulls me away by the arm. As we start back, I wonder if The Mermaid employees had any idea what was meant by "Fair Trade" coffee? Or perhaps, they were absent on the day they covered social awareness at The Mermaid University.
In the elevator, my co-worker asks me what that was all about? I explain to her what is meant by “Fair Trade” coffees
As we arrive back at our cubes, she asks, “Oh, I get it! So, what kind of coffee then was the ‘Fair Trade’ stuff that they were selling?”
my girlfriend says that every single time we walk by a Starbucks. not even in one, just by one!
aurelio Said:
The Little Mermaid stares at me blankly and replies in the form of a question, “What flavor?”
The Little Mermaid turns to The Mermaid Manager, who swaggers over like the John-Wayne-of-the-coffee-industry and says, “It’s a middle-of-the-road coffee, not too mild, not too bold. Very smooth!”
I simply nod.
The young Mermaid Manager stares at me blankly before finally replying, “That’s the name of the coffee”.
I was waiting for the word "dude", but it never came.
god, i can close my eyes and picture myself doing the same exact thing! my girlfriend cringes whenever i say i want a cup of coffee from "the outside world". the "dude" comment still has me laughing.
me personally, i would have stayed there until i got a better answer. who puts "Fair Trade" as the coffee of the day anyway?!!?
and a "middle of the road" coffee sounds boring as hell, IMHO.
starbucks should just stick to ice cream and frappes, and leave the coffee to the professionals.
Posted Wed Aug 3, 2005, 7:51am Subject: Re: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
I tell ya, it's an adventure every day!
There are actually two *$s in my building and a 3rd competitor - all on the same floor!
And I still can't get a decent cup of coffee.
Aurelio
"I am the great Cornholio!" -- an overcaffeinated Beavis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My favorite CG posts... Ristretto & blonding: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/questions/202518 FP brewing tips: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/188186 Vacpot brewing tips: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/184393 Green bean sellers: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/homeroast/179595 Inside the mind of a CG: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/members/offtopic/176471
dankbean Senior Member Joined: 8 Jun 2005 Posts: 886 Location: Raleigh, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: mine Roaster: self
Posted Wed Aug 3, 2005, 10:08am Subject: Re: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
i was shopping in the mall, and i just happened to be wearing my Barista Jam t-shirt. i went into starbucks and ordered some cookies for the lady, and the girl behind the register recognized the shirt and asked, "Don't you want some coffee????"
i kind of chuckled and said, "No."
i thought she was going to cry. she looked really disappointed. i decided to spare her the lecture as to why, and just walked out with my food. at least they don't screw up the cookies....
Posted Tue Aug 16, 2005, 9:34am Subject: Re: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
I just got a cup of coffee for the first time in two years today. I saw Fair Trade listed as the mild coffee of the day. Here is my conversation with the two women behind the counter.
Me: Is that a blend of fair trade coffees or is it s single origin.
Woman 1: I do not know
Woman 2: It is fair trade
Me: Ok, I get that it is fair trade, what country is the coffee from?
Woman 2: I think South America
Woman 1: That sounds right, I think it is from Mexico and Guatemala.
Woman 2: We are going to be getting new Fair Trade that will be bolder so it will be better.
Me: Ok......I guess will just take a large black.
Woman 1: You mean a Grande or a Venti?
Me: I guess I mean a Grande black Fair Trade
Woman 1: Do you need room for milk?
Me: No thanks.
Woman 1: That will be $1.80
So I took my cup of coffee, and left. Years ago, when I worked for Starbucks (they bought the coffee company I worked for) they had extensive training. I guess that has stopped.
i think that answers your question about training, Larry. wow.
Do they even explain to the workers what these terms mean? seriously, i'm sure larry wasn't the first or only person to ask about it......do they really think their clientele is that gullible? so gullible that they wouldn't even ask???
what the hell does FT have to do with "mild coffees" anyway? we have organic FT guat at work, and i wouldn't say it's mild.
AdventureLarry Said:
Woman 2: We are going to be getting new Fair Trade that will be bolder so it will be better.
dankbean Senior Member Joined: 8 Jun 2005 Posts: 886 Location: Raleigh, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: mine Roaster: self
Posted Wed Aug 17, 2005, 7:42am Subject: Re: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
i think that would've just caused more blank stares and, "But it's Fair Trade, sir" responses.
it's wonderful how one of the biggest coffee chains, if not the biggest, can get away with not properly educating their employees. makes the industry look ggggggreat!
expobar Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 3,003 Location: .
Posted Wed Aug 17, 2005, 8:00am Subject: Re: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
Fair Trade Blend Starbucks Fair Trade Blend utilizes the finest Fair Trade Certified™ coffees from all over the world. The cup is on the mild end of the Starbucks taste spectrum, but displays a pleasing tanginess, good balance and clean aftertaste. Starbucks and the Fair Trade movement share common goals: to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their coffee and to ensure they can sustain their farms for the future.
Key term: Balanced
Geography is a flavor You can tell a lot about a coffee if you know where it’s from, because every bean has a distinctive flavor particular to its land of origin. Coffees from Latin America are celebrated for their great balance, medium body and clean finish.
From Starbucks.com
I don't buy their propaganda
Led (if they don't know it, find it out your own damn self) Zep
dankbean Senior Member Joined: 8 Jun 2005 Posts: 886 Location: Raleigh, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: mine Roaster: self
Posted Wed Aug 17, 2005, 8:57am Subject: Re: "Fair Trade" as Coffee of the Day?
Barefoot Coffee recently won the best coffeeshop award in their area, they have it posted on the baristaguild.org website. thought i'd pass on a quote from the acceptance speech.
"We thank Starbucks for getting out of specialty coffee and into fast food."
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