Weekend open thread: Grab a big Starbucks drink, take a seat and chat away

Just like the customers I saw (at left) on Thursday at the Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Starbucks.(Click on the image for a larger view.) Here's another chance to bring up anything you want that's Starbucks-related. How are the new drinks going over? Why no free coffee in personal cups for Earth Day (in US stores)? What's the feedback -- if any -- on the new CD featuring baristas and their bands?

Comments

[MarkInTheDark]

Is Sbux ever going to offer Mocha Malt Frappuccinos again? I found them nearly irresistible, but now that they are no longer available it's easy to just walk on by. It can't be that onerous to keep a can of malt powder around, can it?

[ex-shift]

Repost from the dead midweek open thread.

I live in Seattle and last weekend saw a big van covered in Starbucks logos, posters for the new drink, etc. It looked like one of those iPod buses.

They were set up in the SAM sculpture park serving samples. There must have been about 20 partners. I have never seen the van. Is it a Seattle only thing? I also read in the PI that the "Starbucks Chill Patrol" will be at a Storm event. Just what is a chill patrol?

[JB]

I stumbled across this and found it so funny. It's a plug for the tops of disposable coffee cups. It solves the problem of spillage trough the sip hole. I wonder if they could solve the pesky drippage at the cup edge overlap!?!

http://mandyscustomworkshop.com/mugplug.html

[michigan]

markinthedark,

As far as I know, the malt is not coming back this summer in MI. It might vary by region.

Next time you go to Starbucks, order a Java Chip Frappuccino, but ask to substitute the chips for toffee sprinkles (the topping for the Dulce de Leche drinks). This will make something close to a Mocha Malt Frappuccino. The malt taste will be there, but not as strong as the orginal.

[JB]

To add to the spillage plug comment I made... This guy is selling them for 2.99 and it's actually an earplug with the line connecting the 2 plugs cut!

[Partner]

As far as I know... free coffee on Earth Day in Canada is making up for the Starbucks coffee break on March 15, which only happened in the US. The coffee break should have happened in Canada too, but our promo materials had the wrong date printed on them, or something like that.

[Munkay]

Has anyone done a Make Your Mark grant before? I volunteer for a week at a camp and was looking to get my lovely organization some Make Your Mark money if possble. Where can I find those forms and is there anything more to it than sending those in?

At my store we have 92 cans of malt. Our shift made a huge mistake (duh) in ordering. Can not be sent back because its no longer offered, well eccept at our store.

[CuteBarista!]

there was a frappuccino bus tooling around philadelphia last summer, promoting the banana nonsense. it went to college day on the parkway, pridefest, things like that.

[val]

instead of those $3 (!) mug plug things, use a sticker (i.e. the stickers used to close coffee bags/the ones used in the coffee passport book) you could even give customers an extra lid in case the sticker does some "damage"
:)

[baroosta]

In reference to the picture posted along with this post, there are a few people who come into my store that are that large.

It's pretty sad because they always order Venti Mochas with extra mocha and extra whip or the frappuccino counterpart.

I don't know whether to feel bad or to just assume that they know how many calories they are drinking.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Make Your Mark stuff can be printed from the Manager Work Station using the Starbucks Retail Portal or you can go to http://lifeat.sbux.com and find the necessary forms there.

There is this one lady that has the fattest child i have ever seen in my life and every day she comes through and gets an Americano and gets that poor thing a venti cup of whip cream and a spoon.

Poor kid.

[Newbie Barista in MD]

@ Boston Starbucks Rebel,
Next time give her the order and a bunch of napkins. On the top, write down the nutrition information for the heavy whipping cream and vanilla syrup. I feel bad for the kid and that type of parenting makes me sick to my stomach. A Venti cup of w/c has to be like 1/4 of the canister, no? That's at least 200 calories plus all that milk fat. Gross.

This is my first post on the blog - is there a ranting section, or can I just let loose on any post? I just wrote a little entry in my journal about how I feel about the company after the 3 months I've been with it - and about the drive-thru.

[Ace]

Newbie Barista:
This is the post to let loose on, but if you're looking for more of a forum-type thing, you could always try the Baristas community on LiveJournal.

http://community.livejournal.com/baristas

[T-Roc]

Can anyone please tell me when this CBB Light will start to be sold in our stores?

In my opinion, I just dont think its that necessary to carry it. I know it's good to always have a "lighter" option for those individuals who want it. But to be honest, I don't even think it would be that big of a hit, and it'll create more clutter in our CBS fridge and more product to jam-pack in the BOH shelves.

It just makes me wonder what else they're going to come up with.

[geekbride]

Mugplugs?
Uh...earplugs, more like. The swimming ones. Why would I pay for that when I can make it myself? Do they think they're fooling anyone?

