OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Your thoughts on this Starbucks vs. Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Latte taste-test?

Discuss this contest -- or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD. (If you're wondering, the Pumpkin Latte "judge" calls Dunkin' the winner, but with some caveats.) || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[Just sayin..]

It's a fricken latte... SHOULDN'T it taste like it has espresso in it and NOT just like a slice of sweet pumpkin pie?

This is a waste of time. It's like asking people which is better, chocolate or vanilla... you can't qualify taste.

[baristamclane]

Is it just my tastebuds, or does this year's pumpkin sauce taste different? Not complaining though, I actually really enjoy it.

It sounds to me that this "judge" probably orders extra-caramel frappuccinos on a regular basis. He/she seems to be swayed by the sweetness factor, and even then our sauce is pretty sweet, so I can only imagine that the DD counterpart is probably the most delicious cup of Type 2 diabetes available...

[Just had to say it]

VIA

[yukonluvr]

did anyone else receive rooibos iced tea in their orders this week? add vanilla syrup and it's delish!

[Jim Romenesko]

I'm watching a barista on his knees cleaning the undersides of the tables (and other doing other clean-up). Why the effort? Well, another Starbucks employee told me yesterday that Cliff Burrows is in town.

You'd hate to have a Starbucks exec see how the stores *really* look!

[winterene]

I have a question for baristas.

What is the latest you have been told regarding confronting people who are OUTSIDE THE STORE, OFF STORE PROPERTY, and taking photographs of the store.

Remember, I mean OUTSIDE THE STORE, OFF STORE PROPERTY.

Have any e-mails come down recently?

Anything in the manuals about this?

Oh, one more thing--I really mean OUTSIDE THE STORE, OFF STORE PROPERTY!

[Waltie]

Winter Winter,

Paranoid much? It's never come up, never been an issue. And if it's off store property, obviously it's not in any manual nor have there been any emails. My advice: Fight your own battles.

[shift misto]

ive been making the iced rooibus and vanilla since last summer, glad to see it on the menu, i won't have to spend so much time steeping!!

[Jo Barista]

Oh Goody,
The flavored Via samples came with this week's order. Big stickers with "Manager Only" to open. I thought I would have to call the suicide hotline for two of my fellow partners. High pressure selling much? Alienating regular customers in order to comply with direction to upsale, offer Via or just put it in the customer's hands and ring it up. Threats of write-ups or termination for those who can't channel their inner used car salesman or get their baristas to do so. Performance reviews based on Via sales.

The company has every right and even a responsibility to make a profit. That being said, Via must be obscenely profitable to push partners to the point of quitting just to relieve the pressure.

Look at the bright side though: those coffee tastings we seem to have totally lost time/labor for.....we will get to have Via tastings and Via education instead! And I hear that the next perk in this "year of the partner" will be "Via Masters" Yeah!

Resistance is futile.....

[TheGrassIsntAlwaysGreener]

Hey Winter2, the people at the Starbucks that told you not to take photos probably find you annoying. I don't even freak out if people take pictures inside the store. Most of the information can be found online and as far as the store interior itself, not much there to copy that's all that exciting.

[Fan of Spring and Fall]

I think I've run into WinterWinter once or twice in my travels with Starbucks. He strolls into the store and wants a free coffee because he the guy that trying to take a picture of every Starbucks in the country. He then proceeds to pull out an article from USA Today(the Highlights magazine of newspapers).

Gotta love the priveleged youth sector of our society.

PS If it's off store property I'm sure they can do nothing and there is no policy regarding such of which I am aware.

[yerbamate]

Winter2, your thrice repeated all-caps phrases have vexed me and I have forgotten your silly question. Why so contentious?

Also, off-property photography is not something anyone cares about. Settle down, big guy.

[Melody]

Winter, you can take pics in and outside of a Starbucks. I do it all the time. Starbucks freely permits non-professional photography.

If you find you're having a problem, send an email to press@Starbucks.com, get the policy clarified for you in writing, and have that with you on the day that you plan to take photos.

I really do take photos all the time. Several weeks ago, I happened to be in the Bellevue Starbucks (store 303) late, and was admiring the store's beautiful wall mural. It's a lovely piece of art in the lobby. I know the store is slated for a remodel, and I'm really really hoping that store design team doesn't wipe out the mural. I had a little camera with me, and since it was late and hardly any customers too, perfect timing to take nice unobstructed photos of the mural. A barista ran out from the behind the bar (a very young barista whom I didn't know. There is another store partner there Hallie or something like that who is sooo awesome and been there for ages and she knows me) and began to say, "Ma'am, you can't take pictures in the store."

I nearly laughed because it's been so long since that's happened to me. I said, "Yes I can" and provided her with the appropriate contact information of whom to speak to about this policy at the SSC - press@Starbucks.com. She literally stopped arguing with me. She left, went and talked to a co-worker (I couldn't hear them, don't know what was said), and that was literally the end of it. And I finished taking pics of the mural.

