Backpacker: I'll feel like I've reached heaven when I hear that Starbucks is selling VIA by the jar

When that happens, "I can measure my own amount of water, spoon in the amount I want and then savor the moment," writes Ray Ford. How about making his dream come true, Starbucks? Read "Starbucks leaves a bad taste in a very needy guy"

Comments

[Will]

Via is wreaking havoc on my intestines. I almost had to leave class early today so as not to explode.

[stargas]

What a wonderful story! A delight to read!

I am bravely about to try another glass of chocolate milk with VIA mixed in with it. I've been hesitating, though, because I fear for my stomach.

Last time, the worst gassy and explosive effects were over after 8 hours, but they lingered for a day. I am not a big coffee drinker. Maybe Ray the hiker has a more resilient stomach and is more inured to the gassy ingredients than I am.

Ray makes a good point about packaging, too.

I propose changing the name of VIA to "Cowboy Coffee."

[soydork]

i had a customer who worked on fishing boats read to buy a 5-gallon bucket of VIA if we had offered such a thing! D'oh!

[soydork]

read = ready

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

http://au.sys-con.com/node/1151659

And we thought the tipping debate was over.

[me myself and I]

So if I understand it right Minnesota law doesn't acknowledge the fact Baristas in low tip shifts are setting up the high tip shifts for their success (as in cleaning the store, preparing mixes, restocking everything etc.). This will lead to everyone wanting to work the high tip shifts and no one would like to close anymore. But since tip distribution would be literally impossible that way, Starbucks will either fight it or ultimately get rid of the tip jars in those states.

Sorry, but you can give your thank yous to your fellow suing baristas.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

If Starbucks gave back 10% of the weekly store sales among all partners as a form of "profit sharing," I think Starbucks would see all transactions being rung correctly and upselling and the average ticket increase.

[OCStarbucksLegend]

In coffee shops where tips are distributed by shift, they just bag the tips whenever a new person comes in or someone leaves and write the names of the people who are working in that period on the bag. When they go to leave, they divided the tips up amongst themselves. Not a bad idea.

[me myself and I]

Sure, and then you would spend hours dividing it.
And is the customer tipping the one at the register, or the bar, or the barista who is doing the dishes? Maybe we should all just get our own little piggy banks with our names on lined up at the bar and the customers can tip their favorite barista straight into their piggy bank. Or we really just get rid of all of it. I'm starting to believe we are about to sue ourselves out of one of the last nice perks we have at starbucks compared to other fast food outlets.

[Davidek Mahavishnu]

I have experienced severe farting since using Via. Anyone?

[me myself and I]

Davidek how do you react to the vivanno? i've heard the protein powder is a real killer, too. :-)

I would still love to know why that is.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Why do Starbucks products make everyone have GI problems. Maybe because Starbucks is a shitty company?

[Davidek Mahavishnu]

I never farted much to the Vivannos; I must be banana friendly.

[chloe]

same VIA issues. it's the only thing i've changed in my diet. it's horrible. i'm afraid of sphincter failure in the middle of a meeting.

[viaFart = VIART!]

Why hasnt starbucks addressed the gas rumor? maybe it is true.... if so, why hasnt the media picked up on it? that might but the kibosh on all the hard sell tactics... I'm just tired of feeling like Im being forced to buy or try something I already tried and it gave me gas! no bueno... just gimme my latte dammit!

[NES Partner]

Coffee is a known diuretic. I know if I need to go I have coffee. Everyone I've talked about this with knows that. It's a great to make sure I go before a long run. It's not a VIA thing, it's a coffee thing. Silly debate. :)

[eleanor abernathy]

A diuretic is something that makes you pee, not poop.

The guy in this article must really be addicted to coffee. If you have trouble enjoying beautiful scenery without coffee, I think there's something wrong with you. I like how he refers to the employee as a waitress.

[VIART!]

Well, everyone I know that has tried it has ended up with BAD GAS.... and from the sound of it, its happened to a lot of folks on here... Nice try though NES Partner... looks like they are trying to deny it.... Silly debate, indeed.... what was that potato chip that caused anal leakage? Is this along those lines? Let's hear your via gas stories...

[Massive Fart...]

