Starbucks coffee: quality product or overpriced P.O.S.

[neoteric lefty]

I would have to say the number 2, not because they are corporate whores who exploit Columbian coffee growers and such, but just because their coffee isn't very good. It is not tasty, IMHO. I work right next to one so sometimes, when I am draggin' I'll go and try a different flavor and see if I can find something I like. No luck yet.

The coffee that I love is Barney's coffee, the only problem is that they are only found in the malls near where I live. Therefore, a wee bit out of the way.

[True_Blue]

1. I like the coffee at Borders

Starbucks is too bitter for me.

[tridim]

2. I don't like it that much either

It's average at best. Homebrewed Costco coffee beans are the best I've ever had, at about 1/100th the cost of Starbucks.

[Piperay]

3. Starbuck coffee tastes burnt

I don't like it. x( I like either "It's Grind" a small local chain in the Long Beach (CA) area or "Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf". :9

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

4. me no like

I have to tear open too many of those tiny sugar packets to make starbucks palatable. Every once in a while I'll have a frosty mocha frappaccino, but they are too pricey. White Hen's (convenience store chain) coffee is better, and cheaper.

[sandnsea]

5. I've never had Starbucks coffee

I've never lived in a city and never cared enough when I visited a city to pay the price. When I splurge around here, it's chai tea. Am I the last American who hasn't had Starbucks?

[JaySherman]

8. Nope. I haven't either.

Proud of that fact.

[SmileyBoy]

6. The only thing I like at Starbucks is their Caramel Frappuccinos.

They just opened our first Starbucks in Fargo. I've been meaning to head down there.

[Pinko Commie]

7. I like dark roast

and it is possible to dark roast a coffee without making it too acidic. Unfortunately, neither Starbucks nor Valos have the hang of it.

I still say Kaladhi Bros Costa Rican Tarrazeau is the best. Look 'em up on the net. You can order it next day air. If you really want to go that far. Otherwise, Seattles Best or Illy.

[Kellanved]

9. It's OK

After drinking Starbuck's for eight days stateside, I have to admit that the coffee they sell in the US is better than the stuff they sell in Europe. However it is not quite as good, as some of the local chains, Einstein for example.

[MadHound]

10. Horrible tasting coffee

If you are ever in Columbia Mo, you have got to try Osama's Coffee Zone(yes there have been many jokes). Great coffee, great Meditaranean and ME food also.

I think that due to all of the local coffee houses Starbuck hasn't dared to stick their nose into this town, they know that they would be folding quickly.

[Rationality]

12. Osama's Coffee Zone - hahahaha ((n/t))

[ikojo]

Columbia may not have a Starbucks but they have

MANY, MANY Wal-Mart stores. The Kroenke family (related to the Waltons) lives in Columbia and I have been told they are opening yet ANOTHER super Wal-Mart there. I think that will make four super Wal-Marts in that area.

[Dees]

21. I'm believe Stan kroenke is married to Sam's daughter.

The Kroenkes dabble in real estate and sports teams i.e. the Rams

[ikojo]

14. Columbia may not have a Starbucks but they have

MANY, MANY Wal-Mart stores. The Kroenke family (related to the Waltons) lives in Columbia and I have been told they are opening yet ANOTHER super Wal-Mart there. I think that will make four super Wal-Marts in that area.

[Dees]

17. Are you living in Columbia?...n/t

[Rationality]

11. What I want to know is

how do those cashiers sell that coffee to me with a straight face, charging the prices they do?

[mtnester]

13. Especially

When once you buy a latte, and a pastry, you pay them more than they make an hour....

I am prefer Planet Coffee, Stauf's and Cup O Joes here in central Ohio

[eyesroll]

15. I'm not a fan

I think the only time I buy Starbucks is when I'm traveling for business, and that's the "official coffee of the convention center," and I'm stuck (and my company's paying for it).

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. Don't like their coffee but

I will give them credit for popularizing coffee bar culture in the U.S., so that we can have the same kinds of hangouts here that have long been the rule in Europe and Japan.

Fortunately, the Twin Cities is one of the few markets where Starbucks is NOT #1, partly because local chains had a chance to get established before Starbucks noticed the area.

Locally, I prefer Caribou Coffee's product, both coffee and baked goods, but Dunn Brothers shops are funkier, have free wireless Internet access, and are located closer to where I live.

For home brewing, I've taken to buying Peace Coffee from my local co-op, which is fair trade, shade grown,...and delivered to the stores by bicycle.

But my favorite blend of all time is Garuda, a blend of Indonesian coffees and Latin American beans, from California-based Peet's coffee, which so far is only on the West Coast.

[Don_G]

18. Always Overpriced Crap

I prefer a good cup of coffee in the morning provided by the guy down the street who knows what to brew.

Besides, any money I spend there pretty much stays in my community and isn't part of the .001% political fund that fuels Dimbo's re-selection.

[Kadie]

19. Peets Coffee

If you are looking for good coffee to make at home. I have it shipped to me since they don't have a store close by.
http://www.Peets.com

Unfortunately we have a starbucks everywhere you turn. I stop in every now and then for a single cup, but I never buy my coffee beans there.

[SayitAintSo]

20. Too bitter for me .... I'm a coffee lover

Seattles Best ( I think ) is a good coffee I've had. Starbucks is overpriced.

