I'm not really feeling Starbucks, because they don't have free refills like some of the other places I've been too. Some places need to be more clear about what they mean as a "free refill" though. Some of it is misleading. For real.

We have countless coffee options in Seattle, so here's my take:

- Starbucks is convenient, and I love its corporate politics. Great place to work. Will work in a pinch, but I don't like the taste of the coffee from the automated machines they installed a few years ago. I don't really hang out in Starbucks - since it's all over the place, it doesn't have much of a coffee house feel anymore.
- Tully's (now owned by Green Mountain) always burns the milk in my latte. Only drinkable if I order it "not too hot."
- I prefer smaller roasters/local chains we have in Seattle...and we have many of them. Uptown Espresso, Cafe Ladro, Zoka Coffee, Cafe Vita, Diva Espresso, Fuel, etc. Plus I'll go to Cupcake Royale just for the Stumptown Espresso (Portland, Ore.).
- Drive-thru espresso huts on every corner/every gas station. Convenient, sometimes have Granitas, which I love in the summer. Otherwise I tend to avoid them, because again, most of them burn the milk. Love the punch cards, though.

ETA: You wouldn't believe the number of choices we have for coffee in the grocery stores, too. In many stores it takes up an entire side of an aisle.

Both my husband and I need coffee. One time we left the house on a weekend without any, and by 4pm we were cranky, shaky, and complaining that we both had to get some ASAP. I think that coffee is like a drug; it's a habit. I brew strong coffee most mornings.

I love Starbucks and am frequently there. I also like Caribou. I used to go to Barnes & Noble but now I'd rather go to the area Starbucks & bring my own books/magazines. I have no problems reading, studying, or doing work there. Our area Starbucks are pretty quiet and most of the people that go there are from the neighborhood.

However, the coffee is expensive. I usually get a pastry, cheese box, iced tea, or espresso con panna (with whipped cream). Espresso works much faster than coffee if you need a quick fix. I'll sometimes get the coffee (I love Verona but hate Sumatra). I like the dark roasts and the Indonesian blends. Now I want to go get some Starbuck's beans. I have one of their Iced Coffees right here beside me now.:)

A cup of coffee actually has way more caffeine than a typical espresso drink. You'd have to drink 3-4 espresso shots in a latte to equal a tall drip. And if you like Verona, you should try Gold Coast Blend at SBUX.

I haven't had Gold Coast Blend for awhile, maybe I'll have to get the beans soon. I worked for SB for a few months many years ago when I needed a second job, so I'm pretty familiar with their coffee & products. The thing that I liked the most about working there was that we got a pound of coffee free each week. Since I was single then, I could not possibly drink it all. So I started giving it away to my friends, and I was suddenly very popular.

One of my real estate friends worked there part-time just to get the healthcare benefits, which used to be available to anyone who worked there, even part-time. I don't know if they still have these same benefits, but at that time it was a great part-time job. I knew an art-history PHD who taught part-time & ran the community-college art museum. What was her other part-time job? You guessed it- a Starbuck's barrista. She did this for a long time, too.:)

I, too, worked as a barista at Starbucks, while I was in college. Always gave away my beans, too. Starbucks still has those health bennies for part-time employees.

I prefer the smaller coffeeshops to Starbucks, not because I think Starbucks is necessarily evil, but because I can't stand the faux hipsters that infest the DC locations, and I just happen to like most of the ones in my area. Sadly enough, my favorite local coffee shop is under new ownership that added hookah to the mix...and it has become a hipster hangout. Ugh.

I must be weird because I absolutely love home-brewed drip coffee to the point where my mom has to dig out the regular coffeepot from the basement when I'm at her house, since I prefer it to her espresso machine. I have a thing for creamers, and I'm always trying new flavors, so maybe that's it. While you think this would save me money, despite my preference I am usually grabbing Starbucks since I couldn't wake up in time to brew coffee/prepare a travel mug to save my life thanks to law school exhaustion.

I rarely hang out in Starbucks because I literally hate being in one. They used to be overcrowded with sorority girls when I was in undergrad, and this drove me nuts because I was already a bit overtired from constant sorority from living in my house. I don't like the atmosphere at the one at my law school because there are students with babies in there and it makes me feel old.

What's up with people talking about "hipster" people at Starbucks? I've never seen them at any of the Starbucks in my area. Maybe it's a location thing.

Starbucks is a commodity in Seattle, so you see all kinds there. We don't have as much fast food here - Starbucks is our fast food. Hipsters abound from San Francisco up to Seattle, and it's fair to say you'll see them in all the coffee shops, restaurants, bars, etc. I think it comes with the creative, tech, educated populace.

That's because Detroit hipsters wouldn't be caught dead in a Starbucks.

Hipsters have a neighborhood in L.A. as well, Silverlake.

When I'm traveling I've spent time in quite a few Starbucks on the road. Bathrooms are always clean, I can get a caffeine pick me up, there's free internet, and I can nod off for a few minutes and not be concerned about being axe murdered.

