Starbucks Gossip

Starbucks says profit climbed 10% in the first quarter

Starbucks reported after the markets closed today that it made $382.1 million in the first quarter ending Jan. 1, on revenue of $3.4 billion. Still, shares fell in after-hours trading because the company's outlook isn't as rosy as analysts hoped for.

"A very successful holiday season drove strong global same-store sales, which, combined with continued operational efficiencies, delivered record results despite continued commodity cost pressures," Chief Financial Officer Troy Alstead said in an earnings release.

Starbucks reported that CEO Howard Schultz was paid $16.1 million in the fiscal year ended Oct. 2 -- $1.4 million salary and the rest in in stock, options and other equity compensation. The coffee giant also said that it added 241 new stores during the quarter -- it's biggest quarterly growth since the summer of 2008.

ALSO: Over 100 million Starbucks- and Tazo-branded K-Cup® packs shipped in Q1 following the November 1st launch.

Starbucks posts double-digital gains for the quarter || Read the press release

Americans divided over whether Starbucks should serve beer and wine

In a scientific national telephone poll, Americans were asked:

Do you think that it is appropriate for Starbucks to serve beer and wine? Overall, 39% said yes, 39% said no, and 22% said they were undecided.

MORE SURVEY RESULTS:

Men and women disagreed in their responses, with men favoring Starbucks selling beer and wine 49%-34%, while women oppose it 45%-30%.

Among age groups: 18-29 year olds 44% yes, 32% no; 30-44 year olds 44% yes, 36% no; 45-64 year olds 39% yes, 39% no; 65+ year olds 26% no, 55% no.

Whites favor it 44%-38%, and blacks oppose it 58%-25%.

* Men, women at odds over Starbucks beer and wine

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: What's the point of ordering a Starbucks drink 'extra hot'?

This question was asked on the Q-and-A site, Quora.com and got this response from a former Starbucks partner. I thought customers would be interested in it, and baristas might have some observations too.

Overall, in the five years I worked at Starbucks, I had many customers who ordered their drinks "extra hot." Their main reasons were:

* Preference for beverages that are HOT not "very warm"

* Taking the beverage elsewhere to drink and wanting it to still be warm upon arrival.

* Slooooowwww beverage drinker (the kind that can sit in the cafe and drink one cup of coffee for an hour)

* Cold weather. (When I worked at Starbucks in North Dakota, the temperatures would reach -30F plus wind chill, so drinks cooled down QUICKLY if taken outside/ordered in a drivethru)

* Used to temperature of brewed coffee or tea (much hotter than a milk-based espresso beverage at Starbucks)

Back when I first started working at Starbucks, the acceptable range for beverage temperature was around 145-165 degrees. That's not really all that hot. Many people, my mother included, prefer their drinks to actually be much warmer than that. Tired of hearing her complaints (since I worked at Starbucks, she would always tell me about her disappointments with various other Starbucks and drinks), I told her to order it "extra hot." This works (sort of), but because it's nonspecific, she again would get a range of temperatures that would either be too cool, too warm, or just right. So we experimented one day when she was at my store, and hit upon 180 degrees as her "perfect" temperature. Because it's the MILK that is being steamed to 180, it didn't really make her espresso shots taste any better or worse, and it did help counterbalance the cooling effect of the mocha syrup in the bottom. (For what it's worth, other than her favorite french pressed dark roasts, her "perfect" drink is a triple tall four pump nonfat no whip 180 degree mocha)

DISCUSS THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE STARBUCKS-RELATED IN THE OPEN THREAD. || Jump to second page of comments.

A Starbucks shift supervisor wonders about his forced transfer

A Starbucks Gossip reader sends this email:

"I've been with SBUX for four years now. A friend that works at another store down the road told me she heard I was transferring to a different location. I corrected her, telling her that I was only going over there to cover one shift. However, when I arrived at that store to help them cover in an emergency, the store manager greeted me and said, "You must be the shift supervisor that's transferring over here, it's nice to meet you."

"This is all very strange to me because my SM has said absolutely nothing about transferring to me. Further, we're understaffed at my present location, especially during closing shifts which I cover five days a week. On top of that, of all the shifts at my store I live the furthest from the supposed transfer location.

"Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does anyone know why a high performing shift who leads his store's coffee master program would be forced to transfer? Any ideas on what corporate policy is regarding this situation?

"Just wondering, I can't seem to get a hold of my SM. Thanks!" Anyone?

