Earl Nesbit
stopped in the Starbucks on Thursday with his sister while making funeral arrangements for their mother. "I thought it was a very creative and innovative idea," he says of the funeral home's franchise. "At first, I thought it was weird but then it started to make sense." ANY DRINK IDEAS FOR THIS OUTLET? How about "Mourner's Macchiato"? "Pre-Cremation Cappuccino"? Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.
Actually you raise a good point, as to why, at times, SBUX customers may do weird things baristas "hate" (per your other thread.)
They could be dealing with the worst of times, and come to SBUX for a bit of normalcy. That's what I've always done when dealing with my departed immediate family; been through this several times and since it called me to return to the Seattle area, the "good" in it was ability to visit Starbucks in home territory. I got through various difficult meetings with undertakers and others wired on SBUX red eyes and black nights; I recall going to Starbucks with my brother and nephews, talking about Mom and taking her there (she would've been one certain baristas "hated" because she only went when I took her, didn't know the menu, the lingo, the prices, the so many choices...but it she liked being cool with her then-yuppie daughter ; )
Posted by: Coffee Drinker | June 18, 2011 at 02:51 PM
Um, Jim, how could you not think of my name?
Venti URNex Latte!
Besides, it'll kill you, or at least send you to the hospital, as happened in the incident a few years back when a customer was served Urnex and the company sent out a memo warning us to be more careful about what liquid we dispensed to customers.
As I recall, the customer ordered a plain coffee. The urn must have been super filthy for the urnex to be so dark with coffee residue. I think the company rewarded her with a $200 Starbucks gift card, which seems like a paltry reward for her trouble. Anyone else remember that memo? It was maybe 6 or 7 years ago.
Posted by: Venti Urnex Latte | June 18, 2011 at 03:15 PM
Good lord that pot mustve been incredibly dirty to not notice the blue.
Posted by: Jmo | June 18, 2011 at 05:23 PM
Urnex wasn't always blue. It used to be clear...
Posted by: Starbucksfiend123 | June 18, 2011 at 07:41 PM
Indeed, Urnex used to be clear. I remember when this memo was sent out and we were told to rinse the urn 3 times after using Urnex in it...I recall a story posted here (I think) about a man who saw a shuttle tag that said URNEX on it and requested a "Venti...Urnex Roast??" Makes me laugh every time...
Posted by: baroosta | June 18, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Hey Jim,
Sorry but this is most definitely not a Starbucks location, licensed or CO. Licensed locations still have cookie cutter Sbux decor, "baristas" still wear dress code and green aprons, and they still use Sbux syrups (not fontana). With the exception of B&N cafes they also use the same machines, Verismo or Mastraena. Judging by the photographs in this story, it is obvious that this is just a little cafe inside the funeral home that "proudly serves" starbucks. This is very different than a licensed franchise with the logo and the whole shebang. Just common sense too that they wouldn't open a store in such a location. FYI brotha.
Posted by: SBsmooth | June 18, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Just double-checked on the store locator at starbucks.com and ,yep, no location there. This journalist was very liberal with the terms "starbucks location" and "franchise" and "starbucks barista." Just because one can drink a cup of starbucks somewhere doesn't make it a starbucks location. Otherwise my house would qualify. Might want to update the thread header?
Posted by: SBsmooth | June 18, 2011 at 10:21 PM
They aren't allowed to use the name "Frappucino" and they have to call them "Creamsicles."
I can't imagine a funeral home being busy enough for Starbucks to license out to them. Besides, who wants to sit inside of a funeral home when they don't have to? And when you're the one going through it, the last thing you're thinking about is a latte and scone.
Posted by: AB | June 20, 2011 at 02:45 AM
@SBSmooth - glad you said that. I wondered when I saw the brown aprons, and didn't think it looked like a real location.
Posted by: Melody | June 20, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Ah, Creamice says it all - that's the poor step-child of the Frappuccino. This isn't a Starbucks franchise, it's a Foodservice operation. Hence the Fontana syrups as well - FS still uses those.
Posted by: Lisa | June 20, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Question: How would you ring up this cleverly crafted beverage?
Decaf
Venti
Single Shot
2.5 pump mocha
1 Pump vanilla
Nonfat
With Whip
No Drizzle
190 Degree
Stirred 5 times
Hot Chocolate
Splash Stick
For Kelly
??????????
Posted by: Sheik | June 20, 2011 at 08:09 PM
A hot chocolate with a single shot.
Posted by: waltie | June 20, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Well This journalist was very liberal with the terms "starbucks location" and "franchise" and "starbucks barista."..Really nice post..
Posted by: crowd SPRING | July 15, 2011 at 01:01 PM
I had an ice coffee last week from Starbucks and was shocked by the incredibly bitter, burnt-rubber taste in a single gulp. One week later, I still have a bitter taste in my mouth. Anyone else hear pf this before? For my trouble, by the way, I got a coupon for a free drink. As for not seeing the Urnex, the iced coffee was being dispensed from a clear container and the coffee was dark black - I don't think anyone could see blue Urnex in that. Agree?
Posted by: Geronimo 21 | July 22, 2011 at 07:30 PM