Enough with the logo change! Let's get the OPEN THREAD going!

Anything Starbucks-related is up for discussion in the OPEN THREAD, so technically you can continue the logo debate here, but.... I suspect many of you want to change the subject. Here's your chance to do that. || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[Jimmy Dean]

why does starbucks suck so much now?

[@othy]

It's despicable how they now tout a "skinny caramel macchiato" that isn't sugar-free... Can't wait for the diabetic lawsuits...

[Hipsterdufus]

the skinny caramel macchiato thing is kind of silly. And while I wouldn't go as far to say that and lawsuits would be justified (not that @othy did) I do agree starbucks had already set the precedent that skinny means sugar free syrup and non fat milk. Customers are of course going to assume that a skinny caramel macchiato is sugar free syrup, not realizing that Caramel isn't a syrup.

[Darth Sidamo]

http://failblog.org/2011/01/07/epic-fail-photos-missing-letter-fail-2/

This is why it sucks so much. Howard of course spent 20 million researching a change to these new signs.

[yeah, I said decaf]

Starbucks might suck, but I suck more at making a cappuccino with the home machine I inherited.

[Coffee Drinker]

Well, I consider the "skinny latte" (i.e. more healthy) up there with "almond milk more healthy" (it's full of sugar, read the ingredients) and "vegetarians" who eat pastries laden with butter and eggs. I guess they think chickens living horrible lives, in cages too small to ever move around in, not true cruelty to animals, ditto milk cows...let's not go into "vegetarian Artisan sandwich" with eggs and cheese ; )

People tell themselves what makes them feel good, and perhaps there's a lot to be said for the placebo effect.

Most "skinny" and "low fat" and "vegetarian" foods are filled with chemicals, sugars of all kinds, glue, and animal emissions.

I personally feel it's healthier to eat a pure "unhealthy" food than one I have to lie to myself about. YMMV.

[Doppio Con Karma]

Asked amongst the fervor about the logo change, but does anyone have any additional info/summary for the Starbucks University item on the open forum? I only caught the end of it.

[Banshee]

What do you guys think of posting the calorie content of each pastry? I work at a SoCal store, and as of this past tuesday, we got new pastry tags with calories prominently displayed. I wonder how its going to affect our food sales, especially in january when everyone is still sticking to their resolutions.

Personally, I don't really like it. I think it should be a choice, whether or not you want to know the calories of each food, which is why I liked having the brochures on the condiment bar and by the register for customers to look at if they so desired. Lower calorie does not mean healthy or unprocessed (ie reduced fat cinnamon swirl or very berry or turkey bacon or skinny caramel macchiato with extra caramel and whip).

[spence]

Please help. I feel so foolish. A woman came today to buy a coffee in a french press. Well, 5 minutes later, I still couldn't find the button. They list the price for a press on the signage so I'm sure we still sell them... but where's the button?

[H20]

I think the French Press button on the Simphony is under or around Bulk Coffee somewhere...

[Stan]

@coffee drinker
aren't vegetarians the ones who just don't eat meat, but are ok with all other animal products.

not like vegans who avoid all animal products?

pot meet kettle.
"People tell themselves what makes them feel good, and perhaps there's a lot to be said for the placebo effect...
I personally feel it's healthier to eat a pure "unhealthy" food than one I have to lie to myself about."

[Stan]

P.S. a vegan most likely would never come into a starbucks. Usually vegans make the choice because of ethical reasons, and all the milk we go through, would probably be ghastly to them.

[Person]

Anyone else have more information regarding the "new direction of the shift supervisor"? More tasks. No labor given to us. No extra pay and weekly shift meetings?!

[Coffee Drinker]

"vegan" word was invented because vegetarians are so *not* but they mean well and are sometimes healthier for their efforts.

I often eat vegan for periods of time, which means I cook all my own food. The drawback for me is that I've become anemic over time...but surely drinking all the nutrient-depleting coffee doesn't help ; ) So I switched to tea...but it was a hassle and now the price huge...so my conviction in that area weak and I'm back to coffee when go to SBUX.

I have dined with adamant vegetarians, who were eating a chicken sandwich, or bread slathered in butter, or christmas cookies, etc. Gives me a good laugh.

