So what if McDonald's wins a coffee taste test or Dunkin' Donuts is on a roll?

"Those places gave us fast food. Starbucks gave us an extra living room," writes Lenore Skenazy. "If it spruces up a bit, brings back the coffee smell and gives us just a little more cream cheese, it will remain the place America goes to lingle." (Advertising Age)

Comments

Well that's a warm fuzzy article. Unfortunately it fails to address some common problems that it brought up in the beginning: drone employees and dirty bathrooms. Hm... What is going to prevent me from being a drone employee is better pay. Sure, it offers great benefits. But like many of the employees, I'm in college and don't use (or need!) the benefits. Blah.

[BNBARISTA]

I think the real problem is the fact that, to a lot of baristas out there, Starbucks is really just a way to pay the bills. Quite a few of the ones that I work with do things while making drinks which appall me, and if the customers could see over the two huge automatic machines, would appall them as well. I worked this past week after about six weeks off for school, and I returned to baristas not knowing that you can't refoam milk, that it has to be tossed out after falling below 120, and that no you cannot steam the GTL powder right in with the milk to "save time". People just don't care about their jobs or coffee any more. Most baristas I work with don't even like coffee, and can't tell when it's burnt.

I began working 2 1/2 years ago because I really enjoyed the experience I had when I went in to get my coffee. Having observed changes that corporate has made in an effort to garner more money from the consumer, I've noticed a direct (negative) correlation to the interest baristas have in their jobs. I would love to work with just a few baristas who are interested in learning more about their jobs besides what benefits they can get.

Maybe if people gave two about the experience and the "third place" they might take the initiative to brew the coffee when they're supposed to, instead of when its cold. There's your coffee smell back.

[dave]

what in the world is a barista????????????????lol!!!!!

lingle??

[BNBARISTA]

I gathered that to "lingle" was an utterly ridiculous combination of to linger and to mingle. Kind of like when "Mocha Frappuccino" becomes "Mochaccino: :-)

[BNBARISTA]

I gathered that to "lingle" was an utterly ridiculous combination of to linger and to mingle. Kind of like when "Mocha Frappuccino" becomes "Mochaccino: :-)

[BNBARISTA]

Whoops, sorry for the double post.

[Anon]

When will Starbucks carry fat-free half & half at the condiment counter? My little local coffee shop provides it, so why can't a huge corporation like Starbucks offer it? And no, skim milk doesn't cut it for the die-hard half & half fan who happens to be watching their waistline.

[the_dmr]

Space.

Simple enough, we would have to have enough space to store it. Have to store enough to have always have it in stock, plus a 2-5% buffer for surges or spoilage.

This also explains why we dont have all syrups all year long. Each bar can hold 10 bottles of syrup, 1 mocha, 1 white mocha, and 1 chai. We currently carry offer 13 syrups (not counting any backstock of coconut or blackberry anyone has). Guests want more options, we just cant meet every option.

~~the dmr~~

[duh]

anon,
what the heck is fat free half and half? It sounds like an oxymoron to me! Half and Half to my knowledge is half milk and half cream. I guess you could use nonfat (skim) milk, but it would still contain half cream, which to my knowledge contains plenty of fat. Maybe you're thinking of the non-dairy creamers like mochamix or coffeemate.

[chi-town's best/angriest barista]

no, they really do make fat-free "half and half" it's not exactly real, but it exists. i bought it once for a recipe and it behaves strangely, not like half and half. i personally think they should put soy at the condiment bar before the nasty fake half and half, but that's just me. and i couldn't get past the world "lingle." wtf is that?

[GEM]

What I want to know what is % milk if you don't carry it? I love the orders that want 1%, 2% lattes,,,, yup,,, I am measuring that fat count... nothing like lying to the customers.

Yes, back to corporate,,, this time to the building and design team,,, lets make the cafe huge, and the backroom and the line as small as possible. Lets house the "Third place" for the customer and make the work environment for the partners a sardine can. Lets make the refrigerator smaller, the counter smaller, and the partners can wear a holsters that holds syrup bottles on their waist.

We have huge bathrooms but the toilet paper dispenser is right up against the bowl, so you have to sit sideways to wipe your ass.

YUP>>> got to give it to corporate..Do I dare to say it!!!

CLUELESS..

