Enough with porn-surfing at Starbucks! Post anything else in the OPEN THREAD

You're free to add your two-cents to one of the hottest topics on Starbucks Gossip in years in the post below, but this OPEN THREAD is for Starbucks-related matters other than that. Post away!

Comments

[spence]

...getting ready for the holidays. Does anyone know what the decorations will be? I always get excited about the holidays at Starbucks. We usually have a few really cool retail products. And Via should be easier to sell because I point out that it fits in a stocking.

[baristamclane]

I refuse to discuss Christmas until after my favorite holiday (Halloween) has passed!

I tried the flavored VIA earlier this week. I think the cinnamon flavored is my favorite. With milk, it tastes like a CDL with an extra shot thrown in.

Mocha was a bit of a disappointment though, but I predict Caramel to be the top seller...

[TopSECRET!]

spence, this year holiday is based on a design by designer jonathan adler. We have some (RED) tumblers and a (red) starbucks card that were designed by him. His design is a black and white paisley print that is then blocked in by the color red. It's actually very neat looking, and it's quite classy, I think. The kd tables and other decor look like modern christmas gifts, either in a paisly print or solid colors. Red, Sea Green, Blue, and Green. I like the design quite a bit. We have a special Christmas Blend 'espresso' roast coming.

[TopSECRET!]

google image johnathan adler, view some the pics, and youll get the gist of what his design aesthetic is, that is what holiday looks like this year.

[Coffee Drinker]

Do you mean Jonathan Adler? I can just see the Pike St. SBUX with fushia pink silicone poodles. Will sure cheer the place!

http://jonathanadler.com/interior_design.php

No really, I'm sure it'll be nice. Glad the (Red) still going. I use that card often.

[TopSECRET!]

the colors are subdued! it's really classy lol

[winterene]

Is Starbucks going to forget its mistakes and start overbuilding again?

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/cambridge/2010/09/starbucks_aiming_for_the_heart.html

I'm concerned because this store is so close to two others. The final line of the article is particularly disturbing:

> “We think there is plenty of business
> to go around in the neighborhood,”
> Krum said.

That's exactly the type of thinking that (combined with the recession) let to the Great Starbucks Implosion of 08/09.

[Christinschu]

winter...Starbucks just opened a store 2 blocks from mine. Some would argue a bad decision. However, my store is still comping and the new store is doing the same exact level of buisness my store does.

We doubled our sales on the street. Just an example of good expansion.

[ABDULA]

If SBUX has the loot to open new stores why not take the rats out of the older stores and re-model them. Give us equipment that works, or transfer us to a new opening store that has all new equipment. My district has only had a few of our stores "touched" up, same old roaches and rats running around with expanded families...It's like a jungle down in our basement. what's good?? Not much at SBUX, full of cow milk and manure!

[Darth Sidamo.]

Ive also seen it go both ways with a new store literally splitting business in half. My area had many store closing because one store you could actually see from another. Both are real Starbucks. Many of these stores were built because Dunkin Donuts had bid on the properties and Starbucks answer was to outbid and open stores even across the overpass from existing ones.

[Christinschu]

Darth: yes it can go both ways, but you already explained the difference.

Opening those stores just so DD couldn't open: bad decision.

Opening a store because traffic patterns show they can do more business: good decision.

To me, so far, it seems new store openings are more good decisions than bad.

[.]

abdula is getting old... really?

[winterene]

Christinschu, where is the new store? I want to make sure it is on my list to visit. Thanks!

[Christinschu]

Winter, do I dare tell all the street my store is on?!

lol. new store is on 96th and Lexington in Manhattan.

It's a LEED store. Lots of reclaimed, reused, repurposed materials. Energy efficient. Beautiful store. I wish it were mine! (other than the 5x5 back room!!!)

[Christinschu]

btw for all that don't know: LEED=Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - an internationally recognized green building certification system

[James Connolly]

@TopSECRET!: Special Christmas Blend espresso? That's interesting. Think we'll be putting it in the hoppers and pulling shots with it?

Also, not a fan of any of the new flavored VIAs, except Mocha, which is pretty good and is the best of the lot. Can't stand the vanilla. It's cloying and unpleasant.

