Valentine's Day edition of the OPEN THREAD: What do you [heart] about Starbucks?

Of course, anything is up for discussion in the weekend OPEN THREAD, but maybe you want to try to show some love on this Valentine's Day -- for your favorite drinks, customers, baristas, or whatever.

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Comments

[Pat Nerr]

I heart the possibility that Howard will trip heading into the SSC, break his crown and have to step down off his humpty dumpty wall...

since he seems to be living a fairy tale right now

[Anonymous]

I love how we can be anything and everything to anybody and everybody.

Coffee, tea, espresso, food, experience, half-caf bold venti sugar-free vanilla nonfat foamy americano-mistos... everything!

We've broadened ourselves very far so that we can reach out to everyone. I think it's great!

I can't wait until the economy is better. I think we'll be the best yet.

[bigredbarista]

@Pat Nerr.

That is the funniest thing I've ever read.
Thank you.

[Lindy]

I (heart) Starbucks. Period.
They are my constant in this ever-changing world.

[scootes]

i love espresso con panna's double short 2 pump caramel upside down one inch whip. these are my breakfast when i open. hit two of those before you unlock the doors and have the morning buzzzzzz by quickly. caffeine rocks!!!!!!!!!!!! thats what i call liquid love, the BEST kind.

[Mal Carne]

I love that I'm a spectator on the Starbucks experience instead of a partner. Making more money, not sweating over idiocy like instant coffee.

[redcup]

I heart triumphant comeback

[The dude]

How about some instant survival of the weakest!

[Christin]

I still love my job at starbucks, no matter what it is way better that similar jobs.

I love my first quad grande white mocha americano when I open served in my personal mug. (I just gave away my identity to those i've worked with!)

I love when I know the drink of every customer in line.

[John]

I heart Starbucks coffee!

[brando]

My co workers

[spence]

I love the regulars who gather at the tables every day of the year. Starbucks has created a family for them.

[jon]

i love having conversations with my regulars and sharing in their day, and i think my partners have been amazing through all of this. I haven't had to let one of them go yet and they show their appreciation for our stores success

[UKstorebuilder]

I heart my UK store dev co workers who have worked their socks off over the last 5 years and helped make us profitable (a rare thing in EMEA)
I hope they they find new jobs quickly with an employer who will appreciate them

[instantsadness]

I love when a great song comes on during the morning rush, and all of the baristas (and some of the customers) sing along and have a smile. Everyone can feel the energy shift and suddenly we are rocking the line, and it feels like we aren't even working.

I love when the energy of the store has an obvious positive effect on our customers. I love when people walk into our store and the line is long, yet they wait because they know we will get them in and out quickly...and we will likely remember all of their names and/or drinks in the process.

I love knowing that the Starbucks experience, when done right, is still an unbeatable business model.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Here's how the interaction between Howard Schultz and the Siren goes about instant coffee

Schultz: I came up with this great idea, Via.

Siren: This isn't right.

Schultz: You know you'll like it.

Siren: No, please don't stop.

Schultz: Listen, I love you. If you loved me...

Siren: I said no, this isn't why I fell in love with.

Schultz: Show up, its all about ME! You know you want it.

Siren: Please, I'm begging you.

Schultz: You're going to take it and like it!

Siren: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Schultz: Nobody will believe you!

Siren: SOBS!

Yes, thats how it went down. Schultz will force this Via down our throats and make us swallow whether we like it or not.

[feministabarista]

I heart our coffee (honestly... it's the best there is... Peet's is never fresh, sorry haters)

I heart our people... though many of the good ones are no longer with us.

I heart my partners... best in the universe.

I heart that even in the midst of hard times, that we (well maybe not many on this site... but the far vast majority of partners) still do what we do best, which is to say, take care of each other, our stores and our customers, better than anyone else.

[CamSpi]

i <3 getting to know the people i work with.
i <3 french pressed coffee.
i <3 seeing the same customers everyday and seeing them get to know each other. andrew always comes in 5 minutes before colleen. i'd never noticed that this seems to happen, but the other day i heard them introduce themselves to the other. i think its cool how that can happen!
i <3 doppio con pannas, too, scootes!
i <3 grinding coffee and smelling it grind.
i <3 when we get through a rush and know that each person was taken care of.
i <3 starbucks.
i even <3 reading the criticism of starbucks on this website. mostly because i get to see things from all all different perspectives: the good and the bad.

