Starbucks says it's "doing something big" at noon next Tuesday. What is it?

"We can't tell you what's going to happen because that'll ruin the surprise," says Starbucks' website. To heck with surprises; we want to know now. Anyone?

Comments

[Marcus]

Venti is the new small
Mount Vesuvius is the new medium
Mauna Loa is the new Venti

jk--anyone know?

[J]

Anything related to Pike Place Roast rollout? Or will that have happened already?

Pike place is set to roll out on Tuesday and I think it is just a tall free coffee/sampling. Though I could be wrong, I'll check the portal.

[new cups?]

new cups? old siren logo updated? saw something like that at greenapronbook.com

wouldn't we have the cups in the stores by now then?
And for free stuff we would need to stock up accordingly. So we would know by now.
This will be something very small blown up huge to catch media coverage. Again. It's getting old, doesn't it?

Maybe a price update?

Or is this the way to introduce the new features of the starbucks card? They'll start Tuesday as well. Oh, and 30 minutes coffee holding time, and pike place roast (only us stores :-( )
We Canadians will be stuck with house blend 365 days from now on (sigh), and colorful touch-screens, did I forget to mention something? Oh, yeah, new beverage: focus on caramel macchiato (with whip anyone? Just had a customer ordering this last night...)

[Ken]

Maybe they are shutting down again!

I think we're reading into this a little too much. I think the message is meant for people who are unaware of the Pike Place roast coming to town and the new practices associated with it.

[catherine]

I wish that it was the return of the hand pulled espresso machines to all of the stores. It is something like smaple our new breakfast pastries.

[Starbucksrants.com]

It's the rollout of Pike Place Blend. They're going to be a having a nation wide "cupping" Howard and Co. will be in NY at the time for the initial rollout. For those of us in Seattle they will have a HUGE celebration at Pike Place Market. Howard will be jumping back into the Gulfstream and making it back to Seattle by 6 (that's got to be cutting it close). They will be closing down the market street for the celebration and Howard will be on hand. I'd hope they have some live music as well.

[Deusx]

If it makes ya feel any better, four Starbucks manager I spoke to had no clue what the website was saying either. So whatever it is, Corp is waiting till the last minute to inform them.

[starbucksrants.com]

@ Melody- You should wait until 6pm to go to the Pike Place Store, that's when the fun will be happening and Howard will be on hand at the original store.

I'm sure it is just something to do with the new Pike Place Roast. I agree you all are reading into it too much. But I could be wrong, who knows what Howard could throw at us.

I think they are altering the siren logo.

It's bizarre that they're inviting everyone to OUR stores at a very specific time...without telling us to staff accordingly...

[Catherine]

$100 to everyone who shows up ;)

"doing something big" in corp terms, when its a good thing, could mean something as little as changing store hours. I don't expect much from this at all. A new blend, a new drink, new logo, something that isn't really going to effect customers at all, with the exception of a possiabilty of a new flavor, or roast.

[Jared]

Starbucks is making their coffee taste good at a better price.

Starbucks coffee is overpriced, and not very good. They should work on that.

Dunkin Donuts is 3 dollars less and tastes better.

[Matthew]

It's a new reality show where you get to go out on a date with your favorite Barista...

[Nancy Luna]

It better NOT be about the new roast, because that's not a surprise. Shame on Starbucks , if this turns out to be a re-hash of old news.

[karizma23]

Has anyone noticed that the price of brewed coffee has gone up 1 cent per cup size? I noticed this early this week while at work (I am a barista) and found it interesting. Obviously Starbucks didn't do any advertising or press releases related to this ;)

[lo]

"Has anyone noticed that the price of brewed coffee has gone up 1 cent per cup size?"

yeah wtf was that!!!

karizma, sometimes state laws change and the tax rises. that happened in my state when there was a .25 percent change in state tax. it affected some of the drinks by a penny. that is one possibility.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER]

Don't blame Starbucks for your penny increase.

Taxes went up April 1 in many areas -- including Illinois, where I am -- and my drip coffee went up a cent or two with the next state/city taxes.

(Now let's get back on topic, please.)

[ohbee]

I can't believe nobody knows...
WE ARE GOING BACK TO SCOOPING!

Plus the new rollout for Pike's Place (new cups, pikes place blend brewed all day every day, 30 minute timers, old logo, Starbx Benefit Cards, NO NEW DRINK!)

Oh and Jared, my ASM just interviewed a man today that had just quit dunkin donuts a week ago. He said their manager picks donuts out of the garbage and puts them back on the shelf. Good luck going there.

[Dolce]

We got the new cups in my store and aren't allowed to use them until Tuesday. I'm confused - Did nobody else have a store meeting already to discuss the new coffee brewing standards and Pike Place Roast? I figured it was a nation-wide US thing.

Yeah, the new cups have the old scandalous siren logo (but without the nipples) and it says "starbucks fresh roasted coffee" on the circle. There is a brown band going around the cup too.

