The Starbucks Experience

[AXOmom]

This is a little off-topic but it does involve Starbucks and coffee. I never developed a taste for it, but my husband drinks enough to keep Columbia's economy going for at least a year (well, the legal economy at least). He was at 7 or 8 cups a day when we met.

He has punch cards for every coffee shop, barista bar, and roadside stand in town and can rate each one as we pass them. Since we live in the Northwest, or Starbucks Central - that was about 8 million coffee stands/shops and a buttload of cards (literally since he stuffs them all in his wallet).

One Christmas a pretty white box is delivered to our house. I open it up and find a 5 lb bag of Starbucks Christmas blend which consists of beans from Africa (specifically Ethiopia, I think) which have been shipped to us from New York (don't ask me why Starbucks is shipping to us from NY when we've lived our entire married lives within a short driving distance of Seattle). It's wrapped in a silver ribbon and attached is a card.

My husband was a minister at the time, so I assumed this was from some parishioner who knew of his coffee obsession and sent it as a Christmas gift. I open the card and read:

"Dear Valued Starbucks Customer:"

Yep, he was such a valued customer that Starbucks felt it was worth their time to mail him a 5 lb bag of unground Ethiopian coffee beans shipped in a box from NY and wrapped in ribbon. I was assuming they didn't do this for everyone who had visited a Starbucks that year- after all - I like their hot chocolate and shaken ice tea lemonades but they weren't sending ME anything.

The next time I went in I asked a girl at the counter how much business she would guess a person would have to do with Starbucks in order to rate this "gift". She looked at me and said, "Hmmm...I'm guessing $300 or up a month." Needless to say husband and I had a long conversation about his coffee habit when I got home.

33Girl - If you ever travel the country, you should probably avoid the Pacific NW. I'm fairly certain we have the hipster doofi market cornered....sigh. ... I will say that here - the majority wouldn't be caught dead in a Starbucks, so it would probably be safe for you.

[cheerfulgreek]

I'm not sure if anyone has ever tried Caribou Coffee's "Hot Apple Blast", but it's so yummy. That's pretty much the only thing I'll get when I'm there. There's nothing like opening up a good astronomy book, drinking a nice cup of Hot Apple Blast, in a comfy chair, in front of a simulated fireplace. Mmmmm...



I also enjoy the environment at Caribou, too. They have a fireplace at the one I go to. Unfortunately, it's not a real fireplace, but it gives me a similar feeling as a real one. Maybe it's against code here to have a real fireplace inside of a coffee shop.

[zookies]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Caribou Coffee

Now that's what I was thinking. I like them better than SB.

[Iota Man]

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.

[barbino]

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.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by barbino

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.

[barbino]

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.

[LikeASista]

Originally Posted by Iota Man

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.

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. )

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"?

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

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..

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.

Originally Posted by LikeASista

Sneaky Beans

"crack in a coffee cup"?

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

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

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.

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.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by LikeASista

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. )

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"?

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.

[LikeASista]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

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

Glad I could make you laugh.

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

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.

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.

[Iota Man]

Originally Posted by LikeASista

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. )

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"?

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.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Iota Man

I just like to fill my cup up and bounce. .

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

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I also enjoy the environment at Caribou, too. They have a fireplace at the one I go to. Unfortunately, it's not a real fireplace, but it gives me a similar feeling as a real one. Maybe it's against code here to have a real fireplace inside of a coffee shop.

It's probably for insurance reasons they have the faux fireplace, or maybe shariah law forbids fireplaces there. Not sure f you know this but the majority stakeholder in Caribou is a bank out of the middle east and it's specifically written that CC has to follow shariah rules in how they operate (how they borrow money, no porn, alcohol or pork served etc). It's quite interesting.

But in regards to other Michigan coffee places-
The coffee beanery....horrid
Panera...good food but the coffee is so-so
Tim Hortons...never really had it
Biggsby...didn't care for it as Beaners and wasn't impressed after the whole name/image change either.
Dunkin Donuts-good drip coffee but those donuts are too tempting so I avoid that place.