OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Which holiday drinks are you loving?

The questions is for customers and Starbucks employees. Are people taking advantage of the buy-one-get-one-free deal? (I didn't see many takers yesterday at the two Starbucks stores I visited in the afternoon.) Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD. || Jump to the third page of comments.

Comments

[twvh]

christmas blend espresso roast, hands down.

[Providence]

Loving the Gingerbread Latte. It's not helping my diet any (I'm usually a skinny vanilla latte), but hey... it's the season!

[Sheik]

Are you still able to order a Chai Eggnog latte? I was in line the other day and a woman 2 people in front of me seemed to be having a real difficult time. The woman was explaining it and the barista just wasnt getting it. In my head I was like "uh it's just a chai latte with eggnog instead of regular milk, then nutmeg or cinnamon.

[Rich]

Question about Christmas Blend VIA for those who've tried it -- is the bold flavor comparable to the strength of the bold regular via? Not sure whether to get bold or extra bold :) Wish they sold it in smaller packages so I could try it without committing to a 12 pack!

[twvh]

@RICH

The 12-pack of Christmas Via is worth it, my favorite via extension yet. Ask your local store if they still have the samples that were sent at the beginning of the month. I am drinking a cup now actually. :)

[dc]

I noticed theres a sugar free peppermint button now on the syrup menu. Does anyone out there have this in their store?

[erstwhile]

I love an occasional peppermint mocha or peppermint white mocha. But they both need extra espresso or less syrup, because they're too sweet. A pump of gingerbread is really pretty good in a chai tea latte, too.

Not sure why they'd bother with a sugar-free peppermint when we (thankfully) don't still have sugar-free mocha. It's a rare occasion that anyone orders *just* a peppermint latte.

Also, I found out that my store has had nearly twice-as-high VIA goals compared to other stores in our district, despite doing less overall sales than many of those other stores. These goals are assigned by DMs, to their discretion, based on their district goal, correct? I'm just not sure I'm following my DM's logic in us carrying her market. Our customers don't want any more of it. My manager has pretty much stopped trying too. I wonder how long before VIA apathy totally begins to proliferate the company.

[erstwhile]

And... does anyone have some insight on Caribou's Fa-La-La-Latte (basically, their version of the eggnog latte)? They swear that it's just eggnog and espresso (with whipped cream on top). But it's noticeably much sweeter than what we have at the 'Bux. I'm curious if they use some sort of proprietary eggnog instead of that delivered by a dairy provider? Or maybe they add a flavored syrup to it? Or do they just not cut it with milk?

[Alan]

The Purple Kool-Aid. Drove past several stores this morning. Drive-Thru lines out of control. You'd think the company would loosen up some of its labor scheduling for lowly baristas and possibly increase some of the technology around hand-crafting to speed these morning crushes along. Of course we can't count on the company for technology since they still haven't been able to find a computer programmer in Seattle that can make hot teas print out on cup labels or require less than three log-ins for training on the laptops. Maybe some fanatics are silly enough for their slurp of the purple Kool-Aid and are willing to jump into a line with fifteen or twenty cars ... but not me.

[Redd]

There are test stores that are making sugar free peppermint mochas...not sure where they are, but it was on the My Starbucks Idea site.

[piper]

http://consumerist.com/2010/11/starbucks-to-grow-its-own-coffee-beans-in-china.html

Starbucks To Grow Its Own Coffee Beans In China

[DecafinHater]

I'm enjoying some mixing, so it's either an Eggnog Mocha for me, or a Gingerbread Mocha. Both are great when it's as cold out as it is here! Lines today for BOGO were getting pretty crazy, and the majority of people were picking the eggnog lattes.

[Cuban]

Can we get more people on the floor for happy hour part two?

No, it costs too much in labor to keep happy partners.

FMSL

[ASG]

So far I've tried the eggnog latte, gingerbread latte, caramel brulee latte, caramel brulee frap, and peppermint mocha frap.

I am happy to report that none of the above drinks taste as nice as my usual iced skinny vanilla latte.

[BAYAREABUX]

ALAN,
Those stores must have just rolled beverage repeatable routine. One drink at a time, peeps. Then channel ur inner robot and repeat, repeat, repeat.

[Stockpile beans, Via, and gift cards NOW!!!]