And the "vegetarian" $2 sandwich deal currently at SBUX is pretty good.

[Hirayuki]

As a giant anti-fan of the holiday drinks, I'm more than ready for them to fall by the wayside and make room for the new phase of beverages. Anyone know what's next on the agenda?

[McCoffee]

porn on sbux wifi:

why not just have an internet filter like McDonalds does for it's free wifi?

[Justin]

I have ordered the "skinny CM" for a while before it was ever called that - I know the caramel is still full of sugar but it puts the drink in better balance. I normally stick with iced coffee without sugar anyway but once in a while I like that as a treat.

If someone has real issues with sugar for whatever reason they should be in the habit of asking questions to make sure anyway.

[Kasey]

@coffee drinker
aren't vegetarians the ones who just don't eat meat, but are ok with all other animal products. Not like vegans who avoid all animal products?

Vegetarians are completely different than vegans. Some vegetarians eat meat, eggs, cheese. While vegans stay completely away from any of that with some being more strict that everything must be vegan or free some vegans are only concerned with the food aspect of it all. I'm a vegetarian who doesn't eat meat and tries to stay away from eggs and dairy as much as I can if I am out. At home, I don't eat any of that. There are so many names today to call yourself what you are and do that people get it mixed up all the time.

On the skinny CM debate, I think its stupid actually. Not on the customers part, because I don't care what they put in their drink at all. But really Starbucks? You offer up this drink and most think its skinny but you have us putting on caramel sauce and its still skinny? I think not. When asked, most people look at you like you have 2-heads when you even mention not putting on the sauce!

Okay one more thing... I wonder why Starbucks hasn't come out with a skinnier version of mocha or white mocha. Anyone know why this is?

[StarbucksMgr3]

Oh please don't be absurd. Lawsuit because Starbucks wants to call a drink, "Skinny." "Skinny" isn't a legal term for Sugar Free. It is intended to let customers know that its less in calories and fat. A Grande only has 140 calories, it never touts itself as Sugar Free, geez!

Oh and ALL of our breakfast sandwiches are made w/ cage free eggs now, so leave the poor chickens out of this.

[Hipsterdufus]

coffee drinker you are making alot of assumtions.

not all vegetarians are veggie because of ethical reasons.

not all people who drink almost milk do do so because of health reasons, they do it because they are lacto intolerant.

even vegetarians that are veggie for ethical reasons are still making progress even if they still eat milk and eggs. They are at least trying to be somepart of the solution, and many eventually become more consciences of the plight of the other animals.

[Hipsterdufus]

almost milk = almond milk.

most vegetarians eat dairy and eggs. I don't get your argument. Vegetarian is not eating the flesh of an animal.

veganism is not eating flesh or animal by products.

why are you being so cynical towards vegetarians that eat dairy? by calling themselves vegetarian they don't indicate that they will not eat dairy and there for are not hypocrites when they do so.

a vegetarian that eats flesh IS hypocritical.

[Hipsterdufus]

kasey starbucks had a skinny mocha, and it was DREADFUL! that is why they don't exist.

[Crema_the_Crop]

There is a new test of an actual sugar-free mocha "sauce" that is prepared the same way our current mocha is (from a powder, mixed with hot water).

Also, where did we hear this info about the "new direction" of SS's?

[Matt]

Kasey And Hipsterdufus:

Starbucks did sugar Mocha in 2008. And bombed but currently in test markets they are doing a new sugarfree mocha. Unlike last time, the sf mocha is prepped like our regular mocha is. 

I know that Nashville is a test market along with sf peppermint. For the holiday season they featured "skinny peppermint mocha" as one of the holiday drinks. 

I can't speak for other stores but I know that my store did well in sales of the skinny peppermint mocha. 

The current sugar free mocha is leaps and bounds better then the 2008 one. 

[javagirl666]

If you actually only use the amount of caramel sauce intended for a CM instead of the enormous amounts most baristas use..it really isn't alot and doesn't account for the sugar content of the drink being sky high.

[Aaron]

Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Lattes have the sugary Cinnamon Dolce sprinkles so having real caramel on a Skinny Caramel Macchiato is not too big of a departure.