Starbucks customers in NYC are upset about the $2.01 tall coffee

Until Jan. 3, a tall coffee at a Starbucks in Manhattan cost less than $2. Then prices went up; customers are now forced to find two bills -- and a penny. One coffee-drinker tells the New York Times:

"It’s the stupidity of it. It’s what I’d call ‘the annoyance factor.’ It’s ridiculous. Why the extra penny? Who has pennies? Didn’t anyone think this through? Couldn’t they round down or even up? Why leave it at a penny?"

Apparently some baristas are helping customers by dipping into their tip jars for the penny -- "a practice that would cut the baristas’ income, if it continued," notes the Times writer.

Baristas in Manhattan stores -- what do you think? (Other employees and customers are invited to weigh in, too.)

* A Starbucks price increase to a not-so-round number

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Starbucks says it's not banning Blonde jokes

Some baristas were told by their bosses that they'd be written up if they were caught telling blonde jokes during the launch of Starbucks' Blonde roast. Apparently the warning came from "rogue managers," as Starbucks' PR department says:

Starbucks has no policy or directive to penalize our partners for joking about our new Blonde Roast coffee or any other product. We are not aware of a company meeting discussing this false policy nor was a meeting to discuss such a topic ever scheduled.

Discuss the inconsistent message -- you can't tell blonde jokes!/you can tell them! -- or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

Post your reviews of the new, lighter Blonde roast

It's Blonde day at Starbucks! Your thoughts on the new lighter roast? Are customers showing interest in it? Baristas: How many blonde jokes have you had to put up with? Tell all in this thread.

UPDATE: NO BLONDE JOKES, PLEASE! (This was posted in the comments, and backed up by others)

We were told at a Regional Rally there are absolutely no Blonde jokes to be told around the coffee what so ever. It will be a written offense if so. This came right from the RD's [Regional Director] mouth to about 100 SM's [Store Manager] so communicate back to our stores at our own meetings.

It's like the time they told us we could not refer to Via as instant it must be called micro ground but then wrote instant on the packaging...great idea!

JUMP TO THE SECOND PAGE OF COMMENTS

* Starbucks' lighter Blonde roast debuts in U.S.
* They were taste-testing it at Chicago's flagship store

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Any idea what this SBUX customer's beef is?

This is from the comments section on another topic:

I had a customer come in this evening to use a gift card because she "forgot to tell her brother she was boycotting Starbucks." I was attempting to inquire why, but all she gave me was "our HR person on 60 minutes rubbed her the wrong way." I tried looking up some clips, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Anyone might have an idea or leads? My co-workers and I are kind of curious because of how strange she was acting.

Starbucks' human resources veep is Kalen Holmes (photo above). Does she rub anyone the wrong way?

DISCUSS THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE STARBUCKS-RELATED -- including next Tuesday's "Blonde" coffee launch -- IN THE OPEN THREAD.

Having fun with the customers.

How are SBUX customers taking today's price increases?

The price of some Starbucks drinks went up today in the Northeast and Sunbelt regions. Any fallout? Or did customers shrug? (There's good news for Chicago-area Starbucks customers: their drink prices went down a bit because of a lower sales tax that kicked in with the new year.)

* What your Starbucks coffee habit is going to cost you over time. Join the FANS OF STARBUCKS GOSSIP group on Facebook and read the piece.

Small coffee roaster prevails in Charbucks vs. Starbucks lawsuit

A U.S. District Court has affirmed lower court rulings against Starbucks, which has claimed since 1997 that family-owned Black Bear Micro Roastery has infringed on its trademark with Black Bear's "Charbucks" roast.

The attorney who has been working for free for the New Hampshire roaster insists that "there really is no harm that can be inflicted on Starbucks by this tiny little company in Tuftonboro" using the name Charbucks.

Starbucks' response:

"We only filed the suit after a prolonged, but unsuccessful attempt to enlist Black Bear's cooperation and to resolve this matter without litigation. We are currently reviewing the ruling."

* Roaster of "Charbucks" beans prevails vs. Starbucks

From 2005: Starbucks loses battle with Charbucks roaster (summary only)

Happy New Year to Starbucks Gossip readers!

Thanks to Starbucks Gossip readers for a great 2011. Your "news tips" resulted in at least three stories breaking here, going viral and becoming headlines across the U.S. After 8 years, Starbucks Gossip and its readers still have the power to push SBUX-related issues into the national spotlight.

Three Starbucks Gossip posts that went viral in 2011:

* Starbucks confirms it's covering power outlets at some stores || Is this still happening? Please update us!

* Starbucks barista fired after his rant song goes viral || What are you up to these days, Christoper Cristwell? Let us know.

* Meet the grossest Starbucks customer in New York City || Is Mr. PeePee still masturbating in Starbucks bathrooms? I don't want to know!

DISCUSS YOUR 2011 OR ANYTHING ELSE STARBUCKS-RELATED IN THIS OPEN THREAD

Should 'Suzy Coffee' work at a licensed Starbucks?

