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

[I.Heart.Spirit]

As a barista, I like the Starbucks card app because their new balance is shown immediately. No need to waste paper for people who just want to know that information.

Though, (I do hope this was the first and last time ever) some guy came in while talking on his iPhone as he kept going between his conversation and attempting to hand his iPhone for scanning, while still ordering as well. It was very odd and didn't seem very convenient to me lol

[notthathard]

@yeaisaiddecaf, then learn how to use it. It's not that hard.

[notthathard]

Hipsterdufus- there may be a new skinny mocha very soon. It was tested over christmas in several states.

[notthathard]

@Crema_da_crop apart from your manager, it's all over the news. How could you miss it?

[notthathard]

@Coffeedrinker those who have to yell that they are informed, show by that and the words that follow how uninformed they truly are. Seriously? Seriously? All milk and eggs are full of chemicals and hormones? Please, do tell what chemicals are within all eggs.

[Darth Sidamo.]

The chemical from milk comes from hormones given to cows so they produce an insane amount of milk (I believe its over 5 times as much but i am not sure). I am sure there are some sort of chemical given to chickens that make them produce bigger eggs more often.

[James Connolly]

Most chickens are given a shit ton of antibiotics because of the grotesque squalor they are kept in while laying eggs.

The company switched over to rBGH-free milk a couple years ago, which is a very good thing because Posilac and other bovine somatotropins are horrible for the cows that are treated with it and are horrible for people because milk from rBGH-treated cows carries a higher risk of foodborne illness.

[Venti Urnex Latte]

Anyone else watching The Bachelor? Brad is a STARBUCKS GUY!

But not everyone cares where he gets his coffee! Only some of us do!

[Joe the Barista]

I think it is bullshit that it is called skinny. Customers understand that skinny means sugar free and skim milk. A customer could see that and say, "Oh, now they made that one completely sugar free!"

[Coffee Drinker]

@ notthathard, I didn't intend to yell. Did you? seemed like it.

I provided several references, that are easy to look up; or google yourself. only look at google photos of chickens laying eggs if you have a strong stomach.

perhaps you don't read news much; not long ago was a national salmonela outbreak in eggs. thousands and thousands of eggs pulled from shelves, because of chickens sitting in their own dung...and not getting enough antibiotic chemicals, I guess.

but don't believe an anonymous person online, nor diss them with any credibility on your part w/o citing your info as well.

I highly recommend the documentary, Food Inc.

Or ignore what I say. My opinion is offered in kindness, nothing more. Good luck.

[slaw275]

I get people ordering "skinny" all the time that don't know that we use the term to refer to sugar-free syrup as well as non-fat milk. Every day I hear people order skinny chai, skinny white mocha, skinny toffee nut latte, etc. When partners let them know we can do non-fat milk with that but that we don't offer these syrups in a sugar-free form many many many of them say "oh, that's okay."
On another note, has anybody been able to find a sku for the skinny cm? I can't find it and it makes it hard to sku track!

[asm in ca]

Did anyone see the new Barista Training materials that are launching? We got them in the roasting plant order yesterday, and some of the abreviations listed for new baristas to learn was "A" for almond syrup, DCCFL, STCFL and all the other light creme based Fraps, and TFJBL (the tangerine fruit juice blend from like 3 summers ago). REALLY?? How does all that slip in there?!

[Mel]

I envy those of you this morning who in Omaha were able to get great Sbux coffee, those of you in glittering Hong Kong, in cosmo Sydney and in busy FiDi Manhattan who were able to line up and get coffee in a sterling service environment. My girlfriends and I here in Prague? Well, this gal can't seem to find that sterling service environment that we expect and usually get at Sbux, even though you pay almost 8 USD a coffee here (that figure is not a typo).

We have for some months been visiting primarily one of the Starbucks stores on a main street with trams here in the city next door to the HTC store in Praha. The service is hit and miss.

Its as if the world has been turned upside down here, a place where some baristas think that they , not Sbux, owns the store, and where they feel free to turn their personal whims onto to any customer they don't feel is deserving of great service.

Example : off duty Baristas hang off the serving area, impeding customers all the while talking loudly to working Bs, and as customers line up, B leaves bar area to run off and talk all too loudly to other off duty Bs who camp out in various parts of the store, and then run back to the bar area but keep the conversation going. Sometimes I feel like my friend and I should have just gone to the pub if we wanted to enjoy a loud staff goofing off environment. But no, we didn't. We wanted a quiet place called Sbux.

When this isn't happening, the bar area can be devoid of any staff at all. They're out back doing goodness knows what. Baristas at the bar? Nil. Zero. Zilch. Sometimes it's just customers who line up, other times its this guy who came in, extended his arm, and in one movement scooped a bunch of goods off the refrigerated display into his bag, before leaving the store as we all looked on, mouths open. But it was ok, the Bs eventually came back to the bar area.

My personal favorite is when you get either looks of indifference or better yet, when looks can kill. Those Bs sure love their work and they "let you know it". So they try to blow off steam by screaming at their friends/off duty Bs who camp out in the store OR better yet, treat the store to their punk rock/Cure/Clash music at... Christmas time.

