You won't be seeing Starbucks baristas sporting aprons covered in Industrial Workers of the World pins anytime in the near future, after a U.S. appeals court ruled today that the coffee company is within its rights to stop employees from wearing too much of the pro-union flare. More »
While some people balk at having to ask for a "tall" or a "venti" when they go to Starbucks, most people have learned that the fastest way to satisfy their caffeine cravings is to use the company's particular lingo and keep the line moving. This, says one leadership expert, is not a coincidence. More »
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum — and also a grande nonfat caramel macchiato with extra whip, please. A new joint venture between Starbucks and Disney means visitors to the theme parks will be able to get their caffeine fix in cafes designed to blend in with their surroundings. More »
Cochineal extract has the vague name one would come to expect from a food ingredient. And for years, it's been used as a food coloring option for people looking to get a nice red hue in their edible items. But what some folks don't know is the "cochineal" in cochineal extract is a tiny insect that is pulverized to make the red dye. More »
Some people would say that Carrie is making a big deal out of nothing. That she is being unnecessarily difficult on principle regarding something that isn't all that important. Well, of course. This is The Consumerist. That's our thing! Carrie's battle was against Starbucks, and she fought against employees' insistence that she give them her name with her order so they can misspell it on her cup. She declined, which threw the employees' entire worldview into chaos. More »
Burned coffee gets my duff up, too — but taking out your rage using metal pipes on a Starbucks? That's just impolite. Cops say pipe-wielding protestors and so-called anarchists had at it on a Starbucks in New York city's East Village Saturday night, in an attempt to shatter the store's floor-to-ceiling windows. More »
Now that Americans basically use Starbucks as a public restroom where you can also buy burned tasting coffee, it seems the mega chain is trying its best to impress our cool kindred across the pond. They're spending millions in a new campaign to convince the Europeans that they aren't just "impersonal," "mediocre" and "expensive" coffee. More »
A few years ago, we happily passed on the news that a change in Starbucks Frappuccino flavors meant that you could get some flavors in a vegan formulation. But now, if you're a Frappuccino lover who eschews eating animals, you'll have to stay away from the strawberry variety from here out. The good news is that the newest base doesn't contain artificial red food dye. The bad news is that's because it's been replaced with cochineal extract, a dye made from dried, ground-up insects. More »
Just in case you're not getting enough energy from Starbucks' actual coffee or espresso drink, the company has a new offering in the pipeline to give customers the jolt they crave. In April, the omnipresent chain will introduce Refreshers at retail locations nationwide, as well as convenience and grocery stores. More »
Starbucks has made a name for itself, to say the least, with all things coffee, so now it seems they've decided to move beyond their bread and butter (or scones and coffee, as it were) and have opened their first Evolution Fresh Inc. juice store today. More »
How many times have you been shooting down a ski slope, totally shredding some awesome powder (if that's a thing?) and thought, "Man, I could really go for a latte right about now"? Enough people have felt that way, apparently, as Starbucks has opened its first ski-thru location. More »
If you're a Starbucks regular, you're probably familiar with its secret menu filled with unorthodox combinations of ingredients and mutations of common drinks. You can either glean the knowledge of the menu's contents by working there or spending an extensive amount of time hanging out at Starbucks, or go the easy route just read about it online. More »
While it seems a Starbucks sprang up on every corner and in every mall at the rate of one new location per second, it's taking a little bit longer for their extended menu, including alcohol, to reach the nation. After testing it at Seattle locations and in Portland, Ore., the chain is finally ready to branch out to a few more locations. More »
Some say that coffee is the fuel that keeps the American workforce moving forward. And it's a fuel that comes with a hefty price tag, as a new study shows that the average member of the American workforce spends almost as much on coffee every year as they do on commuting to and from their job. More »
Apparently Starbucks has had enough of people telling it to just "lighten up, man," as they've announced they're debuting a "Blonde Roast" brewed coffee in all their U.S. stores. It's being called "mellow and approachable," as opposed to the other darker, high-strung and standoffish roasts. More »
If you live in the Northeast or the Sunbelt, expect to be doling out just a little bit more for your Starbucks double-shot-no-whip-extra-foam-vanilla latte, as the company is raising prices in those areas by about 1 percent. More »
Since August of 1997, the folks at the Black Bear Mico Roastery in New Hampshire have been slinging pebbles at coffee colossus Starbucks over the smaller company's "Charbucks" blend. And in spite of court rulings in favor of the little guy, Daddy Starbucks has continued to fight. But last week, a U.S. District Court in New York may have shut the door on the Seattle java slinger's attempts to rid the world of Charbucks. More »
If there's ever a really great time to make sure your gun's safety is on, it's when you're carrying it in your purse while ordering a super non skinnyfat with extra whip peppermint mocha or whatever at Starbucks. A girl in Wyoming who doesn't really get firearms was packing a small gun that accidentally went off while she was stopping for her caffeine fix. More »
In a scene that could be straight out of Best In Show, a couple whose romanced blossomed over cups of Starbucks' pricey caffeine decided that the java joint was the perfect place to bind themselves together for eternity. More »
While food stamp programs may vary from state to state, it would seem logical to restrict usage of those stamps to actual food items. Not so in the case of Starbucks located inside grocery stores in Oregon, where you can use stamps to purchase cold beverages like a Frappuccino. More »
Who reads the terms of service on gift cards? Maybe not everyone, but four consumer advocacy groups have your back and are petitioning Starbucks to remove certain provisions in time for the holiday season. More »
When you've gotta go, you've gotta go. But in New York City, where public restrooms are at a minimum, the only place to go is usually a Starbucks. Since not everyone cares about cleanliness, that results in a dirty job for baristas. Some of those employees staged a mini revolt last week, locking customers out of bathrooms and adding "Employees Only" signs. More »
See that bag of coffee grounds at Starbucks that's listed at $12/pound? Well, if you buy less than a pound, there's a fee of $1.50 that isn't mentioned anywhere in the store and doesn't show up as a fee on the receipt. But now, after being busted by authorities in Massachusetts, the java giant has decided to stop charging the fee. More »
Tired of selling someone else's juice, Starbucks has not only purchased a juice company, but also plans to branch out into a separate retail juice business. More »
In the world of chocolate chip cookies, an eternal war rages between those who prefer their cookies light and crispy, and those who defend their right to a chewier treat. And, at least in one battle waged in the Consumer Reports tasting lab, a single crispy chocolate chip cookie won the day. More »
By now many of you are familiar with the old "tastes burnt" comment offered by people who aren't fans of Starbucks' current coffee offerings. And after 40 years of serving up the dark stuff, the java giant announced today it will start brewing up a milder, blonde roast in January. More »
Starbucks fired a barista last week after his satirical song aimed at his employer went viral. In it, the ex-barista, wearing nothing but a Starbucks smock, croons an acoustic guitar ballad about how baristas trick customers when they're short on supplies, how rude customers stink, and the drink purchasing habits of different races. More »
For some reason, some folks in the food service biz never learn the lesson that they shouldn't vent their anger at a customer by insulting them on a receipt, to-go pack or in this case, a Starbucks cup. More »
Are you sick of spilling hot coffee on a white shirt and not paying an exorbitant amount of money for it? Well then you're in luck, because Starbucks, Nordstrom and designer Alexander Wang have teamed up to sell you an $85 T-shirt, complete with a faux Starbucks stain. More »
After his 5-year-old daughter spotted a hidden camera in a D.C. Starbucks bathroom, a man is suing the company and asking for $1 million in damages on four counts, including breach of privacy. More »
Maybe he was riding the high of Ben & Jerry's launching the "Schweddy Balls" flavored ice cream named after the famous SNL sketch he was in? Whatever the reason, Alec Baldwin turned his 100,000 megawatt star power and 323,235 Twitter followers on a Starbucks barrista Wednesday who apparently left him with a burnt taste in his mouth, tweeting that the guy was "uptight" and had "an attitude problem." The tweet named the coffee worker by name and gave the cross streets of the Starbucks location he was at. Kind of like killing a gnat with a RPG, no? More »
The CEO of Starbucks emailed customers on Friday asking them to join hands with him and other business leaders to urge Congress to stop the nihilist political gridlock and get on with fixing our country. Tuesday night at 6pm he will host an online townhall meeting. At the same time, he's also set up an online petition where businesses can "pledge" to withhold campaign contributions as well as promise to start hiring employees. Is this the start of the "Coffee Party"? More »
