NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah, thats right, I wanna know what you think about Starbuck's. They just built a new one about 3 miles from where I live. I like Starbuck's. I don't drink straight coffee but I like their chocolate flavored drinks. My only problem with Starbuck's is their prices. I can buy 2 boxes of Raman noodles for the price of a Venti Cappuccino. Plus the local coffee shop sells drinks for less money and I can't tell a difference. What do ya'll think?

Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks. :p

No, I don't. Why? If I want gourmet coffee, it will be gourmet Irish coffee.

Starbucks coffee is shit.

Caribou Coffee FTW!

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkg0WLj7TJ8

There ya go. :)

Occasionaly.

Starbucks sucks.

Tim Hortons is far better.

If and only if a fair trade certified coffee is brewing.

The only Starbucks I know of that has a fair trade coffee always on brew is the one on my university campus; this one shop does so in order to please the various student, labor, and other social organizations that protested its moving in. I don't normally go there anyway because it is understaffed (long lines) and overpriced. I buy fair trade beans and make coffee at home.

If and only if a fair trade certified coffee is brewing.


explain please

explain please

http://transfairusa.org/content/about/overview.php


Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:

* Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.

* Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.

* Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

* Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.

* Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.

* Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.


The above link contains a bunch of FAQs and other info on Fair Trade.

Their Iced Chai Tea Latte, with soy milk is tha bomb!

I don't drink coffee, period.

I don't drink coffee, period.

I could never live like that. :(

I don't drink coffee, period.

I thought I was the only one!!!

Alcohol, coffee, and ranch dressing are the big three things that I wouldn't touch even if they were the last edible things on earth.

Man that's a gross thought.

http://transfairusa.org/content/about/overview.php



The above link contains a bunch of FAQs and other info on Fair Trade.

hmm, democratic groups of farmers? Is it like a labor union?

I thought I was the only one!!!

Alcohol, coffee, and ranch dressing are the big three things that I wouldn't touch even if they were the last edible things on earth.

Man that's a gross thought.

I don´t drink coffee either. I just like their Chai Tea a lot. It´s very yummy.

I don't drink coffee. :cool:

hmm, democratic groups of farmers? Is it like a labor union?

Groups of independent growers and farmers, similar to other agricultural cooperatives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_cooperative).

On cooperatives in general: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperatives

I only drink Starbucks when there is NO other choice and I NEED coffee.

I used to drink their Tazo Chai Latte, but realized you can get the container of the liquid at the supermarket for the price of one cup, but make yourself a dozen. Now I make it at home.

Check out Foamy's rants: Small, Medium and Large, and Coffeehouse Propaganda here: http://www.illwillpress.com/vault.html

Aye, if there's no Pret à Manger or Caffe Nero in the area.

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07AKNQUywLw

Caffeine makes me shit blood.

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07AKNQUywLw

This better be funnier then that Denis Leary bit. That guy is not cool.

Caffeine makes me shit blood.

Does blood make you shit caffeine?

*runs*

Groups of independent growers and farmers, similar to other agricultural cooperatives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_cooperative).

On cooperatives in general: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperatives

Makes sense.

This better be funnier then that Denis Leary bit. That guy is not cool.

Sorry. I have found in my time here that I can't make everyone laugh, but I can make anyone laugh. Your turn is coming. :)

Caffeine makes me shit blood.

Swallow a lot of gauze. *nod*

Does blood make you shit caffeine?

*runs*

Does shit makes you bleed?
*stares*
Yes, it can... if you suffer from hemorroidhs...
*sighs*
That didn´t come out good. Meh...:(

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07AKNQUywLw

I LOVE IT! :D

Swallow a lot of gauze. *nod*

ROFLMAO!!! ROFLMAO!!!!

Swallow a lot of gauze. *nod*

Honestly, you have done your job.

Rarely. I go to Dunkin Donuts every morning, and never really pass a Starbucks. It may seem really, really strange to read this, but if they were more convenient, I might go.

They do tend to look at me very strange when I go in and say "One large black coffee to go, please". I've even had one have to call back and say "Do we just do black coffee?"

Buck 70. Damn expensive. But good and strong.

About once a week for visiting an actual store and daily for coffee made at home, and I love the stuff.

That said, there's a lot of really good coffee houses in Japan that I like better than Starbucks, it's just that none of them are near by in terms of going there on a weekly basis while doing the shopping. That and Starbucks along with peanut butter is my last hold on in terms of food from US that I consume regularly.

Swallow a lot of gauze. *nod*

Now, the swallowing of a lot of gauze brings 2 problems in question:

1) hilarity of the swallowing

2) constipation

How to resolve these?

Now, the swallowing of a lot of gauze brings 2 problems in question:

1) hilarity of the swallowing

2) constipation

How to resolve these?


1) a camcorder

2) more caffeine.

