The Starbucks Experience

[VandalSquirrel]

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..

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.

[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"?

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

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.

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.

[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."

[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.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

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.

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.

[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.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

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.

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

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

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.

[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.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Why not, you don't know me in real life?

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

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

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.

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.

Originally Posted by LikeASista

Glad I could make you laugh.

You most certainly did.

Originally Posted by LikeASista

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.

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.

[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.

[Iota Man]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

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

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.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

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

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.