The new coffee standards are pretty cool. Supposedly we're going to be brewing coffee that was roasted only 2 weeks prior and ground that day. Any grounds that go unused each day will be tossed. There's a lot more to the change than that, though. I don't think all of it is a big secret. We've been telling our customers about it in order to get them excited.

[daniel]

My roomate works for Starbucks and just left the 2hr meting at corporate. She won't tell me. Anyone have a bribe we could use to get it out of her. Or a torture techinque that doesn't leave any visable scars?

[D]

Maybe I should have made my last comment more specific since it got deleted.

I meant, MAYBE, it's free coffee for our new Pike Place Roast...for a certain period of time? 5 minutes, 15 minutes, an hour....sounds legit to me.

[Organic Dopio]

Webmaster this will be my final post. You didn't have to be a jerk about deleting light hearted fun. You never have before. You allow so much trash talk about my bux the past year I've been following your blog, and don't allow a bit of humor? This is the last straw. I will be deleting this link from my favorites for good. No looking back!

[l.j.]

I think the altering of the Siren logo is meant for use on the packaging for the Pike Place blend only - at least that's what I got from the annual meeting.

[Melody]

The thing that I'm confused about is that Starbucks is going back to scooping PPR (so it seems) but what about scooping other beans? Maybe Starbucks will announcing more dramatic changes.

Btw, the new cups sound EXACTLY like the "to go" ceramic cups you can buy at the Pike Place Store. You know how Starbucks sells these grande ceramic mugs that are designed to look like a paper cup? Well, store 301 sells the same thing but with the original logo (with nipples) with a brown band, and it says "Starbucks Fresh Roasted Coffee", and then with a blurb about the siren on the back of the cup.

I'm looking forward to the new paper cups: I think that kind of change of pace is long overdue. Imho, "the way I see it" was beginning to get pretty stale.

Thanks for the tip starbucksrant. I will be at store 301 at 6 pm next Tuesday! Can't wait. Maybe it will be the second go-around of me trying to shake Howard's hands, only this time without me staring at him with big saucer eyes, drooling, because he's created something that I have a serious addiction to.

Starbucks is my crack!

Here's my guess: Starbucks will use the Hear Music system to broadcast Howard speaking to customers nationwide, live, to introduce Pike Place Roast. Why else would the website want everyone to be at the store at noon "sharp"?

[AmericanoMan]

Dolce, "tossing" the "old" grounds (unused ground coffee?)? I distincly remember from the original bin days that there was a sign that the "old" coffee was donated to local charities. Actually throwing out old ground coffee is a senseless waste and will lead to unwelcome "dumpster diving".

Also, all the stores in my area package the used grounds in the empty bullet bags and put them out for folks to use in their gardens.

I am looking forward to going in to my favorite/daily Starbucks on Tuesday--just hope the crowds are manageable.

[Michael Halbrook]

The new cups will include to-go splash guard inserts.

[Aengus]

Maybe McDonald's will buy Starbucks.

[Torontodude]

For us Canadians, which of the following applies to us and on what timetable:

* free refills on drip coffee
* Pikes Place Roast
* free extras on espresso drinks

[Legendary or Bust]

We are already using the new brown cups because we have run out of the green ones and we have truckloads of the brown ones in the store.

[daniel]

One word - "Sapdel"

Think - "Spork"

[Torontodude]

re: Coffee Standards

Yesterday, I talked to the owner of a great indy coffee place in the Beaches, here in Toronto. They roast grind their own coffee on the premises, in full view of the customers. And they grind it just before serving.

He said he did not view Starbucks as competition...though there are two Starbucks stores within a few blocks. He dismissed as "marketing hype" all of Starbucks talk about coffee bean quality. His point was that coffee should be consumed within a week of roasting and a few hours of grinding.

If that's not done, he said, there will be a marked deterioration in quality -- no matter how good the coffee bean was originally.

Does he have a point? And is Starbucks addressing it with the new standards?

BTW, the owner also said he and Starbucks are no longer in the same business. He said Starbucks had been in the McDonald's/Dunkin Donuts space for several years in terms of quality. But he did sound a little concerned when I told him about the free refills.

[Torontodude]

(correction to last post)

first para should read:

"Yesterday, I talked to the owner of a great indy coffee place in the Beaches, here in Toronto. They roast their own coffee on the premises, in full view of the customers. And they grind it just before serving."

Indeed those concerns are being addressed.

At least pikes place roast will be roasted within a couple weeks of being brewed. It will be ground within a few hours and scooped within a few seconds of brewing...

Maybe it's a limited edition free spoodel for every customer???

[Mark]

all it is is Pike Place roll/brewing coffee and don't be fooled by Howard and his advisors because this is just another way the company is cutting back and watching the pennies one by one. Most of our customers and partners are so blind and brainwashed to what this company is really doing. Here is a good question: Did all that coffee that customers purchased and was shipped to our hardworking U.S. Troops in Iraq? Does anyone have any comments?
Folks, you will be suprized!

[Dan]

Full body lattes!

top pot donuts
pike place roast (followed by price increase)
registered card benefits

oh the possibilities.