Instead of selling VIA by the package or jar lets sell it by the BTU.

[Massive Fart...]

I can see it now…VIA is the next big cause of global warming. Al Gore better gear up for a new movie.

Or

Possibly we could harness the power of VIA as an energy alternative thus freeing us from the Middle East. Who knows, Starbucks could become an energy company.

[davidek mahavishnu]

It's not the volume of coffee...I drink a fair amount...it's the Via that causes the fartations; the brewed coffees are not fartatious.

[davidek mahavishnu]

Just think of the possibilities of Via with a spinach wrap! Even the computer slugs would be forced to leave.

The farting is a real issue though.

[Massive Fart...]

Starbucksgossip.com studies prove VIA is the world’s newest and most powerful laxative to date. It is pharmacists most recommended remedy for individuals who haven’t pooped in a week or more. Testimonials include a backpacker who stumbled on a latrine that appeared to be used by several hundred previous campers. He found out later it was one camper with a twelve pack of VIA. Incredible!

[davidek mahavishnu]

Bwaaaahahaha!

[Toro]

OMG...seriously? Any GI issues are in your head, not your a**, unless of course, you sit on your brain!

I've been drinking Via for months, now...and not a single issue to report. Nor have there been any issues amongst the team at my store, who have been drinking Via for the last several weeks.

[Davidek Mahavishnu]

Fart reports are pouring in from around the country. Maybe they should reformulate!

[Toro]

Davidek....those reports have been pouring in from around your butt...maybe you should wipe!

[NE Starbucks]

and Down the Drain it goes..

[Viart!]

Toro...

Your story would have a tad bit more credability if you didn't resort to childish attacks...

I did drink Via exclusively for a week and had painful gas and bloating each day.

Today is my second day on drip coffee and guess what? No gas!

Maybe its because its Peet's Colombian and I wasn't berated into buying via when I purchased it or maybe via just gives people BAD gas!

Im hesitant to believe your story because why (OH WHY) would any sane person drink via for "months"? No really... why???

Who thinks Toro works for corporate and it trying to cover this thing up?

Is your job on the line to sell this stuff?

PS Starbucks, Via is neither innovative nor revolutionary... its INSTANT coffee and its been around for DECADES... Stop looking for the "next big thing" and focus on your customers... Let us get what we want and get your hands out of our pockets!

no more via!

[144xxxx]

Hopefully Starbucks doesn't have to reformulate VIA because knowing Starbucks they'll have to do another testing market, then more training for the baristas about how to address the farting issue, more stupid challenges and sampling like no one business. And to top it all off, they'll probably tell us the new batch doesn't cause gas and then in a few weeks tell us it does. no thank you.

[Massive Fart...]

OMG, imagine the combination of putting a VIA in a Vivano. The mixture of protein powder, which has also been reported to give people gas, and a VIA could literally make a person a weapon of mass destruction. The Department of Home Land Security needs to check into this before there is a huge explosion followed by a mushroom cloud reported over a major American city.

Also, maybe Toro is a terrorist just protecting a plot. Did you ever think of that?

[Howard]

The gas issue is caused by Starbucks adding "micro ground" (read Turkish grind) coffee to the instant powder. Ground coffee is not 100% soluble, and is a powerful laxative.

[Doctor's Pepper]

Wow, I guess that guy is not alone. The other day a lady told me she wanted to buy Starbucks VIA by the bucket, because she wanted to have it THAT much.

[Dee]

I too have had very potent gas from the VIA coffee. It is the only thing I have changed in my diet and it is why I started searching google for info on the VIA and intestinal gas. I love Starbucks, but am not a big fan of the VIA coffee. They definitely need to bring up this issue. However, people react differently to different things, and maybe the majority of people react fine to the VIA --- just not me, sadly enough. :-(

Love the funny comments about VIA and global warming. Soooo funny!!!! Keep them coming. :-)

[Alex]

Gas, unbearable gas. Its actually impeded my ability to work at times because it was so painful. And for a week or two I thought I had found a good morning solution. :(

[Melody]

I don't remember even seeing this SG post when it was new, nearly 2 years ago. Well, this backpacker is getting his wish. Via in a jar is right around the corner (blog article on it in link to my name)