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Some coffee fans delight in Starbucks woes
news.yahoo.com — Financial woes at Starbucks Corp., which is planning to close 600 underperforming U.S. stores, is evoking glee and little sympathy from aficionados who say they resent the coffee shop giant and favor small independent cafes.
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- spiritflare1, on 07/06/2008, -14/+12the kind of person that buys from starbucks will still go out of their way to buy from starbucks. for the rest of us canadians, there will always be Timmys.
- Wesside, on 07/06/2008, -9/+3Timmies ftw
- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -2/+8Never heard of Timmys, but if their coffee cost more than $2 they won't get me to buy it. Did I mention I don't buy Starbucks coffee?
- spiritflare1, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1and that's the beauty of Tim Horton's - low prices and good coffee
- Pusod, on 07/08/2008, -3/+6To save a buck Timmy's uses that powdered milk ***** instead of REAL milk in their blended ice drinks! You must love that Similac... child. GROSS!
- spiritflare1, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2not true - Timmy's use real cream for the cream-shots, and milk out of a carton if you ask for milk.
in either case, i'm not elitist, so powdered milk works for me.
- spiritflare1, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2not true - Timmy's use real cream for the cream-shots, and milk out of a carton if you ask for milk.
- emjaymj, on 07/08/2008, -2/+5Tim Horton's addicts are far far worse than Starbucks addicts in my experience. This may be because the coffee is half the price and even better, but it's still just mediocre coffee.
- spiritflare1, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2mediocre coffee for elitists, yes.
- EverTheCynic, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2I remember a news article a couple years ago about Tim Horton's adding the mocha to their menu. If the addition of a mocha is a newsworthy event, I don't have much respect for your coffee franchise.
- gerardmclean, on 07/06/2008, -10/+1Tim's is ok, but nothing beats a good cup of Joe from Plain Joe Coffee! http://www.plainjoe.com (Canadians welcome!! :-) )
- Rhendal, on 07/06/2008, -4/+22I just wish Tim Hortons would make more of a move into the US so we can all have a taste of good coffee for once.
- chadwalters23, on 07/07/2008, -0/+4Yes, come to Knoxville, Tim Hortons. I promise to eat many doughnuts.
- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2That is what they told Krispy Kreme.
- zixx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1
- turpenine, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1my girlfriend works at a timmies and they are all over (3 within 20 miles that I know of) in ohio.
- zixx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4Tim Hortons is in 10 states Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia
http://www.timhortons.com/locator/index.html- Rhendal, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I am not in any of those states. Hence the "more of a move into the US" part of the comment.
- topherbook, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4I loved Tim Horton's when I was visiting Canada, but the ones in the US are no good. I've visited a couple and was disappointed at how bad the service was and how poor the coffee tasted. I think TH is best enjoyed in the Great White North.
- CedEx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Maybe they are using locally sourced ingredients... you know... like how US Coke uses corn syrup, and Canadian Coke uses real sugar.
- weakradiator, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2There is a plethora of good coffee shops around..I am living in Salt Lake City and we have 10+ great independent coffee shops that either roast their own beans or personally seek out and import great coffee for reasonable prices. Good coffee doesn't have to come from a chain
- sorrow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I totally agree that it doesn't need to come from a chain, but I also have to say that Utah needs more good coffee!
I live in Cedar City and watched a barista in training literally _pounding_ on the tamper with the palm of her hand, after already putting entirely too much pressure on the portafilter. I don't understand how a place that is called The Grind and acts very serious about their coffee can be letting trainee's do something like that -- ESPECIALLY when that drink is being made for an actual customer, not just for practice!
- sorrow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I totally agree that it doesn't need to come from a chain, but I also have to say that Utah needs more good coffee!
- godinster, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5Tim Horton's tastes like mud, and I'm Canadian. I'm not a huge fan of Starbucks but when I think of medicority, the first company that comes to mind is Timmy's
- Technohamster, on 07/08/2008, -2/+6Dude. Tim Hortons makes everything out of powder.
- chadwalters23, on 07/07/2008, -0/+4Yes, come to Knoxville, Tim Hortons. I promise to eat many doughnuts.
- lucy22, on 07/06/2008, -11/+7I really never liked starbucks, because the coffee is so strong. I would drink it if nothing else available, but prefer milder or flavored coffees. Still, they are everywhere here and sometimes that is all you can find.