[Amy]

It's something about Spring Phase Two, which starts on Tuesday. More than likely the rollout of Pikes Place Roast. I heard a rumour that we are getting T-shirts again too. The new Top Pot vanilla caramel doughnuts are the bomb, I hope they stick around for a while. Maybe every store will get a Clover at 12noon sharp on Tuesday, that would be cool!

[roorah]

spring phase 2.
pike place roast.
getting rid of COW.
temporary change of logos on cups and stuff (going back to the old ones)
registered cardholders get all these benefits and stuff

[Yes]

Mabee they are FINALLY killing of the frappuccinos, I dont care, cause I dont work that day. Ps, Pikes Place SUCKS! Instead of grinding coffee 1 hour a time, we now double our workload. How about a f***ing raise across the board?

Hej Torontodude, you might be one of my regulars. Give me a hint, please. Like your regular drink for example.

Yeah, I was wondering about that, too.

There were some stores here that were doing the Coffee for Troops during the Whole Bean Sale, but did that actually go to the troops?

Who was responsible for making sure that happened?

Just curious. I, sadly, wouldn't be surprised if all that coffee somehow ended up in the back of some barista's car or even back on the shelves ready to be sold again.

Sad that I would even think those things about Starbucks.

This company has gone downhill so fast, nothing really surprises me anymore. With the tips lawsuits and the bad PR over the layoffs, it sure seems like Starbucks is a bad company to be affiliated with.

[canadian]

Since Starbucks will only be brewing a handful of their blends, I feel really bad for the farmers of blends we won't be featuring anymore. What happens to those farmers who provide Colombia Narino Supremo, Guatamela Antigua, Breakfast Blend ETC. They are counting on sales from 1LB flavorlocks only from now on- good luck to them.

And those PESKY warming ovens are arriving in our canadian stores afterall. I think this is the WORST move I've seen- offering a product we don't stand behind. All for the sake of getting our moneys worth for buying these expensive ovens. I think if they truly stood behind their mission statement and everything they've said recently about why the sandwiches are a mistake than they wouldnt want to tarnish a single store more with that nasty smell.

I hate to say it but so far all Im seeing is A LOT of contradictions! Espresso Excellence was 2 steps forward and this Daily Brew is 3 steps back. A scoop doesnt make our coffee fresh- stop calling it fresh. Fresh is grinding within 4 hours of brewing- who knows WHEN this was ground. BIG THUMBS DOWN.

[Bubka Penus]

Howard was in Orlando today and he said we will revolutionize and reinvigorate coffee. He is quite inspirational.

Coffee for the troops was not a starbucks event to increase sales, it was store by store, and speaking from our store alone, we did ship every single pound that we got, and 60 pounds of partner markouts for a total of over 450 pounds. It was pretty darn expensive too... trust me, if anything we will give our markouts away, I have never had a partner need more coffee then the 1 lb a week they get.

[S]

Its the new Pike Place roast, and the new "keepin it fresh" drip brewing process, no more 4 hr old Verona.

Its the new Pike Place roast, and the new "keepin it fresh" drip brewing process, no more 4 hr old Verona.

Posted by: S | Apr 4, 2008 4:04:40 PM

Now we get 4 hour old Pike Place roast! Yay!

[Darleen]

Who was responsible for making sure that happened?

Just curious. I, sadly, wouldn't be surprised if all that coffee somehow ended up in the back of some barista's car or even back on the shelves ready to be sold again

Are you kidding me??? You actually think that we put the coffee back on the shelf to be re-sold? I mean it, shame on all of you. What loyalty you all have. In my area our regional director had his assistant box them all up and ship them out, we were there helping box it up! This whole subject makes my stomach turn. Isn't it funny how quickly folks will kick you when your down?

I know for a FACT that all 350 lbs that we in Michigan collected for the troops in Iraq went directly there. I personally delivered it for a soldiers Mother who has a 'packaging party' nce every month, where they send packages to the troops.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster]

This thread is about Tuesday's "surprise" -- not coffee to the troops. Get back on topic, please.

Who was responsible for making sure that happened?

Just curious. I, sadly, wouldn't be surprised if all that coffee somehow ended up in the back of some barista's car or even back on the shelves ready to be sold again

Are you kidding me??? You actually think that we put the coffee back on the shelf to be re-sold? I mean it, shame on all of you. What loyalty you all have. In my area our regional director had his assistant box them all up and ship them out, we were there helping box it up! This whole subject makes my stomach turn. Isn't it funny how quickly folks will kick you when your down?

Posted by: Darleen | Apr 4, 2008 4:09:37 PM

Well, I mean, has Starbucks done anything very public that indicates they are loyal to either their employees or their customers?

First, the obvious: they fire a bunch of good folks because they say they cannot afford to keep them around and then they go spend a boatload of cash to acquire a new company that sells $11,000 machines. Starbucks was real loyal to those folks. New toys over people. Loyalty ALL over that.

