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Starbucks Coffee, Is it really good coffee
- Thread starter lofight
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Well the White Chocolate Mocha happens to be my favorite drink at Starbucks, lol. I am not sure where exactly what part of Oregon Corvalis is located, but I always hear that some of the local coffee shops in Portland are supposed to be some of the best coffee in America. However, I only seem to find Starbucks on every other corner so that is where I always end up!
I do have to add that I find a little difference depending on which Starbucks I go to. I guess that depends on the Baristas that are working at the time.
I've not read this whole thread, so apologies if this has already been covered.
There is always going to be a subjective element to a discussion of this, or wine, or stereo gear, or cars, etc.
In general, Starbucks (slightly) over-roasts their beans to get a stronger flavor. Similar reason McDonalds used to keep their coffee at ~190 degrees. Take a look at how dark their roasted beans are compared to smaller coffee places like Peaberry Coffee or Ink Coffee in Colorado, or Peets, etc. The other problem Starbucks has is that its source material--the raw beans--are not the best. It has to buy such a high volume of beans that the beans they buy are not, on average, the best beans available.
Because it is over-roasted, it provides a stronger flavor, with a "stronger" coffee flavor that so many people equated with "better." In the grand scheme of things, it is competent and consistent, though far from providing a great coffee experience. IMO, etc. What is missing is the subtlety and complexity of a truly great coffee--a true Jamaica Blue Mountain, or Yauco Selecto (sadly no longer available due to the plantation being destroyed in a hurricane).
So to offer a question to the thread title: No. But neither is it terrible. I think the best I can say is that it is competent, consistent, and widely available. And I don't mean to damn with faint praise, either--like it or not, Starbucks is largely responsible for bringing coffee and coffee-based drinks to a MUCH wider range of people, and the social interactions at their stores shouldn't be overlooked either.
There is always going to be a subjective element to a discussion of this, or wine, or stereo gear, or cars, etc.
In general, Starbucks (slightly) over-roasts their beans to get a stronger flavor. Similar reason McDonalds used to keep their coffee at ~190 degrees. Take a look at how dark their roasted beans are compared to smaller coffee places like Peaberry Coffee or Ink Coffee in Colorado, or Peets, etc. The other problem Starbucks has is that its source material--the raw beans--are not the best. It has to buy such a high volume of beans that the beans they buy are not, on average, the best beans available.
Because it is over-roasted, it provides a stronger flavor, with a "stronger" coffee flavor that so many people equated with "better." In the grand scheme of things, it is competent and consistent, though far from providing a great coffee experience. IMO, etc. What is missing is the subtlety and complexity of a truly great coffee--a true Jamaica Blue Mountain, or Yauco Selecto (sadly no longer available due to the plantation being destroyed in a hurricane).
So to offer a question to the thread title: No. But neither is it terrible. I think the best I can say is that it is competent, consistent, and widely available. And I don't mean to damn with faint praise, either--like it or not, Starbucks is largely responsible for bringing coffee and coffee-based drinks to a MUCH wider range of people, and the social interactions at their stores shouldn't be overlooked either.
macartistkel: Drive south on I-5 for about an hour and twenty minutes, then west on Highway 34 for about ten and you'll be in Corvallis. I love Stumptown coffee, but I really don't go there because I don't like the atmosphere. I find the furniture uncomfortable and the décor is so spartan that I just don't feel comfortable there. I usually go to the coffee shop in Powell's, or, sadly, to the Starbucks in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
If you ever do happen to come to Corvallis, look for The Beanery or Interzone. Best damn coffee in Corvallis. The downtown Beanery is where all the old hippies hang out; the Interzone (near OSU's campus, two blocks from my place) is where all the young hippies hang out.
