Comments on: Why does Starbucks keep snubbing me?

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:03:08 +0000

You probably know about this, but in case you don’t, thought you’d be interested: Buy the $1.50 bold offering for next 8 weeks (get the card for it this week), and get a free pound of beans. Perfect for the Starbucks-addicted unemployed! http://www.starbucksbold.com/coffee/organic-yukon-blend.aspx

By: Karen McLeod

Karen McLeod — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:08:08 +0000

Brad, given how often you mention Starbucks–well, why should they by the cow when milk’s so cheap?

By: Kathryn Fenner

Kathryn Fenner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:03:28 +0000

I try hard not to pay $7 even if it has alcohol in it. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow socially, but $7 for a shot of scotch kills me.

I figure $2 for a great cup of coffee that someone had to grind and brew for me, in a nice shop is quite reasonable. Bob Green erstwhile Chicago Tribune columnist wrote back in the 80s that he figured you get $1 tip minimum just for bringing something to his table–the $2.22 breakfast at Denny’s still merited a buck tip. Unless the service is terrible, I figure inflation brings it to $2. At Starbucks, they don’t bring it to your table, but factoring in the labor and overhead involved in making a fresh well-brewed cup of coffee, I figure $2 all in is quite reasonable.

—and I try really hard to drink only those calories found in milk and liquor—a Triple Caramel Mocha Macchiatto Frappuccino is right out.

By: Brad Warthen

Brad Warthen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:28:45 +0000

Who pays $7? It’s less than $2 — unless you’re one of those people who think it’s a soda fountain, and not a coffee shop. And, as someone noted above, I have little patience with such folk.

By: Walter

Walter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:59:28 +0000

Kathryn – That and I don’t pay $7.00 for any drink that doesn’t have alcohol in it… and even then I have to think about it.

By: Kathryn Fenner

Kathryn Fenner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:25:35 +0000

@Walter–ya think?

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:15:45 +0000

I guess I don’t know what the hype about Starbucks is… I’ve never stepped foot inside one. But that may be because I find the smell and taste of coffee sickening.

By: Kathryn Fenner

Kathryn Fenner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:36:10 +0000

Dude, you gotta spend money to make money. Starbucks is the New York Times. You are just lil ole Brad Warthen who used to be sort of somebody. The little people are your friends now.

Maybe you could get the Catholic Church to advertise?

I love the scene in Best In Show where the yuppies with the Weimaraner tell how they were supposed to have their first date at a Starbucks, but they were at opposing corners’ Starbucks.

By: Brad Warthen

Brad Warthen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:27:54 +0000

Let them make me an offer, say I, and I’ll check out their coffee …

But Starbucks… it’s like being Catholic. Wherever you go, there’s a Starbucks, and it has that wonderful smell and the same menu — although there’s some pretty neat architectural diversity in their settings. Same with the Church: Wherever you go, you’re participating in the same communion through the same liturgy. If only it were still in Latin…

When I go to New York, there’s another Starbucks on every corner! But I still stop at one of those shops in Little Italy for an espresso….

I get really, really caffeinated when I go to New York…

By: Kathryn Fenner

Kathryn Fenner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:22:04 +0000

Since Adriana’s closed, Starbucks has gotten too cocky. You need to go to Immaculate Consumption or Cool Beans, dude. They might actually advertise, too….

Drink local, blog local.