Eying light coffee drinkers who don't want to brew entire pots in the morning or lug themselves out to coffee shops to get their fixes, Starbucks will sell coffee and tea in single-cup Keurig capsules starting in November. The coffee giant aims to place the packets in all manner of marketplaces, including food, drug stores and department stores. More »
Fans of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Lattes may not be as rabid as McRib worshipers, but that's probably because the seasonal beverage comes around for a short time every year before being heartlessly taken away until the next autumn. The drink isn't scheduled to go on sale until next week but the scuttlebutt is that you can get one now if you just ask for it. More »
Reports state that Hurricane Irene could have done anywhere from $3 billion to $10 billion in damage during her brief trip up the East Coast. That's a lot of plywood, nails, plaster and everything else that will be needed for repair. It's also a lot of coffee for beleaguered consumers. More »
Over the weekend, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz spoke to the NY Times about being fed up with partisan politics in Washinton, D.C., and how big business needed to stop feeding the beast with campaign contributions. On Monday, he reached out to a handful of other top execs to join him in his boycott. More »
The Jonathan's Card social experiment is over. The experiment proved that someone will always come along and ruin anything that's fun. Since July, the entire world has shared one Starbucks stored-value payment and rewards card, which originally belonged to a guy named Jonathan. People from all over bought coffees using the card, sneaked part of its balance over to their own cards, refilled the card, and followed the card's fortunes on Twitter. It's all over now: Starbucks deactivated the card on Friday evening over fraud concerns. Specifically, an automated script that steals from the card. More »
A plumber is pissed after finding a camera hidden inside a Starbucks men's room. First it was the camera, then it was the employees' blase attitude, then it was the police seizing his laptop. And he didn't get a thank you from Starbucks for his deed, not even a free coffee. More »
Jonathan is letting anyone who wants to use his Starbucks card. He's posted a scanned copy of the mobile-app code on his Starbucks card and invited anyone who wants to to have a cup on him. The crazy thing is that it's working like "leave a penny, take a penny," with some people adding onto the card's balance after they grab a brew. More »
We've all had experiences with store employees who have a unique interpretation of company policy. And while it's nice when the customer is proven to be in the right, it's even nicer when the company goes above and beyond to apologize for an employee's behavior. More »
A group of former assistant managers of New York Starbucks sued the company, saying it violated state labor laws by denying them tips. A U.S. District judge stiffed the workers, dismissing the suit because they didn't show they had the right to the gratuities. More »
If you've ever tried to come up with your own version of the Starbucks Frappuccino at home, you may have run into this problem. It separates. That lovely smooth texture and consistency you enjoy at the Sbux emporium just seems unobtainable on your own. But it turns out the secret is a simple and cheap ingredient you can find next to the flour in the supermarket: xanthan gum! More »
After a woman's story about a Starbucks worker she allegedly saw getting forced to hand in his keys while being told by a shift supervisor his co-workers didn't want to hear about him being gay anymore went viral, the coffee giant has pledged to investigate. More »
Starbucks has announced plans to raise the price of the packaged coffee it sells in its stores by 17% in July. But don't blame the company: CEO Howard Schultz says speculators have pushed the price of coffee to a 34-year high. "This is the first time in my 30-years of being in the coffee business where this exists," he said earlier this month. In March, Starbucks raised the price of the coffee it sells in supermarkets by 12%. More »
Americans are used to super-sizing things by now, a fast food tactic many point to as a catalyst in the country's obesity epidemic. But there's a new trend on the scene, and hopefully this one will tip the scales in the opposite direction — mini-sizing. More »
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, alleging that the coffee chain violated federal law when it fired a barista-in-training who is a dwarf. More »
While you're taking a break with a relaxing Trenta of Pike's Peak Roast coffee at Starbucks, a thief could be silently snagging your wallet, reports the New York Times. More »
Lest you think that rats are only fans of garbage, cheese and fine French cuisine, here is proof that they are addicted to the sweet, sugary beverages at Starbucks. More »
Mark has a warning: it's fine if you want to hand over your money for a venti Java Chip Frappuccino, but don't buy durable items at Starbucks if you expect them to be, well, durable. He bought a mug back in December, and the mug now has a defect that makes coffee drip on you while you drink. Not liking this feature, he contacted Starbucks and learned that their warranty on mugs lasts only 60 days. "I was shocked that Starbucks would only stand behind their products for 60 days," Mark writes, "specifically because those same products come at a premium price and sold with overpriced coffee." More »
It might be shocking to you to find out that some companies have lied about their own creation, but hey, who doesn't like a good story? From eBay to YouTube, tall tales have been spun to consumers for various reasons. Let's take a walk down liars' memory lane, shall we? More »
Katie Couric recently interviewed Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on CBS Sunday Morning and asked him if he thought the company had a "tin ear" to what people were going through with the recession. Perhaps, she suggested, they couldn't afford to pay "$5 on their coffee every day." Schultz's response was to laugh. You see, Starbucks coffee only costs $1.50. More »
Wouldn't you just love to sit in on a Starbucks shareholders meeting? It's probably not all overly caffeinated jittery people yelling — even if that's how we picture it — but anyway, the latest insider yapping session went down on Wednesday and the 'Bucks says it wants to do a lot more than just push lattes and Dave Matthews CDs. More »
Like a scene out of some wacky '80s comedy, customers at a Boston Starbucks were showered in cash on St. Patrick's day when a man decided to let fly with 100 one-dollar bills inside the coffee shop. More »
Starbucks is accusing a woman of fraud after she sued them for allegedly sliding a cup of hot tea across the counter that burnt her belly, reports the New York Post. They say they have a doc who says she had a rash and skin infection, and that's what caused the marks. According to her complaint, the barista shouted at her, "Catch the cup." Good thing it wasn't a trenta. More »
The original Peet's Coffee in Berkeley is said to have been the inspiration for the founders of coffee colossus Starbucks. Now the 'Bucks may be looking to return the favor by acquiring the smaller chain. More »
The estate of a Starbucks customer who lost his life after attempting to chase down a tip jar thief has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the java giant, alleging that the company invited crime by having an unsecured tip jar on the counter. More »
Reached for comment about concerns that people could steal your Starbucks Reward card by taking a screenshot of it as it appears on the iPhone app, a Starbucks spokesperson told Consumerist, "We definitely want our customers to have a good experience with mobile payment. We take security seriously." They also recommended customers take additional safety measures and offered a solution for anyone who had their card stolen. More »
Researchers have discovered a security flaw in the new Starbucks Rewards Card iPhone app that could let someone else rack up a bunch of free coffees on your dime. All someone has to do is take a picture of your barcode and then they can use it to buy all the delicious black swill they want, draining your account to the last drop. More »
Here in NYC, there are countless surfaces available for slapping your ads onto. So for its slam on Starbucks, the folks at Diet Coke picked the perfect spot: on the same building as Starbucks. More »
Starbucks really wants you to try its VIA instant coffee, so much so that it will send you a free bag of Starbucks ground coffee if you're not happy with VIA. More »
For the none of you who really, really wanted to have your Facebook updates automatically converted into ads for which you receive no money — and which you can't opt out of — the site has answered your prayers! More »
A graphic is making the rounds comparing the volume of the new Big-Gulp sized Starbucks Trenta and the average capacity of the human stomach. Seems that the Trenta's 30.9 fluid ounces are slightly more than that of the average adult human's, 30.4. I don't really see what the big deal is. Obviously people will just take a break from chugging ice coffee and go to the bathroom and then go back and drink more ice coffee. More »
Last March, we reported that Starbucks had begun testing the "trenta," the 31-ounce bladder-buster that makes the tall seem short, the grande seem mini and venti seem bitty by comparison. The tests must have gone well, as Starbucks has announced it will be rolling out the super-sized drink nationwide in the coming months. More »
K says a Starbucks employee mishandled his drink order, handing him a time bomb in the form of a hot chocolate cup that exploded all over his car. He says Starbucks apologized with a couple of drink coupons but is balking at paying to clean his car. More »
