Just what we need - Overpriced burnt wine and overpriced stale cheese from $tarbuck$

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39719692/ns/business-consumer_news/

Starbucks is looking to revamp its image. If an experiment in a refurbished coffee shop in Seattle’s busy Capitol Hill area goes well, the chain could soon be luring you to its stores with wine, beer and a selection of local cheeses, according to a report in USA Today.

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There's more at the link, but unless you're in the mood to :puke:, I would recommend avoiding it.

Basically, young, hip, cool, gay or gay-friendly and look like you have money. Plus acting like you are famous in another country, if not here. The new marketing may well go over there. Gads, I am getting old. BTW, Starbucks introduced/tried a coffee & wine drink a few years back, it was blech, though the concept was good.

SOMEHOW they convinced yuppies that it was "in" to buy their garbage, but then again people will vote for Republicans. You can't expect logic to rear its head in these situations. I guess $tarbuck$ could get some of those silly dispensers they use for that nasty shit in the green bottles that yuppies drink now and put Mad Dog 20/20 in them instead. And hey, who wouldn't want to pay $45/lb for Kraft processed American cheese food product or Velveeta? When are they going to start selling SPAM for $10 a slice?

The good concept I was referring to, was the one which mixed the excitement of caffeinated coffee with the mellow comfort of red wine. I actually had the drink at Ray's when it was being trialled, loved the feeling, but not the drink. I wonder if anyone has considered just caffeinating wine, it would probably be too bitter and snubbed anyway.

Too many tourists and political types around Capitol Hill at any time.

Well, I am sure, but not sure if you are messing with me because I am really not versed to speak on the subject of coffee. But I lived on Capitol Hill in Seattle, so here goes, there is an area in Seattle, known as Capitol Hill. It is a young, fun, hip area, with a tremendous array of little eateries, bars, independent shops, a great old park, old mansions (rumor has it, the Heart sisters had a place there)and affordable apartments. There is also a good community college there and the traffic and parking usually suck. Really not too many politicians, though some lucky tourists may find their way. Now; what do you think of Starbucks plan?

My bad... Anytime someone mentions Capitol Hill I think of DC.

Wrong city.

First, it's been here for years but is getting a great redo. It's always been jokingly referred to by the considerable gay population here as "Gaybucks" because it's been a very gay-friendly non-bar gathering place, a place to meet and hang out that has a different and relaxed atmosphere. Starbucks is trying more and more to become a "third place" where people have meetings and can relax for lengths of time. They want to make money from these people and so are broadening their offerings and using things to draw people in like public events, music, etc. They're helping the local food movement by buying small brews and local cheese and, I hope, Washington wines.

I know it's popular to hate the corporation, but I just can't see the downside here. If you don't personally like the coffee, fine. If you think it's too expensive, fine. But they do have a right and they do provide aomething people want, and now want to do that even more and to make money from it. I like Tully's coffee better, and some small roasters' even better than that, but I for one am looking forward to going there.

You would at least get change from that purchase. I know, I know. If people want to use cash for toilet paper that's their business. Enjoy!

:hi: - well, let us know how it works out.

I understand that the money is the most important issue for you and that you're mad that this as yet nonexistent place theoretically charges more than you want to pay for cheese and wine that you assume is of low quality and sold to you by a corporation that makes more of a profit than you think is fair. By your standard I frankly don't understand why you're not dumpster diving for that cheese and fruit and heading off to Trader Joe's for a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck (which I think is three bucks by now but is not too bad for the price btw). But people also pay for a place, a face that says "Hi HopeHoops, how are you? Want the usual?" when they come in the door. They pay to have an "our place" where friends can hang out, one of Starbucks' high points--I have never seen anyone asked to leave one. Sometimes we pay for novelty and sometimes for predictability, but the experience is important. Starbucks might be a burr under your particular saddle but it's doing a positive thing for the community, is a pretty good employer as big corporations go, and I'm hardly going to be shamed by the fact that I am willing to pay for it. And yes, I have the money to spend on it, and yes, I'm blessed to have it. And, laughably, I go into a Starbucks about twice a year; like I said, I tend to go to the little houses (where the coffee costs the same as it does there). But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate what they're doing.

Given the location, it might just have a chance.

Two buck Chuck is still $2!

:P

:puke:

What freakin' marketeer came up with THAT idiotic name?

Trader Joe's doesn't seem to mind.

-MV

...every time...EVERY SINGLE TIME...I see several people buying "Two Buck Chuck." Not one. Several.

That brand has found its way into MANY hearts, and the nickname for many people is a term of endearment, not a slam. It's sort of a badge of honor to say that you've tried it.

:toast:

A little Cabernet Sauvignon made the dish even better, and we can afford to buy a couple of bottles when we shop for $2.99!

The two buck Chuck Chardonnay (IIRC) scored very high in last year's Wine Spectator blind tasting.

If you make it without wine, something's missing. You can taste that there is something missing.