Naimfam: Starbucks over-roasts their beans to mask inconsistencies from batch to batch. They actually buy some of the highest-quality beans available, considering the volume that they buy in. It's sort of like the way that McDonalds gets the best ground meat available from the large meat-packing outfits--but it's still not as good as local grass-fed Angus. That said, Starbucks' Black Apron Exclusives are far better than their standard fare--they're usually less roasted, and come from single farms. This is the same reason that I like Stumptown's beans so much--they all come from individual farms and the roasters REALLY know what they're doing. In fact, the owners of Stumptown's actually travel to the farms that they're considering buying from before agreeing to buy their beans. It's very impressive. They know most of their farmers personally, and buy directly. It's a fair trade thing.
If you ever do happen to come to Corvallis, look for The Beanery or Interzone. Best damn coffee in Corvallis. The downtown Beanery is where all the old hippies hang out; the Interzone (near OSU's campus, two blocks from my place) is where all the young hippies hang out.
Naimfam: Starbucks over-roasts their beans to mask inconsistencies from batch to batch. They actually buy some of the highest-quality beans available, considering the volume that they buy in. It's sort of like the way that McDonalds gets the best ground meat available from the large meat-packing outfits--but it's still not as good as local grass-fed Angus. That said, Starbucks' Black Apron Exclusives are far better than their standard fare--they're usually less roasted, and come from single farms. This is the same reason that I like Stumptown's beans so much--they all come from individual farms and the roasters REALLY know what they're doing. In fact, the owners of Stumptown's actually travel to the farms that they're considering buying from before agreeing to buy their beans. It's very impressive. They know most of their farmers personally, and buy directly. It's a fair trade thing.
As mentioned by others, I also don't like the over-roasted Starbucks style.
And they make a big business out of selling flavoured coffees that are just evil on the waistline -- some of these have 500 or more calories. Those aren't coffee, people, these are liquid candy bars.
I will go to local owner operated coffee houses, for the service, ambiance, and generally superior blends of coffee. We're fortunate here to have dozens of these small places which are really into quality coffee and service, plus a number of local specialty roasters.
I get most of my coffee from my own super-automatic Saecos (one at home, one at the office) using locally roasted organic fair trade beans that I buy in bulk in recyclable containers. It's both lower cost than supermarket beans (& WAY lower than buying Starbux lattes) and it's a responsible purchase (www.levelground.com) Look for a similar Fair-trade source in your area, and patronize coffee shops that use fair-trade beans.
And they make a big business out of selling flavoured coffees that are just evil on the waistline -- some of these have 500 or more calories. Those aren't coffee, people, these are liquid candy bars.
I will go to local owner operated coffee houses, for the service, ambiance, and generally superior blends of coffee. We're fortunate here to have dozens of these small places which are really into quality coffee and service, plus a number of local specialty roasters.
I get most of my coffee from my own super-automatic Saecos (one at home, one at the office) using locally roasted organic fair trade beans that I buy in bulk in recyclable containers. It's both lower cost than supermarket beans (& WAY lower than buying Starbux lattes) and it's a responsible purchase (www.levelground.com) Look for a similar Fair-trade source in your area, and patronize coffee shops that use fair-trade beans.
That is true, but the kicker is your statement "considering the volume that they buy in." Exactly--they are not buying the smaller batches of very high quality beans that exist. Correction--they are not mixing those into their normal, in-store beans like Verona, Sidamo, etc. And they do over-roast to provide a stronger flavor (so sayeth a close relative who works for them).
I'd LOVE to try Stumptown--do they ship?
B
I have had really good coffee and I have had really expensive coffee.
I had last week the coffee billed as the most expensive this year - it was $15 per cup. really really good and interesting but not everyday.
Right out my back entrance of my apt I have a starbucks - less than 50 feet.
My favorite drinks ( notice I dont call it coffee) are:
1) Caramel Macchiatto
2) White Chocolate Mocha with a shot of raspberry
3) Extra hot no water Chai latte.
I had last week the coffee billed as the most expensive this year - it was $15 per cup. really really good and interesting but not everyday.
Right out my back entrance of my apt I have a starbucks - less than 50 feet.
My favorite drinks ( notice I dont call it coffee) are:
1) Caramel Macchiatto
2) White Chocolate Mocha with a shot of raspberry
3) Extra hot no water Chai latte.