Back in the summer of 2009, Starbucks began a strange experiment: caffeine dispensaries that were Starbucks-owned and operated, but had different branding and were decorated similarly to other neighborhood businesses. Like the coffee shops your neighborhood had before Starbucks came along. This is a sad month for the experiment, though: the first stealth Starbucks, 15th Ave. Coffee and Tea in Seattle, is closing at the end of January. It will become just another Starbucks. More »
Starbucks has a new logo! It's basically just the same one they currently have, minus those pesky words that say Starbucks Coffee. Coffee, we assume, was the primary problem. Why? Because Starbucks is a fast food joint. More »
It was an understandable mistake: Ann writes that she asked for a fifteen-dollar gift card from Starbucks. The person at the counter processed a fifty-dollar gift card instead. But the Starbucks point-of-sale system isn't set up to handle this kind of unforeseen circumstance, so Ann is out fifty bucks for the next month or so while Starbucks customer service sorts this out. More »
Over at Reddit, a Starbucks coffee artist has decided to share all the secrets to scoring discounts and free stuff that they've learned during their time behind the counter at the coffee colossus. More »
A judge in Illinois has thrown out a lawsuit filed against Starbucks by a customer who alleges she was burnt by some spilled hot tea. His reason: Just because tea is hot doesn't mean you have a good reason to sue. More »
While Starbucks apparently sells something called "coffee," which has virtually no calories on its own, most customers choose to go for beverages that pile on chocolate and caramel and other calorie-tastic add-ons. Oh — and let's not forget the muffin or danish they get to go along with their caffeinated sugar bomb. More »
In March 2011, Starbucks will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its first store. And while the company has since grown into the beverage behemoth we all know today, it has never attempted to actually grow its own coffee beans. That's all about to change as the Starbucks CEO announced yesterday that they are going to be going the DIY route in China. More »
Starbucks has been in the holiday mood since Election Day, so it's only fitting that the java giant would celebrate pre-Thanksgiving by offering a buy one, get one free deal on its holiday drinks starting tomorrow. More »
Reuters says that conditions, benefits and salaries have deteriorated at Starbucks — once celebrated in the media for its happy, loyal workforce. Apparently, disillusioned Starbucks workers are everywhere you care to look. More »
Tuesday was Election day, so in the universe that Starbucks inhabits, that means it's time to bring out the full holiday menu and red-and-green cups. While you'll never catch me whining about the availability of peppermint mochas, this is an important bit of consumer information which helps prove mathematically that Christmas Creep may be coming to an end. Maybe. More »
Starbucks proved victorious in the courtroom yesterday. The coffee colossus convinced an appeals court to uphold a lower court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company was liable for burns suffered from a cup of spilled tea. More »
For a few months now, coffee cravers at a small handful of Starbucks in Seattle and Northern California — along with many Starbucks located Target stores — have been able to pay by iPhone or Blackberry with the Starbucks Card Mobile App. And starting today, java junkies in New York City and Long Island will be able to try this system out at around 300 locations. More »
In an effort to make your stay at Starbucks as long as possible, the company is telling baristas to slow down and make no more than two drinks at a time, reports the Wall Street Journal. More »
Twenty years ago, the idea that someone would get a good chunk of their daily calories from a coffee-based beverage would have seemed odd. But these days, a lot of people get not just their caffeine fix — but also their sugar and whipped cream fixes — from high-calorie beverages at Starbucks. More »
Over at StarbucksGossip, they have a letter from a now-former employee at the coffee chain, who claims he was given the boot from his java-dispensing job because he turned off the in-store free WiFi in an effort to stop customers from looking at porn. More »
Citing a 13-year high in the price of its coffee beans, plus "significant volatility" in other ingredients like dairy, Starbucks last week said it plans to raise prices on certain "labor-intensive and larger-sized" beverages. The small tall coffee will remain at its current price for now, says the company. I wonder if those truncated menus the company introduced a few weeks ago were really about hiding the least expensive option from consumers, especially since it isn't being included in the price hike? More »
Dustin really needed his caffeine fix and was hoping to get a free refill after he ordered his coffee at Starbucks and gulped it down at the adjoining patio. When he stepped back inside, the manager turned down his refill request, saying his second entrance into the store counted as another visit and left him ineligible for a free-fill. More »
Talk about pouring a bitter cup. The Post reports that eight customers inside a Long Island Starbucks were unceremoniously kicked out at the peak of yesterday's lethal storm. More »
The topic of Starbucks' drink sizes has once again been in the news lately. And it's brought up the discussion of the coffee company's insistence on sticking with size names like "tall," "grande" and "venti." More »
Some people drink tea to put a little spark into their day, but a Nashville man got explosions instead. He's suing Starbucks and Whole Foods after bottles of Tazo green tea exploded twice in his possession. One time the bottle shattered in his hand, and another it blew up in his shopping cart. On one of the occasions, shards of glass damaged tendons in his hand that required two surgeries. More »
For those who haven't been schooled in the Starbucks lexicon, a "Tall" coffee is actually a small, with "Grande" and "Venti" signifying medium and large respectively. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, we can deal with the Starbucks in Durham, NC, which apparently still sells Tall beverages — though you wouldn't know that from its drive-thru menu. More »
The last thing anyone needs when they're out of work is to worry about the safety of the personal information they put on a job application. But the U.S. Attorney in Ohio has indicted a woman on allegations that she used this sensitive info to falsely obtain credit cards and run up a $115,000 tab. More »
Even though the cost of coffee beans — which we've been told are required for the production of coffee — is on the rise, Starbucks says it won't be jacking up the price of the java it serves up to millions of caffeine fiends every day. More »
For some customers, Starbucks' very particular lexicon is a source of anxiety and possibly even anger. But it wasn't having to order a "venti" or a "tall" that drove a NYC college professor into an argument at a Manhattan Starbucks over the weekend. Instead, it was her refusal to tell an employee what she didn't want on her bagel. More »
Yesterday, we wrote about the new Starbucks drinks made from a base of unroasted coffee beans that are being tested right now in the San Diego area. Consumerist reader Josh popped by his local 'Bucks and was able to snap a pic so those of us outside Ron Burgundy-Land could see what "coffee that doesn't taste like coffee" looks like. More »
For everyone who says Starbucks coffee "tastes burnt," the java giant has heeded your complaints — and perhaps gone too far. The 'bucks announced yesterday that it has begun testing a beverage made from green, unroasted coffee beans. More »
Another tip to anyone wishing to hold up a Starbucks: Not only is it a bad idea to go ahead with the robbery if there are police officers in the shop at the time, but you should probably not cut in front of the cops in order to start your hold up. More »
Living in the big city and not having access to any sort of garden of my own, composting is the last thing on my mind when I step into a Starbucks. But for those of you who could use some material for your compost heap, the coffee giant will apparently hand over their used grounds free of charge. Just ask the 94-year-old man in Texas, who does this every single day. More »
Now that every Tom Dick and Harry knows about it and has jumped on, the free wifi at Starbucks has now, not particularly surprisingly, become the free slow wifi at Starbucks. More »
It's not surprising that a parent who accidentally scalds their child with hot tea would end up in a courtroom. But it isn't usually the case that said parent is the plaintiff, suing Starbucks for doing what they do best — or at least do a lot of — serving hot beverages. More »
So yesterday was Day 1 for Starbucks' new 1-click free WiFi service at its coffee stores around the nation. And while some had wondered whether or not the java giant and its WiFi provider, AT&T, would be able to keep up with the increased demand, it looks like all went relatively well. More »
Starbucks Treat Receipt deal is back, which means that if you bring in a receipt from before 2pm you can get any any iced grande drink after 2pm for $2. More »
Starbucks is offering free wi-fi in all of their locations starting today, so Lifehacker has some instructions that will help you keep your laptop safe while using public wi-fi. (Not just at Starbucks, obviously.) More »
I always assume everyone hates me, but here is some confirmation from an angry Starbucks barista whose name is not Egon, but who prefers to be referred to as such. More »
Reader Robert writes in to point out that according to Foursquare's FAQ, any rogue Starbucks baristas that are mayors of their locations are cheaters.More »
