[Kate_Oranum]

I read an article about Starbucks the other day - they were arguing that Starbucks is bought by people because of the brand and brand name and not the actual coffee - what are your thoughts?

[rematt]

As a coffee, Starbucks sucks. So I can't imagine that anyone is actually buying it for the coffee, unless it's the only thing that they've been exposed to. Of course I realize that the typical Starbucks customer puts so much crap in the cup that they can't actually taste the coffee. Which is probably a good thing. I'm always amused at the strange looks I get when I order a black coffee the few times I've ventured into Starbucks.

JMOSJO (Just my one sided, jaded observation)

-rematt

[davidh]

I'm always amused at the strange looks I get when I order a black coffee the few times I've ventured into Starbucks.

They serve it black; cream and sugar is a self-serve option at all starbucks stores And they look at everybody funny, regardless of what they look like or what they order; it's a Starbucks Thang.

Starbucks is pretty good. Not great, but theirs hovers above the line between quality and not-quality. Most commercial-grade coffees (Maxwell Mulch, Folgers, Dunkin, etc) are so pumped up with nitrates that it's no wonder that so many people develop "heart conditions" and glandular/endocrine system issues before the age of 50. I wouldn't be surprised if the pharma company sociopaths are in cahoots with the coffee manufacturers.

[writerguy]

Originally Posted by Kate_Oranum

I read an article about Starbucks the other day - they were arguing that Starbucks is bought by people because of the brand and brand name and not the actual coffee - what are your thoughts?

But getting back to the original question -- I agree. I think most people buy Starbucks primarily because of the brand name. I agree with a lot of what rematt and davidh have said regarding the quality of the coffee, and the silliness of the whole "coffee culture" thing.

I'm alternately amazed and annoyed at all the young people (definition of "young people": Anyone under the age of 35. LOL!) using a quart of half-and-half/creamer and half pound of sugar in their "coffee."

But, absolutely I think Starbucks is living on branding. I think they occasionally venture away from coffee stuff into related areas, then when their bottom line takes a dive, the snap back to the coffee line.

Gary

[Convergence]

7-Eleven's black coffee is better than Starbucks' black coffee. But it just isn't as much "fun" to sit in the parking lot of the local convenience store.

Branding / Visibility / Chicness of being able to be seen drinking a $4 cup of jo...

[Kate_Oranum]

I guess I was expecting this - I used to be a BIG fan of Starbucks myself- but now, I'd just rather go to a coffee shop that sells the real stuff. Of course, the whole atmosphere of starbucks is still tempting sometimes - but its not because of their great coffee

[superCool]

it's the Starbucks "experience" (fun / atmosphere / coolness / dude or chick cranking up your coffee / etc..)

[writerguy]

My wife and I have one little "vice" we indulge each day: We go to a local Panera Bread Company store for breakfast. I've become "addicted" to their Dark Roast coffee, and Shirley loves their blueberry begals.

We enjoy begals with (our own) crunchy style peanut butter; I have the coffee and she does a large water with lemon (she hates all coffee and cannot have anything with even a hint of caffeine). We have time to look through the local newspaper, critique the daily comics, visit with a few Old Fart friends, and get our day off to the right start.

Definitely it's for the "atmosphere," although I enjoy the coffee. (Except once in awhile when the girl who makes it as thin as dishwater gets put on the coffee machine. LOL!)

Gary

[davidh]

a $4 cup of jo

Wow, I've heard the cost of living is high in some parts of Colorado, but $4 for a cup of coffee?

A cup of coffee doesn't cost any more or less at Starbucks than what it costs at any other place, whether it be a good shop like Peets or a trashy place like Dunkin... give or take maybe 10 cents.

[Convergence]

Originally Posted by davidh

Wow, I've heard the cost of living is high in some parts of Colorado, but $4 for a cup of coffee?

A cup of coffee doesn't cost any more or less at Starbucks than what it costs at any other place, whether it be a good shop like Peets or a trashy place like Dunkin... give or take maybe 10 cents.

Venti Hazelnut Latte, whole milk.

No one knows what's in your cup but you, the barista, and cashier.

In our town of about 35K we have THREE Starbucks. Two in the same shopping center.

Go there about 3-4 times a year for my $4 cup of jo...

[writerguy]

Originally Posted by Convergence

Venti Hazelnut Latte, whole milk.

No one knows what's in your cup but you, the barista, and cashier.

In our town of about 35K we have THREE Starbucks. Two in the same shopping center.

Go there about 3-4 times a year for my $4 cup of jo...

Let's be more precise here about the terms we use, shall we?? (LOL!)

Throughout most of the 232 years of our nation's history -- and who knows how many more centuries since "coffee" became a beverage consumed by humans -- coffee meant, well, COFFEE. It generally didn't mean "Venti Hazelnut Latte" or any other sort of venti or latte.

I think it would be interesting to know how much of that goofing around with coffee-based drinks that's been codified by Starbucks and other of their ilk are real descendants of coffee traditions, and how much of it is silliness for making money.

My word for today: "Let coffee be coffee."

Gary

[Convergence]

For what it's worth from our friends at Wikipedia:

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the term caffè latte was first used in English in 1847 (as caffè latto) by Noushi Nayebi, and in 1867 as caffè latte by William Dean Howells in his essay "Italian Journeys".[7] Kenneth David maintains that "...breakfast drinks of this kind have existed in Europe for generations, but the (commercial) caffè version of this drink is an American invention".[8] While the Caffe Mediterraneum in Berkeley, California claims to have invented the latte,[9] it was popularized in Seattle, Washington in the early 1980s[10] and spread more widely in the early 1990s[11] - when its sudden trendiness made its drinkers a common target of scorn.[12][13][14] In Canada, a latte-drinker is also the political representation of a left-wing intellectual urban elitist liberal snob (as opposed to an ordinary Tim Hortons coffee drinker).[15]

I had to laugh at the last one.