[Coffee Soldier]

I love putting on my green apron everyday...It makes me think about staying true to the core and the mission statement at I walk out onto the floor. I also truly love when we HAVE TIME to do french presses with fellow partners and the first time a new partner really has an AH HA with the coffee pairings with a food item!

[Former Company Gal]

I heart that I got a cheque in the mail yesterday for mileage that my store never paid me for and I havent been a partner for 6 months.

I heart that I gave up my dream of being a store manager on my own rather than being laid off.

I heart that I don't have to worry about instant Starbucks coffee.

And all that being said, I heart Starbucks whole bean espresso.

[heartbutloud]

Borrowed baristas who show more enthusiasm than owned baristas.

A manager who fights to keep the store hours as they are.

Teamwork.

An outlet for my love of making espresso-based beverage.

When you pick up your extra-extra dry cappuccino and give me that look that tells me its perfect.

Recommendations that go over well - tired of your caramel macchiatto?, try a white mocha!

Customers who look at me, not through me.

Giving my customers a cup of reasonably priced comfort. Still one of the least expensive indulgences out there.

Still have my benefits!

I <3 my monstrously incestuous district.

The new Mastrenas with the ability to pull ristretto shots - yum.

I <3 Starbucks for getting rid of PPR. You know they will.

Ahem - PARTNER BEVERAGES.

My Cuisineart. My Ascaso. My thermos. My Partner of the Month T-shirt.

Leaving my Starbucks stress (whatever little there is) at Starbucks.

The world of partners out there who understand all my petty gripes, and all the little great things that make this job so worth it.

[Sandra and Marilyn]

I LOVE DURANGO college DRIVE and MAIN staff!!! way to go with knowing my name and knowing what I want when I come thru the doors!!

[green_cup]

What's there to love right now about this company?

Could it be the excellent coffee selection? Nope. Just Pike. No decaf on tap all of the time, no bold all of the time. Can't love that.

How about the superb service? Ha! That hasn't existed for quite some time now. Yeah, a lot of it's on the back of the SSC for short-changing labor in the stores, but ultimately, that's not really any of the customer's problem (unless they're in line waiting... and waiting)...

Could it be the premium coffee and coffee-related products? Nope, not that! That "premium" level instant Folgers-renamed-as-Starbucks brand instant coffee isn't so premium. It HAS to those Piadinis and foul breakfast sandwiches. Nah! Wrong again. Those are NOT related to what Starbucks used to be, at all.

Maybe it's the what-sticks-to-the-wall beverage promos. Honey lattes, sugar-free mochas, Vivannos. Those are all disgusting things Starbucks should have never allowed to leave R&D. Never.

Stock price? Ha!!!! Wow.

General care for employees/ investors/ customers? Again, couldn't be that! I mean, what company, who preaches care for employees lays off tons of employees only to buy a jet? Or how they want to build a solid brand that's profitable for investors? That jet gets in the way (again)... Maybe it's the sky-high prices customers are being forced to pay. Even better, the customers were promised a feedback forum in the way of MSI, but the folks on there are just shills who are yes-men (and women!) to Howard Schultz & Co. No customer feedback ever makes it to implementation unless Howard & Co. love it. Only, the crap he loves happens to be instant coffee and nasty breakfast sandwiches. NO love for the customer from MSI.

There's NOTHING to love about this company, not right now anyway.

[Anon's Anon]

My partners are amazing. Love you 'cats'...

[Melissa]

When I am on vaca, I like to have a SB around. You don't know what you're gonna get with a local mom and pop. Better chances with the bucks.

[MyGiveADamnsBusted]

I love the fact that all three partners working on the floor wished me a happy valentines day upon coming into the store and ordering a drink. By the way I am a partner who had a day off. By the way 2 of the partners were female and the other partner is a straight male. And ya know what it made me feel valued by all three. It was humourous to hear from the straight guy's mouth happy valentines day. So I said thank you oh and by the way you arent my type. But ya know what I felt valued. I wish everyone working for the company felt valued. And to all the single ladies out there treat valentines day like any other day. To all the single gay male partners out there treat valentines day like any other day as well. All the single ladies put your hands up! All the single gay men a put your hands up uh uh oh!

[Ames]

I love my store. From my fellow baristas who all seem to brighten up my day to the regulars who acutally care and don't just throw there money on the county and stomp away because they are running late. I love my manager. She's the most amazing person and deserves all the credit in the world for being fabulous and always keeping a smile on her face.