@Fan of Fall and Spring - At the times I've been with Winter at a Starbucks, we walk in like two normal people, order a beverage, and sit down and chat with our drinks. I don't think he's in any way 'privileged'.

[Stan]

why all the winter hate on this site? stop it.

[Alex]

I hope all of you baristas make it out okay after Round 2 of the Via Challenge. Seriously, I'll be writing my local guys some sympathy cards with a pack of Advil and some other goodies.

[Boston Starbucks Conformist]

Settle down. The new flavors make it easier to sell via. If you don't like your job, go sell clothes or some bs.

[Jo Barista]

@ Conformist

Actually I DO like my job, otherwise I wouldn't be there. My co-workers like their jobs too. We also like selling Via and introducing customers to it.

We loath pushing Via with a canned monolog (as in want fries with that?) on regulars we know have Via if they want it. We dread seeing customers cringe when the Via spiel starts, we cringe when the hateful looks start from the others in line who have to wait even longer because we are required to push Via on every single person, every single time, especially the jr. high kids getting their free ice waters. Hey kiddo, want some Sugar Via with that H2O?

[harmaa]

....Via Master? Are you bloody shitting me?

[Sheik]

Via Master, lol..

[Waltie]

There isn't going to be anything called "Via Master."

[I.Heart.Spirit]

What's this about iced rooibos? Is it coming specifically for being made iced? So exciting!

Still won't keep me from my iced orange blossom! Delish!

[SBUX1]

What's the predictions on this years Winter lineup? I'm wondering if we'll see a return of the Toffee Nut or Caramel Brulee, both seemed to do well in the past.

[SBUX1]

Sorry, meant to say Winter/Holiday.

[Seattle Slurp]

Caramel Brulee WILL be back for Holiday - hold on to your butts!

[SBUX1]

Interesting-- I hadn't heard that it was back for sure. What's the expected holiday begin date this year?

[bring my own mug]

while i was in line at starbucks 2 workers were talking about the new instant coffee.

they did talk about a via master...... so who knows, maybe there will be a via master!!!

i feel bad for you guys.......

[yukonluvr]

@I.heart.spirit - i'm not quite sure. my store received a box of iced rooibos tea (came in the same type of box as our iced black, zen, and passion teas). our sister store didn't receive any, so i'm guessing we got it in error? but maybe it will be a promo drink. not sure when. or maybe we'll be a test market. i wish i could know more!!!

[StLouieDrip]

When requesting a pour-over sometimes I'm told there is only one coffee available for pour-over. Other times I'm told I can pick any coffee I want. Why the difference?

And is there a special trick to help them remember to leave room in a pour-over? Most of the time they forget. But one special guy made me a very happy customer when he put my tall pour-over in a grande cup "just to be sure you'll have plenty of room." Ahh, thank you.

And lastly, I stopped by St. Louis Bread Co. (aka Paneras), and was invited to sign up for a customer card to track my purchases. Didn't cost anything to sign up, and I even got a free pastry just for registering. And they promised another freebie on my b-day. Did I mention it was free to sign up? Of course I thought of sbux, bah.

[spence]

I worked a different store today. They don't push Via at all. I wasn't asked to log how much I sold or text the sales numbers from the team. Without having to think about Via, I enjoyed my shift so much more.

[Jazzhands]

@StLouieDrip
When we do pour over, it's usually just whichever dark roast is the dark roast of the week or of the day. In my store, we don't offer other dark roasts, because we then have to mark out anything we don't sell, and we have a pour over already prepped, so we would wind up having more than we need at the end of the night.

We do the best we can with making room, but the recipe for pour over does fill to the top of the cup, so the barista just needs to dump some of the coffee out. If it's your preference, you can always ask for the tall in a grande cup.

Also, I'm not exactly sure how the Panera promo works, but at sbux, you can register a gift card, as long as you pay with that gift card, it tracks your purchases, you get a free drink on your b-day, and a free drink every time you purchase 15. And yes, it's free to sign up. The only thing you pay for is what you purchase.

[truth only]

Pour Over:

You basically HAVE to give whatever coffee they want BUT offer the bold first that is the bold that week.

The new "resrve" menu button takes you to the Clover Menu with "pour over" prices for any coffee bags you open.

tall: 1.75
grande: 1.95
venti: 2.45 tax varies.

[trixi]

Kind of off the subject... Anyone having problems with the frap roast pumps? We have 2. Both will pump down and then have to be pulled up to pump again. Very messy and not condusive to speed.

[Doppio con karma]

Trixi
did you hang on to the new gaskets that were sent to every store? Otherwise have your sm order the new syrup repair kit, sound like you have faulty gaskets

[baristamclane]

We don't use the Frap Roast pump in my store. We re-calibrated a mocha pump and use that instead (so we can use a larger container, and elminate the need to refill the containers during the am or after-school rush).

[trixi]

Hey, thanks you guys. Glad this was not a battle I had to choose in my store. Goodness knows there are oh so many!