While Domino's has scrambled to re-imagine their pizza recipes and Pizza Hut continues to basically give away their pizzas for a pittance, it was Papa John's who apparently made the best impression on eaters in the last year. The Kentucky-based chain has topped not only its pizzeria rivals, but all fast foods in an annual survey of customer satisfaction. More »
For anyone who has ever wanted to sit at Starbucks and browse the Internet but either wasn't an AT&T customer or didn't feel like ponying up for access, the company has some happy news for you. More »
While the U.S. government is getting rid of fast food options for soldiers in Afghanistan, meanwhile they spent quite a bit of cash to make sure troops stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could pick up a Double Down or a Chalupa without having to have a care package sent from home. More »
Not content with offering discounts to customers who bring in their own travel mugs, Starbucks has now thrown its weight behind "betacup," a contest to "eliminate paper cup consumption through the design of a more convenient alternative to the reusable coffee mug." Some of the ideas submitted so far include a hemp-based cup (we have some ideas about how to recycle that one), cups made from coconut shells, and inflatable, reusable cups. More »
The Seattle's Best onslaught was just the beginning. Starbucks is ramping up efforts to make sure that, wherever you go, there it is (not that the brand was particularly difficult to come by before, but whatever). This includes making its Via instant coffee more widely available, and selling flavored coffee in supermarkets, all to bump up its share of the brewed coffee market from its current level of just 5%. More »
Seattle's Best is one of Seattle's oldest coffee brands. According to the Seattle Times, two brothers started the business that eventually became "Seattle's Best" in 1969. A few product changes and new owners later it became part of Starbucks, and was largely ignored. That was 2003. Now the company is about to expand the brand to over 30,000 locations — many of them fast food outlets. More »
Now you can get your cold liquid crack fix for less. Starbucks is running a 50% off frappucinos promo until May 16. "Happy hour" is from 3-5pm everyday. No use doing a run for the entire office, though. If your co-workers are jealous, they'll have to get their own. There's a limit of one per customer. More »
Christian's feelings are a little hurt. He tells Consumerist that he doesn't understand why someone at Starbucks felt the need to give him a nickname, and to write that nickname on his cold drink's cup. What did they write? "Big Dick." More »
Starbucks has certainly been accused of serving coffee that tastes burnt, but a customer in NYC has filed suit against that java giant, after allegedly suffering second-degree burns from a pipin'-hot cup of tea. More »
We haven't actually tried the Starbucks instant coffee "Via" but apparently someone has because they are expanding it into "tens of thousands of supermarkets, mass merchandisers and other outlets in coming weeks," reports the WSJ. More »
While there are the Comcasts and the Cash4Golds out there, it's heartening to know that there are actually companies deemed to be "good" to work for. Exciting! Thanks for putting together a list of 23 of those magical companies, Fortune! More »
Facing stiff competition from Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's Starbucks is looking to their pricey icey coffee concoction, the Frappuccino. Starbucks is experiencing a sales decline in the drink and since it accounts for 20% of their sales, that's not good. More »
Starbucks is going to introduce vegan frappuccinos starting May 5. The soy-based confections contain zero dairy and are already available in a few Los Angeles locations. They, unfortunately, do not taste like vegans, nor are they made from them. Here's an email from a Starbucks manager quarrygirl.com snagged with more details: More »
CORRECTION: We sadly admit that we made a grievous error yesterday in announcing that Dunkin' Donuts would be giving away free donuts nationwide on April 15. We were in possession of an old press release that was no longer valid. According to DD's publicists, the free donut deal is only available in Las Vegas today. This is a huge mistake and we apologize to those who were misled. More »
Tomorrow isn't just Tax Day, it's also Free Coffee If You Bring In Your Own Travel Mug To Starbucks Day. It's all part of eco-friendly, Big Picture thingy, which has something to do with saving trees. That's all well and good, but more importantly — FREE COFFEE! More »
One of the last bastions of ad-free Internet space is about to disappear. Twitter has confirmed that starting today, they are rolling out an official ad program they call "Promoted Tweets." More »
In an interview airing tonight on ABC's Nightline, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says he feels that both gun control and firearms advocacy groups are only using the coffee company to make a point about their particular agendas and that he never envisioned customers wanting to carry their gun into a Starbucks. More »
McDonald's: Taking his cue from both Cheeseburger Josh and that irritating "Gimme That Filet-o-Fish" ad, a dude in South Brunswick, NJ, got so impatient with the service at the drive-thru that he crawled through the window, slapped the employee and then escaped with his precious fish sandwich. More »
For whatever reason, fast food joints seem to be a target for crimes of all sorts. Ranging from outlandish to horrific, we'll occasionally bring you The Grease Blotter, a round-up of the latest in crimes involving fast food chains. More »
With Starbucks finding itself in the crosshairs of a debate between gun control and firearms rights advocates, one would think that the CEO of the company would understand whether or not customers were allowed to carry loaded guns into his stores. One would be wrong. More »
Earlier today, we wrote about — and even posted the coupon for — Starbucks Free Pastry Day. And according to the coupon, "Pastries included in the offer are: Croissant, Muffins, Bagels, Breads, Pound Cakes, Scones, Rolles, Doughnuts, Coffee Cakes, Morning Bun and Cheese Danish." But according to Consumerist reader Anthony, his local Starbucks weren't being so generous. More »
Yes, we wrote about this yesterday, but we figured it deserved posting a reminder this morning. Today is Free Pastry Day at Starbucks. It's a slightly misleading moniker because you don't just walk in and get a free sweet thing. You have to buy a beverage to get one. But still, it's basically free because why would anyone ever walk into Starbucks and not buy a beverage? More »
Do you like ice cream? How about free ice cream? What about free pastries? If so, you'll probably want to save a little extra room in your belly tomorrow, as both Ben & Jerry's and Starbucks are offering up free grub to customers nationwide. More »
In a slightly more upscale version of the McDonald's beer bottle drive-thru robbery from earlier in the week, a Starbucks in Texas had its tip jar heisted by someone passing through the drive-thru lane. More »
According to reports, Starbucks stores in Denver are test-marketing a new product that's generating a lot of positive and negative chatter — a blueberry waffle. More »
The New York Times may still be the "paper of record," but they're no longer the only national newspaper available at Starbucks. The coffee giant has added USA Today to its 6,500 retails outlets nationwide. More »
If you'd asked us a while back what company would find itself at the center of a power struggle between anti-gun activists and gun-rights supporters, we probably would not have guessed caffeine powerhouse Starbucks. But as the news that the 'Bucks is okay with customers carrying guns into their stores where it's permitted by law, there's been a backlash by those now asking the company to rethink its policy. More »
In states like Virginia where it's legal for gun owners to walk around in public displaying their heat, there are some firearms fans who go out to stores they assume will be unfriendly about their gun-toting ways. But, in spite of its left-leaning reputation, coffee colossus Starbucks has instituted a policy saying guns are A-OK with them. More »
Orlando Sentinel consumer advocate Greg Dawson was disappointed to discover Starbucks had no salt for his hard-boiled egg. The barista told him that he needed to head to some other place if he wanted to get his salt on. More »
If you like Starbucks coffee but you don't like paying coffee shop prices, starting this summer you should be able to order an iced-mocha-something from your nearest Burger King. The fast food chain is countering McDonald's recent coffee offerings by teaming up with Starbucks, and prices should be between $1-2.79 according to the Kansas City Star. More »
The Starbucks Duetto Visa card seems like a relic of another time. A time when everyone thought that both coffee-infused sugar bombs and huge amounts of credit card debt were a good idea. Well, Starbucks is still with us, but the Duetto Visa card's run is over. You can no longer earn Starbucks cards while racking up debt. More »
Supervising nubile teenagers in a fast-food establishment does not mean that you have an open invitation to abuse your authority and demand sex from them. This seems that it would be a self-evident rule of management. It is not. More »
Starbucks used to make a lot of money selling coffee-like sugar bombs that people loved and would pay for with cash from their HELOCs. Those days are over, but there's good news. Starbucks has remembered how to sell coffee and is now doing so in a profitable way. More »
On his blog, Phillyman says Starbucks screwed up his Caramel Macchiato by pouring all the caramel into one cup, then placing the cup containing the rest of the drink inside the caramelized container. More »
A Starbucks customer was charged with two counts of public indecency and one count of posession of cannabis after an incident in a Chicago Starbucks where he was said to be "staring at woman and fondling himself." More »
