DVL Senior Member Joined: 4 Mar 2004 Posts: 167 Location: Victoria, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Wega Mininova in parts...La... Grinder: anfim Vac Pot: Press pot Bodums--and a Cory... Drip: Starbucks Aroma...I... Roaster: alpenrost...till it caught...
Posted Wed Jun 2, 2004, 10:17pm Subject: Re: People Against Starbucks
I like Starbucks---I admire the green machine.
I think of it like an old girlfriend, taught me a few good tricks, now we talk when we see each other in the mall.
95% of the world love Starbucks because they are somewhat consistent in their coffee preparation. And they give the customer better coffee that they are used to. As well as a lot of hype--city roast is the best? Really? Why?
I am amazed when I see shops that haven't learned the simple rules of coffee...and the number one rule has to be consistency (a consistent OK coffee is better than a wildcard). They need to train their staff, then train them some more.
I frequent the shops that the barista's giggle when they talk about juicy crema...and get spittle in the corner of their mouths talking about old lever machines...and if they can only find one cheap! I like the coffee freaks, guys that love the bean.
Before I did my time at Starbucks, those dudes spoke a different language...now I am in the same book, if not on the same page.
Tell you the best thing about Starbucks is the machines and paraphernalia they churned out. I have a Starbucks re-badged Gaggia--love it. My spoon is a Starbucks spoon and my frothing jug is a Starbucks jug. My first bodum—Starbucks--My stainless travel mug--Starbucks...of course used to have friend that worked there and got smoking good deals...but still. Hey check the reviews everyone loves the Barista machine (even though it has a freakishly small portfilter). They provided everyone that could find one of their stores with the chance to embark on the coffee train.
In the end I heard a profound quote in movie awhile back:
Malibar Senior Member Joined: 3 Apr 2004 Posts: 157 Location: Durango, CO Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bialetti Moka Pot (stovetop) Grinder: Rocky DL, Cuisinart... Drip: Pourover Cone, Bodum... Roaster: I wish
Posted Tue Jun 29, 2004, 10:18am Subject: Re: People Against Starbucks
Oh man, LJ and Zephyrus hit the nail on the head.
Way to go guys, I couldn't agree more. I hope this attitude spreads among geeks.
That's the only way that we will: ...add people to our numbers... ...inspire them with the passion we've found... ...get them started on their own quest for God-shots... ...get them supporting local shops... ...collectively send the message to the specialty coffee industry that we as geeks are consumers and we are asking the bar to be raised.... ...and have a peaceful existence as CoffeeGeeks knowing we can get equally excellent coffee either by venturing to our cozy regular cafe or kicking back in our LazyBoy after a blissful session with Miss Silvia...
Don't you get it, you hatemongers? Just drop it.
Hemingway had the ideal cofee shop figured out: "A clean, well-lighted place."
Fred_Astaire Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Posts: 176 Location: NY/NJ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Isomac Tea Grinder: Solis Maestro; NS MCF Vac Pot: none Drip: Braun (love my drip) Roaster: Hottop
Posted Tue Jun 29, 2004, 10:53am Subject: Re: People Against Starbucks
There was a great article (IMHO) posted on this site in May of '02 which is still available in the archives, by Lou Pescarmona. I agree with Lou and with some other posters in this thread. I am grateful for the Starbucks phenomenon for raising the bar and turning people on to coffee who otherwise only experienced office dreck or similar dishwater served in family restaurants. I will admit, however, that I hate to see Starbucks everywhere, because it forces me to confront the fact that mega companies seem to rule the world. I also agree that independents don't always outperform Starbucks.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,144 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Tue Jun 29, 2004, 8:37pm Subject: Re: People Against Starbucks
I love Starbucks. It's quite possible we wouldn't have a growing and exciting espresso culture in the US and Canada if it weren't for them. Starbucks set the stage. Now many other cafes are setting the example.
Posted Fri Jul 2, 2004, 11:49pm Subject: Re: People Against Starbucks
Yeah, I have to agree with most other members here. This is not a productive posting. True, Starbucks over roasts their coffee, but it's because they have too. You see, there isn't enough great coffee in the world to supply Starbucks with all the coffee they need, so the cook it longer to hide the imperfections.
I think they also went to superautos to improve the consistancy of their drinks. Now you can at least expect and okay drink day in day out. Before, it was more hit and miss (or miss and hit).
When traveling, I'll try out a local espresso shop. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are horrible. When the latter is true, at least I can find something I know will get me by at Starbucks.
Locally, Starbucks has better coffee than many places, but there are a few that are much better.
To me, they are the McDonalds of coffee...not outstanding, but you know what you will get anywhere in the world.
_intense_ Senior Member Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 15 Location: New Zealand Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Jul 18, 2004, 4:02pm Subject: Re: People Against Starbucks
i despise their treatment of coffee, the whole idea of coffee as a mass produced plastic-fantastic take-away mc'drink *ROAR* its FINE CUISINE and an ART, why do they butcher it? worst coffee i'v e ever had has been at the hands of SBUX, sure the baristas are responsible and every franchise has different ppl, but the whole shop made me sick, when i said "this espresso is terrible, its overextracted" the girl looked confused, didnt offer to try again offered no refund and proceeded to ignore me (note to self: burn down sbux)
*IMPORTANT* avoid sbux at all costs -unless u want a soy decafe half strength doubleshot mocha hazlenut crunch aenema to go >_< *rant rant and so on and so forth*
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