[JB]

Question for the barista's:

What is the proper etiqutte for a patron (myself in this case) when one of the carafe's is out of milk at the station? This has happened numerous times and I've never minded. I just walk over by the bar with it and nicely ask for a refill/new carafe and replace it myself. I don't want to come off like I "require special attention". Some guidance please? Also, I never leave it empty for the next patron. Thanks.

[Kat]

They're making CBB light? I'll deal with having to make room for one more pitcher for that!

What do you guys think of the Brazil Ipanema Bourbon coffee? I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me so much I've stocked up at home.

[Friend of Linda]

Dear Starbuck Partners,
My wifes aunt who is a fellow Starbucks partner of mine and yours has suffered a severe stroke recently. Her store which is in the St. Petersburg/Tampa area(mine is in the Atlanta, Ga,area)has been a great support for Linda and her family they have also had a couple of successfull frundraisers to help with medical cost. You may vist her blog at http://howislinda.blogspot.com/. I am asking everyone to please leave an encouranging comment and if you would like to leave a donation(cup fund and insurance will only go so far) please feel free to do so. The info on making a donation is listed in the blog. Please tell your fellow parters about Linda and her wonderfull store.

Thank you and God bless

[MILWAUKEE STARBUCKS REBEL]

JB, as long as you don't slam it down and demand one immediately, it sounds like you are handling the situation very well. I would also probably give you a little off your next drink for being a nice customer

[Christine]

I was wondering how baristas feel about tips at drive thrus. Are you annoyed if someone does not tip?

[Patrick (Dublin)]

Anyone know what the summer drink/flavour will be this year?

[TheGreatMsGatsbySF]

I got a sleeve recently when I bought a drink that said, "Warmed Granola Rustica" ... could this be a sign of a new summer drink?

Thoughts?

[baroosta]

For the summer drinks, I think Summer Phase 1 is going to be some orange drink with this orange zest drizzle on top - more than likely a frappuccino. It tastes pretty good actually when made with creme base.

Warmed Granola Rustica sounds like some kind of tacky morning breakfast cereal.

[Sbuxnewbie]

TheGreatMsGatsbySF:

"Warmed Granola Rustica" sounds like a food item to me...

Especially since Granola is cereal...

[sbuxgrrl]

Baroosta is right. I just went through the Summer Phase 1 workbook online. We will have Orange Creme Frappuccino, Orange Mocha Frappuccino, and the hot drink will be Orange Mocha. Should meet the needs of former Mocha Valencia drinkers, as well as all of the customers who wanted valencia syrup in their tea lemonades. Also lessens customer confusion...everybody knows what "orange" should taste like, but many people did not understand "valencia," even when it was explained.

[rightattitude]

Summer Phase 1 Workbook Online?? Can you only get to it from the Portal or can you get to it online in general. Please, tell me how!

[Veedz]

The Orange syrup is pretty sketchy, as far as I'm concerned. Looks and tastes like Kool-Aid. Very artificial. ONE pump of it in a mocha is okay, but don't bother putting it into iced tea... Valencia it's not. Haven't tried the orange drizzle yet, but the bottles are really cute.

Anyone try the Sugar-Free Caramel? My manager's not letting us open it yet.

Rightattitude: It's available on the Portal, under "Reference" if memory serves.

Next time give her the order and a bunch of napkins. On the top, write down the nutrition information for the heavy whipping cream and vanilla syrup.

Thats really not your business, if someone wants to ingest that crap who are you the "food" police? If you ever did that to me I'd march my happy little ass right up to your SM and show them that napkin.

[ColdhereinCo]

Ok here's some food for thought. I don't know if anyone else has seen the excerpt on coffee and coffee beans on the History channel lately, but I must say it was rather interesting. Throughout history coffee bean prices have changed but that wasn’t the part that sparked my mind. It was the part about the people who grown and pick the coffee beans that struck me. Do you realize that the people who work in the fields’ everyday don't even make enough to buy the coffee we sell in the stores. Not that they need to be buying the Starbucks coffee but it's sad that they make so little. Starbucks makes millions and billions of dollars every year and they can't even spare money to these people who work so hard to grow their coffee! Starbucks makes more money per pound than any other coffee company IN THE WORLD!! Maybe I don't understand it but it just sickens me to know that these people are working so hard to make nothing.

"At my store we have 92 cans of malt."

I'd check the expiration date on those...

[stcrtemple]

Coldhereinco, was it the Coffee episode of Modern Marvels or something else on the History Channel?

[stcrtemple]

Also;
"There is this one lady that has the fattest child i have ever seen in my life and every day she comes through and gets an Americano and gets that poor thing a venti cup of whip cream and a spoon.

Poor kid."

I don't mean to be rude, but whenever I look at morbidly obese people/children, it makes me reconsider what I eat/drink. One reason why I end up ordering half of my drinks sugar-free, nonfat, no whip or light.