If some jerk grabs the bills from your tip jar, you're supposed to just stand there and take it, but one Starbucks barista was having none of that. She chased the thief until police eventually caught him and charged him with robbery by assault, a second degree felony. More »
—>Do you enjoy Starbucks chilled beverages, but hate the waste that comes from so many disposable plastic cups? Do you also want to keep your friends and co-workers from knowing about your secret environmentalist tendencies? Maybe you should consider purchasing the reusable Starbucks cold cup, a sturdy plastic tumbler made to look just like its flimsier, single-use cousins. More »
—>After we proposed tracking Starbucks's roll out of Christmas products as a metric to gauge yearly Christmas Creep, we got a fair amount of comments saying they saw no problem with Christmas stuff coming out once Halloween was over. So, inside, a poll: at what point does Christmas Creep become acceptable holiday display? More »
—>A reader wrote in on November 3rd to let us know that Starbucks has busted out the holiday-themed coffee paraphernalia. This gives us an idea. More »
—>I visited the epicenter of Starbucks this weekend. It's a nice little store that adheres to the Pike Place Market historic district guidelines. The logo on the exterior is the original brown, nippled mermaid. Inside, it's not that large and theres a converted tackle supply shop feel to the place. The ceilings are made of painted white wood slats with lots of low white lights hanging. Otherwise, the coffee tasted exactly the same. Yes, no matter which corner in America you visit, whether the first store or the last, you can be assured of enjoying a consistent, smooth, burnt flavor. More »
—>After 20 years of development work, and six months of test-marketing in Chicago and Seattle, Starbucks is taking its Via instant coffee national today. Will coffee snobs be willing to pay $1 a serving for a drink that Consumer Reports recently called "good, not great?" More »
—>If you have a WinMo smartphone, you're in luck. (Wow, I never thought I'd be typing that.) Starting September 14th, AT&T will open up its approximately 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to Windows Mobile customers with "qualifying plans." According to AT&T, that should mean most WinMo customers as "most [already] have a qualifying data plan." More »
—>Starbucks has raised the prices of some of their drinks and lowered others, in an effort to differentiate their mixed coffee drinks from those currently offered at McDonald's. By making them more expensive, apparently. More »
—>McDonald's sales rose 4.3% on the tongues of customers clamoring for a taste of the good life for cheap. McCafe coffees, which offer a proxy of brews found in places like Starbucks, and Angus burgers drove sales. [Bloomberg] (Photo: andinarvaez) More »
—>A few weeks ago, we shared a story about Starbucks opening new stores that are not branded "Starbucks." The idea is to recreate the flavor and feel of the independent coffeehouses your neighborhood used to have before Starbucks came along. Shortly after that, the first non-Starbucks Starbucks, 15th Avenue E Coffee and Tea in Seattle, opened for business. What's it like? More »
—>A few coffee snobs at Slate have done a blind taste test of regular drip and cappuccino coffees at Starbucks, McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts. Results? Dunkin' Donuts had the best regular drip; McDonald's, the best cappuccino. More »
—>Starbucks is rolling out a company-wide speediness initiative, which can only mean one thing: forcing managers to take apart and put together a Mr. Potato Head for two hours straight. More »
Today until 10 am 10:30 am, Starbucks is giving away free pastries with the purchase of any beverage. You have to present this "invitation" to receive the food. Sorry Moneycat, oatmeal isn't included. (Thanks to o-line!) More »
—>Starbucks just keeps trying to reinvent itself — and it seems that they've tried everything. The only thing left to do is just to stop being Starbucks. So that's what they're doing. More »
—>Hazardous hair dryers, unstoppable strollers, zombie coffee grinders, and breakable cribs are this week's stars of the Recall Roundup. Watch out! More »
—>Calling their food the "Achilles' heel of the company" Starbucks has announced that they are reworking 90% of their baked goods to remove high fructose corn syrup and/or artificial flavors and dyes, says Reuters. More »
—>I was impressed when I heard that someone managed to visit every Starbucks store in Manhattan in one day. There were 171 at the time. Then I learned about Winter, who takes Starbucks-visiting to a whole new level, aiming to visit every Starbucks in the world (9,000 to date.) Not in a single day, or even in a single year, but still an ambitious goal that attracts some media attention. More »
—>A few weeks apart, in different stores, readers Spencer and Sean spotted the same error on CVS shelf tags. Printing error? Zoned-out employees? Maybe our assumptions are all wrong, and it's an innovative new pricing strategy. More »
—>This website displays photos of soft drinks, smoothies, candy, and even vegetables next to little piles of sugar cubes that represent the total sugar in them. This is a great service, because if you ever go into space you can simply use this site to pack a baggie full of an equivalent amount of cubes. Then you can enjoy your Space McFlurry without worrying about liquid contamination of the spacecraft. More »
—>The Starbucks at the Joyce Kilmer rest stop along the Jersey Turnpike refused to honor Jason's 10% Starbucks gold card discount because they are a franchise location and not a corporate-owned store. Jason asked to cancel his drink order, but Starbucks had already brewed his drink and refused to refund his $6. Defeated, Jason called Starbucks corporate to share his disappointment. Their response provided a flavor shot of surprise. More »
—>Yes, today is the day. Starbucks will begin servings its new line of "breakfast pairings" (don't call them value meals!). For $3.95 you shall receive coffee and an egg sandwich, oatmeal or coffee cake. It's all part of Starbucks' latest effort to rid themselves of the perception that they are overpriced — which is probably going to be kinda difficult. More »
An employee of Starbucks has filed a class action lawsuit against the company for failing to properly secure employee data. The employee was one of one of 97,000 notified late last year after a Starbucks laptop containing employee names, addresses and Social Security numbers was stolen. [NetworkWorld via Starbucks Gossip] More »
—>Good news for those of you in Seattle and Chicago who just can't wait to try Starbucks' new instant coffee — you're getting it first at $1 a packet. It'll be available at Starbucks stores as well as Target and Costco starting in March. More »
—>Do you like instant coffee? Oh, so you're the guy. Well, this is great news for you, dude. Starbucks has made a "breakthrough in soluble coffee," and it will be bringing it to a cafe near you. The chain is expected to announce the product, called "Via", next week. More »
—>Starbucks announced today that they will be laying off 870 assistant store managers and not filling 530 vacant positions. In addition, 500 non-store positions will also be eliminated. Read the memo inside. More »
—>CEO Howard Schultz once vowed he would never have value meals at Starbucks. Hey, he lied. As foretold, Starbucks has just unveiled their new "breakfast pairings" which is the Starbucksian code for a value meal. For $3.95 you can get a drip coffee and a hot sandwich or a latte and a bowl of oatmeal or cinnamon swirl coffee cake.More »
—>Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz recently told investors that they could expect some exciting new "breakfast pairings" at "attractive" prices... which sounds a lot like nice way to say "value meal" to us. More »
—>Starbucks is closing an additional 300 stores, says the Seattle Times, and will eliminate 700 non-store and 6,000 store jobs. The store closings will save the company $500 million per year. Meanwhile, the company is trying to sell a fancy corporate jet it bought last month for $45 million. Read CEO Howard Schultz's memo to employees inside. More »
If you're looking for a cup of decaf in the afternoon, be prepared to wait a few minutes at Starbucks. The chain will no longer be continually brewing it. [Starbucks Gossip] More »
—>Andrew's car was towed from Stabucks' parking lot as he sat inside enjoying his drink. The Portland Starbucks apparently has a contract with a local predatory towing company that allows them to walk in, call out a bunch of license plate numbers, and tow any car whose owner doesn't speak up. More »
Starbucks will give a free tall coffee to anyone who pledges to volunteer in their community for five hours, placing the value of community service at roughly $0.35 per hour. [AP] More »
—>The New York Times has a study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest on the health effects of caffeine. The study analyzes various claims made about caffeine, and it also offers a useful chart listing the caffeine content in typical drinks and foods. For instance, at 320 milligrams per 16 ounces, a Starbucks grande coffee has over four times the 80 milligrams of caffeine of a Red Bull. More »
—>A new survey says that 73% of Americans think Starbucks is overpriced, 21% said they were unsure, and only 6% came to Starbucks' defense. (We were kidding about that sarcastic thing. Teehee.) The survey also found that the vast majority of American's don't go Starbucks for their daily coffee fix: More »
You Starbucks haters out there can rejoice, because the company just posted its first quarterly loss EVAR "of $6.7 million, or 1 cent per share, compared with a year-earlier net profit of $158.3 million, or 21 cents per share." Store closures and restructuring are to blame, as well as the fact that nobody can afford anything anymore. [Reuters] More »