:)

1) a camcorder

2) more caffeine.

:)

Right on, LG, right on!!:D

My roommate had an awesome idea. Go up to the counter at a Starbucks and just scream the word 'Drink!" and throw money on the counter. And just keep doing that over and over again until something happens. Just keep yelling "Drink" in a very serious voice and keep throwing money on the counter. We don't think we could do it without laughing though.

-Drink!

-yes sir what would you like?

-Drink!

-I'm sorry, you have to tell me...

-DRINK!

My roommate had an awesome idea. Go up to the counter at a Starbucks and just scream the word 'Drink!" and throw money on the counter. And just keep doing that over and over again until something happens. Just keep yelling "Drink" in a very serious voice and keep throwing money on the counter. We don't think we could do it without laughing though.

-Drink!

-yes sir what would you like?

-Drink!

-I'm sorry, you have to tell me...

-DRINK!

With a serious face, ask for steaming hot infant's blood with a hint of low fat cream and a small spoon of brown sugar.

See where that gets you.

With a serious face, ask for steaming hot infant's blood with a hint of low fat cream and a small spoon of brown sugar.

See where that gets you.

You, sir, have problems...:eek:
J/K!

With a serious face, ask for steaming hot infant's blood with a hint of low fat cream and a small spoon of brown sugar.

See where that gets you.

but thats not funny.:rolleyes:

Venti Quinti Soy Caramel Macchiato. (if I misspelled it I don't care)

I have one about once a month when my friend is in town (not talking about my menstrual my actual friend travels through once a month)

I also buy the coffee beans at the store when we have overnight guests.

I also buy a cup every Sunday for $2 the proceeds going to charity.

Honestly, you have done your job.

Another satisfied customer. :cool:

but thats not funny.:rolleyes:

Oh yes it is.
Especially funny how the staff reacts.

You don't have to be serious personally, you just have to see how they react. Especially if they don't react in a kind and respectful manner, like they're supposed to.

Venti Quinti Soy Caramel Macchiato. (if I misspelled it I don't care)

I have one about once a month when my friend is in town (not talking about my menstrual my actual friend travels through once a month)

I also buy the coffee beans at the store when we have overnight guests.

I also buy a cup every Sunday for $2 the proceeds going to charity.

*tackles*

I meesed you.

...what?

Venti Quinti Soy Caramel Macchiato. (if I misspelled it I don't care)

I have one about once a month when my friend is in town (not talking about my menstrual my actual friend travels through once a month)

I also buy the coffee beans at the store when we have overnight guests.

I also buy a cup every Sunday for $2 the proceeds going to charity.

My mom always asks for a Tall, Double Shot, Non-fat, no foam, 1 Splenda latte. I always say that sounds like a friggin´ tongue-twister!

Venti Quinti Soy Caramel Macchiato. (if I misspelled it I don't care)

I have one about once a month when my friend is in town (not talking about my menstrual my actual friend travels through once a month)

I also buy the coffee beans at the store when we have overnight guests.

I also buy a cup every Sunday for $2 the proceeds going to charity.

*hug* Where ya been?

When you get to eat and drink Starbucks' products for free, something in you disappears. My brother owns one (Starbucks) and for sentiment reasons, we usually visit Tim Hortons to have pleasant chats.

My mom always asks for a Tall, Double Shot, Non-fat, no foam, 1 Splenda latte. I always say that sounds like a friggin´ tongue-twister!
Could be worse, I sometimes order a Venti Chai Tea Latte Hot with two mocha shots. The problem comes in trying to say this in katakana in a nation where most people do NOT deviate from the set menu, so I tend to confuse the hell out of the poor Japanese person working the register here.

My mom always asks for a Tall, Double Shot, Non-fat, no foam, 1 Splenda latte. I always say that sounds like a friggin´ tongue-twister!

I like chocolate flavored coffee.:)

When you get to eat and drink Starbucks' products for free, something in you disappears. My brother owns one (Starbucks) and for sentiment reasons, we usually visit Tim Hortons to have pleasant chats.

Their bagles with cream cheese are awesome!

Could be worse, I sometimes order a Venti Chai Tea Latte Hot with two mocha shots. The problem comes in trying to say this in katakana in a nation where most people do NOT deviate from the set menu, so I tend to confuse the hell out of the poor Japanese person working the register here.

LOL! I bet. I bet the Japanese person stares at you like you´re from outer space or something.

I like chocolate flavored coffee.:)

I do like the smell of coffee in the morning.

I do like the smell of coffee in the morning.

I prefer the smell of napalm

I prefer the smell of napalm

For me, a morning without the smell of coffee it just isn´t morning.
*sighs happily*

Consumer Reports reported that Starbucks coffee was inferior to McDonalds. I believe this is true.
I'm not much of a coffee drinker anyway, and rarely buy it from Starbucks or any other venue.