I love my first cup of coffee of the day. A triple tall americano with 2 raw's in the buttom and a little half and half on top. It's pure bliss.

I love that I love my job despite all the hard times this company is facing.

I love the regulars who know me by name and know whats going on in my life.

I love that they love us and appericate that we try to go above and beyond for them.

I love when customers get embarassed because we know there drinks so well that they don't need to say anything and start to blush because they know they come in far too much for there own good.

All-in-all, for those of you who hate your jobs here..well, you are just the grinch and probably wouldnt like anything else you could be doing right at that moment. Appericate these times. it makes life less complicated.

[SS]

I heart Guatemala Casi Cielo. When the day comes that I no longer work for this company, you can bet I'll come back for this coffee.

I heart the partners who care about doing things right, both for the company and the customers.

I heart free-poured cappuccinos.

I heart the early morning regulars who take a few seconds to talk to us like (gasp) real human beings before they go back to their busy lives.

[rose colored glasses]

I love starbucks for giving me the opprotunity to work 14 years with such great people. I met diverse partners from all walks of life. I loved cashing out my stock when it split (you remember that??) and purchased my very own vehicle. I love all the coffee knowledge classes.I love giving to the cup fund,the picc center and volunteering at bumpershoot.I love starbucks for giving me all these opprotunitys.I love you starbucks for not laying me off......yet

[coast2coast]

I <3 that there are still partners who still care for one another!
I <3 the fact that although we might not love the way the company is going we still find time to be grateful for what we do have...our partners and customers.

[@allofyou]

I [heart] my manager and my colleagues at Starbucks. We have a cohesive, tightly knit crew. Though times are tough and have been for some time now, I would do anything for them and vice versa.

While I recognize all the naysayers here have their right to whine, b*tch, moan, complain, criticize, second guess, leak, mock, and belittle, I do wish I understood what it was about Starbucks that prevents you from moving on with your life. (Oh wait, there is no right to leak, but some apparently still do it anyway.)

[ny-u]

I love my partners, they work so hard for so little.

[Court]

I heart partner beverages and markouts and discounts.

I love everyone I work with and how one of us will same something and we all burst out laughing even in the middle of a rush.

[heartbroken]

Starbucks broke my heart

[No Debbie Downers]

I love Starbucks! I am an SM, I write my own schedule, get paid for any overtime, have fun and laugh while I am stressed out by crazy customers, and make over $50,000 a year. How dare anyone talk crap about the company. I think it is just jelousy, customers come in on their way to work and see us laughing and getting along and get pissed that they're on their way to their miserable jobs. As long as my partners know it is ok to have fun while working hard I will continue to encourage everyone to have fun and not stress about the little things like negative cutomers.

[J-Money]

I love that I am getting my guaranteed bonus in 2 weeks, while others are being layed off.

[Melody]

I <3 Sanini. I <3 Espresso Roast. I<3 Verona or the coffee formerly known as 80/20 blend. I <3 Bali Batur Highlands. I <3 Kenya. I <3, from the bottom of my heart, the barista who sent me the whole bean sign that hangs on a wall in my office. (maybe I need a 'beverages' sign now). I <3 running into people I know at Starbucks and what a small world it is. Happens to me all the time! I <3 Sun Dried Ethiopia Sidamo. I <3 Clover. I <3 Pat Nerr. I <3 Tori Amos. I <3 Bella Vista Coffee. I <3 a very few people at the SSC but there's no way I'll embarrass them by naming them here. I <3 store 101. I <3 the City of Seattle. I even <3 the rain. I <3 Zambia Kasama. I <3 Sumatra. I <3 Burundi Kayanza. I <3 Vanilla Cupcakes. I <3 greenapronbook and greenapronstories. I <3 mystarbucksidea.com despite that it's a bit of a love hate relationship. I <3 starbucksgossip most of the time. LOL. I <3 Fran's gray-salted caramels. I <3 that my colleagues all know that they can come down to Melody's office for an afternoon Starbucks run. I <3 that Starbucksgossip brings us all a bit closer together. I <3 Organic Serena. I <3 my old Starbucks coffee mug that has a green siren with twin tails and a belly button. I <3 store 308 because it's the store that really made me a loyal customer 20 years ago. I <3 frappuccinos in the summertime. I admit it, they're yummy. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone at Starbucks Gossip!
Melody

[satisfied shift]

I love my regulars who have been trying to comfort me during these trying times at the Bux. They don't want any of us to leave them. We are as much a part of their day as they are ours. They are the reason I get up at 3 in the morning five days a week. What a great place to work, no matter how difficult things are now.