[abe]

have not had a chance to eavaluate the new logo , but i do look forward to when sbuxs gets back to publishing/distributing books.

it seems the new book " Huck Finn " would be perfect , why it would exceed expectations, consistently

[Bween]

Publishing books? When deadtree book publishing is over?

[otterinthewater]

On another note, is anyone else kinda disappointed in this year's Casi Cielo? It's not bad, but even accounting for the seasonal growing differences in coffee, it doesn't seem remotely as delicious as it did before...

[twitter.com/jseattle]

We've seen a few visitors from this site to check out our previous coverage of SBUX activity in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Here's some breaking news:

Starbucks returns: The 15th Ave Coffee & Tea experiment is over
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2011/01/07/starbucks-returns-the-15th-ave-coffee-tea-experiment-is-over

[Person]

Crema,

I got the info from my SM. Pages of delegated duties split up and rotated between shifts. From coffee counts and all orders to coffee tastings and compliance issues. Normally we do a lot of the stuff so it really isn't a biggie. I laughed (kinda) when after each task is written "no labor given" behind it. So once again we have to pull a body off the floor. The weekly shift meeting is mandatory. And one more thing, for each shift we have to cut another hour of labor. It's the basics I know right now. It may be we are starting it here. We shall see.

[Coffee Drinker]

@hipster, you seem to have mixed my post with some others.

I have first hand knowledge of vegetarian and veganism, and the many reasons people say and do so.

My point is that "vegetarians" mostly, on practice, are not. I have no problem with it. Some who eat chicken and fish say it's still vegetarinism for example, because it's not as bloody as a cow, and it's healthier. One could debate the farming and horrible death of chicken and fish endlessly...read John Robbins.

Over all, the more veg anything anyone does is smart for all kinds of reasons.

However, when your order the vegetarian meal at a dinner, then decide to eat someone else's chicken "because I'm hungry" I think it's rather silly to sit there with chicken in your mouth extolling your virtues.

I educated a friend whose trainer told her to drink Silk Almond "because it's nonfat, no lactose" by showing her the ingredients, which includes a healthy bit of sugar. As she as blood sugar issues, she thanked me.

I'm all for people doing whatever healthy, in any small way, whatever they choose to label themselves.

As for me, I drink the highest quality coffee I can afford, made from clean, filtered water.

[Coffee Drinker]

@hipster "why are you being so cynical towards vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy"

I'm not cynical, I'm educated. Eggs and dairy tortures and kills animals. Eggs and dairy are full of hormones and chemicals. Fine, still, some (but not John Robbins) might argue a step above slaughtering fish, cows, chickens.

I don't think most vegetarians mean to be hypocritical, they are simply ignorant. Watch "food inc" for good visuals.

It's the vegetarians who are on their superiour high horse about it, all while ordering in a restaurant across from me, making a stink, "there's nothing on the menu I can eat..." whining. Then happy when they order as I've said before, food full of animal byproducts. In this case, the person is pretending not to know.

Not all vegetarians are this way; I have a close vegetarian friend who knew Adele Davis. She makes fabulous bread and dessets, souffles, WITH animal products! But she's an honest "vegetarian" and doesn't get all hissy about it.

Most important, she makes fabulous coffee!

I eat mostly vegan as I despise torture and killing of all animals; due to anemia, I do eat animal products and "flesh" but I thank the fish, the chicken, the dairy cow.

And the coffee tree ; )

[spence]

I like the Valentines stuff. Very pretty. The Casi Ciello is not as wonderful as it was in the past.
Vegan vs. vegetarian vs carnivore is a personal choice and no one should be judged.
just saying...

[Alicia]

Has anyone seen where you can now scan your registered starbucks card on an iphone or ipod?! Crazy. I had a customer come into and ask about it and I was kind of perplexed. My question is it really that convenient

[TDUBBS]

MANAGERS CONVENTION FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!! HOWARD, YOU KNOW YOU WAAANNNA!!!!

[ncsm]

How's about this for a 40th anniv present to all the partners--Howard resigns!!

[Darth Sidamo]

I am the opposite of vegan. I eat a diet of strictly meat.