[Skittles]

22. absolute overpriced crap

give me a cup of Folgers any day.

[NMDemDist2]

23. ok I sell Lattes for a living here is espresso 101----

espresso is a very delicate animal. You must use fresh roasted beans (use with in 14 days of roasting) and use the fresh beans within 10 minutes of grinding.

Starbucks never has fresh beans, ask any SB employee and they will tell you they get coffee deliveries once a month (on average) so it is impossible to get a good shot of espresso at SB. The proof of fresh coffee is the "creama" that floats on top of the shot. It looks like a guiness-- 1/3 dark brown (not black) and 2/3 of carmel colored cream on top. You never see creama at SB's. they suck pretty much-- we call them the "Walmart of Gourmet Coffee"

on edit--- if you want good coffee look in the phone book and find a local roaster and visit them-- you will find "coffee nirvana"

http://www.heinebroscoffee.com/drinks.htm

[joefree1]

24. OK, I gonna get flamed for this ...

But I've bought a lot of Starbucks over the years cause I know it will taste better then the usual crap. I've been traveling internationally for the last ten years and I've gotten into the habit of bringing a couple of pounds of beans with me when I relocate.

Mostly I've been living and working in Asia where coffee is iffy. Usuallly some real stale stuff or instant.

I've tried the cheep stuff at Costco and it sucks. Very stale. So I usually buy the Kirkland House blend, "Roasted by Starbucks."

However I promise, as soon as my three pounds of Kirkland are gone I'll check out Peets.

[NMDemDist2]

25. see my post---- the link i posted is a good company

altho i dont use their coffee ( i use a local roaster in AZ)

how do you know it's good? When they say "Order on Mon, we roast and ship on Tuesday. or you can visit me at www.lottalatte.com and I'll have my roaster roast and ship to you.

[Catshrink]

29. Do you have a "bricks and mortar" location?

[NMDemDist2]

31. not that you can visit Cat, I cater exculsively to corporations

[WillyBrandt]

35. moved post

moved post

[President Jesus]

26. we all forget one thing...Starbux treats their employees well

their product isn't the best, but it's by no means the worst. If you compare it to all the crap McDonalds foists on us, Starbucks is a huge step forward.

But the one area that Starbucks really delivers on is the way they treat their employeees. Everybody want to rush to defend the local coffeeshop, and that's fine, but ask yourselves whether the employees get anywhere near the same pay or benefits they do at Starbucks.

[NMDemDist2]

27. I pay better than SB and make health care available

unfortunately I can't make it as affordable as SB does (vote Kerry). I also do things like loan them $$ when they need it. One of the reasons I opened a biz was to be a good employer.

[Ratty]

28. I like it. The cappuccinos are never bitter

It's a very smooth cappuccino, almost sweet. I have to admit I like it (and feel dirty afterwards).

Luckily I almost NEVER go there. It's not on my way to work and it is definitely more expensive than where I get my usual morning cappuccino. The kind I get is definitely a bit more bitter but also has a lot of character that Starbucks lacks. There's a lot of variation in my usual cappuccino, usually it's good, but occasioanlly it's great and sublime. Starbucks is always the same.

I get one maybe 8 or 9 times a year.

[EstimatedProphet]

30. Sorry, I do like it

Starbucks has a "tang" to it that I have never found in any other coffee brand, and I like it. But that's me...

[DS1]

32. I've been recently turned on to a particular Starbucks drink

:shrug:

[afraid_of_the_dark]

33. Starbucks coffee will strip the paint off of walls...

it is so acidic. Absolutely disgusting. Only reason I'd shell out the 4 bucks for one of their lattes (can't drink it straight, ya know) is for the incredible caffeine rush. Then I sit there twitching in my seat a la Beavis.

On the other hand, they do have a good hot apple cider.

[SOteric]

34. I like it.

And I have a very sensitive palette. I won't say you Starbucks haters are crazy, but the thought may have crossed my mind.

[WillyBrandt]

36. Let Us Now Praise Starbucks Coffee

I remember pre-Starbucks not being able to find a decent cup of fuckig anything caffinated outside of college tows and Seattle. And a place to, you know, drink coffee and read a book or bullshit with friends? Fuggedaboutit!

They've done more to bring coffee culture (and plain half-decent brew) to this country nationwide than anything else. And they've made in easier--in some parts--to start up a little alternative coffee-shop or restaurant or whatever than it was before. There's already a model of reference people can work off of, twist entirely, and make their own.

I love the hyper-dark super-caffeinated stuff at Starbucks. I don't mind paying a bit to lounge around, and I'm very happy that B&N sells their stuff. I don't mind saying Caramel Macchiato, but will never say "Tall" or "Venti".

So count me at a Starbucks (or as they say on Usenet *$) fan.

(As for afficiando cred, I've had coffee in Austria, France, all around Europe. I've had Peet's coffee, 7-11 coffee, own an espresso machine, burr grinder, French Press, coffee maker, been in a million cafes, etc etc)

[NMDemDist2]

37. they did bring coffee mainstream no doubt

i used to love the lil shop in downtown Sacramento-- just a closet with books and newspapers everywhere

when i open a public coffee house i am going to really enjoy the search of the perfect used green couch to be the center piece of the store

hehehhe