A Starbucks press release says: "Starbucks will host its first-ever Starbucks Coffee Break, inviting customers across the country to enjoy a complimentary cup of freshly brewed coffee. In stores and on street corners, from insulated brewing equipment and giant coffee backpacks, partners (employees) will pour tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee to surprise customers and delight commuters. (Starbucks press release)
Our tall-no-room-drip's are going to happy about that and most of the time people don't even want brewed...then again free anything will make people want it
Posted by: James the Barista | March 01, 2006 at 09:06 PM
They ought to do it on April 14 to give people that pre-Tax Day buzz....
Posted by: fiat lux | March 02, 2006 at 12:18 AM
There are quite a few stores that do things for Tax Day. Our store, for example, arranges to have massage chairs set up the two days before and the day of so that people can get a little relaxing massage, some coffee, and drop by the post office next door. It's a great system, the kids are from the massage school and they need practice hours and we've got plenty of practice bodies.
Posted by: Lauren | March 02, 2006 at 09:21 AM
And extra porta-potties for people who can't pass
up a free roving coffee but later find that they
have to piss on the street?
Posted by: Bill Lee | March 02, 2006 at 12:50 PM
This is to coincide with the brewing sale I assume?
Posted by: Xoom | March 02, 2006 at 04:16 PM
Didn't we give out CALM tea for free on April 15 a few years ago? We had little cards with a teabag attached. But I don't recall that we used them. I found them in the storage room a few days later.
Who else is glad they will not have to wear a "giant coffee backpack"?
Posted by: cornfrost | March 02, 2006 at 04:40 PM
Worst. Idea. Ever.
At least for us poor souls who have to deal with this for 2 hellacious hours. I can't wait for the 10,000 people clamoring into my store and complaining about the wait time because we can't possibly brew that much coffee to meet the demand. I also can't wait for the many people who will yell and scream because they're not getting their $5+ drink for free. By the way, here in NYC, I've been instructed to give a service recovery (free drink) coupon to anyone who gets loud about that issue in the hopes that they won't inspire others to do the same. Please don't take advantage of that...you're getting FREE coffee.
Posted by: sbuxmanager | March 04, 2006 at 03:00 PM
I just put Urnex in their drink and smile big.
Posted by: name withheld | March 04, 2006 at 06:24 PM
*was placed in charge of her store's Coffee Break* I know this is supposed to be a good thing, but damn...... I am not looking forward to that day at all
Posted by: Pacific NW Bargal | March 04, 2006 at 08:14 PM
just brew cambros. you'll survive.
Posted by: | March 04, 2006 at 10:09 PM
Hey, did you all see last month's Urnex thing? A customer was (mistakenly) served a Venti Urnex with room, took a swallow, ended up in the hospital, and got a $200 Sbux card in recompense.
Posted by: cornfrost | March 05, 2006 at 06:11 PM
Nice 1st time get it for free. alway paid for.
Thanks
Posted by: Mike Nguyen | March 06, 2006 at 04:23 PM
"By the way, here in NYC, I've been instructed to give a service recovery (free drink) coupon to anyone who gets loud about that issue in the hopes that they won't inspire others to do the same. Please don't take advantage of that...you're getting FREE coffee."
Pray tell why would you post that when it is not something advertised to the public? Why would you post that and then go "please don't take advatage of it"? Most people will always take advantage of whatever they can.
Good job.
Anyone who complains about something like that is a greedy fool and they shouldn't get anything for free. They should suck it up and have a free drip coffee if "getting something for free" is that important to them. But that's just my opinion.
Posted by: K | March 06, 2006 at 09:21 PM
relax people.
giving away even two hours of free coffee in a busy store will amount to no more than an extra 2-3 hours worth of labour and a total of like $100 dollars of WB to your bottom line...
but will create alot of damn happy people..
so just chill.
give it out.
just think of how much you dump at the 1hour plus one minute mark...
it really takes nothing to make someone's day, so just chill and do what you're paid for:
making someone's day...
(but this time without all the bitching)
Posted by: | March 06, 2006 at 11:01 PM
Our timers are default set for 1 Hour, 3 Minutes, and 1 second.
We start them when we hit brew.
Posted by: imabarrista | March 07, 2006 at 12:14 AM
i was just wondering. i applied as a position as an asm. i had a phone interview and two face to face interviews. today was the second (with a dm) and she told me that i would hear from sbux by thursday or friday as to what their decision would be. They ended up calling me back 2 hours later, although i did not know that until i checked my voice mail around 9:30 tonight. i'm a little nervous. can anyone tell me what they think? is this a good sign or a bad sign. i can't sleep a wink until tomorrow, but any input might be able to help me go to sleep tonight.
Posted by: | March 07, 2006 at 12:49 AM
IMABARRISTA
They should be set to 1 hour exactly.
Posted by: | March 07, 2006 at 09:09 AM
ours are set to one hour 3 minutes, too.
Posted by: barista c | March 07, 2006 at 11:08 AM
The C&BRM will be checked, and reported upon, but what I was told that the 1hour rule applied to when the coffee finished brewing. SO DO NOT POUR COFFEE UNTIL BREWER IS FINISHED.
Right?
Posted by: imabarrista | March 07, 2006 at 11:14 AM
nope hour timer starts the second the coffee begins brewing. It doesn't say 1 hour 4 minutes and 10 seconds or however much 1 hour plus the brew is. It says one hour.
Check the coffee and tea resource manual and it says one hour.
Posted by: | March 07, 2006 at 01:12 PM
To Anonymous, thanks, I will check it out. I will also check to see if your store is missing an update page.
Check back here tomorrow.
M'Kay?