Starbucks has changed its mind and will keep selling sandwiches after all. Now they're looking at less stinky cheeses and less butter in an attempt to keep the smell from interfering with the coffee aroma. [Blogging Stocks] More »
—>The Wall Street Journal would have you believe that devastated Starbucks-lovers all over this nation are launching campaigns to try to save their "beloved" Starbucks. We're not entirely sure that we believe this based on the single example given in the article, but we'll play along... More »
—>Starbucks has released the complete list of stores that will be closing. You can browse the full list, organized alphabetically by state, inside. More »
—>Let's say, hypothetically, that a regular latte at Starbucks costs $2.65. Let's say that there's a separate menu item posted called "Vanilla Latte" and it costs $2.95. Let's also say that a regular latte with "syrup" (vanilla, for example) is $2.65 plus $0.30, or $2.95. Why then does a "Vanilla Latte" cost reader Jayne $3.25? More »
If you're wondering which 600 Starbucks locations are going to be closed, well, you can just keep on wondering. [Bizjournals via Starbucks Gossip] More »
—>MSNBC says that Starbucks has announced that it will be closing 600 locations in the US and could eliminate up to 12,000 full and part-time jobs. Previously, the company had announced that it would close only 100 stores. More »
Starbucks will ditch those CD spinner racks and instead concentrate on just four CD "slots" per store. This announcement comes after a NYT article claimed they were selling just 2 CDs per store per day. This is actually more than we thought they were selling, however. [Silicon Valley Insider] More »
Only a few months after replacing their "bolder" (some would say "burnt") varieties of brewed coffee with the more "mild" (some would say "dunkin donuts-esque") Pike Place Roast, Starbucks has announced that due to popular demand, they'll be brewing some of the old stuff too. More »
—>A survey by Kelley Blue Book says that new car shoppers are giving up Starbucks to help offset the cost of $4 gas. Sorry, big green mermaid lady! The KBB study results reveal that 28 percent of new-car shoppers have stopped going to Starbucks or other coffee houses entirely, and 21 percent indicate they are going less often due to skyrocketing gas prices. More »
—>How decaffeinated is your decaf exactly? That's what Consumer Reports aimed to uncover when they sent their shoppers to sample 36 cups of decaffeinated coffee from 6 locations of Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, Seattle's Best Coffee, 7-Eleven and Starbuck's near their headquarters in Yonkers, NY. See the results, inside... More »
Starbucks' "food chief" has resigned and has not been replaced. RIP, breakfast sandwiches. Did anyone actually eat those? Guess not. [WSJ] More »
T-Mobile is suing Starbucks for allowing AT&T to supply in-store customers with free wireless Internet access using T-Mobile’s lines and equipment. [NYT via Racked] More »
—>Fortune's new article "Lessons of the fall" is interesting and entertaining for two reasons. First, it humanizes brings a human face to the usually remote CEO, in this case the exes at Motorola, Starbucks, and Jet Blue. But more important if you're a wage slave who can admit to a little schadenfreude, it describes how each man was fired from his job. Former Starbucks CEO Jim Donald, who's in his fifties, says the hardest thing was letting his mother know: More »
—>Here's a bad idea. Please don't protest high gas prices by setting fire to a Chevron station, an Arco station, and a Starbucks. Meet Diane Craig, 64, of Danville, California. She's accused of using "fireplace logs" to try to start fires inside the restrooms of the two gas stations and a Starbucks. More »
Diane Craig from Danville, CA. faces arson charges after she set fire to 2 gas stations and a Starbucks to protest high gas prices. Police said they don't know why she targeted Starbucks. [KCRA] (Thanks to Kristie!)More »
Today is indeed the beginning of the Starbucks Free-Wifi era. Hooray for "2008 as a year of transformation in a difficult macroeconomic environment." Or whatever. Customers who register a Starbucks card and use it twice a month will get 2 hours of free WiFi per day. [Seattle P-I] More »
A blogger who is friends with a Starbucks manager says that it looks like the long-awaited free AT&T WiFi, even if you're not an AT&T customer, inside Starbucks will launch tomorrow. A few caveats: More »
—>A Portland jury recently found Latasha Curry not guilty of misdemeanor harassment for throwing a $4 venti iced mocha at a Starbucks manager who accused her of running a free drink scam. Curry was initially offered a free drink after she complained that her iced tea was too bitter. When she tried to redeem her freebie two days later, store manager Ryan Smith decided that Curry looked suspiciously like a woman who redeemed a free drink from a different store 11 months earlier. Smith accused Curry of running some elaborate drink scam, prompting Curry to serve Smith a free venti shower. More »
Consumer Reports has decided to weigh in on the new Pike Place Roast. CR once described Starbucks' coffee as "burnt and bitter," did the new roast manage to charm their testers? [CR] More »
—>According to the Star Tribune, Starbucks recently decided to resurrect its original bare-breasted mermaid logo, much to the dismay of the Christian group, "The Resistance," who is calling for a national boycott. The logo, based on a 16th Century Norse woodcut, will be on Starbucks cups for at least a few more weeks and will be the permanent logo for Pike Place bags of coffee. According to the Christian group, the logo "has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute," and that "the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks." We didn't even know that mermaids had legs. More, inside... More »
—>In the era of sports Tivoing, Starbucks baristas are powerless to avoid having the game ruined by thoughtless, chatty customers... or are they? Apparently, one Boston-area barista is fighting back. Do think this worked? More »
—>Over at Racked, a reader is reporting that despite taking advantage of Starbucks new "reward card" they were being screwed out of the promised free syrup. What's up with that, Starbucks? More »
—>Watch out Jamba Juice, Starbucks is coming for you. CEO Howard Schultz announced yesterday that the company would "make our first significant step forward into this category with the introduction of a Health and Wellness beverage platform." That's CEO for "We're gonna make smoothies." More »
Many baristas get "espresso finger," which is when their index finger looks blackened because they've been leveling coffee grounds on the portafilter all day. More »
Earlier you said to me, the media has made such a huge deal about all of Starbucks' competition. So tell us straight out what the story is here. Have you been hurt by the premium coffee sold at McDonald's (MCD) or by Dunkin' Donuts getting more aggressive?More »
—>The Starbucks card has some spiffy new benefits (including free refills on brewed coffee), but it seems that some employees didn't get the message. More »
—>Starbucks debuted their new "everyday" coffee blend yesterday and the initial reports say that the new roast seems to be a reaction to all the "over-roasting" criticism that is routinely hurled at Starbucks. More »
—>The "something big" tomorrow at Starbucks is a new "everyday" drip coffee blend called "Pikes Place Roast." If you're feeling curious, free samples of the coffee will be handed out tomorrow at all Starbucks locations. Supposedly, the coffee will feature "subtle, rich flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts." Sexy. More »
—>We decided to check back in with Starbucks' social "idea" site to see what ideas they were thinking of implementing. More »
Starbucks wants us to all go to our nearest Starbucks location on Tuesday, April 8th, at 9am PST/ 12pm EST "sharp," for "something big." If the barista re-training last month was Phase 2, is this Phase 3? Is the spaceship comet passing overhead then? Will we at least get free drink coupons out of the deal? More »
The Starbucks barista tip sharing lawsuit has spread to New York. [NYT] More »
—> In the state of California it is illegal for supervisors to share in employee tips. Starbucks recently lost a lawsuit brought by an employee who said he was forced to share a portion of his tips with his supervisor. The judgment awarded over $100 million in back tips and interest to the Starbucks baristas of California, and now several similar lawsuits are pending in other states. More »
—>As we've mentioned previously, Starbucks has purchased the company that makes the $11,000 Clover coffee maker. Now that acquisition isn't sitting well with some of the Clover's current customers. More »
—>To perk up tepid sales, Starbucks purchased Clover, a company that makes $11,000 coffee machines, machines that make one cup of coffee at a time, but are the results worth the price? The NYT hooked up with a legendary coffee connoisseur and according to his taste test, not even 11g's can make up for burnt beans. Starbucks is often accused by caffeine snobs of over-roasting its beans, which they say destroys most of the subtle aromatics. When the Clover made cups using lighter, non-burnt beans, the coffee came out great. You know, $11,000 could probably buy you a lot of non-burned beans. More »
—>Starbucks has launched a social customer feedback site that asks you vote on and submit your own suggestions to improve Starbucks. The most popular suggestion right now is (unsuprisingly) "give loyal customers the occasional free drink." After that, free WiFi is suggested: More »
—>A California judge has ordered Starbucks to pay its employees more than $100 million in tips and interest that was paid to shift supervisors, says the Associated Press.More »
—>Things are still changing at Starbucks. First off, they're going to buy the maker of "Clover" the crazy $11,000 coffee machine that makes one cup at a time.