[Melody]

@Winter - There was a press release about the store on 96th in New York.

http://news.starbucks.com/news/fact+sheet+96th+street+new+york.htm

^ It looks beautiful. Does anyone know if it is a Clover store? It doesn't say so in the press release.

And Christmas Blend Via? I think I saw that rumor somewhere else too? At this point, anything is possible with Starbucks!

[Christinschu]

96th and Lex is not currently a Clover store, though I think it was built with clover in mind and may eventually get it. THough I am basing that solely on my own assumptions.

[yukonluvr]

well if you go through IMS and look up items, you can find out some of the stuff that wil be coming in the future. use search terms like hol11 or fy11 or such things. gingerbread biscotti will be back! same pastries. the to go cold cups will be back i'm pretty sure. also there may be a vegetarian artisan sandwich on its way. i wanna know more about setup. i love a classy christmas. and that would be so cool to use christmas blend to make our drinks. we'd be putting christmas in every cup :)

also, for some reason my store already got a box of the holiday shopper bags. they're cute. i guess

[Spazzy Starbucks Student]

So I knew about the flavored VIA coming out (I'm just a customer)... but what's this about flavor infused beans as well? They say:

"Just one sip and you'll savor the Starbucks® difference: high-quality Latin American arabica coffee beans, perfectly roasted to complement the carefully selected natural ingredients we've blended right in. "

Anyone know anything about this? Personally, I'm not big on the whole idea of flavored ("infused?") beans...

[javamaster]

Any SMs happy with their annual review? Got my highest rating yet my lowest raise....ever

[Barista Ben]

The Flavored coffee's are sold in grocery stores, Spazzy Starbucks Student. I don't know too much about them - nor do I care to know - I am not a fan of flavored coffee beans.

[dottie]

Tried the flavored coffee when the sent it to the stores. They smelled great but tasted awful. You couldn't taste the vanilla or anything. It just tasted like bad coffee beans.

[TopSECRET!]

Yes there is Christmas Blend Via this year.

The Christmas Blend Espresso roast is a whole bean offering we are selling. It's a special roast of Christmas Blend, perfect for making expresso with. It's only going to be sold at high WB stores.

[Coffee Drinker]

I now live in a one-Starbucks town, having formerly lived in Seattle and Tucson where Starbucks locations abounded. I go to Starbucks more often when there are more of then, even close together. The change in ambience of decor, view, baristas is nice. In some cases it depended on the barista shifts; for whatever reasons I've found that some of the "best" baristas worked early morning in Tucson; when I visited Boston area, and in Connecticut, they were all excellent. Having traveled the US extensively this year, I can say I've searched "Starbucks" on my GPS and pulled off accordingly. So maybe SBUX marketing knows these sorts of customer habits, via the registered SBUX cards of millions ; )

[CD]

@TopSECRET -

Is the Christmas Blend Espresso like the Espresso Regalo that was sold a few years ago around the holidays or something else?

I buy 1 or 2 pounds of Espresso Roast a week and sometimes swap it out with Verona but would be very interested in another option for espresso machines.

Can you tell us anything else?

[Doppio Con Karma]

@ CD
Try Gold coast in your espresso machine, really tasty.

[CD]

@ Doppio Con Karma

Thanks - I'll try that. I live in Chicago and am a fan of Gold Coast blend.

BTW, I have always liked the name you use on this site. It makes me smile.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

[caraz]

Gold Coast or Sumatra are the bomb for espresso if you ask me!

[Spazzy Starbucks Student]

Yikes, Barista Ben & Dottie. I can't say I'm surprised though; I'm surprised Starbucks is associating with flavored beans at all. Maybe that's why they're trying to sample through email.

On a semi-unrelated to Starbucks note (feel free to nix this if it's off topic)... anyone have any advice for at home personal espresso machines? Preferably at a "reasonable" price for a machine that will last. (: All this talk of Gold Coast & Sumatra espresso is sounding delicious!

