Starbucks Gossip

Starbucks ex-employee claims she was sexually harassed by co-workers, sues the coffee chain

Former Starbucks barista Kari Smith says in her lawsuit that male baristas would pin her against a wall and grind against her with their butts. She also says they joked about a “rape room” in the basement of the store at 167 Court St. in Brooklyn.

This is from her press release:

Ms. Smith suffers from a medical condition known as Syncope, which causes uncontrollable and unpredictable fainting. Ms. Smith worked at a few Starbucks locations in Brooklyn, and at each location she was ridiculed and humiliated for her disability. After Ms. Smith complained about her treatment she was demoted and transferred to different stores.

Ms. Smith's treatment was particularly egregious at the Starbucks located in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. There, when Ms. Smith would suffer injuries from fainting episodes, male employees would "joke" about Ms. Smith's condition, making comments to her and customers, such as "You must like it rough!", "Next time she'll do what I say", "She's in Fight Club, but not very good at it" and "She needs to leave her boyfriend." When Ms. Smith required treatment, the store manager would tell her, "You're ruining everyone else's lives!" and "You're an inconvenience to everyone else in the store!"

She says she was fired on April 5 without explanation.

* Ex-employee of Brooklyn Starbucks says she was sexually harassed
* Read the press release put out by the woman's representatives

How's Frappy Hour been going for *you*?

"What can we do to make sure our employees hate their job?" "How about frappy hour?" "Brilliant!" - Starbucks head office

— Sydney Mc. (@sydneymcgillis) May 5, 2013

Share your FRAPPY HOUR stories with Starbucks Gossip readers. (Does it *really* make you hate your job?)

Woman accused of putting tainted orange juice in a Starbucks refrigerator case

UPDATE: The suspect in the Starbucks juice poisoning case is going to be released without charges, reports the San Jose Mercury News.

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Ramineh Behbehanian, 50, was seen by a Starbucks customer removing two orange juice bottles from a bag and then putting them on a shelf with other refrigerated items.

Baristas were alerted and noticed a "toxic smell" to the juice bottles. It was later determined that the bottles contained juice and rubbing alcohol.

Cops were able to track down the woman at her home because a Starbucks employee got her license plate number.

Behbehanian's motive was unclear. No one drank her "special juice."

She's been booked on suspicion of attempted murder.

* Woman arrested after allegedly putting "tainted" juice in Starbucks refrigerator case
* Woman booked on suspicion of attempted murder

I'm suspicious .... very suspicious

* Woman gets upset after barista in Hong Kong (allegedly) writes "Vagina" instead of "Virginia"

Should he have to pay double for his Cool Lime Refresher?

Starbucks Gossip reader Josh writes:

I like to order a Cool Lime Refresher with no added water - I prefer the sweeter taste and think it tastes too watery otherwise.

Most baristas are happy to oblige, but one barista basically treats me as though I am trying to scam him out of half a cup of free "syrup" and insists that I should get a half full cup or pay double.

In your opinion, who's right?

Readers, what do you think?

Frappuccino Happy Hour is May 3 to May 12, 3-5 p.m.

It's back! Half off any Frappuccino.

What they're saying about this regular promotion on the Starbucks Frappuccino Facebook Page:

"Last year it was just me and one other kid for the 2 hours every day. Two blenders, afterschool rush, busiest store in mid-america. my shoulders and wrists hurt every day after the two hours of pumping."

"Instead of giving us your whole paycheck for a cup of coffee, only give us half."

"Baristas everywhere are calling in sick. LoL."

* Starbucks Frappuccino Hour goes live in just days (Facebook.com)

Starbucks' latest earnings report: Profits up, but 11% revenue increase disappoints Wall Street

Starbucks met Wall Street’s expectations on profits, but it came up short on beating the revenue expectation so the stock is down in after-hours trading.

"The revenue miss is a negative sign to shareholders seeking high growth out of the company," reports Wall Street Cheat Sheet.

Global sales rose 6% during the three months ended March 31. Revenue rose 11% to $3.56 billion -- shy of the $3.58 billion that Wall Street expected.
* Starbucks raises outlook, but sales miss estimates
* Read Starbucks' press release on the earnings report

La Boulange 'mini-bakeries' debut at Starbucks stores in San Francisco. Your reviews?

I'm seeing mixed reviews on Twitter:

Tweet #1: "Really happy Starbucks has food from la boulange cause this breakfast Sammy is hittin the spot"

Tweet #2: "I've tried a few of these Starbucks La Boulange pastries, and they're really not good. I love real La Boulange, but not these things."

Your review? Post in in comments, please.

* La Boulange, Starbucks and how they're coming together in San Francisco