Second, there was a recent post where someone was trying to make themselves better via college and couldn't attend the "training" night and then they were fired? Wow. Simply, wow. Starbucks allegedly loves to play up its Work/ Life balance initiatives, but obviously that's all false. Plus, they were simply not loyal at all to a longish-term employee. And it wasn't even proper training. Just a PR move.

Next, the whole tips mess. My God. They allowed managers to STEAL from their direct reports. STEALING! Great loyalty to the people that get paid the least for the benefit of management.

The loyalty to shareholders has been abysmal. They used to really go all out for shareholders and now you get a coupon for a tall drip. Yeah. They even keep kicking the shareholder further by remaining unprofitable and keeping the company in dire straits. The stock price is completely inexcusable.

Finally, the loyalty to the customer is even worse. I mean, they can't even train up some people to make a decent cup of coffee and treat the customer well. Hell, even a simple "Hello" would be nice. But, no. You have some folks who don't want to be there at all, and then some people who want to talk your ear off. Then you pay a few bucks for a subpar drink. Loyalty to the customer, indeed. Yeah, right.

Don't talk to me about loyalty, Darleen. When Starbucks becomes loyal itself, then various people can commit some loyalty back to Starbucks itself.

Plus, what's all this about kicking the company when it's down? What Starbucks did has put it in this position. The phrase "you've made your bed, now it's time to lay in it" comes to mind.

Starbucks broke the law, Starbucks has hideous customer service, Starbucks has subpar offerings, Starbucks treats is employees bad and Starbucks needs to learn what being a service industry corporation is all about. When Starbucks realizes these things THEN people won't rag on this company.

Plain and simple.

[Steve Scott]

Starbucks is over. So over.

[ILVSBUX]

I would think they may want the stores staffed and prepared for this. I mean the schedule is done and if we get a huge crowd from this it could be a problem if we aren't prepared to give the best customer service ever with plenty of partners on the floor. YIKES.

[Northern Latte]

RE: Starbucks is over. So over.

It's funny though....that all the non believers will be the first ones in line at 12:00pm to see what happens!! Then if it's not up to their expectations be on here writting about it at 12:15p probably from one of our cafes complaining how Starbucks has dissapoint them yet again....I think it's great there is a surprise looming or even if it is a big hype for Pikes Place then kudos to our PR team for putting something different into Americans thoughts rather then the tipping scandal for a day!! It takes a long time to right a wrong turned ship!

[LLVSBUX]

I love some of the comments. A free spoodle to every customer is my favorite today so far. Whoever posted I am coming to your store for the spoodle since I can't seem to order in an extra one, you must have them all.

[Northen Latte]

We actually got 3 spoodles in out roasting plant order...they must think we're going to break or loose them quick!...My partners wrote a spoodle song...I'll have to get it and post it...pretty humerous!

[sample cup]

I'm loving the Spoodle!! My store is already doing the new "Daily Brew" procedures, except for not using Pike Place Roast or scooping it for retail in the mañana.

As for losing Spoodles... ummmm... how??? We got at least 2 in our delivery, yet one guy at our "Daily Brew" meeting was all, "Ummm, so how much does a scoop from your spoodle weigh?... in case we loose it?" I know that they won't last forever, but seriously, if ya truly loose (not misplace) that sucker, you don't deserve to drink coffee.

For some weird reason, everytime I hear the word Spoodle, I am reminded of the old Charms Blowpop commercials they would play during Saturday morning cartoons back in the day. (*Pop* IT'S A SPOODLE! )

[sample cup]

I'm sorry, I just had to youtube a commerical... I had it a bit wrong.

*pop*
THAT'S A SPOODLE!
(Say from Starbucks... cut cut!)

omg, another idea... wouldn't it be HILARIOUS if Starbucks totally Rick-Rolled each and every store at precisely noon eastern time. C'mon, you know you'll be ROFLMAO

=========================================

Free Iphone to the first 200 people thru the doors.

=========================================

To kick off their new APPLE I tunes deal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~ FREE WIFI - WITHOUT EXCUSES ~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[JJ]

The actual promo "Spoodle your way to good coffee" (think the spoon your way to good health via vitameatavegimine)

Really, its just free coffee. Not all stores have a TV so its not a giant promo, its not a theatrical transformation, its just a wake up call to all the customers who come in, who may have been there just the night before, that we really are changing, we have a new roast, new cups, new signs, new merch, new shirts, new pastry, but most importantly new outlook. We are Starbucks, the number one coffee company in the world and this is who we were, and who we are again. A pledge to quality, and service, more consistently, and with greater purpose. We are for the customers, and this is a way to say thank you, and give you an indicator as to where we are going, by growing big while staying small.

Oh, and if anybody looses the spoodle a short cup works also. ;) See you Tuesday!

[PROUD BARISTA]

Yea, the significance of the noon time is a mystery even to Starbucks retail partners, so it's really gonna be something special.