The sissies on Alderaan were vegitarians. Look how that ended up for them.

[Stan]

for every animal you don't eat, i'm going to eat three.

[Random]

Coffee Drinker;

Its the Veggie Artisan Breakfast Sandwich, NOT "Vegetarian Breakfast Sandwich". They nowhere claim that it is a vegetarian sandwich, only that the egg thing has veggie pieces in it. They are not trying to pass it off as vegetarian.

No reason to even bring up vegetarianism.

[StarbucksinNC]

I've heard about new drinks to accompany the new logo, any word on that?

[Coffee Drinker]

Random, I didn't initially bring up vegarianism, but since this is open line, what's the biggie?

I know it's "veggie" some folks mistake that, which I wouldn't be surprised if marketing knows. I've heard baristas correct themselves a couple times, "I mean veggie...not vegetarian..." Bless 'em.

Have had two of those Artisan-veggie's and they are excellent! (the bacon looks tempting too, but the nitrates worry me more than the grease, lol.)

I rarely eat anything at SBUX, maybe once a year if that...but the Veggie got to me ; )

[AB]

I don't work at Starbucks, but as someone who usually has to avoid sugar (reactive hypoglycemia) I'm pretty good about asking if I don't know. They told me there's light caramel sauce on top and I decided to try it. It didn't affect my blood sugar levels, but I don't think it contributed much to the drink. Skinny lattes are fine by me.

I know quite a few vegans, vegetarians, and diabetics. When you commit to a lifestyle, you can't be lazy about it. You read the labels. It's no secret that processed foods have all kinds of ingredients, so reading is a must. If you have an allergy, you're advised to read the label every single time, because production will change without notice.

People that care will ask.

[managermatt]

@ Alicia- Our store has been using the new scanners for a while now. It seems to help alot if a customer can't find their card, or perhaps has lost it. Not really a time saver by any means, but still a neat techno gadget.

On a different note, I'm really excited about the sugar-free mocha sauce testing going on. The last effort tasted like tootsie rolls (not a good substitute). I'm hoping this one will taste a lot more like chocolate. Other companies have it, so we know it CAN be done!

[curious]

I got a question that I can't seem to find the answer for. When did the 10 second shot rule go away? Do shots still expire after 10 seconds. I can't find it anywhere in the material.

[Jimmy]

I have the iPhone app and it's really convenient for me. I work on a cruise ship and there are times when I'll be in port without my wallet, but just with ID, cash, and a credit card...and of course my iPhone. So those are times where I can still use my Starbucks card because they come up on the phone. Even the stores that don't have the scanner can manually type in the Starbucks Card number, so I've found it to be super convenient.

[licensedstorepartner]

@curious,

Check the BRM, or the front of the recipe card deck. I'm pretty sure its still there (although I will admit I have not looked in a while).

[Crema_the_Crop]

There is no longer a "ten second rule". As stated in the Beverage Resource Manual, the "shelf life" for espresso shots is "use immediately".

Come to think of it I don't ever recall seeing the ten second rule in print anywhere.

[hearbutloud]

I told a new barista that the next time I saw him use bad shots I would make him do a taste test between good shots and bad shots. He hates espresso.

[WPGBARISTA]

One of the first things I do while training a new barista, after showing them the ins and outs of the machine itself, the espresso that comes from it. I make them taste a shot fresh and amazing. And then I make them watch a shot go bad AND time it as it does. And then I make them taste it. If my new hire hates coffee, tough shit you work here you got to know what you’re selling. If they can't do the caffeine, decaf does the same thing. If it an allergy to caffeine, then I won't make them at all. But the ten second 'life' is generally a rule of thumbs to know when a shot is poop. With BRR, using it immediately helps as you have your milk steamed and it’s going right into the cup. And as you go on in your Barista years (three myself this April), you know exactly how long it is good for. You have a feel for it. You start to know the sound of your machine!

Also, I used to be at a store that had non-coverage time for training to be with a new hire at all times, even being a shadow for their first 'real' shift. But now that I am at a lower volume store, that is not so. I feel as if I am telling a toddler how to build a car, showing it on paper then expecting it to restore a classic perfectly. Is it like this everywhere now?