I just saw the line up for the 12 Days of Sharing, starting Dec 1st. Wow... one day is buy one bag of Christmas Blend or Christmas Espresso, get 1 free. Another day is $7.95 for a bag of Christmas blend.

Another day is buy one 12-pack of Via, get one free. Yet another is buy a bag of ANY coffee and get a $5 gift card... and another is buy ANY 12-pack of Via and get a $5 gift card.

There are a few lame days but definitely two steps up from last year... go Howie.

[The Lord of the Flies]

@ Sheik

This is what I've been noticing too... as more and more seasoned baristas leave, they take their experience and knowledge (and their ability to problem solve) with them.

Soon, there won't be anyone left who knows how to make a MMM or a SD, much less a Chegnog Latte, and the customers will be teaching the baristas.

[I <3 music]

What happens to a sm when their store gets an cash audit and the store has been dropping tills in unsafe way for a week?

[baroosta]

I <3 music - what exactly do you mean "dropping tills in an unsafe way for a week?"

[ash_sk8s]

@erstwhile

It's possible they don't cut their eggnog like the 'bux does. When I worked in a small coffee shop once, we just did straight egg nog.

[I <3 music]

not using till or tip bags

[spasticfurchild]

Does anyone know if the Toasted Marshmallow is ever coming back? I miss it so much :(

[Aaron]

I <3 Music, I'm guessing they get fired. I don't speak from experience here, but that's why I imagine the punishment will be severe, cause who does that??? I've never heard of anyone doing that. Are you a shift? If so, start gathering your documentation that you were TOLD to do it this way and weren't merely going along while still having the option of doing it right. I'd imagine even the shifts there could be in hot water.

[usorthem3]

@The Lord of the Flies I have a customer named Stan that only drinks SD and he tells me that as he travels the USA on business he often has to teach baristas what goes into and how to make his drink. He loves coming home because our store makes at least 10 of these each day and we do have a couple of employees that have been there more than a year but most have been there less than six months.

[coffee in exile]

@erstwhile: Caribou doesn't cut the 'nog with milk unless you ask for a lighter fa la latte. Pure eggnog baby.

[Doppio Con Karma]

@ not using tip/till drop bags,
What the hell? I've got to get more information because my mind is boggling. What exactly is happening? cash is just getting dropped into the inner safe?

[Crateish]

Customer here. As I said in the last thread, I got a Caramel Brulée Latte for myself and a Gingerbread Latte for my wife (soy, no whip in either) on Thursday. Got the same pair today while we were running errands and probably will do so for every day of the sale.

I'm a big sucker for specials like this.

[Crateish]

@ Stockpile beans...: I see you have to text to opt in for the '12 Days of Sharing' specials. That is where Starbucks loses me. Text advertising is too invasive for me to participate in. I made the mistake once by signing up for a restaurant chain's text based rewards program. They started sending me 2-3 texts a day.

Never again. I would rather get emails or maybe tweets that I can look at at my leisure.

Will there be another way to participate?

[shortchai]

Is everyone giving out the free drink with a purchase of a pound of XMAS Blend, if so, are you doing ANY size drink or just talls???? Is there anyway corporate ca track this??????

[Guat.my.mala]

shortchai, there should be no free beverages with the purchase of Christmas blend, unless of course the person has a registered Starbucks card. If they do, then they get a tall beverage of their choice. Of course, this is with any coffee purchase and not just Christmas Blend. Be careful giving away free coffee to get people to buy stuff. Corporate can track this. There were a bunch of SMs that were "promoted to customer" because there was a lot of that going on when they were pushing VIA.

[Doppio Con Karma]

@ Crateish
It is my understanding that the text portion is just a way of having every days deal sent to your mobile device, you can go into any store and purchase the special item without texting.

[shortchai]

Do you know this for a fact....I have seen MANY stores do this with via and now Xmas blend. In my region we are all doing a free tall bev with a pound of xmas blend....somestores are bending the rules and giving any size! Are we the only region doing this???

[shortchai]

I was under the assumption it was companywide...now I would reallylike to hearfrom others wether this is the case or not???? Any other partners wanna chime in....

[Doppio Con Karma]

Shortchai,
Are you using a discount code for ringing these drinks? or just handing them over?

[shortchai]

we were told to use "recovery now."Some partners have been using whatever discount code they remember. Now, im wondering if this can all be tracked and if so how?? I am under the impression my entire region is doing this...are we really the only ones???