[Jane]

With regards to the Earth Day/free coffee in Canada post above, I don't think it's to make up for a missed US promo. The Starbucks up here (Vancouver) had the same thing last year on Earth Day.

[LIVE FREE OR DIE]

I find it really disgusting when overwight children are bought into the store with their mom's and they order Fraps for them.

All of us partners just look at each other "roll" our eyes and make with the sickly sweet drinks....... "A cup of fattness coming up!"

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
ALEA IACTA EST
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE

[Frankie]

Is there any way to get the music lowered to a level where I am able to relax & read my paper. I don't want to be a grump, but every Starbucks I go to has the music as the main event & not the background it is meant to be.

[Mr.Dazzle]

I just came across an e-mail posted in our Partner Log that we will be participating in the Earth Day free drink promotion here in central California...and from the looks of it, we are the only ones...?

CHRISTINE:
Many of us here I think have agreed to disagree on the issue of tipping. Many find it damn near offensive not to tip (myself included) while others see it as no problem at all - its your call, and it is always appreciated.

JB: Generally, try to find the least busy Barista and ask them for a new carafe, if you ask the Barista that is swamped by drinks at the bar, you may not get the friendliest (or promptest) response.

EVERYONE:
I've been wanting to get your input on this for a long time now: How does your store handle D-R-A-M-A? It has become a HUGE problem at my store and has started to severely interfere with our performance. My store is severely divided, partners hate each other one day and love each other the next, endless gossip (even over headsets!!!) and betrayal. It all stems from baristas and shifts spending time together out of the store, getting involved with each other, and all the drama that inevitably ensues. I try to stay uninvolved but it is almost impossible. So, any juicy stories out there? Has anyone been able to successfully sequester it? Or is my store just stuck in high school?

[justabarista]

Posted by: | Apr 20, 2007 4:45:34 PM,

I'll agree it is an adults choice to do to themselves, hoever, what this lady is doing to her child is child abuse.

[chi-town's best/angriest barista]

Re: empty milk caraffes-
please please please dont' just hand them to the bar partner. there's really nothing i can do about it excpet try to pass it off to someone else, and that makes it slower. if there's a prtner in the lobby, give it to them, otherwise try a register that's not busy. like someone previously said, find the least busy looking person. and PLEASE don't tell me at the bar that the restrooms are out of TP. i can't fix that, and frankly you wouldn't want me to while i'm making your drinks.
Re: venti cup of whip-
i think if i had the balls to, i would refuse to do that, since that is disgustingly unhealthy, especially for a child and i would feel horribly guilty.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

SOmebody is impersonating me and my friend LIVE FREE OR DIE. And not very well, I might add!

[me]

Why do people complain that starbucks is so harsh to Coffee growers? Coffee is sold on an open market and is bid at as a commodity. Supply and Demand dictate the price of coffee not starbucks.

[me]

oh and PS... I never thought I would say it but that partner CD is actually really really good! You can hear the entire thing at hearmusic.com my favs are sweetheart and baumer

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

SOmebody is impersonating me and my friend LIVE FREE OR DIE. And not very well, I might add!

Posted by: Boston Starbucks Rebel | Apr 20, 2007 10:41:43 PM

Opps!. I made a mistake. It was a post that I made with the incorrect name on the bottom. I meant to reply to a post from Live Free or Die.

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
ALEA IACTA EST
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Found this site works well if you are being hassled by a cell-stalker...

http://www.sat-gps-locate.com/

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
ALEA IACTA EST
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE

[German Starbucks Rebel]

Dear Starbucks partners in the US, I hope you can help me. At the moment I am a partner in Germany and I love what I do, but my dream is to work for Starbucks in the States! Do you know what I have to do? Is there some kind of partner-transfer-program? Or does Starbucks help foreign partners get a green card? Thanks for every comment and help!
German Starbucks Rebel

Hi German Starbucks Rebel,

Yes you can be sponsored to move to the USA.

Provided you are a Barista you can be sponsored under the "critcal skillset" category. The following link provides information.

http://lifeat.sbux.com/en-US/Life+Changes.htm

Hope this helps!

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
ALEA IACTA EST
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Hi German Starbucks Rebel,

Yes you can be sponsored to move to the USA.

Provided you are a Barista you can be sponsored under the "critcal skillset" category. The following link provides information.

http://lifeat.sbux.com/en-US/Life+Changes.htm

Hope this helps!

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
ALEA IACTA EST
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE

[LIVE FREE OR DIE]

To the person trying to be me or the BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL, at least get the taglines correct.

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
PRIMUS INTER PARES

I am

LIVE FREE OR DIE
ALEA IACTA EST

Its kind of annoying. Its like writing GRTL when you mean green tea lemonade and then GTL when you mean green tea latte.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

LIVE FREE OR DIE

Get over it. I made a mistake when I was writing to you.

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
PRIMUS INTER PARES