[20secondshotguy]

I don't think the point of the article was to talk about how dirty or clean our stores are. It's more about how it's difficult to find the Third Place outside of one of our stores.

And that's a true statement. Doesn't mean we're perfect. Doesn't mean there are folks in stores who don't care. I took it as a window into how special our stores can be to people.

That's also why everything bnbarista speaks to is important stuff that has to be addressed every time we see it.

"I worked this past week after about six weeks off for school, and I returned to baristas not knowing that you can't refoam milk, that it has to be tossed out after falling below 120,"

Actually, its if it falls below 140, you cant not re-steam it.

[Tall Drip]

Well, I remember that back in the day, in the early-mid 1990s, Starbucks was considered a cool place to work. I wanted to work in a Starbucks (there weren't nearly as many stores back then, only a small handful) when I was in college. However, I didn't even bother applying, because every college kid in town wanted to work there. You needed somewhat ample "food service experience" to work in a Starbucks, if I remember correctly.

Of course, these days, Starbucks can't seem to hire enough employees, even resorting to high school kids as a way to pad the ranks. Some of the new employees don't really give a crap about the coffee shop aesthetic...it's just another place to work.

As for McDonalds winning a coffee taste test, that just confirms what I've said for a long time...most Americans prefer bland food. I get so tired of defending Starbucks coffee to everyone who tells me that it "tastes burnt." I want to tell them it's just you boring people who like things with no taste! I give SBUX ample credit for that....at least it hasn't dumbed-down its coffee.

[BNBARISTA]

That's one of the differences at the BN "Starbucks". Our drink guides tell us that milk can't be re-steamed after its below 120. Personally I don't ever re-steam milk because it tastes old, but when I ever walked behind the bar and saw pitchers of 80 degree milk waiting to be used I threw up a little.

[nathan]

I would NEVER defer to a survey of American coffee drinkers if I want to find the best cup of coffee. That being said, Starbucks coffee is nothing to brag about.

[zeroperatioshift]

I used to have a dog that 'lingled' all over the place.

zeroperatioshift

YUP>>> got to give it to corporate..Do I dare to say it!!!

CLUELESS
There you go again gem, everyone is clueless. You are a freakin' moron. Do you ever have anything remotely respectful to say? Crawl back in your cave would you? You are just a mean person, you can never be happy, you never will be happy, I feel sorry for your children, if they grow up as bitter as you are. Go have sex, maybe you'll unwind. You are the biggest tight ass I've ever seen.

[chicago starbucks rebel]

i'd have to agree with gem on this one, sometimes i think corporate (and other higher ups) are intentionally oblivious to the unpleasant things that go on at the bottom. it feels like the "if i don't see it, it's not happening" policy.

[CARAMELTUNNEL]

I agree with tall drip. People do seem to like bland food. Why? I don't really know. Maybe it has something to do with sacrificing taste for health. Sad, but in today's society alot of people have to do it.

[Kat]

I tried the new McDonald's coffee last week, curious after all the noise. And it ain't no Starbucks, but it's better than the other stuff McDonald's sells. Then again, warm dishwater would taste better than that stuff :P

[The Reckoner]

I, too, tried McDonald's coffee out of curiosity.

I still don't know what to think, as I believe nothing really happens until it happens twice, but it definately isn't as satisfying to me as our (Starbucks) stuff.

I liken it to a slightly stronger Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend. It still has that nutty, acidic 'sting' to the palate.

I wonder how many prostitutes' bellybuttons they let people snort coke out of for free to make them say it tasted better than our coffee?

'Cuz McDonald's can't really bribe anyone to do anything with their food...

[Sue Motrah]

Ladies. Dudes.

McDonalds serves Seattle's Best Coffee. Starbucks OWNS Seattle's Best Coffee. Do I need to draw y'all a picture?

In case I do, here it is.

STARBUCKS
| |
| | (owns)
\/
Itself SBC
| |
| | (makes)
\/
Its coffee Its coffee

Starbucks owns both coffees. In case the picture was not explanatory enough.

[generic viagra]

I got invtited back for a welcome meeting at mcdonalds after my OJE & Interview.
Does this mean i have the job?
What happens at a 'welcome meeting?'
Thanks! (:

[Catherine]

When is your welcome meeting?
i also have one soon (:
from what i no you get your uniform, watch a DVD and get a welcome pack
hope that was helpful