[Jazz]

Woahhh no one is really talking about the pumpkin spice! Personally I like the versatility of Starbucks - iced, hot, frappuccino and the flavor is overall smoother. But in a bind I will settle for Dunkin Donuts (not to say I don't love them as much as a brand overall).

[Jazz]

ps. I think starbucks did change the syrup because on my cup it said they no longer use high fructose corn syrup and other artificial things. When did this happen?

[dottie]

Jazz that happened like 2 years ago....

[Jim Romenesko]

The latest PR beating that Starbucks got for taking TALL off drive-thru menus. ("Sneaky," says Time magazine.)

[GrassIsAlwaysGreener]

Jim,

Why the hate for Starbucks. Starbucks isn't the first to simplify a menu by leaving on the two highest priced sizes.

Try doing a search on all the community based things that STarbucks and the partners do everyday in and out of the stores.

[mornbecomes]

We had a customer today ask for a Strawberry Smoothie, no banana in the cup, (unpeeled) banana on the side. ...what would you do?

[Jim Romenesko]

>> Why the hate for Starbucks>

I hardly think that pointing to an article shows "hate for Starbucks." I could have also pointed to the USA Today article that says Starbucks' explanation for excluding TALL on the menus is "disingenuous."

Clearly, this is a PR fiasco for Starbucks. Everybody thinks the company is trying to steer customers away from the (second) lowest price drink and to the more expensive ones.

[Jim Romenesko]

...and for the record, I feel sorry for Deb Trevino, the Starbucks PR person assigned to dish the bullshit to the press -- which they're obviously not buying. Here's what the Time writer said:

"Since when does customer friendly translate into a watered down listing of only your higher-priced items? Note: Next time, just try making the entire board larger."

[spence]

@mornbecomes,
He paid for the frappucino which includes the banana. Let him have it anyway he wants. Same ingredients and less work for us. (no banana guts stuck in the blender.)

[Hipsterdufus]

it's just funny that it is just now becoming a "PR FIASCO" because these menu boards have been on drive thrus for at least 2 promos now.

No one seemed to care last promo.

It's just another example of the sensational media latching on to a story and over blowing it. The way some media outlets are framing the story makes it seem like starbucks discontinued the tall size all together, which is FAR FAR FAR from the truth.

I talked to a partner who was in the development of the current Drive Thru message boards, and they really talked about how customer after customer wanted PICTURES on the menu because when you are in drive thru just a text menu board didn't convey enough, well enough whatever. (I think cusotomers who need pictures on the menu board for drinks are idios, but that's just

So we dropped talls off the DRIVE THRU MENU BOARD. They obviously chose to drop something, and it would be BLOODY MAD to drop the LARGER SIZES.

I have worked in several different states and tall has always been the slowest selling size (well behind short of course).

Drive thrus, while a hefty percent of stores, especially in suburban areas, ARE NOT THE NORM! Some states have just a few handful of drive through stores, and areas with the densest starbucks per capita ratios have very few drive thrus (NYC for example). And keep in mind, the menu boards IN THE CAFE of drive thru stores still display the tall size. Most drive thru (in my extensive experience) have around a 50/50 or 60/40 sales mix. Meaning in drive through stores, a large portion of customers, if not Half, come in through the cafe. Meaning that they order off of boards WITH the tall size listed.

Soooo...around 50 percent of customers that visit LESS than 50% of stores order off of menus with no tall size listed. However, these customers no doubt also order in cafes from time to time and get to see that tall is in fact still in existance

Seriously...it is not that big of a story. Not even really worth the rant I just went on! It is not a grand conspiracy. Yes, its a decision that sacrifices towards larger sizes, but, uh, duh, we are a for profit company and larger sizes are more in demand than smaller sizes anyway..

This is the least starbucks haters have to worry about.

[Hipsterdufus]

" Note: Next time, just try making the entire board larger.""

yes that would be a BRILLIANT business decision..... pause..pause..pause...pause.....NOTTTTTTTTT

Larger menu boards require large frames which would require new mounting, installation time, labor time ect...not to mention all the wast of unused "small" frames and boards.

people really don't think about everything that goes in to "just getting some thing new"

[Doppio Con Karma]

"Next time, just try making the entire board larger."

simply amazing, a horrible idea with the expense of that for every Drive thru store plus the waste of disposing of all the old signs?
just fantastic business insight demonstrated by a Time staffer

[ncsm]

It never ceases to amaze me how uncritical some Starbucks partners are of their company's actions! You CAN be a loyal partner and still call out acts of corporate stupidity--in fact I would say that true loyalty DEMANDS such.

[shiftintejas]

Has anyone exercised their granted stock options? How did it go? What did the tax situation look like? Did you make any money?

I'm considering cashing in the ones I have that are vested in case the stock price goes down to 8 bucks a share again.

[Darth Sidamo]

50/50 split? Those drive thru lanes must have been hidden by trees or blocked by snow. Its more like 75/25 or higher. When presented with an option, most people will choose the seemingly most convenient one.

We do specialize in cups of liquid fat. And coffee asbestos.