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Starbucks Coffee, Is it really good coffee
- Thread starter lofight
- Start date
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That brings up a very important point:
Never ask for a cappuccino at Starbucks. Uggh. Not only will you likely end up with a 16 or 20 oz. monstrosity, but they'll inevitably ask you whether you want it "Wet or Dry" Starbucks seems to have a Seattle-style dry cappuccino fetish, and most Starbucks baristi don't understand that real cappuccinos aren't at all dry, are never in a size larger than 8 oz. (5 or 6 is more appropriate, as Chundles said), and are never, never, never served in paper cups. If you don't end up with something like this:
... then it isn't a real cappuccino.
There. I think that takes care of that. 😀
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I have no particular love for the coffee there, but Starbucks figured out a long time ago that it really isn't about the coffee -- it's about the ambience.
If I recall correctly from an article I read, Starbucks originally had this obnoxiously loud hyper-Italian decor, with tall, butt-numbingly uncomfortable stools. It didn't do that well, either.
Then they did a bunch of market research and determined that basically what people wanted was a relaxed, living-roomish atmosphere, where they could read, lounge in comfy chairs, and chat with friends or have casual business meetings while sipping faux-posh beverages. And that's when they became mega-popular.
Starbucks is a hangout first, a coffee store second. They make their money off the drinks, of course, but it's the ambience that brings people in. And over time, people have just come to rely on Starbucks because there's one everywhere you turn, and there are no surprises there -- for better or worse.
If I recall correctly from an article I read, Starbucks originally had this obnoxiously loud hyper-Italian decor, with tall, butt-numbingly uncomfortable stools. It didn't do that well, either.
Then they did a bunch of market research and determined that basically what people wanted was a relaxed, living-roomish atmosphere, where they could read, lounge in comfy chairs, and chat with friends or have casual business meetings while sipping faux-posh beverages. And that's when they became mega-popular.
Starbucks is a hangout first, a coffee store second. They make their money off the drinks, of course, but it's the ambience that brings people in. And over time, people have just come to rely on Starbucks because there's one everywhere you turn, and there are no surprises there -- for better or worse.
zwida
macrumors 6502a
Peets is my favorite as well. I moved from SF to NYC ten years ago and now only get it when I'm back in California or on a work trip to Boston.
I still get Peets shipped to me every month. Some habits die REALLY hard.
zelmo
macrumors 603
I'd rather drink DD coffee if I need a quick fix and don't want to head to a local coffee house. Starbuck's regular coffee [as if they have regular coffee🙄] is not that great. The only time I ever bother with Starbuck's is in the summer. If I'm really overheated I'll stop in for a mocha frappacino.
But still on the photo it looks nice!!That brings up a very important point:
Never ask for a cappuccino at Starbucks. Uggh. Not only will you likely end up with a 16 or 20 oz. monstrosity, but they'll inevitably ask you whether you want it "Wet or Dry" Starbucks seems to have a Seattle-style dry cappuccino fetish, and most Starbucks baristi don't understand that real cappuccinos aren't at all dry, are never in a size larger than 8 oz. (5 or 6 is more appropriate, as Chundles said), and are never, never, never served in paper cups. If you don't end up with something like this:
... then it isn't a real cappuccino.
There. I think that takes care of that. 😀
bousozoku
Moderator emeritus
I believe the photo was not an example of Starbucks deCappuccino (think decapitated 😉), but of some good Cappuccino.
ah okay i understand, isn't there a contest making the most beautiful design on the top of the coffee??
Nickygoat
macrumors 6502a
Indeed there is. It's called the World Barista Championship, although it covers flavour and technique as well as presentation.
CalBoy
macrumors 604
Bingo. Starbucks gets a lot of business right now because of their sheer store deployment...it's hard not to find one. This reminds me of McDonalds. Ironically, McDonalds doesn't care too much about food either; most of their revenue comes from real estate.