Consumer Reports reported that Starbucks coffee was inferior to McDonalds. I believe this is true.
I'm not much of a coffee drinker anyway, and rarely buy it from Starbucks or any other venue.

Considering how crappy McDonalds coffee is, that's sad.

Another reason why Tim Hortons is the COFFEE SHOP GOD.

Consumer Reports reported that Starbucks coffee was inferior to McDonalds. I believe this is true.
I'm not much of a coffee drinker anyway, and rarely buy it from Starbucks or any other venue.

I´ve been told McDonald´s coffee tastes like piss. Well, it´s American coffee, Americans know nothing about coffee. That´s why it tastes so bad...

LOL! I bet. I bet the Japanese person stares at you like you´re from outer space or something.
Usually. It sometimes takes me a few minutes to get the order right.

Of course I have become so well known at my local Starbucks that I have walked up to the counter and before opening up my mouth the counter person says, "Benchi chai ratte hato futatsu moka shato ne?"

Which just tells me I've been going to Starbucks a bit too much. ^_^;;

Usually. It sometimes takes me a few minutes to get the order right.

Of course I have become so well known at my local Starbucks that I have walked up to the counter and before opening up my mouth the counter person says, "Benchi chai ratte hato futatsu moka shato ne?"

Which just tells me I've been going to Starbucks a bit too much. ^_^;;

Apparently so. =^3^=

Usually. It sometimes takes me a few minutes to get the order right.

Of course I have become so well known at my local Starbucks that I have walked up to the counter and before opening up my mouth the counter person says, "Benchi chai ratte hato futatsu moka shato ne?"

Which just tells me I've been going to Starbucks a bit too much. ^_^;;

ne...(^_^)

Usually. It sometimes takes me a few minutes to get the order right.

Of course I have become so well known at my local Starbucks that I have walked up to the counter and before opening up my mouth the counter person says, "Benchi chai ratte hato futatsu moka shato ne?"

Which just tells me I've been going to Starbucks a bit too much. ^_^;;

The dunkin donuts I go to has our coffees lined up before we even get there. We actually got questioned when we missed a day on Monday.

The dunkin donuts I go to has our coffees lined up before we even get there. We actually got questioned when we missed a day on Monday.

That´s what I call VIP service. Nice!:D

Oh yes it is.
Especially funny how the staff reacts.

You don't have to be serious personally, you just have to see how they react. Especially if they don't react in a kind and respectful manner, like they're supposed to.

Are you telling me that I get to report them to the Better Business Bureau for being rude to me for ordering infant's blood?

Are you telling me that I get to report them to the Better Business Bureau for being rude to me for ordering infant's blood?

They shouldn't be rude, but instead try and offer you something more sane. As long as you are calm and polite about it. If you're being disruptive, they can kick you out. So I'd say you could. It's not what you order, its their service. If they don't offer it (Legally or otherwise) then all they can do is inform you of that. If you act oout on that then they can throw you out, but as long as you keep civil, you're fine.

Now I wouldn't bother personally. I'd just do it for the fun factor of watching them freak out. And if they don't, well they might just gain my real buisness then.

I hate coffee, it tastes revolting. I use coke for my caffeine needs.

I hate coffee, it tastes revolting. I use coke for my caffeine needs.

It was insufficient for my caffeine needs ...

And when I was working overnights and doubles (or more) coffee be free ...

Now I love the stuff

Though when it warms up I am not much of a hot drink fan at that point and will probably switch back to something else ... not working that many hours anymore I no longer need it and at work everything is free ...

YAY!

As to the topic I never had any AT the store ... I have had some of the gold cost blend packaged coffee here at home and enjoyed it.

My favorite is freshly ground Columbian Supremo From Trader Joe's hard to beat

Does blood make you shit caffeine?

*runs*I don't know, I'm a vegetarian.
Swallow a lot of gauze. *nod*I'll try that next time, but I somehow suspect that strategy may backfire.

The only thing I'll purchase from Starbucks is their chocolate-covered coffee beans.

Delicious, and addictive!

Well, I'm a shift supervisor for Starbucks. I drink a fair bit. Granted, I only drink decaf, as caffeine is a medical concern for me, and more often than not, I go for the non-coffee drinks (shaken ice tea lemonades, for example).

People who say that McDonald's coffee is superior to Starbucks' make me twitch.

Never had a cup, honestly.

I'm more of a tea/free coffee (mostly free coffee) drinker. I've had Dunkin' Donuts coffee, which I don't really remember. I always figured Starbucks had the same stuff.

Starbuck's is fine if you buy the beans and brew it yourself. The in-store coffee is too strong (and I like my coffee strong) and overbrewed - bitter, thick and nasty.