- Acqua206, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I don't like their drip either, its too bitter. However, their Americano is only a couple of cents more expensive and tastes better and goes down smoother. Give that a go instead of the regular drip. I have to have some kind of caffeine in my system for classes or I'm off in lala land. It's either Red Bull, $2.50 Rockstar Energy drink, or an Americano from Starbucks. However, if I'm not running late, I down a good jug of Foldgers before I head out the door...the commute is just enough time for me to have to take a massive piss b4 class...TMI, I know.
- turpenine, on 07/08/2008, -4/+3americanos are for pussies. go straight espresso or go home.
- sorrow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Their Americano is the only drink I get there. Their drip is to bold / acidic for me and more often than not any drink I get with milk or cream in it comes to me tasting like the milk has been burned.
That being said, I will admit that their Americano's can be pretty tasty, and if nothing else I love that you can find espresso pretty much wherever you go courtesy of Starbucks.
- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I never really like Starbucks because the place is simply over priced for what you get! When are people going to wake up and realize that they are buying nothing more than an image portraid by a marketing dept. Maybe when gas hits $10 a gallon.
- gofalcons, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2From what it sounds like, you might actually have a serious problem.
- Acqua206, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I don't like their drip either, its too bitter. However, their Americano is only a couple of cents more expensive and tastes better and goes down smoother. Give that a go instead of the regular drip. I have to have some kind of caffeine in my system for classes or I'm off in lala land. It's either Red Bull, $2.50 Rockstar Energy drink, or an Americano from Starbucks. However, if I'm not running late, I down a good jug of Foldgers before I head out the door...the commute is just enough time for me to have to take a massive piss b4 class...TMI, I know.
- deckarddigg, on 07/06/2008, -14/+15News flash: Starbucks serves sugar packed milk drinks with a hint of espresso like fluid. What they try to pass off as coffee is a joke.
- naberator, on 07/06/2008, -4/+10caribou is better anyways
- Tinu, on 07/07/2008, -3/+27Maybe my training as a Barista brainwashed me, but I didn't even like coffee until Starbucks. And somehow that doesn't make me Not like other brands...
- 8dot3, on 07/07/2008, -3/+37Hooray a corporation who does right by its people is closing stores! I get that people want to support local cafes and that's great, but support them and shut up. These are the same people that will complain when their local cafe becomes more crowded.
When I am on the PA Turnpike at 2am I know I can get a good, strong cup of coffee from Starbucks and I like that.- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -8/+2Right by their people? They put begging cups on every counter! How do you do right by your people if you have them beg for more money? And then the managers even get a cut of the begging money. On top of that now every store in the country has a begging cup at the register. So tell me, what is the difference between a well made McD burger and a cup of coffee? I don't see begging cups at McD.
- krisscofield, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Those are called tip jars.
- gofalcons, on 07/08/2008, -2/+1Charging 4 bucks a cup for mediocre coffee just because isn't exactly doing right by your customers. People have now started to realize that they were being dubed into buying what they thought was premium coffee, but in reality it was just average coffee at a ridicious price. They've now stopped buying it. McDonalds has a "premium" iced coffee now, so you can still get your coffee at 2 in the morning. To me, that crap and starbucks were about the same, just without all the Emo's and crappy music when you walk in.
- lith2um, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Yesterday my medium coffee from Starbucks was $1.99 before tax.
- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -8/+2Right by their people? They put begging cups on every counter! How do you do right by your people if you have them beg for more money? And then the managers even get a cut of the begging money. On top of that now every store in the country has a begging cup at the register. So tell me, what is the difference between a well made McD burger and a cup of coffee? I don't see begging cups at McD.
- chadwalters23, on 07/07/2008, -7/+2I was done with Starbucks when they no longer offered dark roast. They only have one blend at a time now based on a time schedule. I get a better selection of coffee at Pilot convenience store, and they DO have dark roast. Four more ounces for half the price.
- krisscofield, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Have you tried asking for a different blend? I did. They said "sure". It was weird.
- chadwalters23, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I demanded another blend. They said no way.