Starbucks, the world's largest chain of coffee shops, also said today it would acquire Coffee Equipment Co., the maker of the $11,000 Clover machines that brew one cup of coffee at a time. Financial terms weren't disclosed. More »
—>So just what went on inside closed Starbucks across the nation from 5-9pm last night? According to comments on the Starbucks Gossip blog, they staff watched videos, learned how to pull the perfect espresso shot, relearned the importance of making creamy foam on top of lattes (NO EXCUSES), found out where the power buttons on the verisimos are, how to, and the importance of, cleaning, roleplayed through customer service situations, and chugged 10 espresso shots. One commenter says, "Just got back from my meeting, and I have to tell you, it was great. We went over what we needed to: espresso quality, milk quality, and customer care." Such things pass for great after your stock drops 50%. More »
This "Quick Vote" is on the front page of CNN right now. More »
—>In order to capitalize on all Starbucks being closed today for retraining, Dunkin Donuts is selling $.99 espressos today from 1 to 10pm. And if you're lucky enough to live in Chicago, they're giving away free small lattes. Not to be outdone, Houston area McDonald's are giving away free medium iced coffees from 5-9pm, precisely when all Starbucks will be shut down nationwide. Too bad all three chains taste like crap. More »
—> Next Tuesday, Starbucks will close 7,100 corporate-owned stores early to implement a company-wide retraining session on how to make drinks. "The barista re-education is a 'renewed focus on espresso standards,' say Starbucks honchos." We thought that's why they bought the robot espresso machines—so they didn't have to have trained coffee pullers anymore. More »
—>Starbucks recently announced that they would begin selling their "short" cups of brewed coffee for $1 a piece, and offering free refills of brewed coffee as a test in their home market of Seattle. More »
—>Starbucks made the switch to recombinant bovine growth hormone-free milk and are taking organic milk off the menu in all of their stores, effective Feb. 26. More »
Embattled Starbucks fired CEO Jim Donald and brought back company founder Howard Shultz. Maybe they'll be forced to close down some stores. Won't that be the day. [Economist] More »
Starbucks "Skinny" Drinks apparently taste about how you'd expect them to taste. We've never understood the appeal of paying the same amount of money for a large drink that doesn't taste as good. Why not just buy a smaller size of the good tasting drink? We'll never understand. [Chicago Tribune via Starbucks Gossip] More »
Bad Redesign: Intrepid coffee drinker is forced to return his brand new (replacement) Starbucks travel mug because it's too painful to use. "My first sip, as expected, was a little awkward. I adjusting to the vacuum seal lid. But the second sip was painful as was the third. I realized that the design of the lid thrust my upper lip directly into the stream of the hot coffee." Weird. [NowPublic] More »
—>A few days ago Starbucks started their new "skinny" drink program. Ordering a drink "skinny" means you'd like sugar-free syrup, non-fat milk, and no whip cream. We didn't write about it because, um, you can already order that if you want , and we figured you didn't really care that a basic drink order had a new marketing nickname. More »
The funny thing about Starbucks is it's helped to create a coffee culture filled with a significant number of people who don't actually like Starbucks—which means that, despite conventional wisdom, it's actually a good thing to be a mom & pop coffee shop with a Starbucks nearby, writes Slate. More »
Ethan Thorn was an infant when his parents brought him into a Starbucks in Somerville's Davis Square in April, 2006. According to the lawsuit, a store employee serving a cup of coffee to Ethan's father accidentally spilled coffee on the baby's legs and groin, causing second-degree burns. The baby was in his father's arms at the time. More »
—>Billy wanted to maximize the value of his coupon for one free drink at Starbucks. But which tongue-twisting truffle-invoking concoction to request? Billy decided on a Venti Soy Hazelnut Vanilla Cinnamon White Mocha with extra White Mocha and caramel—plus 13 espresso shots. How did the $13.76 potion taste? More »
Yes, actually it is a PR stunt. They've even provided coupons to kick it off. This one (scan attached) came from Esquire magazine, I believe. Nooooooooooo, you mean they're not even passing back a drink someone that someone actually paid for? They're passing a BOGO coupon? More »
—>Some cynical people, (not us, mind you) are starting to suspect that the news stories popping up all over the U.S. about Starbucks "cheer chains" might be planted by Starbuck's PR team. More »
—>Out of a misguided sense of goodwill, Rancho Cordova police officers will be pulling over citizens who aren't doing anything wrong and reward their good driving with $5 Starbucks. While nice in theory, it would be a pain in the butt if you were running late for work. I wonder if, just like when you get pulled over for speeding, they're going to make you wait in your car for 10 minutes first. I also wonder why they couldn't just take people's license numbers down and mail them the gift cards. I also also wonder if it's legal for a police officer to detain someone who isn't breaking the law. N doubt such irritating questions will disappear the moment the free Mocha Frappacino hits your brain nerves. More »
9 people have already been burned. Don't be that guy! All 167,000 cups were sold at Starbucks for February 2007 through November 2007 for about $11. Return the cups to Starbucks for a full refund and a free beverage. Your un-scalded crotch will thank you. More »
—> For the first time ever—and spurred largely by two price increases in a year—customer traffic at Starbucks dropped last quarter. The coffee chain still reported earnings based largely on higher prices and new stores, but it's worried enough about the falling traffic to launch a national television ad campaign this season, something it's never done before. More »
—> Better not use a green circle for your coffee shop logo because Starbucks has lawyers and they'll sue ya. Conga Coffee & Tea, a small two-store operation in Michigan, is being threatened with a lawsuit because their logo bears "striking resemblance" to Starbucks' famous mermaid logo. At least that's what Starbucks says. More »
—>Corporate America has a new ally in the war to spread unseasonable holiday cheer. Thanksgiving may be two weeks away, but according to one sharp-eyed reader, that isn't stopping the coffee behemoth Starbucks from bludgeoning consumers with Christmas. More »
—>The site of the most infamous mob murder in New York City history is now a Starbucks, but does anyone care? Nah. We certainly don't care... but it's a chance to learn about a mob murder: More »
—>Someone explain how this works. Jason tells us that Starbucks Frappuccinos 4-packs normally retails at the Target in Amherst, NY, for $5.24, but there's a new price tag on them for $5.49, boasting they're, "Even Lower than our advertised price." So, in the circulars they're advertising them for, say, $5.99? Why not a sign that says, "BIG SAVINGS" and then in small letters, "as compared to a piece of gold bullion." More »
—> Another week, another round of Bad Employer news about Wal—oh wait, we mean Starbucks this time, which actually has a lower rate of insured employees than the discount chain (42% versus 47%). Last Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board accused Starbucks of "unlawful anti-union activity" at a store in Michigan, similar to the charges it's currently on trial for in New York. More »
Starbucks spokesman Brandon Borrman said there are still no plans to market specifically to children, and grown-ups need not worry that the Cartoon Network will be playing on the flat-panel screen of their neighborhood Starbucks anytime soon. More »
—>The California Assembly has passed legislation that will require chain outlets with 15 or more locations to place calorie info on fast food menu boards and nutrition information on restaurant menus. The rule applies only to standard menu items and not to daily specials or custom orders. More »
—> By the end of this year, Starbucks will no longer serve dairy products that contain Posilac, aka rBGH or rbST, the growth hormone manufactured by Monsanto, says a Reuters article. The company was already well on its way to cutting rBGH out of its menu—as of last month, 72% of their dairy comes from rBGH-free suppliers. According to a letter sent by Starbucks to Food & Water Watch (which has heavily campaigned against the synthetic hormone), "By December 31, 2007, all of our fluid milk, half and half, whipping cream and eggnog used in U.S. company-operated stores will be produced without the use of rBGH." More »
—>When a Starbucks barista accidentally dumped scalding hot coffee all over Matt's father, he got to see Starbuck's crack PR response in action. More »
—>Why pay full price for a Starbucks concoction when a little ordering jujitsu can produce the same drink for less? Reader Kelly devised a way to order her Starbucks Tazo Chai latte for half the price:
I spend far too much money there, and lately have been experimenting with combinations to get my delicious drinks for cheaper, but tasting the same using the Secret Menu codewords and with the help of the confessions of a Starbucks barista. The newest version? A knock off Tazo Chai latte for half price. More »
"Starbucks also said it plans to cut the number of different drinks on its menu, a move it hopes will help baristas get customers through the line more quickly."
Don't get your Juicy Raspberry in a twist over it, Seattlest reminds us of the Starbucks "secret menu" (you can order whatever you want and they have to make it for you) and the infinite possibilities it contains. More »
—> A New Jersey man is suing Starbucks after sustaining 3rd degree burns from hot tea that he claims was improperly "lidded." The man's lawyer says, "when he went to pick up the cup, the top wasn't on correctly. The top came off. More »
—>Health inspectors found over 200 fruit flies infesting the lower level food court of the Macy's State Street store in Chicago. Inspectors first discovered the infestation last week after a disgusted customer complained to 311. Food court employees apparently were not bothered by either the fruit flies or the health inspectors. From the Chicago Tribune:
"Not only did they not do anything, the problems seemed to get worse," [Tim Hadac, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Public Health] said. "It was a surprising and disappointing lack of adherence to basic food safety regulation... We stopped counting fruit flies when they hit 200."
—>Starbucks has announced that they're raising prices on most of their "freshly made" drinks, including coffee, Frappuccinos, some "tea-based" drinks, and yes the much-loved latte. More »
—>Starbucks has been kicked out of China's Forbidden City, according to the Seattle P-I, following months of controversy over remarks made by a Chinese State TV news anchor. According to the anchor having a Starbucks in the Forbidden City, "undermined the Forbidden City's solemnity and trampled over Chinese culture." More »
—>Jesse, who has worked at Starbucks for almost a year, has written a mythbusting "Buyer's Guide" that will help you in your quest to save money when ordering your favorite Starbucks beverage. Our favorite tips? Frappucinos are a rip off, there's no free ride at the drive-thru, and ordering a latte with chai syrup is cheaper than a chai with espresso. More »
—>Boy, Andy really unleashed the inner demons of the Starbucks faithful with his "Juicy Raspberry" letter. There is the most hilarious thread going on at the Starbucks Gossip blog about whether is its, in fact, ok to serve "Juicy Raspberry" to customers before June 26th, and whether Andy is, in fact, too long-winded. It seems that Starbucks people are pretty long-winded themselves. More »
—>Andy and his partner would just like some raspberry syrup in their Iced Venti Raspberry Soy Mocha, but in the midst of a change from old raspberry syrup to something called "juicy" raspberry... chaos at Starbucks. The use of juicy raspberry before the "juicy raspberry" promotion was simply not allowed. Attitudes were copped. Customers were offended. Business was lost. Apologies were issued. Gift cards were mailed. More »
—>Starbucks is running a promotion whereby customers can submit their thoughts for inclusion on Starbucks cups, as part of an effort by Starbucks to "to promote open, respectful conversation among a wide variety of individuals," according to their spokesperson. More »
After Hurricane Katrina, La Madeleine, a cafe and bakery that had occupied space in the French Quarter for 23 years, moved out, claiming that it didn't get enough of a break on its rent following the storm. Now the site sits vacant, waiting for its next tenant. Will it be Starbucks? More »
—>First McDonald's started testing the McCafe, essentially a Starbucks within McDonalds, now plain old Dunkin' Donuts has caught Starbucks envy. More »
The 70-year-old Lisle woman was kicked out of the Starbucks in downtown Glen Ellyn a few weeks ago. She claims it was because employees mistook her as a homeless person, part of a purge the store waged to mollify customers who complained that the coffee shop was overrun with the homeless. More »
"Every company that adds caffeine to food should tell consumers how much they're getting, so consumers can comparison shop and make their decisions accordingly," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "Pepsi deserves credit for voluntarily putting caffeine contents on labels. I don't know why Coke and coffee companies are so jittery about letting their customers know how much they're getting."