This is me, minus the fraps. I'm a white mocha kind of girl.:) For me it is about the experience. Besides the above (being almost everywhere, being able to work), my experience at Starbucks is consistent, no matter which one/which city I'm in. I'm from and live in New England and I do my best to give DDs a shot, but my coffee almost always tastes different every time I go and that is annoying. There was one time I had the BEST cup of coffee from them and went back the next day (same location, might have been the same associate that took/fulfilled my order) and the drink was the polar opposite of good.

There are bumps in the road at Starbucks sometimes (I swear no one in there can hear, there is no reason to spell my name wrong when I spell it for you), but overall I get a drink I enjoy, and should I choose access to a calm (not always quiet) location and free internet.

This.

I'm confused. Honestly, I've really never heard of the term "hipster" before. I was just thinking that you guys meant "hippy". I didn't know there were Detroit hipters, Novi hipters, Westbloom hipters.... Totally confused. :o

From the Urban Dictionary -
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...&defid=2705928

Short version - (also from UrbanDictionary.com)

hipster - 2. Hipster's can't be defined because then they'd fit in a category, and thus be too mainstream.
3. Someone who listens to bands you've never heard of, wears ironic tee-shirts, and believes they are better than you.

In other words - if since you asked, you must not be a hipster. :o
(I am obviously a geek and not one either...)

lol
I read the whole thing. Thank you for posting this. I've seen them before, but I didn't pay much attention to them. I've never seen them at the Starbucks I go to, though. The only people who I see there, who are...well...kind of different, are the two chess players who come in all the time. They both look like "Dungeons & Dragons" people. Based on the information you've posted, hipsters don't seem any different from the hippies of the late 60s and early 70s.

#2 is perfect. And yeah, the "listens to bands you've never heard of" takes care of half of Seattle, and most of Portland. Except for people who maybe appreciate the occasional Kanye/Katy Perry/Disco/80s "ironically." I swear, everyone I know listens to alternative or public radio here (myself included, but I also listen to Top 40 and country).

If you've ever watched the IFC show "Portlandia," it is filled with hipsters. Here's one example - notice all the glasses (Wieden + Kennedy is really Nike's advertising agency): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGPt5P3CYY4

They're not at all the same.

That's why I said "based on what I read" they don't "seem" to be any different.....

There's a lot of differences. I was a hipster in my younger years and my friends and I weren't into anything near the hippie counterculture. Maybe shared an affinity for Volvo or Subaru station wagons but that's about it..

I had a Volvo, now drive a Subaru wagon, and I am so far from hipster I was probably a hipster before it was cool and didn't even know it.

I shared on GC my Portland hipster experience of when I took a wrong turn and ended up in the Hawthorne District and witnessed sushi with sugary breakfast cereal defiling it in Fred Meyer. I'm also a hipster hater because of what they've done to my home town and I can't forgive them for ruining the Mission District and specifically Dolores Park where I spent many happy hours as a child.

Actually, Starbucks has unlimited free refills as long as you use their Starbucks card (which you have to put money on). I'm assuming this is how they keep up with our purchases more accurately. If you've been using their cards for a while, you ultimately get a gold card with your full name on it and continued free unlimited refills. Also, each time you use your Starbucks card, you get a gold star, and after 15 stars, you get a free drink of any kind. (Obviously, I LOVE Starbucks. :D )

I like the atmosphere of most coffee shops, but the quality of coffee, for me, has to be strong, which is why I ONLY visit Starbucks now. I don't drink fraps, mocha lattes, etc. Shops like Cups, Seattle Drip and Sneaky Beans are here in my town, and while I enjoy the atmosphere of these little shops, the coffee is lacks the kick Starbucks coffee has.

It's funny how hooked I am on their coffee now, because when I first tried Starbucks coffee, I nearly gagged. It was waaaaayyy too strong. But I noticed how well I was able to concentrate on my studies while sipping. However, what did it for me was the day I had a terrible headache, but knew I desperately needed to do some studying, so I got a tall coffee and suddenly, as I began sipping my brew, my headache vanished! Can you say "crack in a coffee cup"? :rolleyes:

Then I guess you're more hippy, or potentially a lesbian. Do you prefer Birks or Crocs? I'm sorry about your hometown but groups/people/disasters coming in and defiling San Fran seems to be a common theme in that city's history.

Don't get me started on Portland, OR. The people originally from there are pretty cool, normal people, it's all of the hipster transplants that suck. It's like they try too hard to be more hip than the average hipster. It's a good thing that Williamsburg, Echo Park, Austin, Seattle, etc just wasn't cool enough for them. They can keep PDX and that really shitty weather.

lol
This is hilarious! I SO cannot see you as a former hipster. They just seemed similar, because of how they have their own little clique/group thingie, like the hippies did.

lol
The name "Sneaky Beans" made me laugh. And lol @ "crack in a coffee cup."