- chadwalters23, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1It was the drive-thru and I was late for work. They said ONLY regular and decaf were available. Pike's blend, I believe is what is available at that time of day which is the only time I try to go there on my way to work. I have not tried going inside to see if they would brew a pot for me but at the drive-thru they were pretty adamant about that's what they have and there was nothing I could do about it. Except start going somewhere else for my coffee. Admittedly, Pike's Blend was good, but after 6 years of having my dark roast available and one day they say, "Sorry' pal, but you're ***** out of luck." is annoying
- krisscofield, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Have you tried asking for a different blend? I did. They said "sure". It was weird.
- Rewebbed, on 07/07/2008, -0/+15There are over 10,000 Starbucks in the US. Minus 600. That's 1/16th of total stores. Which means for every 16 locations one will close (not counting the ones in Barnes & Noble and Target. you won't even notice they're gone.
Especially if you live in California.
(chart of stores per state 2006)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006 ...- Shirleycakes, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1This only applies to company owned stores, so things like airports and grocery stores won't be affected either. As of last month the list of "company owned" in the US was less then 7,300.
- turpenine, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1airport shops should be company owned.
- Rewebbed, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1Eh, so 1 out of 13. you still won't notice.
- Marumekomu, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0And make no mistake, they're still adding more stores.
My small town [pop 20,000] just added two new starbucks in the past year in addition to the one we already had (And this isn't even including the one in our grocery store).
- Shirleycakes, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1This only applies to company owned stores, so things like airports and grocery stores won't be affected either. As of last month the list of "company owned" in the US was less then 7,300.
- Miamifan1354, on 07/08/2008, -8/+3Dunkin' Donuts FTMFW!!!
- benroy, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5for-the-mother-*****-win?
Really?
These weird Internet abbreviations and getting more and more abstract every day, leaving me feeling old and out of touch in the process.
MJPSUY.
- benroy, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5for-the-mother-*****-win?
- benroy, on 07/08/2008, -0/+16I had just assumed that they were closing Starbucks because they were adding coffee pipes to the American infrastructure thus rendering the actual stores unnecessary.
Water, Electricity, Sewer & now Starbucks on tap.
But seriously, why isn't there a rival coffee chain named Apollos?- prophetpimp, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I have Dibs on Capri 6's as a Rival
- Tyrghast, on 07/08/2008, -0/+45"Starbucks is closing 600 stores. The sad part is, it will only effect about a 6 block radius in downtown LA." - Jay Leno
- Mustard911, on 07/08/2008, -13/+2Should Starbucks stop employing Illegal Aliens?
- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Does Starbucks employ illegal aliens?
- lostray423, on 07/08/2008, -6/+0just another name for a dumb trend.
- svensko, on 07/08/2008, -4/+5Never had starbucks, never really plan to. Couldn't care less that some stores are closing. As long as I can still buy cheap coffee in bulk at my grocery store I'll be happy.
- 1stJonnyDee, on 07/08/2008, -2/+2Sorry that you will never taste real coffee outside of aisle four. Starbuck's, Caribou, Pear's...no matter where you go, anything is better than the ground-up-truck-tire-in-a-can that is passed as coffee at the market.
- svensko, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5I drink coffee to stay awake, not to make my own farts smell better. Sorry.
- 1stJonnyDee, on 07/08/2008, -5/+1I swear I can hear your sphincter clenching up as if I just insulted you. Did grandpappy teach you that little bit of wit cause he was hardcore with a percolator? Pfff, whatever.
- svensko, on 07/08/2008, -2/+3Please don't assume that just because I won't pay $5 for 8 ounces of coffee that I'm some ignorant redneck. If we're going to start stereotyping then please go drive your Prius directly to your local Apple store (where they know you by name, and loathe your presence due to your immense amount of time spent there browsing their products) where you proceed to on mack on the female (maybe male?) employees with your immense amount of knowledge of global warming and what's best for other people.
- 1stJonnyDee, on 07/08/2008, -2/+1It's not "we're", it would just be you trying (and not very well) to fit me into a stereotypical mold.
Also, I didn't assume anything about you. I asked a question. Waiting for an answer certainly means I'm not assuming anything and would like to know. Assuming assumptions. - MtheoryX, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Would you two ladies knock it off already?
- Pusod, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2FOLGERS CRYSTALS FTW BABY!!!