[Munchkin]

I heart this thread. I LOVE my regulars, my partners, and despite all the mess, I still I love my job...man, I even got a little teary.....I still really love putting on my black apron....

[JerseyGurl]

I <3 regulars who care about my personal life...

1 <3 partners who take criticism and turn themselves into kick ass baristas...

I <3 SM's who lobby slide and actually sweep the floors...

I <3 DM's who recognize all the hard work that we're doing...

1 <3 the DD worker that comes to my store and drops $5 in the tip jar...

I <3 splash sticks!

[NorCalBlend]

I love that I work for a company that takes care of its employees, cares more about the customer experience than saving pennies in labor costs, focuses on providing a superior brewed coffee and doesn't debase itself with gimmicks like instant coffee.

Oh, crap.

[Coffee Soldier]

I love that almost everyone on this thread is positive tonight!!!

I love this thread! Thanks webmaster for the chance to write uplifting thoughts about our 3rd place!

[Melody]

[quote]
I love that I work for a company that takes care of its employees, cares more about the customer experience than saving pennies in labor costs, focuses on providing a superior brewed coffee and doesn't debase itself with gimmicks like instant coffee.

Oh, crap.{/quote]Posted by: NorCalBlend

I <3 a ton of baristas, too many to name them all. You guys are amazing at pulling through this with a genuine smile despite some real challenges coming out of 2401 Utah Avenue South.

[sparklegirl]

The fact that I actually love my job. My co-partners are awesome and so is my boss!

[cactusmush]

I love the music at Starbucks. Kudos to Sbux for bringing a wide range of music to the public.

I love my one short dark in the morning...when it is very fresh. If it is less than very fresh...then i like it.

I love that initial caffeine buzz off of that short dark, sitting in a comfy chair and listening to the music.

Cheers.

[ny-u]

I love Starbucks! I am an SM, I write my own schedule, get paid for any overtime, have fun and laugh while I am stressed out by crazy customers, and make over $50,000 a year. How dare anyone talk crap about the company. I think it is just jelousy, customers come in on their way to work and see us laughing and getting along and get pissed that they're on their way to their miserable jobs. As long as my partners know it is ok to have fun while working hard I will continue to encourage everyone to have fun and not stress about the little things like negative cutomers.

Posted by: No Debbie Downers

you must work in california...must be nice...
still love my partners

[Anonymous Sbux Coward]

You're lucky, No Debbie Downers.

Im a barista, but been with the bux for a while, and know the SM well. Ive seen some of the emails and communications, and they arent pretty for the partners. I wont go into detail as I dont know what is region sensitive and not, but most of these new policies are not cool. DMs, you know exactly what Im talking about.

And add that to the screwing of Personal Days. Get em before they expire, that is if your SM ignores any Personal Day request.

Yeah, I <3 Total Pay, honorable administration, and no gimmicky sales. Too bad that Starbucks is not that anymore.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Hi Melody,
I just wanted to let you know that even though you're on the other side of the country, I keep an urn of BOLD always waiting for you at my store.
And yes, for you DECAF people too, I keep DECAF on for you also.

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
PRIMUS INTER PARES
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE
AIM SN: BOSTONSTARREBEL

[green_cup]

I love Starbucks! I am an SM, I write my own schedule, get paid for any overtime, have fun and laugh while I am stressed out by crazy customers, and make over $50,000 a year. How dare anyone talk crap about the company. I think it is just jelousy, customers come in on their way to work and see us laughing and getting along and get pissed that they're on their way to their miserable jobs. As long as my partners know it is ok to have fun while working hard I will continue to encourage everyone to have fun and not stress about the little things like negative cutomers.

Posted by: No Debbie Downers | February 14, 2009 at 05:56 PM

Oh, this just in folks! Bad news for Debbie Downers!

Her (?) store didn't meet quota on selling enough instant coffee during the promotion AND it went waaaaaay over on brewing too much decaf, so they not only LAID OFF THE STORE MANAGER (debbie, in this case) BUT ALSO CLOSED THE STORE!

...

Yeah, save it "Debbie Downers." This company blows and you're being fed the company line.

[SSAustin]

I love that this is the only part time job that you can get a full coverage health insurance(and hopefully Howard won't take that away from us), regular customers, Partners... ohh of course, TIPS! hehe..