Coffee lovers, rejoice! Dunkin’ Donuts is giving away free 16 oz. cups of iced coffee today—unless you look under 18 and don’t have identification. Tipster Carolyn watched with disbelief as workers at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 1433 2nd Avenue on New York’s Upper East Side refused to serve two high school seniors who didn’t have identification.
coffee
Starbucks: Shut Up, I'm Recording The Celtics Game!
By 5.12.08
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?
10 Things You May Not Know About The People Who Make Your Coffee
By 4.30.08 — Updated: 10.25.12
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.
Starbucks CEO: McDonald's And Dunkin' Donuts Don't Sell "Premium Coffee"
By 4.15.08
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?
By 4.15.08
../../../..//2008/04/15/last-week-jamba-juice-gave/
Last week, Jamba Juice gave away breakfast paste while Starbucks gave away teeny cups of less-burnt coffee. Tomorrow, Dunkin’ Donuts gets in on the action with a free artery-clogging donut with every coffee purchase, in honor of Tax Day. [Dunkin’ Donuts] (Thanks to LE!)
Are Starbucks Baristas Forgetting To Give You Your Free Refills?
By 4.11.08
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.
Starbucks Coffee No Longer "Over-Roasted" And Doesn't "Taste Burnt?"
By 4.9.08
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.
Starbucks To Debut New "Everyday" Coffee Blend
By 4.7.08
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.
What Complaining About Starbucks Hath Wrought: Punch Cards?
By 4.4.08 — Updated: 10.15.12
We decided to check back in with Starbucks’ social “idea” site to see what ideas they were thinking of implementing.
By 4.3.08
../../../..//2008/04/03/the-starbucks-barista-tip-sharing/
The Starbucks barista tip sharing lawsuit has spread to New York. [NYT]
Starbucks CEO Thinks Pesky "Laws" Don't Apply To His Company
By 3.28.08
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.
No Starbucks Allowed: Indie Coffee Shop Says It Will Stop Using Its Fancy Clover Coffee Makers
By 3.27.08
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.
Starbucks New $11,000 Coffee Machine Can't Make Up For Burnt Beans
By 3.26.08
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.
Tell Starbucks What You Want: More Free WiFi, Plugs For Laptops, Better Coffee…
By 3.21.08
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:
Starbucks To Buy Fancy Coffee Machine Maker, Add Reward Program
By 3.19.08
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.
By 2.29.08
../../../..//2008/02/29/some-interesting-thoughts-concerning-the/
Some interesting thoughts concerning the tyranny of “the tip jar” from the Wall Street Journal. [Wall Street Journal]
What Went Down Inside Starbucks Yesterday?
By 2.27.08
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%.
Dunkin Donuts And McDonald's Try To Steal Starbucks' Business Today With Cheap And Free Coffee
By 2.26.08
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.