/sarcasm
- 1stJonnyDee, on 07/08/2008, -2/+2Sorry that you will never taste real coffee outside of aisle four. Starbuck's, Caribou, Pear's...no matter where you go, anything is better than the ground-up-truck-tire-in-a-can that is passed as coffee at the market.
- Shaman760, on 07/08/2008, -8/+1Jungle Java in the 92107. Within FU distance from a Starbuck's.
- MalaysianMafia, on 07/08/2008, -6/+10you know what I like? Being able to go anywhere in the country and get a nice big cup of coffee for pretty cheap with consistent quality at a place not full of scene/emo/alternative/indie/whatever ***** dredges of society lurk in "small, independent cafes"
- Olfster, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Yea, that's Dunkin Donut's for me.
- philhatesyou, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Read: I'm bland and can't stand trying something new, especially when the people there are SO GROSS!
- Pusod, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4"...a place not full of scene/emo/alternative/indie/whatever ***** dredges of society lurk in "small, independent cafes"
YOU SAY THAT AS IF THESE TYPES AREN'T HANGING OUT AT YOUR LOCAL STARBUCKS. Dude... they're there with an acoustic guitar, dressed in a black trench coat with a bunch of friends dressed in the latest goth fashion sitting in the outside tables sipping on their venti $1.25 "coffee of the day" or a cup of water smoking cigarettes as if it were a joint and going on and on about existentialism and pretending they know Nietzsche.- laxidasical, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4Actually, mine just have a ***** load of Middle Easterners and North Africans that have an amazing lack of accuracy when using the head.
- johnnyb3, on 07/08/2008, -2/+7Something that might be bad about this is that Starbucks has some pretty good business practices (paying their employees relatively well, "green" practices, fair trade, etc.). Though you can certainly debate the extent to which they are truly making an impact, in my opinion they probably do a better job at such things than local coffee stores.
- nitindig, on 07/08/2008, -15/+0hey i have dugg urs.
plz digg my sumbission
http://digg.com/world_news/Missing_18_years_of_Lor ...- sorrow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Silly rabbit, diggs are for cool kids.
- DaveClarkOne, on 07/08/2008, -2/+23What is it about Americans that once a company MAKES IT, it ceases to be admired? Starbucks does far more things right than wrong. Throwing darts at it because it does says more about the person throwing them than the target of their dislike.
- 1stJonnyDee, on 07/08/2008, -1/+4"Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra with a typical elitist attitude about how he found out about it (whatever IT is) FIRST!
But yeah, it's not just Americans, snob. :) - krets, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1It's the same with anything here in America. We love the underdog and we hate the "big dog." Just take a look at music. Once a band becomes popular they have immediately sold out in the eyes of many fans.
- 1stJonnyDee, on 07/08/2008, -1/+4"Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra with a typical elitist attitude about how he found out about it (whatever IT is) FIRST!
- iDoraemon, on 07/08/2008, -2/+3I often studied at Starbucks in Asia (Taipei, Taiwan) in my study abroad time because the coffeeshop was very spacious (they had a five-story one!), was at affordable prices (back then when the exchange rate favored the American dollar), and because the people who worked and went there were college-aged (made lots of awesome friends that way). The only other coffeehouses there were also chains (albeit Asian-based ones), but still were a nice substitute for the independent ones here. Since Starbucks in Taiwan had unlimited internet for $15/month, the other places had cheaper internet or was free. That's the joys of competition right there. Also, coffeehouses like Starbucks were plentiful and had their own charm in different parts of the city, which was about as close one could get to an independent coffeehouse in America. I had fond memories of Starbucks back then.
Coming back to the US., I am disgusted by how crappy Starbucks is here. It's hilarious seeing them in grocery stores, and seeing them opening up in closet-sized stores was very depressing. It's a shame that Starbucks is actually worse in the U.S., and I wish there was an equally competitive chain. At least I am lucky to come across independent chains still in business.
R.I.P. American Starbucks- bigteebo, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Was that Taipei starbucks by chance near a BMW & MINI Cooper dealership, not too far from the unfinished rail line? If so, I was there. Not a bad place.
- kawaiirobo, on 07/08/2008, -2/+5"close 600 underperforming U.S. stores, is evoking glee"
I couldn't have said it better myself. I just wonder where all the Bleach Jobs and yippy dog aficionados will go to act trendy and ignore people while yammering into a cell phone. - cerealjynx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I couldn't remember the name of the organic stuff my roomate buys, but it's some good stuff.