A woman who calls herself Suzy Coffee writes to Starbucks Gossip:

I was a store manager for Starbucks in the bay area for over 3 years. During that time, we had an 80 percent store manager turnover. Some stores turned over managers 3 times. The pressure was awful, and we were never acknowledged for what we did or how hard we worked.

I ended up quitting a job I could have loved had there been some stability in upper management. Our DM’s were leaving and our RM was an emotional wreck. No one liked or trusted her.

I still feel this might have been a great opportunity for me.

How is working for the licensed stores? Do they differ in the politics, the pressure and the high manager turnover? I am considering a District Manager position.

Are they more or less supportive of their people?

Just curious.

Suzy Coffee.

Paging current and former licensed store employees! What advice do you have for her?

Court tells Starbucks to pay man $7.5 million for slip-and-fall accident

Here's what happened: Anthony Zaccaglin, 51, ordered his drink and walked to the other end of the counter to pick it up when he fell, hitting his head on the tile floor. The floor had just been mopped, and a store manager contends she had put out three "wet floor" cones. Other witnesses claim there was just one cone. The accident left the man with a brain injury. Starbucks says it's sorry the man was injured, but...

"We are disappointed with the size of the verdict as we made every effort to reach a mutually agreeable and reasonable settlement with Mr. Zaccaglin. We are reviewing the decision to determine what, if any, steps we may take in response."

* Man wins $7.5 million suit against Starbucks (San Diego Union-Tribune)

"This year the ones who work on Christmas day get a 'bonus' shirt"

Will it say ONWARD!? Tell us more!

The same commenter wrote in the thread below: "I'm hoping [Christmas Day] tips will be $12.50 per hour like 2007 (hint, hint Santa baby) but either way, it's a great day to work."

#12.50/hour! How's that compare to your store on holidays?

Dear church music director: Some of us *want* Starbucks to be open on Christmas day!

Another holiday season, and another person complaining that Starbucks stores (or some of them) will be open on Christmas. The headline on Florence Baptist Temple music director Jim Symons' rant:

CHURCH CLOSED, STARBUCKS OPEN ... WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Nothing, I say. You church has the right to be open on Dec. 25, just as Starbucks does.

I've frequented the Lake Geneva, Wis. Starbucks on Christmas Day for years, and will be doing it again this year. The place is packed -- and for a reason: People suffering Christmas/family Overdose want a place to escape for an hour or two, and SBUX is a good to place to do that. So, Mr. Symons, go ahead and find a church that's open, while millions of traveling American search for Starbucks that's opened on Dec. 25.

* Church closed, Starbucks open ... what's wrong with this picture?

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: 'Why working at SBUX was the toughest job I ever had'

Freelance writer Aimee Groth planned to pay her rent by putting in some hours at Starbucks. "My initial idea of working a leisurely part-time job was completely false," she writes. The young woman quickly learned that "this was going to be hard work. And a lot of it." Of course, that's probably no surprise to a good number of people who visit this site. Read her essay and discuss it -- or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

How are the Christmas tips this year?

I'm always a bit reluctant to mention tipping because it brings out the haters -- longtime readers know that -- but I'd like to hear how the holiday tips are going in this allegedly improved economy. Are you getting non-cash tips, too? What are they? (Homemade cookies?)

We've discussed this in the past -- but what do you do when a customer wants to "reward" a specific barista? Toss the tip in a pool jar, or let that person pocket the bill?

Customers: How much are you tipping this year?

Haters: Don't bother with the "why should I tip for coffee?" comments. We've read them before!

Thanks, Starbucks! I'll be drinking free brewed coffee in January in my 16 oz tumbler

My neighborhood Starbucks -- a fairly large store -- had only 6 of today's "12 Days of Gifting" special: the $19.95 tumbler that can be used for free coffee all of January. (I was up early, and got the store's first tumbler. The six were still in boxes.) How many did your store get? How fast did they sell out? || UPDATE FROM THE STORE: "There's only one tumbler left," the barista tells a customer at 6:38 a.m. || Jump to the second page of comments

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Which '12 Days of Gifting' specials are hits with customers?

I did the two VIA 12-packs for $11.95 on Thursday, and the Christmas Blend/VIA deal on Friday. What are the big movers at your stores? Customers: Which ones did you go for? Discuss SBUX's Christmas specials or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

PLUS, a note from Starbucks Gossip reader:

Just purchased a grande latte and an oatmeal at Starbucks this morning for the devilish price of $6.66. The barista wouldn't even read the total aloud. But she did say that the Number of the Beast is a fairly common total she rings up.

Is that true?