[please stop]

can Jared, and others like him, please, PLEASE STOP comparing a $5 espresso based beverage with drip? When idiots like this say that Starbucks charges $5 "for a cup of coffee" and Dunkin' only charges $2, they are comparing two different drinks entirely. I can't believe this idea is still out there. Idiots!

[Joe B]

I believe it's the "go time" for the distribution of the "brewed coffee cards" that were received in the Spring 2 promo kit.

They're good for free coffee I believe. Nothing huge.

But, once again...free advertising much?

[Marcus]

Noon? That's no-man's land. I could be there in the morning or the evening, but noon? Nobody drinks coffee at noon. And I'm at work.

I guess it's for you west-coasters, god knows you guys are early birds though, they could have made it at 6 am western and 9 am eastern.

... it's closing time...

[Jake]

I don't see anything on the starbucks website about this...however there was a bulletin (Licensed Store) for us that described what is happening. I won't go into specifics, but it isn't very exciting.

And yes, the brewed coffee cards are good for a free tall coffee every wednesday for 8 weeks.

[Herman M.]

yes, Marcus, noon.

Whatever else you may say, this is to drive some business in at a time when folks may not think of Starbucks.

And that time is noon. That's when we gave away ice cream, that's when most stores are not in a rush.

Sorry you can't make it. Oh, and I drink coffee at noon. And just about any other time as well ;-)

[Torontodude]

Anonymous wrote:

"Hej Torontodude, you might be one of my regulars. Give me a hint, please. Like your regular drink for example.
Posted by: | Apr 4, 2008 3:30:49 PM"

Aw, I'm too shy. And the drink would give it away. Do you expect instant de-cloaking? That would spoil all the fun. Can't we drop tantalizing hints for a while?

Let's just say I usually stay for a long time and read at least two newspapers. I could also mention a certain item I usually carry.

I could, but I won't.

Over to you....

[MusicGal]

Okay, so you guys totally jumped on Vicki Verona for spilling "company secrets", but here you are (including good ol' webmaster!) trying to get us to 'ruin the surprise.' Way to go, guys.

[coffeespoons]

looks like everyone has about covered "the secret." unless it's something partners are unaware of. and YES we are getting t-shirts, which say things like "FRESH" and "BOLD" on them.

[dc]

is it the donuts maybe?

[A1]

I saw the new cup today. The religious right is going to flip. No, really, they are white with a brown logo, and yes, the siren is, well, more siren-like. If you don't like the cup, don't worry, I hear it is only around for a couple months.

[MusicGal]

"I saw the new cup today. The religious right is going to flip. No, really, they are white with a brown logo, and yes, the siren is, well, more siren-like. If you don't like the cup, don't worry, I hear it is only around for a couple months."

Excuse me, just why is the 'religious right going to flip?' If your referring to the (partial) nudity of the siren, well, have you been to the Vatican Museum lately? I mean, come on, at least half of those statues are nude! It's not like the religious right thinks nudity is a bad thing or anything.

If I misconstrued your statement, and you *weren't* actually insulting the religious right (which I doubt), then I apologize.

The religious right is up in arms about most of the stuff that starbucks does... from supporting 'the gays' to printing up cups that say heaven sounds boring.

Remember these are also the people that flooded the FCC with emails calls and set forth lawsuits on everybody involved in the Janet Jackson incident a while ago, over 2.5 seconds of a single nipple, this half naked woman on cups that are mass marketed there is bound to be some religious nut that calls out Starbucks on a national level, and then everybody and there mother will get involved.... fun fun.

[Joe B]

Like I said...free advertising...genius.

No doubt the old siren will make headlines. Just read the LOGO section of this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks_Coffee

[Jean-Luc Picard]

new rhombus-shaped mugs!

[sherrie]

No rumor Amy, we are getting shirts. I got mine yesterday.

They're MUCH nicer than the holiday shirts. I really like them. =)

I'm so excited to start brewing Pike's Place. It's SO good. I could drink cups and cups of it. Best blend I've ever tasted.

Everyone show your SPOODLE SUPPORT!.
Yes, that is our spoon/ladle for measuring coffee.

Sorry, but j'aime la spoodle.
I'm upset that us here in Canada are getting Pike Place Roast, I was looking forward to a new roast.

[Darleen]

Will,
You're right on the money in my opinion. We all know of one or two partners that couldn't make it to the meeting and were not fired, so I'm sure there is more to that story. If this poster is also the poster who belittles baristas at every turn it's no wonder he/she doesn't get a cheery hello. How can you honestly like someone with that type of attitude, I'm sure it shows whenever he/she is in the store. Now he/she will come back with some witty remark like "I pay your wages so you better be nice to me, and don't speak unless I tell you to" I'd love for any of the naysayers to give me the name of another company that gives it's part timers total health benefits. Hell, I know some full time people in great companies that do not have the benefits we give our part timers. Then to say shifts are STEALING, that's a bit over the top. No one is going in the safe stealing tips, they have been shared tips for years and before this one bitter employee started all of this, no one had a problem with it. Shifts work hard, baristas work hard, if a customer decides to tip it goes to the team that helped provide the good experience that customer had. This anonymous poster obviously has an axe to grind as does incensed barista and bastardized barista. It's kinda like the three stooges with an agenda. Pathetic.