Bonus, check out the hideous layout of my local Co-Op's webpage: http://www.ukiahcoop.com/- cerealjynx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Capricorn Coffee is the name
http://www.capricorncoffees.com/ - MtheoryX, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Ze gogglez, zey do nothing!
- cerealjynx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Capricorn Coffee is the name
- Shirleycakes, on 07/08/2008, -1/+10These gleeful people probably wouldn't be so pretentious if they saw the minimum wage and benefit-less play most independent coffee shop baristas get. I'm all about supporting the underdogs but they seriously don't take care of their employees.
- chaoticedge, on 07/08/2008, -7/+2Having worked in an independent shop for two years, I'm pleased that the no longer socially relevant Starbucks is feeling the burn of going corporate.
There is a price to be paid when personality and quality are disregarded.
Cheers to the little guys! - CrazyEddie041, on 07/08/2008, -1/+14I always liked Starbucks, and I'm not even a coffee person. It seems like everything they do is partly aimed at making the world a bit of a better place-- replacing their regular beans with Fair Trade, donating 5% of bottled water purchases to building water purifiers in Africa, letting you donate a pound of coffee to the troops overseas for a cup of coffee, and other things like that. Sure, Starbucks is a massive corporation and its products are overpriced, but at least you're doing something besides just feeding your caffeine addiction. And that's not even going into how well they treat their employees-- a couple of friends work at a nearby place, and they absolutely love it.
- kolop1, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3This is what happens when you have one every other corner.
- Hazardc, on 07/08/2008, -3/+19Id rather see 600 wal-marts close
- sorrow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3I concur; at least Starbucks has good relationships with their employees.
- jokeyxero, on 07/08/2008, -2/+0Yay, maybe Cambridge Coffee can finally keep some of its stores open. Better atmosphere, much better coffee.
- DjOverEZ, on 07/08/2008, -2/+6Dunkin' Donuts FTW!
- Narthex81, on 07/08/2008, -2/+15Yeah, screw Starbucks! Screw them and their attentive staff, clean floors and friendly atmosphere!
- Owwmykneecap, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1€4.50 for a coffee and in my college after starbucks.
€0.70 before. for a cup from the canteen.
Neither are nice. - pearlygate, on 07/08/2008, -3/+3Apple is the new "starbucks". Good bye old starbucks
- Wang, on 07/08/2008, -7/+1ahh Starbucks - over priced, poor tasting, coffee for the masses - who would have thought they would eventually start having to close stores? :)
- Wang, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1pleeease :) are you seriously telling me that you think starbucks is great tasting coffee for a good price? :) lol...I guess the folks who like paying high prices for poor tasting coffee so that they can be seen walking around with a starbucks cup also visit digg from time to time too ;)
- tomthebitx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Yeah lets delight in business contracting and coffee shops closing.
BTW, I live in southern California. If Starbucks locations start to close here, can we at least get some Dunkin' Donuts or a Del's Lemonade? - chimx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6Small business is no better than big business. Both still treat their employees like crap. At least Starbucks has a passable health benefit plan, which is more than you will ever get at a small "independent" coffee shop. Wages are comparatively better as well. It's a shame that this is happening at the same time that the IWW starbucks unionization campaign is picking up a bit of steam.
- YodaJones, on 07/08/2008, -5/+1Count me as happy to see Starbucks eat some *****. It's called Karma after the way they treated some smaller mom and pop Cafes.
- HaSatan, on 07/08/2008, -0/+10I love Starbucks. Go ahead and Digg me down for my alternative viewpoint.
- d3vn3t, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I'm with ya.
- jakkyl, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Dutch Bros. in Oregon ROCKS!!!!!!
- Asheis, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1If any of you are located in the northwest, dutch bros coffee averages for $3 even for a medium (grande size at starbucks, I think?) when the comparable starbucks drink costs you $4.5 here.