Regular Pepsi contains 25 milligrams of caffeine per 8 oz, Diet Pepsi 24. "Pepsi One and Mountain Dew have more with 36 mg per 8 ounces. Brewed coffee varies, but a 16-ounce cup at Starbucks has around 260 mg, though the company doesn't make that number easy to find." Mmm, caffeine. Starbucks is sort of confusing. We're not sure why they'd neglect to mention/hide how much caffeine is in coffee... isn't it a selling point?—MEGHANN MARCO More »
RecycleBank picks up your recyclables and rewards you with, among other offers, Starbucks coupons. While we haven't tried it, (we live in New York, silly), we think the idea sounds nice. More »
—>Is that doofus hipster turd playing the barista giving you the evil eye over the Starbucks counter as you make your ghetto latte? Has he actually had the nerve to wander over to you and icily inform you that the milk at the condiment bar is not meant to help offset an extra dollar surcharge levied by his corporate masters on your coffee flavored drink? More »
Yeesh. Cockroaches scurrying over boxes. Dead mice drowned in the back alley. Scavenger faeces amongst the food stuffs. Little Polish boys found eaten alive by rats when they drink too much beer on the premises. What is this, The Jungle? More »
—>You can't keep on suing the little guy before he sues back: Starbucks has been nailed with a huge class-action anti-monopoly suit by small, independent coffee shop Belvi Coffee. More »
The price of your Juan Valdez-approved stimulant fix is going up October 3, when Starbucks is raising the price of its coffee drinks by five cents across the board, in all its North American stores. More »
a href="http://iwantmyfreecoffee.blogspot.com/">Jake says that if you call 1-(800) 235-2883 and tell Starbucks what stinkers they are for not honoring the iced coffee coupons, they will send you a $5 giftcard. More »
In order to make up for money lost during the free coupon crisis of 2006, Seattle area Starbucks have a new upsell campaign. Now when you order your coffee, a barista will inform you of what high caloric food product it "pairs with." More »
Starbuck's smug distributors of sweet, caffeinated crude have pulled their panties clear over their head in one outraged jerk after their customers have learned to save a couple pucks on an iced espresso. More »
—>AP: "Starbucks Corp. was sued for $114 million Friday over its recall last week of a coupon that entitled the holder to a free large iced drink being promoted by the giant Seattle coffee retailer. More »
I generally wouldn't post something so smugly self-serving as this mock Starbucks ad, but I want to point out that there's a lot of money we spend that could be used to send to starving children. But that presumes that charity and welfare can solve extremely difficult political and social problems. More »
—>We're crouching on the floor of a Barnes & Noble in Park Slope, an enfranchised enclave of Brooklyn. The walls of our apartment began to throb and press against our skull, so we escaped, in search of caffeine, wi-fi and a/c. In a perch between the archival scrapbooking section and the leather journals, the sun beats a low hum across our arm and slow cooks our laptop. We glance enviously at the Starbucks tables. More »
Words fail to describe this Starbucked version of Jefferson Starship's "We Built This City," written for a Starbucks leadership conference last year. Luckily, projectile vomiting or rushing into your local Starbucks and kicking every one wearing a green apron in the crotch doesn't. Thanks, we guess, to Adfreak for finding this. More »
—>You may have heard of Starbucks' CAFE Practices, a program Starbucks is claiming is superior to fair trade. CAFE Practices is described on Starbucks' website as "guidelines designed to help us work with coffee farmers to ensure high-quality coffee and promote equitable relationships with farmers, workers and communities, as well as protect the environment." More »
—>Kate is a sweet Canadian photo bug who just happened to be taking some pictures of a Toronto Starbucks when a goonish barrista burst out of the store's chocolate-hued facade and started claiming she couldn't take photographs of the building. Luckily, a group of tourists happened to be passing, overheard the exchange and staged an impromptu mass rebellion, snapping hundreds of photographs of the Starbucks in question before the Starbucks manager could even speed dial Russel Crowe to sort the whole thing out. More »
—>Over at Branding Post, we saw this quote about a grim dystopian future in which the word coffee no longer exists: when you pendulously breasted IHOP waitress emerges in a puff of brown cigarette smoke from the kitchens to demand your order, you won't ask for a cup of coffee. You'll ask for a Starbucks. More »
—>Good news! Our favorite grumbly cup-of-joe-slinging coffee shop owner has delicately lifted his forearm, extended his middle finger in the direction of the Starbucks' corporation's threatening sphincter and politely suggested sitting and spinning on the proffered digit. More »
More DoubleShot. Steven Roemerman was so upset by Starbucks suing his favorite local coffee shop that he decided to write them and complain. This is the form letter they sent him back: More »
—>You might remember DoubleShot Coffee owner Brian Franklin, who is being sued by Starbucks for trademark violation. They claim they "own" the name of the common industry term "doubleshot." They also claim they own the trademarks on "coffee, the complete works of Herman Melville, your immortal soul and your wife's loins." More »
—>Dunkin' Donuts is apparently looking to Starbuck itself. Which would make a hell of a lot more sense if Dunkin' Donuts' customers didn't hate Starbucks. More »
Yesterday, we reported on DoubleShot Coffee, a small Tulsa coffee shop that had been sued by Starbucks for infringing on their Doubleshot trademark. Well, the outspoken owner of DoubleShot Coffee, Brian Franklin, is fighting back via his company blog: More »
re serving over there? Fuckin liquid gold? A fucking cup of coffee and a piece of pound cake, seven dollars? Stick it up your ass, fuckin Starbucks." More »
We don't usually say this... but go to Starbucks today. Grit your teeth as an obsequious minimum-wage hipster expects you to know the distinction between cup sizes written in three different languages, all meaning "big". Resist the temptation to screw your thumbs through said hipster's eye sockets. Because at least that coffee will be free today. More »
Some people don't like the rich, creamy, fascist flavor of Starbucks. To voice their disfavor Areyougeneric.org spray mounted this poster next to a new Starbucks. More »
First, Congratulations to Gregg Schultz, whose 'Clash of the Titans' story has been overwhelmingly selected by readers as the winner of the Starbucks contest. He'll be getting a $500 gift certificate to Starbucks, with which he will be able to purchase as many large coffees as he desired. As as a commentor noted, his story of triumph is certain to be optioned into an uplifting Hollywood movie at nearly at time. (We'll expect to be your date to the Golden Globes, Gregg.) More »
The voting for the Starbucks Contest is in place after the jump. Read the entries then make your choice. The winner will be forced to go to Starbucks to redeem their $500 Starbucks gift certificate. Voting ends upon our waking tomorrow morning! More »
We're finally getting off our asses to post up the entrants to the Starbucks $500 Gift Certificate Contest. We've selected our favorites out of the entries and have posted them after the jump. More »
So yeah, yeah, we said we'd run the voting today, but we're having a heck of a time getting the polling software to work (not to mention, you know, getting any work done at all.) We'll get it all straightened out Monday, promise. More »
We're going to keep this short and sweet. Send us your best (aka 'worst') tales about your dealings with Starbucks as a customer. Do this because we say to do this and we exert a gym teacher-like capitulation over your judgement, but also because we will be giving a price of high irony to the person with the story dubbed most awful: a $500 gift card to Starbucks Coffee. More »
—>Baristas at the Starbucks in Union Square have made a bold move for headline writers everywhere, joining two other Manhattan stores in the 'Starbucks Union.' A division of the Industrial Workers of the World—The Fightin' IU 600—the employees surrounded their store manager (a full-time employee) and demanded that they be allowed to serve high-quality coffee that didn't taste like powered roofing shingle. Or maybe a guaranteed 30-hour work week and health care benefits. One of those. More »