So when I make it...once every few months, at most...it's off to Trader Joe's.

:toast:

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...and I'm usually QUICK to thumb my nose at chains (especially hardcore
yuppie chains).
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Here's my disclaimer, though: Starbucks coffee DOES suck. I'm not much
of a coffee aficionado, but I do know that burnt ain't good. That said, it's
also FUCKING ROCKET FUEL, and I wouldn't even care if it TASTED like
rocket fuel... as the ONLY reason I drink coffee is for the medicinal effect...
and the medicinal effect of Starbucks' coffee is methamphetaminish. I don't
go there often, but I know I'm going to be WIDE awake after I do.
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(There's a website online that gives comparative caffeine levels for all
sorts of products -- check out the levels of Starbucks regular coffee... if
it were a baseball player, everyone would just KNOW it was on steroids).
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I've had good experiences in Starbucks. I'm not EVER the least bit mistaken
for "one of the cool kids" -- however, I've never ever felt like the baristas
I've dealt with were condescending in the least -- just friendly and very
accommodating.
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The company also seems to give some serious nods to humane-friendly and
green business practices (at least as far as their purchasing practices seem
to go -- and their employees SEEM happy to be working there).
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It's not my cup of tea (sorry), but I've no real problem with the chain itself.
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To each his/her own indeed.
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health insurance for their employees. I don't think their regular coffee is overpriced at all a small coffee is $1.50 and you get all the refills you want with their card. As far as their lattes and cold drinks go I think people are nuts to pay $4 to $5 for them. Every 15 cups I get a free drink of choice so I go for one of their most expensive. I happen to like strong coffee and dark beer with some flavor to it rather than watered down coffee or Budweiser cool aid. I like to hang out at Starbucks or Panera bread and read the paper or a book.

:evilgrin:

Actually, I was a wimp/geek/nerd sort until I got a steady girlfriend (translation: getting laid regularly), let my hair grow, and just decided that I didn't give a shit. Then nobody messed with me. They still don't.

A relative sent us a Starbucks gift basket for Christmas. The coffee was terrible and both the cups broke within 3 months...the basket was OK, though...Probably from China.

mark

It is better than their coffee, but still over-priced. Just about everybody says the coffee tastes burnt, but it seems some people like it that way. I did have their coffee while at the Expo in Shanghai though, I was tired of chancing a certain flavor in the chinese food, that I can't place, but it made me feel a bit ill. The familiar, burnt flavor was welcome to me then, but I won't be drinking it again anytime soon.

get any real flavor...It was probably the most insipid coffee I ever had.

We normally use the old 8 O'clock whole beans, grind it at home...probably 1/3d the price of Starbucks and there is NO comparison...Starbucks if worthless.


mark

Dishwater coffee is so not good. The employees must have reused the grind for what you got. I have not had that experience, but if coffee doesn't give that little lift; what good is it? Grinding at home has some real advantages, we just buy from Costco, then grind at home, Mr. Gut is most happy with that method.

terrible waste of money.

I have actually never been to a Starbucks, nor ever had their coffee already made...


mark

I knew you had received that gift basket, because I had sent something similar to a relative and wondered how it worked out for them, sorry...ADD must be acting up again. Did you grind it at home? Maybe I am doing it wrong, but the finer you grind it, the less it seems you have to use to get a decent cup. I shouldn't even have opened my mouth on this, I just don't know coffee.

If memory serves me well, that was also 8 O'Clock brand. That's still the best shit you can get for a reasonable price. I get the pre-ground sometimes just to avoid the noise of the grinder at 5:00 in the morning. There's no such thing as a quiet coffee grinder. I've got an old hand-crank grinder (with the wooden tray) and even IT makes too much noise for 5:00 in the morning.

And I hate the "douchebag that always has to have a fucking cup of coffee in my hands at all times no matter where I am" trend they started.

:mad:

I am that douchebag!

:hide:

:rofl:

(No, but really, I kinda am.)

I am unapologetically addicted. Sue me. The fact thatcoffee has no calories is the only thing that tempts me to believe in God.

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An Irish friend of mine used to give a simple two-word excuse/reason for
his odd behaviors all the time... "Goat dance."
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I think there's a passage in one of his Joyce's books where someone comes
in and finds the protagonist BADLY hungover and his place is literally torn
apart and in a shambles... and when asked what the hell had happened to
cause all the damage... simply explains, "Goat dance."
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I've always LIKED that rationalization.
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:hi:

airport branch so perhaps it is just a local problem with the sandwiches.

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...everywhere else it's CALLED "Two-Buck" but it's actually "Three-Buck".
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And not bad wine (although I think I've only had one of their reds.
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I just need some decent quality water, and the rest is all Me.....

Yeah, good luck with that...lol.

Who else will corrupt them - oh, wait. Never mind. Television handles the corruption part.

Even if you hate the coffee, you might want to rethink the comments about the wine.

There's a reason most of the local grocery stores have sommeliers on staff.

-MV