I don't mean to drag up an old skeleton, but my main point was actually that Starbucks over-roasts their beans in order to have more consistency. It's not an issue of over-roasting them to mask bad quality per se, and it's not really about a particular flavor characteristic that they desire. It really is mostly so that the beans are more consistent.
So thats a white rassberry mocha
not what you said..thats more complex..
i hate when people order stuff and make it seem more complex
and i work at one
great pay
9.10 hour im 17
It's not nice to talk about Romano's Macaroni Grill like that. They're better than Starbucks. Starbucks is more like Olive Garden.
I'd say that Starbucks is the McDonald's of coffee but now that McDonald's sells coffee, who is better...or worse?
I added a middle of the road option.
In terms of coffee here in Canada, Tim Hortons is definitely the best. For dessert drinks, though, I love starbucks. Especially a venti triple shot no whip no froth venti white mocha.. lol
By the way, most 7-Eleven's make pretty decent coffee. The reason is simple: a strict requirement that a pot of coffee cannot sit out on the warmer beyond 60 minutes after the pot is brewed. The result is very fresh and tasteful coffee almost every time I've visited my local 7-Eleven.
I used to go to Peets almost everyday since it was on my way to work...ever since I left that job, there's no easy way for me to get to Peets Very well said. As with any rapid expansion, quality decays as infamy strengthens. Though I do Starbucks credit for being everywhere I am...it's almost as if Starbucks is following me...
Their tea is pretty awful.
Now now, we both know Americans can't brew tea; that talent is only held by the Britons and their former colonial servants of the Far East
Us Americans don't drink much of it either.Now now, we both know Americans can't brew tea; that talent is only held by the Britons and their former colonial servants of the Far East
as it's been mentioned, i like their consistency. it definitely isn't the best coffee around, but it's decent. and it's everywhere (is that a good thing or bad?).
anyway, a few of my favorite drinks:
anyway, a few of my favorite drinks:
- iced americano
- pumpkin spice latte
- passion iced tea
Us Americans don't drink much of it either.
Yes, we keep the world's first and second largest commodities afloat: oil and coffee.
Daveman, thanks for recommending some of the good coffee places! I might be actually heading down south tomorrow for the first time since I moved to Oregon to finally visit Crater Lake before it is all snowy again. I haven't looked at MapQuest yet to see if I will be passing by that town---I did hear there is a lot of beautiful country but not many cities or people on the way! I am just super excited to SEE that huge volcano!macartistkel: Drive south on I-5 for about an hour and twenty minutes, then west on Highway 34 for about ten and you'll be in Corvallis. I love Stumptown coffee, but I really don't go there because I don't like the atmosphere. I find the furniture uncomfortable and the décor is so spartan that I just don't feel comfortable there. I usually go to the coffee shop in Powell's, or, sadly, to the Starbucks in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
If you ever do happen to come to Corvallis, look for The Beanery or Interzone. Best damn coffee in Corvallis. The downtown Beanery is where all the old hippies hang out; the Interzone (near OSU's campus, two blocks from my place) is where all the young hippies hang out.
I'm with most of you. Some of the drinks are decent, but nothing spectacular. We get free coffee here, but it isn't very good. There are a ton of Starbucks and other coffee shops around that have more variety than the free stuff, and down the street, one of our offices actually has a Starbucks in it. As does the hospital I used to work for. It's a convienience, and the prices aren't bad, and for those of us who don't get enough sleep, it can be a good pick-me-up.
I used to live in WA state, and I think it's funny that at a shopping center I used to go to, there was a Starbucks at each end, plus 2 more coffee shops in the middle section. Wasn't even that big of an area. Even better, pretty much any direction you went, there was a Starbucks within a block or 2. But they were all profitable apparently, so what do I know.
I used to live in WA state, and I think it's funny that at a shopping center I used to go to, there was a Starbucks at each end, plus 2 more coffee shops in the middle section. Wasn't even that big of an area. Even better, pretty much any direction you went, there was a Starbucks within a block or 2. But they were all profitable apparently, so what do I know.