After all, it's their store and the baristas know it - so treat it like its their own living room. It's a place where Baristas come first - and everyone else (brand and store policy included) comes last. "Whats Starbucks? This is My Store" they may as well be saying.

[I <3 music]

Poor Mel

[ntnl]

Mel just get over it and go somewhere else.

[Dogmeats]

I'd be pi**ed too. 8 dollars for a coffee with that nonsense? I once used to live in Prague (well - only for a couple of months) and I remember the atmophere, maybe even that very same store. If you read www.expats.cz you will see that she is right - the service sucks - and frequently employees are either treating the stores there as their own or stealing from their employers or just giving it away to friends. My friend there ran a small cafe himself and lost hundreds in sales from store product stolen or given away and it was always hard to find staff who didn't treat his store as their personal digs..

The problem is that the employees are sellig coffees that are each easily 2 hours wages (150Kc - around 7 or 8 dolalrs) and get only 70 Kc an hour after tax (talking about a typical cafe worker). This incentivizes their goofing around as a means of getting back at their "rich" employer or just stealing stuff. It becomes justified behvior.

No one should have to put up with that. Starbucks should be the same all over the world, not what some self entitled barista thinks because no one is watching them.

[Sbux1]

Question: for those stores starting Trenta size on January 18, will Trenta size Frappuccinos be available, or is it still iced tea and coffee only?

[James Connolly]

Word is that it's going to be iced tea and iced coffee only, and our fallback is 'Just Say Yes' and charge them for a venti and a tall.

We have a lady who comes in and gets a venti breve white mocha frappuchino who will likely try to order the Trenta size. When that happens, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep the look of horror off of my face.

[I.Heart.Spirit]

We actually are suppose to defer them to buying two grandes, before just say yes... As per the action item you may have read...

[ex-flbarista]

Look - I've NEVER bought or sold an $8 cup of coffee. I think it's time we got past that falsehood.

I'm not saying starbucks is cheap - but there's a huge difference between a "cup of coffee" and a venti breve white mocha frappuccino with a shot or two. (on second thought, that one might cost close to $8)

It's a bloody luxury. If you don't like it, don't buy it.

[usorthem3]

For those who asked where it said shots were only good for 10 seconds, page 189 &195 in the 2005 Barista 101 I was given the day I started. In the front cover are the 6 guiding principles of the Mission Statement at the time. First on the list-
Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. Now I think the top of the list is coffee.

[Barista]

I'm in the district launching them on the 18th, and on our information guide (we posted it in the back room) it says to NOT "just say yes" regarding frapps or espresso beverages in the trenta, but instead to instruct them that they "can always buy two grandes!" and to inform them that we cannot ring them up. Iced Coffee and Iced Tea are the only drinks that will be made in the Trenta size.

[me]

Can't wait: "I'd like a trenta white mocha frappuccino split into 3 talls."

[Sbux1]

How are we supposed to handle iced tea lemonade, etc. that are supposed to be made in the shaker? Ours doesn't have markings for Trenta, obviously. Did anyone get a new/revised shaker?

[Black Apron Boy]

YOU GUYS are starting to get ridiculous. I've worked in the company for 4 years and have worked all over the country. Drive-throughs, cafes, corporate. I work in a store where Trentas have been the norm for a while. I have never been asked about splitting trentas. No trenta fraps. Stop your "WHAT IF" complaints. People only treat you like shitty food service workers when you ACT LIKE SHITTY FOOD SERVICE WORKERS. I know some people can be harsh, but that's why you treat them with respect and dignity, give them a smile, and make a legendary beverage. IT's not that hard. Stop whining and acting like babies. GET OVER YOURSELF!!!

[Whitney]

Sorry to bring up the logo debate again, but we happen to think that it is for the good! See why here.

[Coach Outlet Store]

It is with narrow-minded people as with narrow-necked bottle; the less they have in them the more noise they make in pouring out.

[starbuckscards]

3 out of 4 ain't bad?

Recently Starbucks issued NEW Starbucks Partner cards for their Partners.

Along with the card came the following statements:

Your Partner Card is one powerful piece of plastic.

It has four main features.

• It's where you'll find the Starbucks Mission Statement.

• It's what you'll use to get your partner discount and/or product markout

• It's a Starbucks Card too.

• It's a handy reference for the Starbucks Communications Hotline.

----------------------------------

So, if there are any Baristas out there. Please, reach into your pockets, and take a good look at your shiny new Partner Card. Where is the Starbucks Mission Statement? Is my eyesight failing?

[Discount Coach Bags]

You may believe these four proverbs:
Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad.
Life is a leaf of paper white, thereon each of us may write his word or two.
On earth there is nothing great but man; in the man there is nothing great but mind.
Everything ought to be beautiful in a human being: face, and dress, and soul, and ideas.

[Gaston Cantens]

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.

[Gaston Cantens]

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 and serve.

[directory Melbourne]

On a different note, I'm really excited about the sugar-free mocha sauce testing going on.