[BaristaG]

The Fa-la-la-latte is just eggnong and espresso. The reason its so much sweeter is Caribou roasts their beans a significantly shorter time than the Bux. They use a lighter roast on almost all their beans. The result is their espresso roast is much more mild. The machines at Caribou are also very different. They use a slower extraction and, in conjunction with the different beans, produce a shot that is good for 30 seconds instead of ten, and a significantly larger amount of crema (the sweet part of the shot). I wouldn't say its better though, not unless you like a weaker tasting shot. They use two shots of espresso in their 12 ounce and I think they still taste a little more mild than the Bux. Altogether, this results in the milder, typically sweeter drinks from the Bou

[Hipster]

Everyone everywhere gets a free tall coffee with 1lb purchase! Registered card users get a free fall any drink

[Hipster]

Everyone everywhere gets a free tall coffee with 1lb purchase! Registered card users get a free fall any drink

[jetblue711]

Favorite Holiday drinks this year:
Quad Ristretto Tall 2Pump With Whip Caramel Brulee Latte
or
Iced Venti No Classic Iced Coffee con Eggnog

It's my first Christmas season in three years that I'm won't be working there, I'm definitely going to miss it. :(
Stupid Optimal Scheduling!

[BB]

its a tall drink of any kind with a registered card.

Everything else is just whatever the heck your store seems to want to do.

[vivavia]

Dear other baristas: STOP giving out a free tall cup of coffee with a 1lb wb purchase. You're basically stealing. Your customers come to my store, where we actually do things by the book and get mad when I don't give them the free cup. Seriously, this promo has been over for quite some time!! Just tell them to get a registered card already!

[Hipsterdufus]

vivavia...it's not stealing when your DM RDO and RVP are all telling you to do it.

[Hipsterdufus]

I am fairly sure it is policy to give a tall coffee with purchase of whole bean. If not official policy, it is not discouraged and rather encourage. Why are you saying no to customers over a cup of coffee that costs us pennies when they just purchased10+dollar high profit item.
THere are discount codes for the free drink that should be used (and I point out they work when you enter them!).

[Hirayuki]

I kind of dread the whole "here come your favorite holiday drinks!" part of the year because I really don't like any of them (starting with the Pumpkin Spice Latte in fall). I'm happy to stick with my usual misto or Earl Grey latte, but I wish this time of year gave me something to look forward to at Starbucks. I enjoy trying new flavors.

[Hirayuki]

...One thing I was really looking forward to was the return of the maple oat pecan scone, but I guess it never hit the pastry cases here in metro Detroit. Bummer.

[Catherine]

I was surprised to see the Caramel Brulee latte - I forgot that was a Christmas drink. I haven't tried any of the cold Christmas drinks. All-in-all I like holiday time at Starbucks.

[harmaa]

I will never forgive Starbucks for getting rid of the Ginger Molasses cookies in my area. It's been years and I still miss them. We always sold out, too!

[A Non eMoose]

Hipster, what code do you use for the free tall coffee with whole bean? The one I always used (I think it was 164...it's been a while) stopped working.

[otterinthewater]

I have been told repeatedly that the free tall drink with beans is only with the SBux card. I wish I could get a good answer on this. I've worked for Starbucks for four years in two stores under a few different managers AND DMs and we have never, ever ever done this.

Anyhow, I work in Metro Seattle and customers who say they're from a few minutes east of me in Bellevue get really cranky when I don't offer their free bevvy with a pound. (Like the average customer from that area couldn't afford a drink... but I digress!) "I thought I got a free drink with that!" Apparently all the stores over there just across the water from me are doing it.

Is there an official written document somewhere? I really couldn't care less either way. I just want to know. Also, wouldn't Simphony just automatically make the tall drink free if it were supposed to be? Though then again, that system is not foolproof, either.

[Whatdoesitmatter]

We give a free tall coffee to a customer if they mention it with a pound of coffee purchase, or as a extra trick in the pocket if we are trying to get our goal. It helps us offset those that buy it in the grocery store and get a free tall coffee with the bag. We give the free tall bev with the Card Member perk only.

Via Goals this year were actually set by a equation based on last years sales. They were assigned before by DM's since there were no targets from last year. They have numbers now and Seattle sent them down based on each store.