Darleen,

Once again, and I'll say this with small words so you can understand:

In California, legally, shift supervisors were stealing from their subordinates.

Regardless of how long it had been going on, there is a law on the books that Starbucks allowed its stores to violate by implementing a policy that stated Shift Supervisors were allowed to receive tips.

When someone takes something that is not theirs, that is stealing. The Shift Supervisors have been taking money that they had no legal right to take. Starbucks is an accomplice by allowing it to occur in their stores by their employees.

And, I'd be bitter, too. I mean, when you have a company say that the policy is A, and A contradicts the law, and you feel almost powerless to change it without a lawsuit, then that'd probably turn you bitter, too.

Clear and simple: it took a lawsuit to expose this theft, and I'm glad more of these are popping up in other states. The lowest on the totem pole need to get what they deserve and not have things stolen from them.

Again, for clarity and understanding, Darleen: When someone takes something that is not theirs, that is stealing.

I hope you understand this.

PS: Some things are more pathetic than others. Like lack of comprehension. Or working in a Starbucks past college-age. Either way.

"When someone takes something that is not theirs, that is stealing."

Despite what you say, the FACT remains...

That customers ASSUME AND INTEND (many of the times) a tip will to go to that certain "barista-that-happens-to be-a shift".

Diverting those tips to ONLY "baristas-that-aren't-shifts" WILL BE stealing in CUSTOMERS minds.

That's the problem with pooled tips.

To Ohbee who said 'NO NEW DRINK!' and others who might know:

What about the Venti Big email that I received? Anybody know anything about that?

[Bee]

Tuesday's event is, in fact, a nationwide coffee tasting by Howard in Times Square. The bucks is going to build a mockup of the Pike Place store in Bryant park and have a big event there, with Howard kicking off the new roast.

[Detroit Barista]

Anon@ 6:15

I don't know what your personal beef with the company is, but please don't characterize all shifts, and anyone else in a position higher than baristas as villains who made a conscious decision to steal tips from baristas. That's simply not the case, nor does such a scenario make sense. We are not evil people. Regardless of one's opinion on the ruling itself, it was a good-faith error on the part of the company.

Also, the dig about having an hourly-wage type job/not having a college degree by a certain age? Pretty classist, and not cool. Do those same opinions hold true for everyone else in the service industry over the age of 22?

Article about Tuesday:

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/04/05/2008-04-05_new_starbucks_brew_set_to_debut.html

why are people still running their mouths about the tips thing?

i have yet to hear any actual starbucks store level employees say they think shifts don't deserve tips.

Posted by: | Apr 5, 2008 6:15:32 AM

If you were right, we'd agree with you...
Just sayin...

[pdx_barista]

from starbucks.com

We're doing something big in New York. Like venti big. Starbucks is putting together a huge celebration. We can't tell you exactly what's going to happen. That'll ruin the surprise. All you need to do is go to Bryant Park on Tuesday, April 8 at 11a.m. There's no need to click or respond to this e-mail. Just come by, bring some friends and be prepared for something big.

Don't worry if you can't make it. Just go to any Starbucks on April 8 at noon Eastern time/9a.m Pacific to be a part of the exciting celebration.

[z]

to anon april 5, 12:33

someone did agree with them. the judge. making them (drumroll please) right.

just because you don't like the law or disagree with it or think you work really hard, doesn't make it any less the actual law. that you are breaking. period. end of statement. I don't see how there's continued argument about this. the ruling is clear. starbucks shifts, and by extention, starbucks corp is liable for the tips stolen from baristas.

[StLouieDrip]

Torontodude:
His point was that coffee should be consumed within a week of roasting and a few hours of grinding.

If that's not done, he said, there will be a marked deterioration in quality -- no matter how good the coffee bean was originally.

Does he have a point?" And is Starbucks addressing it with the new standards?
==================================

Yes, I've also read/heard the same. Of course many coffee drinkers can't tell the difference, but countless ones with more discerning palates certainly can, absolutely. Most people who are very picky about their beans toss them after 2 weeks, and replace them with fresh-roasted ones. A good experiment would be to get some beans and let them stale (3-4 weeks), and then get some fresh-roasted beans ones of the exact same type, and do a taste test for yourself to compare them both. (By the way, the peak of flavor is 2-3 days after roasting.) Also, some wouldn't think of grinding their beans several hours before brewing it, because its flavor starts to deteriorate even more rapidly as soon as the beans are ground.

And yes, that's what some say has contributed to the decline in the quality of starbucks coffee, and it's what starbucks seems to be trying to address with some of these "new standards."

[Jim]

Are the new white sleeves with new/old logo part of the deal for Tuesday?

"PS: Some things are more pathetic than others. Like lack of comprehension. Or working in a Starbucks past college-age. Either way.
Posted by Anon | Apr 5, 2008 6:15:32 AM

Whatever! Many people actually feel that hiring OLDER people would HELP the customer service. What do you think of that?