[busybean]

don't know why my comment wasn't posted from last night, but ok, I'll try again!
Anyone know if the Gingersnap Latte will reappear and if there will be any sugar free syrup offerings for Holiday 2010?
Thanks!

[AlliSwan]

We just had our makeup store meeting today and tried the four flavored VIAs. Cinnamon wasn't for me but I hate cinnamon flavored things. The mocha was ok, I can see people buying it. I was the most excited for caramel which was terribly sweet (did anyone else think they tasted sweeter as the sampling/tasting went on? As though the artificial, oops I mean "natural," flavors build on the palate?) The vanilla actually tasted more like amaretto to me and reminded me a little of my beloved almond syrup americanos (albeit a watered down, overly sweetened version).

[erstwhile]

Anyone know the pay range for shifts in the Dallas, TX market? Considering a move, but have to be sure it's financially feasible.

[Mike]

@erstwhile:

Partner resources should be able to answer that question pretty easily...

[info!]

There is a partner pay website.

Go to lifeat.sbux.com log in.
Then go to pay/stock/savings and click on the partner payweb site log in.

Find your pay grade, and then your job assignment, and you can see the pay scales anywhere in the country for any position.

[shout]

anyone know if you can ring in multiple gift card on the new symphony registers

[ViaYum]

I got a sample of the Mocha flavored Via today - it tasted like stale, weak hot chocolate. I'll try the other flavors out of curiosity, but I'm not expecting much. I'll stick the 'regular' Via's, which can be good if you haven't had them in awhile.

[...]

i totally cant find the partner pay thing and I have looked all over that site. Could it be that it was down?

[(former) NJ_newbie]

1) Are any stores sampling the flavored via? I don't want to have to buy it just to find out it's nasty... (which I'm assuming it is, but hey, I'm hopeful)

2) Any chance Sbux will roll out a 'variety pack' of sorts? 1 of each flavor?

It WOULD be super convenient to use at work (I don't get to leave my job during the day to run out for a cup of real coffee...)

[Hipsterdufus]

NJ: All stores should be actively sampling during their peak periods this week! We get extra labor to sample.

I think the flavored vias are quite good when made with milk like a latte.

If you sample them you are supposed to get a dollar off coupon.

[Houston]

A dollar off coupon? We got coupons for a free tall drink of their choice with the purchase of it.

[Coffee Soldier]

Dollar off coupons are in yor sampling kits and clearly (at leaast her on the East Coast) say to dispense starting 10/7 on the packaging around the coupons. We have 4 day sampling events with balloons and designated samplers who were allotted extra hours for sampling for 4 hours at a time for 4 days.

[Coffee Soldier]

Hipster...when you make the flavored via like a latte are you just steaming milk and adding the packet or adding espresso too? I want to try that.

[meme]

i totally cant find the partner pay thing and I have looked all over that site. Could it be that it was down?

That is because only managers have access to that page. Just ask your manager to look it up for you or call the payroll number on your paycheck and ask them if they can tell you.

[Doppio Con Karma]

@Coffee Soldier
Just the via with steamed milk is pretty good. Exception being the vanilla, which just tastes super...fake I guess?

[Coffee Drinker]

Just checked my account and rewards. I went gold way back in March. Have gotten one 15 star free drink coupon since then despite at least 60 visits since. No birthday. I have 14 stars right now.

Yes I know it's "free" (not really, nothing is). I'm on a budget with Starbucks my only luxury; but, once again I'm close to a Starbucks fast for a few months. I'll buy that one last drink and have 15 stars again, see if they come through. One more chance, Starbucks!

Not complaining or dissing, only saying what is. In case the coupon fairies are listen'.

[Hipsterdufus]

@Coffee Soldier: I just steam milk and mix the via in.

It's quite good for what it is. I will be getting some for home.

[Monkeybrain]

Maximum pay cap for DFW shifts is $12. So if you want to be a shift for $2 more go for it.

[erstwhile]

Thanks Monkeybrain. I'm surprised Dallas doesn't pay more than that -- the same range as where I am now. That city has more people than my entire state, times 3. I guess I should be glad it's not less.

[TZ]

For the Starbucks employees- does anyone know where to find information about the anti-retaliation policy?