Plus, dutch bros tastes awesome, the servers are always mega nice, and they use real chocolate milk in their mochas! what else could be better! (plus, they don't char their beans, as starbucks tends to do) - cran, on 07/08/2008, -0/+16I was in Europe way before this whole Starbucks thing came around drinking Cappuccino on the Regnitz, and I remember looking for coffee houses in Los Angeles when I got back (yes, I realize it's not exactly a coffee mecca to begin with, but L.A. is huge and we have everything; we should have good coffee). There were a few decent cafes around, but even those served only espresso drinks, and you got whatever beans they had in the bag at the time, and it wasn't always good.
Starbucks came along and raised the bar many, many notches above what most coffee houses could deliver.
Any coffee house opened in the early 90's or later is very likely only there because Starbucks created the market for it.
I hate people who make gobs of money as much as the next guy, but come on now, how many of you were really sitting back sucking down espresso at your local coffee house in the 80's?- FairDinkumMate, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Excellent point cran! Somehow amidst all the immigration from Italy & the like in the middle of the last century, the US missed out on having a "coffee culture" imported! In Australia, especially in the cities, there are just as many coffee shops/cafes but they are independent.
I once read a report(sorry, can't find it) on why Starbucks had failed to take a reasonable market share in Australia when it had taken such a huge share in America. Conventional wisdom waa that the cultures were similar & successful chains in the US(McDonald's, KFC, Burger King) had emulated their success when opening in Australia. The basic conclusion of the report was that in Australia, 'real coffee'(ie. espresso based) already had a huge presence & was high quality(thank you to every Italian migrant to Australia!!!) but in the US Starbucks had no competition because the 'coffee' that was usually served was drip coffee & poor quality.
So I think the US should thank Starbucks because regardless of their prices, corporatisation or whatever else you don't like about them, at least they created a market for good quality coffee that will continue with or without them.
- FairDinkumMate, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Excellent point cran! Somehow amidst all the immigration from Italy & the like in the middle of the last century, the US missed out on having a "coffee culture" imported! In Australia, especially in the cities, there are just as many coffee shops/cafes but they are independent.
- Pusod, on 07/08/2008, -1/+9To save a buck, those cheap mom and pop coffee shops use crap ingredients to make their blended ice drinks! They use powdered milk and not REAL milk like starbucks. Digg me down if you like that Similac instant powdered milk ***** in your coffee! I'm not a baby! GROSS!
- sorrow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Obviously you've been going to the wrong mom and pop coffee shops. I agree, that crap is gross -- but seriously dude: go to a real NON-Starbucks cafe sometime.
- FairDinkumMate, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Blended ice drinks are not real coffee! It's like a Starbucks version of a thickshake.
- Ricochet1269, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2As a bummed out Sonics fan, I say "HAHA" to that turncoat Schultz
- coffeerox, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1Back when I was 17-18, I used to work at a Cafe in Fry's Electronics and everytime I go to a Starbucks I can never get coffee that tastes how its supposed to. Like when I buy Mocha's or Latte's, I can't ever taste the espresso, it tastes more like milk than it does coffee and that's not acceptable. Their Caramel Macciato has a nice espresso taste to it like how its supposed to, but the way we made it at Frys included Vanilla Ice Cream in addition to Caramel and espresso. It was a rich, creamy, coffee taste and the Starbucks version tasted like a bastardized version of that. I don't know if its the corporation or something that has to do with this, but each Starbucks experience I've had is pretty much a watered down version of what its supposed to be. I'm glad theyre closing 600 stores. Maybe they should focus more on quality than quantity.
- dasamps, on 07/08/2008, -3/+0I like starbucks, but it did suck that they moved in and shut down my favorite shop. I'm happy about this.
- mohsenxp, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Anything higher than 70p for water and seeds is a ripoff. I'm sure the aficionados would disagree, but I couldn't give two ***** how exquisite my black water tastes. I'm hungover, I have 6hrs of lectures, give me some caffeine!
- r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -0/+1I couldn't believe how many of those stupid places were in New York City. In most places you couldn't walk more than ten minutes without seeing one.
- superbeefy, on 07/08/2008, -0/+8Funny, I'm wondering how many "coffee aficionados" would be around if Starbucks never existed? Like em or hate em they started a massive trend in the USA, and throughout the world. I don't remember coffee being that big of a deal before they came around. I think the same people that are complaining about starbucks so much are the same people that started off by drinking the stuff. I'm guessing they are also the same people that don't like some ethnic restaurants because they are not "authentic" enough.
- nc60659, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Mmm, yes, your tears sustain me.
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