Z -- there IS continued argument with this -- any law can be overturned. Duh! These California baristas who filed this frivolous suit are not unlike the red revolutionaries who revel in their victory over their neighbor. Disagree?

I am already disliking the brown cups because the brown is blocking the syrup box -- the same was with red cups which I dislike for this exact reason

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster]

This topic is about Tuesday's "surprise" -- not the tips lawsuit. I've deleted several posts about that. Take your tips comment to the appropriate threads, please.

[Pat Nerr]

Topless Baritas dressed in brown siren costumes will be serving Pikes Place Roast and collecting tips with the new brown cup.

[Anon]

Wow you guys are just getting your shirts and cups and such?

We got the shirts, signage, and all the merchandise early in the week. We've had the spoodle for a while now, as well as the pike place roast, but we haven't started using it yet.

And it's nothing special going to happen, that's for customers!!! God why do people keep thinking that!

Didn't you know theres a free coffee giveaway on the 8th?!?!!??!

DONT YOU PEOPLE GET EMAILS AT WORK

[coffee_master]

omg. howcome i dont know anything about this??? no partner or even customer mentioned this to me. that sucks. anyway. im off on tuesday =( so i cant participate on that thing as a barista. although ill go to the starbucks close to my school early morning to witness the "big event" oh im super excited. i hope theyll have a short brown cup and not just tall/grande/venti.

"Mabee they are FINALLY killing of the frappuccinos, I dont care, cause I dont work that day. Ps, Pikes Place SUCKS! Instead of grinding coffee 1 hour a time, we now double our workload. How about a f***ing raise across the board?"

If merely brewing coffee twice as much is doubling your workload, I don't think a raise is in order.

[Melody]

Coffee_master - There is definitely a short brown cup. I just was at a Starbucks that was using their brown cups early, apparently having run out of the supply of the usual paper cups.

[Darleen]

Darleen,

Once again, and I'll say this with small words so you can understand:

Like I said in my previous post you came back with what you hoped to be a witty remark. Yet again you just make yourself look foolish. You really should try to focus some of the energy you waste here belittling people on something worthwhile. Again you shouldn't assume my age or what my role with this company is. I stand firm in my belief that your lot in life (from your angry,demeaning posts) is pathetic. You see anonymous I can debate and go toe to toe with you if that's what pleases you. However you must come armed with some wit and some substance. All you have brought forth so far is condescension and to be quite frank, it is starting to bore me. So you can speak with as many small words as your small mind can come up with but unless they have some merit I will continue to believe that you are just another pathetic lost soul who can only feel good when making others feel bad. In my opinion that makes you the loser. Be careful not to kick any small children or animals in your path of destruction today.

[Legendary or Bust]

Darleen, I must say I am astounded by your capacity to withstand this ridiculous poster. I would have blown up long time ago.

[Darleen]

Again, for clarity and understanding, Darleen: When someone takes something that is not theirs, that is stealing.

I hope you understand this.

Oh thank you for clearing that up. Let me toss this at you, is it stealing then if the actual tip was intended for the shift, yet the barista shared in that? Please, you do not know what you're talking about and it is obvious. Again, come armed or don't play at all.

[Darleen]

Darleen, I must say I am astounded by your capacity to withstand this ridiculous poster. I would have blown up long time ago.

That's what this person wants us to do, it's called baiting. I'll debate him if he actually gives me something worth debating. So far he is just showing ignorance and trying to rile folks up. Probably was the schoolyard bully.

[Darleen]

Webmaster,
I'm sorry if my posts were not on topic, but I hope you will not delete them as I really would like for this anonymous person to read my response. I respect that it is absolutely your decision to monitor this thread. I mean no disrespect to you.

[Marcus]

I asked the friendly guy at my Starbucks this morning what's happening on Tuesday, and he said nothing. And I said but I got an e-mail that something big is happening at noon. And he said something about Pike Place Roast, and he had to be there Monday night to unpackage it and so the promotion might be about that.

I was surprised that they were surprised that I was asking about it. Maybe to them, they get tired of these gimmicks.

[waltie]

Also, it's supposed to be a surprise. So it makes sense that nobody would, you know, answer.

[Barista Man]

False hope in believing people who didn't like Starbucks wouldn't post on a non-hate Starbucks website. Don't you have a job? I do, and I am going back to it.

Darleen,

You've had the Koolaid, and that's okay. Starbucks is your world, and while that's probably not the healthiest thing to surround your entire life with, you've done it and that's that.

I do not need your opinion on whether you think what I said was witty or not. For the record, it wasn't meant to be; you completely missed the point.

Everything I've said is true: Starbucks has done each and every one of those things. You're becoming defensive, as anyone emotional in your position may or may not become, at the fact that your precious Starbucks is being criticized. Instead of stepping away from your emotions, you decide to react upon them, as evidenced by your most recent comments.