Also, at home - I drink straight up BLACK COFFEE, nothing in it!

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Convergence

......Also, at home - I drink straight up BLACK COFFEE, nothing in it!

I, too, like my coffee the way it comes out of the bean - with nothing else needed.

I understand that Starbuck "burns" their coffee to a certain degree - so it is consistent (burnt, to my taste) thoughout all theri locations. They have done an effective job of selling the "illusion" of great coffee. "Market to Yuppies and the Yuppie wannabes will flock around." heh Four dollar coffee has to turn a nice profit...

[davidh]

I still don't get what this "4 dollar cup of coffee" thing is all about. The latte or cappuccino comparison is tantamount to ordering up a banana boat sundae with all the trimmings and then claiming that the ice cream parlor charged a pretty penny for "an ice cream cone". Starbuck's price for a cup of coffee isn't any more than a nickel or a dime higher or lower than what almost any other coffee shop anywhere in the country charges for a cup, unless McDonald's has coffee on their dollar menu.

[davidh]

What I find ridiculous is the "k-cup" phenomenon. Now that's a price gouge hustle if there ever was one

[simcat]

Starbucks strong, burned, and bitter coffee holds up better to all the sugary syrups and dairy that are in the "add ons" that make up their $4+ drinks. I doubt they care if they don't sell many $2 straight coffee's.

[Bill]

The K-cup "phenomenum" is the convenience angle (with maybe a touch of snob appeal).

I received a Mr. Coffee version as a gift - and I do like it. I retired the good ol' B&D cup-at-time machine. But, you're right, the K-cups themselves are akin to price gouging. Sooo...Jill got me a reusable K-cup substitute. I can use it for my good ol' Folgers - so I now have good coffee taste at a low price and convenience to boot.

BTW - I get a Senior Coffee at McDs for fifty-cents.

[Convergence]

Originally Posted by davidh

I still don't get what this "4 dollar cup of coffee" thing is all about. The latte or cappuccino comparison is tantamount to ordering up a banana boat sundae with all the trimmings and then claiming that the ice cream parlor charged a pretty penny for "an ice cream cone". Starbuck's price for a cup of coffee isn't any more than a nickel or a dime higher or lower than what almost any other coffee shop anywhere in the country charges for a cup, unless McDonald's has coffee on their dollar menu.

OK.

I call anything from Starbucks with hot coffee in it - coffee. This weekend I will go see what they charge for a cup of black coffee...

[Chuck Hamrick]

Starbucks created an industry that didn't exist 20 years ago. My wife loves Starbucks and grinds their coffee daily. I find it burnt and buy a local brand which I grind in my office. The Starbucks brand was created with $M in investment and advertising, people fell for it. Sam Adams is attributed as the creator of the national micro brew but is seen as any local aficionado as a macro brew sellout. Funny that Starbucks started a national trend as the neighborhood coffee place and is now seen as corporate oppressors.

My Dad always stopped at Pizza Hut for pizza while on family trips. I asked why he did that when there were always cool local pizza joints. He said always got a consistent product and that is the secret to Starbucks. Plus they come up with those ridiculous high calorie sugared drinks that women and children love. And metro men!

[Kate_Oranum]

Originally Posted by Convergence

For what it's worth from our friends at Wikipedia:



I had to laugh at the last one.

Also, at home - I drink straight up BLACK COFFEE, nothing in it!

Hey - thanks for the post, this was interesting - I jsut started to drink blck coffee, but the coffee has to be real good in order for me to take it without milk - in Starbucks I never tried black cofffee or a cappucino - I always go for the fancy pumpkin pie, or caramel or christmas blend..

[Kate_Oranum]

Originally Posted by Chuck Hamrick

Starbucks created an industry that didn't exist 20 years ago. My wife loves Starbucks and grinds their coffee daily. I find it burnt and buy a local brand which I grind in my office. The Starbucks brand was created with $M in investment and advertising, people fell for it. Sam Adams is attributed as the creator of the national micro brew but is seen as any local aficionado as a macro brew sellout. Funny that Starbucks started a national trend as the neighborhood coffee place and is now seen as corporate oppressors.

My Dad always stopped at Pizza Hut for pizza while on family trips. I asked why he did that when there were always cool local pizza joints. He said always got a consistent product and that is the secret to Starbucks. Plus they come up with those ridiculous high calorie sugared drinks that women and children love. And metro men!

Yes- exactly, that ridiczlously high calorie drinks is almost the only thing I take at Starbucks - it has nothing to do with coffee - on the other hand, it is really pricey and so I think it is like something like iPhone - basically you show that you are able to purchase it - and it gives you a good feeling that you are able to goto starbucks and buy a cup of 'coffee'. That is what I said about iPhone - it might not be the product itsself that you are buying - but the brand.

[calebtheredwood]

<--- is drinking StarBucks(also known as 'FiveBucks' around here) now because of this thread. Maybe it's their word of mouth that drives sales?

[Kate_Oranum]

Probably word of mouth - by I still recall my marketing professor telling me that word of mouth is the strongest marketing tool - so they must be doing something good!

[teezone]

In Canada, a latte-drinker is also the political representation of a left-wing intellectual urban elitist liberal snob (as opposed to an ordinary Tim Hortons coffee drinker)

Apparently I'm the only Canadian here... and I just spit out my coffee reading this statement. And it stayed in Wikipedia...??

Don't much care for the Starbucks, too bitter. The vanilla latte is nice, but even a shoe would taste good with vanilla syrup.

[Kate_Oranum]

What coffee were you drinking? I mean you said you just spit out the coffee ....