Time Magazine Starbucks rant

[llama]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

While on a working holiday, I worked in a coffee shop in British Columbia a few years ago
Being on a ski hill we used to get quite a few people up from Seattle for a bit of skiing and some of the orders that we used to get were bizzare.

We used to get orders like 1/2 shot Decaf, 1/2 shot regular, 1/2 skinny, 1/2 full cream latte with sugar free vanilla syrup.
We also would get the odd person order a Macchiato and then complain that its not like the Starbucks Macchiato (which apparently is a latte with cream and almond syrup).
And one day I had a nice lady tell me very politely that the latte that she was served, was not a real latte because it didnt have the same amount of foam that Starbucks puts in their lattes.

These kind of experiences have pretty much put me off trying Starbucks.

[Thundergod]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

They make up their own cup sizes, so what surprise they take a macchiato and change the recipe?

Speaking of which.
The foyers of lasge buildings in Sydney all seem to have been taken over by cafes.
I saw one today that served "Small", "Medium" and "Schooner" sizes.

[CoffeeChaser]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

I think Starbucks with the schooner size and than goes to pint than jug. They are massive.

You are right there are masses of cafes in Sydneys large buildings, it is a shame there is not a great deal of decent coffee being produced from most of them.

[michael]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

they say you cant complain unless youve trted it, i had a big mac once so now i know better. i havent tried a starbucks and doubt i will

[LindaD]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

The "Pronto" doesnt have a steam wand for obvious reasons. It does have a hot water outlet for long blacks and so on.

TG: They actually call me the "Steam wand Nazi" at work. I am a "clean wand, purge before and after steaming" freak. The girls at work get very nervous when I stand with them when they make coffees, because I constantly remind them to clean it.
When I go into any store now, I always look at their area for cleanliness and of course the wand!

Robusto: To have a qualification that I do at my store, gives me certain "rights" to what I can and cant say. I am not afraid to voice my opinions, and I do, especially to the store owner, who I have a great rapport with, and he constantly asks me about how to improve our McCafe and values my outlook on it. He actually paid to have my courses at William Angliss and become qualified for the benefit of the store.

He is now looking into getting a group of our staff to go and do the "ABC of Espresso making" course at William Angliss this year.

[mitto68]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

My biggest complaint with a lot of these places and supposedly reputable cafes is they seem to have some perverse desire to burn the hell out of customers mouths. I have stood and watched coffee makers steaming milk with a thermometer in the jug and still not taking any notice of what the temperature is. It seems that when they cant touch the handle any more its hot enough.

[rowdee]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

I agree with the tone of the posts, particularly Mals comment: "Ive tried a couple of different Maccas McCafe Bar coffees and to be truthful, I wondered if they had actually put any coffee into the PF before hitting the Brew Switch. The resulting brews were so weak I could barely taste any coffee at all."

When I would get my car serviced there was a McCafe next door with wireless hotspot which meant I could have a coffee and browse. Great idea, the coffee was awful. I tried it twice just to make sure that I wasnt being unfair, I wasnt being unfair!

Starbucks is undrinkable. I met my daughter at Southland (Melbourne) last week for coffee, she wisely had tea, I had to leave the Machiato, which was like a latte but so hot it burnt, needless to say there was no taste!

I am seduced by Gloria Jeans, I want it to be good...but the service is so slow and awkward. Depending on the barista (I am in a complementary mood), the coffee can be drinkable.

Because I spend a lot of my time in shopping centres I try them all to see what is on offer, yet to be impressed.

[rgow6208]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

Good rant, Meanbean.  Hopefully it was a cathartic experience which has lightened your emotional baggage!   Coffeesnobs can be therapeutic.  

--Robusto

Ahhhh, yes ***sighs***. Feel much better now and my emotional baggage is definitely reduced -- down to only two dozen suitcases now!


P.S.- Im glad to see weve flushed a Maccas insider out of the woodwork!
P.P.S.- Ill say another thing about Maccas... they are one of the few cafes (yes, i may be using this term loosely, but artistic licence please) that use a cardboard wrap around their takeaway cups so you dont suffer Liberace-itis if your cup is too hot and have to do the piano-fingers dance to stop your fingers burning! I know a good cuppa shouldnt burn your fingers anyway, but that little cardboard thingy makes it feel better! And many cafes we would have no argument calling cafes have failed on this score -- and delivered scalding hot coffee in paper-thin cups.
Me, a defender of Maccas?!!? What is the world coming to?!!! : ;D

[smoky]

Re: Time Magazine Starbucks rant

Have to agree whole hartedley with no2 post, it would have to be the worlds worst coffee bar none........