From all of that, you have clearly shown your are not capable of going toe-to-toe with me and that's okay, too. It's better if you understand your shortcomings and make the best of them instead of trying to overextend yourself and come off looking foolish.

As for my original point: stealing is stealing. When I take something from you that doesn't belong to me, that's stealing. I can't believe you'd defend the company when its policies have been illegal and shortchanged some of the people you work with on a daily basis.

Oh, well. So much for ethics.

PS: I'm done with you. I find you preachy, emotional, arrogant and self-entitled when you have no position to be, and that's just not acceptable. I hope to never be served by you, frankly, because I'd just have to call your manager to see why they keep you on staff.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER]

This is the last Anon vs. Darleen post I'm allowing here. Get back on topic.

[nycbearista]

thought i'd come back and see how things were. same. maybe give anon his own flame-wars thread?

sheesh.

ON-Topic, since i am here, someone mentioned earlier that nobody would know when the coffee was ground. incorrect. coffee is ground fresh throughout the day, the same day it is served, so generally - within an hour or so of brewing, if my experience this week is any indication. We've been 'testing' the grind and scoop as you go and it is time consuming and annoying and you are in the way of the brewed coffee station more, which can interfere with serving of brewed coffee, but.... I started with 5 'bullets' ground at 5AM and by 9AM brewed completely through them and had to do more. further, we are day-dotting all ground coffee.

Maybe i'll check back in another week or so.

[Larry Davenport]

Starbucks will no longer allow tipping.

They should stick with coffee and ditch the "Green Tea Latte" BS.

[sbuxnewbie]

I keep checking the portal, and see nothing related to the Tuesday at Noon event.

Maybe we'll find out tomorrow...

[mikey]

According to my barista's, 3 things:
1) Special gift card giving you a free drink on Wednesdays
2) Pikes Place
3) They are going to grind beans fresh for each pot of coffee they brew

[Melody]

Just a small point for clarification:

Webmaster, of course your headline is that Starbucks is doing something Venti big at noon, but by visiting the website, it sounds like it is Noon eastern time, and 9 am pacific time.

So what does that mean? Is Howard going to get on the LCD and make an announcement at that hour?

My point being is that it is different if it is the same time everywhere, or if it really is at noon everywhere local time.

Hope this makes sense.

[Howdy Partner]

One thing I can say for sure is that come Noontime I am no longer on the floor. So I wont have to partake in anything that is possibly corny. And may i say that the Pike Place Roast tastes just like Colombian supremo to me. It leaves an aftertaste of black olives to me. YUCK!

[MusicGal]

It's hilarious the number of different "surprises" everyone has come up with here! And everyone is claiming to be right. C'mon guys, you can't *all* be right!

[waltie]

"I keep checking the portal, and see nothing related to the Tuesday at Noon event."

You're not looking hard enough. It's on there.

[mmmcoffee]

It's true about the new cups, sleeves, pike place roast, and grinding standards, as well as the "free tall brewed coffee every Wednesday" card. They will work until about the end of May - I saw them today.

[Lorenzo]

i just came back from tonight's meeting about: the pike place roast, 30 minute brewing standards, fresh scooping/grinding/brewing, new cups, new sleeves..

and most of all.......

:D

the splash sticks!

oh joy!

ever since i discovered them in a test market earlier last year in Tampa Florida, i tried everything to get our store to have em.

the new sticks suck.

but the 1st generation test market ones had a little small spoon at the end and it was a brighter green color. the new ones look dull, no spoon-but a rounded end, etc.

i'm still happy to get em. hopefully customers won't demand it too much, since they're supposed to stay behind the counter ;)

~lor ♥

[cylon the barista]

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28657

[Mikey]

PROOF OF WHATS GOING DOWN AT STARBUCKS TOMORROW
http://miketymikey.com/wpblog/?p=277

That onion thing is seven years old and the last sentence could have been written by Howard just last Friday. Spooky.

PPR, t-shirts, hold time, cups, spoodle, gift cards, "freshness," NY/Seattle event, free media, stock price-yup

Clover?

[coffeemasterchachi]

Pike Place Roast is going to be a primary for a while.

old school logo (for a few months so they say) and big deal pike place roast is already out in a LOT of stores. non story in the chicago tribune or whatever that paper was linked on the front page.

and new grinding machines and different batch sizes.

free refills if you register your SB card

[Johan]

Dear Uncle Howie,

I read the article abt Starbucks revival in time magazine.

Look you should do the same for starbucks in Jakarta, Indonesia !! Come on ,it is run by PT MAP who knows nothing abt coffee and Starbucks background back in Seattle.
I was in Seattle from 1990-1995, I knew what real starbucks coffee meant, and when I was there the experience was awesome then. BUT NOW HERE IN JAKARTA, despite Starbuck coffee is abt 15 min drives from my home, the coffee is CRAP !!! Sorry to say, I have been drinking coffee bean these days altough thats not the best coffee but still much better than Starbuck !!!

Indonesia grown some of the best coffee beans here, so what are you going to do ?

Regards

Johan
Jakarta,Indonesia