Posted by: imabarrista | March 07, 2006 at 03:51 PM
thanks for the free samples
Posted by: carla kocha | March 07, 2006 at 04:18 PM
imabarista
it is actually in the core learning guide.
1 hour. not one hour from the end of brewing like it says for other brewing methods
Posted by: | March 07, 2006 at 07:32 PM
Carla, Thanks.
Posted by: imabarrista | March 07, 2006 at 08:47 PM
it's on page 2.11
:)
(i didn't even have to look it up!)
Posted by: | March 07, 2006 at 09:40 PM
10 to noon? interesting time frame, although i understand any earlier would impact the morning rush in-store.
yay free stuff! thanks!
Posted by: Melina | March 08, 2006 at 12:00 PM
Ours are set to 1hr 6mins. page 2.11? I or you must have an old edition then, i dont see that anywhere.....
Posted by: | March 09, 2006 at 08:03 AM
Where are the porta-potties going to be located?
Posted by: David | March 09, 2006 at 10:46 AM
There are updates. Usually, B's in T are asked to replace the old pages w/the new, so they can learn the book. Your SM is negligent if he is not updating the book.
Btw, what is the recipe for a Mocha Frap in your book?
Posted by: imabarrista | March 09, 2006 at 11:05 AM
Any idea if this is in Canada as well?? Brewing Sale soon, but haven't heard about this....
Posted by: 416Barista | March 10, 2006 at 12:34 AM
starbucks should do this more often..
how much money does starbucks make??
I think they shouldn't charge for the first refill on a regular basis..that is something they should work on, anyway..it is appreciated they are making an effort and I must admit they are always most accomodating. But the refill thing, come on..how greedy can you get?
Posted by: | March 10, 2006 at 10:46 AM
it's a couple of pages after 2.11 and the hold time is 1 hour. not 1 hour and 4 or 1 hour and 6
Posted by: | March 10, 2006 at 08:59 PM
accually a very large amount of the money coming in goes out to the coffee farmers communites in lesser countries. Starbucks has built a lot of health clincs and schools. Not to mention they pay premium on all coffee they buy and they pay all thier employees pretty well.
I'm amazed they pull profit some days.
Posted by: | March 10, 2006 at 09:18 PM
I meant "Caramel Frap" recipe, not "Mocha Frap" Does your C&TRM say to put caramel syrup in?
Probably not.
Posted by: imabarrista | March 11, 2006 at 01:49 PM
I can't wait to try Starbucks Mar 15th it wil be my first.
Thanks
Posted by: Terry Sue Guntle | March 12, 2006 at 08:29 PM
At least it's just drip. Anyone remember free frap day from 2004? Yeesh. That was a feeding frenzy.
Posted by: redneck shift supervisor | March 12, 2006 at 11:43 PM
I WONDER WHETHER THIS APPLIES TO MASSACHUSETTS ER TAXACHUCHUSETTS! LOL
Posted by: D DWYER | March 13, 2006 at 05:57 AM
can i have free coffee coupons? i dont like to pay. :)
Posted by: rachel | March 14, 2006 at 03:22 PM
I'm waiting for a Starbucks to come to Bozeman, Montana. What's the hold up?
Posted by: Carolyn | March 14, 2006 at 05:14 PM
a cup (venti) of coffee ends up costing starbucks a MAXIMUM of 35cents (US). Its usually around 25-30. Thats including the cup, water, time it takes, labor, beans, everything. The free cup of coffee promotion is the cheapest (but one of the best) forms of advertizing they can have.
Posted by: peter | March 14, 2006 at 07:19 PM
its a new coffee they want everybody to try so thats way they are doing this.
Posted by: jeff | March 15, 2006 at 07:51 AM
Starbucks at Newark Airport would not produce what was said.
"A Starbucks press release says: "Starbucks will host its first-ever Starbucks Coffee Break, inviting customers across the country to enjoy a complimentary cup of freshly brewed coffee. In stores and on street corners, from insulated brewing equipment and giant coffee backpacks, partners (employees) will pour tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee to surprise customers and delight commuters"
If all the stores are not going to follow the Starbucks email - then plesae don't sent it out.
Posted by: greg | March 15, 2006 at 08:00 AM
Airports don't have company-owned Starbucks, which is why they're not participating in the free-coffee promotion.
Posted by: STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster | March 15, 2006 at 08:41 AM
I never have to pay for it! O you'r talking about coffee, cool.
Posted by: Bob | March 15, 2006 at 09:10 AM
Can I get it in Peru?
Posted by: H | March 15, 2006 at 12:11 PM
So, which store gave away the most? Here in the Eastern Midwest we did 400, but we started at 6am and haven't stopped yet.
Posted by: imabarrista | March 15, 2006 at 01:01 PM
how about in the philippines : ) . that would be wonderful .
Posted by: Tabaching | March 15, 2006 at 01:06 PM
Thank you all of you who work at Starbuck today and for putting up with "unpleasant" customers who may raise their voices for having to wait in long line for their FREE coffee. It is the kind of business like yours that keeps the world go round. Thank you for your generosity.
Posted by: Dan (SJ) | March 15, 2006 at 01:44 PM
thanks to the workers at the BM starbucks!
Posted by: winnie | March 16, 2006 at 01:24 AM
There is a coupon for Starbucks that is valued up to $3 circulating on the web. Does anyone know if it's valid?? There's no expiration date either so does that mean we get free coffee forever?
http://www.baamboston.org/archive/propaganda/Starbucks_Coupons.pdf
If the link above doesn't work, just google "Starbucks coffee coupon" and it's the first result that comes up
Posted by: CM | March 16, 2006 at 09:23 AM