Starbucks Gossip

Press release: "Starbucks' new Full Leaf Tazo Tea Lattes are our first handcrafted tea offerings to use full-leaf tea bags in our stores."

That may be a big deal to tea-drinkers (I'm not one, so I don't know). In a press release issued Tuesday (12/30) Starbucks touts its Tea Lattes, available in three new varieties:
* Black Tea Latte, described as a bold, invigorating combination of black tea and freshly steamed milk;
* Vanilla Rooibos Latte, "a naturally caffeine-free infusion of botanicals that unites South African rooibos (ROY’-bus), Tahitian vanilla, sweet spices and freshly steamed milk";
* London Fog Latte, an intriguing blend of black tea, citrusy bergamot, French lavender, vanilla and freshly steamed milk.  || Read "Starbucks introduces new handcrafted tea beverages"

How a Portland coffee shop makes sure it hires the most cheerful and devoted baristas

Anyone interested in working for Ladybug Organic Coffee Company has to fill out a five-page application that includes 10 essay questions. More than 2,000 people have downloaded the application from the Ladybug website (I can't find it but here are the questions), more than 150 people have completed it, but only about 25 applicants have been offered jobs, including former Starbucks barista Tyler Cox, whose essay answers included his account of how he used finger spelling to learn the signs for a deaf patron’s favorite drink -- an extra-hot, nonfat, 16-ounce chai latte with five pumps of chai concentrate. || Read "An Application for Baristas That's More Than Milk and Beans"

Christmas Day Open Thread conversation-starter: Does anyone recall this Starbucks cake recipe?

Nat writes: "A number of years ago Starbucks had a recipe for a spiced Christmas cake available at their stores printed on a recipe card. The recipe required an amount of brewed Christmas blend coffee and other spices and was to be made in a bundt pan if I recall correctly. I have been unable to locate this recipe and was hoping you could help." Discuss this anything else Starbucks-related (including this SBUX vs. union story and the 401K story going public days after it was posted here.

Starbucks' new drinks debut on January 3

Here they are, according to a post on the latest open thread:
* London Fog Tea Latte (Hot)
* Black Tea Latte (Hot or Iced)
* Vanilla Rooibus Tea Latte (Hot)
* Apple Chai Infusion (Hot or Iced)
* Berry Chai Infusion (Hot or Iced)
* New Green Tea Latte Recipe (Melon is being discontinued. The drink will now be made with Classic Syrup. Water is also being eliminated from the recipe, as we will now be steaming the matcha directly into the milk).

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: You want to talk about 401Ks, according to e-mails I'm getting

One Starbucks Gossip reader writes: "On the company portal, a bulletin released 12/16 noted a change to the Company's 401k match.  For calendar year 2008, Starbucks will make a company match based on current policy; for CY2009, Starbucks will follow a discretionary match policy for the 401k. I think this would be an interesting thread for discussion." Please explain to non-Starbucks employees  who visit here what this all  means, and then discuss it ... or anything else Starbucks-related.

Jamba Juice challenges Starbucks with a new oatmeal offering

Jamba Juice now offers oatmeal with slow cooked organic steel cut oats at Chicago locations and will begin serving it nationwide at all its 749 locations next month. Jamba Juice's CEO says: "As part of our [promotional] campaign, we're reaching out to influencers like the food bloggers to compare Jamba Juice oatmeal to Starbucks’ product. We’re confident we’d win on taste and quality." Read "Jamba Juice to Give Starbucks Its Lumps"

Analyst: There are still plenty of "Starbucks snobs" out there, so buy the stock

Starbucks snobs are otherwise known as people who wouldn't buy their coffee anywhere else. Because of that fierce brand loyalty, analyst Pete Najarian has developed a taste for the stock. “The number of visits per month went up in November," he says. "I think by mid-2009 they could have things figured out." || Read "Coming From Behind in 2009: Starbucks"

Does Starbucks serve a Hanukkah Blend in some Jewish neighborhoods?

Gothamist.com senior editor John Del Signore writes: "I have a question for the Starbucks Gossip community! Someone tells us he bought a 'Hanukkah Blend' at an Upper West Side (NYC) Starbucks and the barista said Starbucks was selling it during the holidays in certain Jewish neighborhoods in NYC. I'm skeptical, but he did send us a photo of the cup (at left). UPDATE: Starbucks says in a statement... "For our customers celebrating Hanukkah, we offer a selection of Hanukkah themed merchandise including mugs and tumblers. We do not offer Hanukkah blend coffee, nor do we carry blue to-go cups in our stores." || Read "Starbucks Hanukkah Blend, The Sasquatch of Coffees"

(PART TWO) OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Are you in the holiday spirit yet?

By the way, you might notice that I removed a thread about the loss of opening/closing task hours; apparently information was that posted was incorrect. Carry on....

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Are you in the holiday spirit yet?

And how about your customers? A little less grouchy before their first coffee of the morning? Discuss grinches and holiday grins or anything else Starbucks-related in the WEEKEND OPEN THREAD.