Also, I don't know why, but I can drink Starbucks and not feel anything. I mean, I could be really sleepy, and then drink a cup, go back home, and fall right to sleep. Whenever I go, I always get the lightest roast they have. I don't like strong coffee. I remember reading an article about how the darker the coffee, the less kick is has -something about how the coffee beans are roasted longer or something.

I'm definitely not a hippy since I not only enjoy eating meat, I also like killing it myself. I'm not a lesbian, but I know I intimidate men with my butch realness paired with a softer fierce femme. I'd like to think that I have many facets and like certain things in life, I'm an acquired taste for a cultivated palate.

Today the look went as follows: hair and face done, pearls and heels, an apron worthy of Mad Men costume department; all worn while using power tools in my garage to put up rails for home organization I made two batches of homemade frozen yogurt and sorbet, hemmed my Roman shades, then went to work and was all kinds of executive realness.

How very dare you, Birkenstocks or Crocs, I don't even wear Tevas for rafting once I found Keen sandals. Socks with sandals make me want to throw up, and the the closest I come to hipster shoes is low top Converse or select Danskos.

ETA: I don't think we were hipsters, I think we're older and actually just Gen X inclined as hipsters are early to mid twenties and that isn't us.

Why not, you don't know me in real life? I always liked to think of hipsters as modern day bohemians. Detroit has a really cool hipster scene, which you should check out. Most of the places are downtown, Hamtramck, or in the Woodward corridor from Ferndale to Royal Oak. D'Mongos, The Emory, The WAB, The Tap, Cadieux Cafe, The Magic Stick, The Ale House, Smalls, Whiskey in the Jar, Painted Lady, Paychecks, just to name a few.

Damn, after remembering all of those places I can't wait till I go home for a visit in July.

Hence why I refer to myself as a former hipster, but the hipster scene has been around since the early 2000's.

I thought we were just "alternative" and hipsters was more mid 200os. We're from different areas, which probably influences our time based perception.


I had never seen nor been to a Starbucks until 10 or so years ago as I lived in places that are/were really anticorporations. I may have had Starbucks in the Seattle airport or in a Barnes and Noble, possibly in a Nordstroms, but it wasn't even something accessible.

I'm totally upfront with my enjoyment of the Tazo iced tea with lemonade. I made some at home yesterday and brought it to work to enjoy. Starbucks also will still make a misto, which is a cafe au lait elsewhere, but those are strangely hard to come by in many places.

Glad I could make you laugh. :)

Ya know what? It's interesting that you mentioned this, because that's exactly where I am now. When I speak of how Starbucks makes me feel, I'm usually referring to my experience in the past tense. In all honesty, I became addicted to Starbucks as a result of those experiences, but no matter how much I drink it now, it no longer gives me the kick it USED to. If I'm sleepy now, I can drink Starbucks and it has absolutely NO affect. The desire to have it, though, to give me a boost is really all in my mind these days. :rolleyes:

No, but I've seen your picture on here, and I just can't see it.

Nah, based on what I read, and based on who I think they are (based on my own sightings of them), I don't think I would want to be around those kind of people.

You most certainly did. :p

Yep. I totally agree with you. I think sometimes people drink coffee, or ask the person behind the counter for an extra shot of something to give more of what they think is a boost. Sometimes I wonder if their minds make them think they have a boost of energy when in reality is hasn't done anything lol. I could be wrong, but sometimes our brains can play tricks on us. Like, I had an energy drink once when I was in school. I was really sleepy, because I had been studying all night. So, I decided to try an energy drink, thinking it would keep me up, because the coffee wasn't doing anything. The energy drink didn't do anything either. I was still sleepy. I think a lot of it depends on our body chemistry.

See, I don't get all into the coffee card program they got there. I just like to fill my cup up and bounce. That's too much work and confusion doing it with a card LOL. I don't know why I would need a card to get some free refills. I wonder why they don't want to compete with their competitors and give out free refills.

lol
You just like to pay one time, filling your cup up throughout the entire year, using the same cup. :p

LOL dude wasn't specific, though. He didn't get specific until he saw that I kept filling my cup up and leaving for months. Then after I got into it with dude, he put a sign up. As long as they are specific and detailed about the shit, I won't have a problem with it, and I'll follow the rules.

This brings up an interesting tangent though. I didn't know up until a few months ago that you could get free refills on beverages if you dine in at fast food restaurants, those that give you the cup and let you get it yourself--McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Burger King, etc..

I rarely ever "eat-in" at fast food restaurants but was astonished to know that you could get free refills. I always figured you pay once, you drink once.

Well, I don't eat fast-food so, I wouldn't know much about how they do things at those places, but I do love Dairy Queen. As far as I know of, the Dairy Queen I go to doesn't have free refills. It's just that they've never given me a self-serve cup, so I wouldn't know. I think Dairy Queen might be a franchise so, maybe they're not all the same.