The best coffee from a chain is, in my opinion, Seattle's Finest Henry's Blend. If I can afford really good coffee, I get fair trade organic beans from a little organic food co-op in town.

They shouldn't be rude, but instead try and offer you something more sane. As long as you are calm and polite about it. If you're being disruptive, they can kick you out. So I'd say you could. It's not what you order, its their service. If they don't offer it (Legally or otherwise) then all they can do is inform you of that. If you act oout on that then they can throw you out, but as long as you keep civil, you're fine.

Now I wouldn't bother personally. I'd just do it for the fun factor of watching them freak out. And if they don't, well they might just gain my real buisness then.

Of course I'd be calm, but don't you see? They'd get in trouble for reacting like a normal person would react to a person trying to order heated infant's blood in a mug to drink.

...I think I have an addiction to irony. I need help.

People who say that McDonald's coffee is superior to Starbucks' make me twitch.

Why? Starbucks coffee tastes like shit. Their frappuccinos are good, but their actual coffee tastes like burnt mud.

Of course I'd be calm, but don't you see? They'd get in trouble for reacting like a normal person would react to a person trying to order heated infant's blood in a mug to drink.

...I think I have an addiction to irony. I need help.

Yes! They'd get in trouble if they didn't treat you nice.
They'd get made fun of if they didn't treat you like a weirdo.

It's totally lose-lose for them!

my wife subscribes to gaviglia. i guess because we needed a new coffee machine and the sent us one as a perc for noobs.

locally, of the 'coffee and' franchise joints, we usually go to labou.

what i really prefer is the fair trade organic at the flour garden bakery. but that's up in auburn, the nearest of the two. their main location is even further, up in grass valley/nevada city area somewhere.

i've heard about star*ucks union bashing of the wobblies somewhere so i don't favor them. since its my wife's money i usually don't get to vote with it. if i did i'd buy nothing but fair trade. anyway we make brew our own most of the coffee we drink (and she drinks most of it, i can live with or without it just as well either way)

coffee is just not something we usually, or even hardly ever go out just for.

so the question is almost moot.

star*ucks is on my list of places i prefer not to support. but not that i'd do anything too drastic to avoid.

i mean, we've got a freezer full of whole bean, our own heavy duty coffee machine, plus one of those little espresso machines too.

so we can and DO make as good and better coffee and espresso drinks at home as we could get anywhere for the rediculous amounts most places, star*ucks included, charge for them.

=^^=
.../\...

Starbucks is overrated and overpriced.

Starbucks is overrated and overpriced.

QFT.

Yeah, thats right, I wanna know what you think about Starbuck's. They just built a new one about 3 miles from where I live. I like Starbuck's. I don't drink straight coffee but I like their chocolate flavored drinks. My only problem with Starbuck's is their prices. I can buy 2 boxes of Raman noodles for the price of a Venti Cappuccino. Plus the local coffee shop sells drinks for less money and I can't tell a difference. What do ya'll think?
I'm wondering where the option for people who don't drink coffee in the first place is.

Venti iced Americano, baby.

I'm wondering where the option for people who don't drink coffee in the first place is.

Option 9 from outer space? :p

Option 9 from outer space? :pThat's what I went with, but that would also include people who only buy the coffee to pour it out in other people's laps =/

That's what I went with, but that would also include people who only buy the coffee to pour it out in other people's laps =/

LOL! :D

I don't like coffee. The only hot drink I have is either Karkedeh (Arabic herbiscus tea) or hot chocolate. I do like their ice blended drinks though, but their prices are extortionate, even by British standards.

I don't particularly like coffee but if I did, I wouldn't go to Starbucks. I'd just feel immoral.

Starbucks coffee is shit.

Caribou Coffee FTW!
Hell yeah. It's like five times stronger. If I'm paying $4 for a cup of coffee then it better be strong enough to leave me twitching like I'm on a meth bender.

About once a month I order an Americano. Its good and strong. I also get the ground columbian from the supermarket. Starbucks makes good coffee, just too expensive for daily trips. Much cheaper just to make your own.

I don't drink coffee, and I'm not paying those prices for the terrible teabag stuff they offer.

I go at least once whenever I'm in Hong Kong for a 'taste of home.'

Starbucks does lots for their employees, giving full healthcare for full time workers among other benefits. They are almost a philanthropist organization to Americans.

As a Mormon, I have no personal experience with Starbucks coffee, but their hot chocolate is excellent...


...if overpriced.

As a Mormon, I have no personal experience with Starbucks coffee, but their hot chocolate is excellent...


...if overpriced.

Are Mormons not allowed to drink coffee?

As a Mormon, I have no personal experience with Starbucks coffee, but their hot chocolate is excellent...


...if overpriced.

I tried their hot chocolate. Blegh. That's just my opinion, anyway.

Starbucks coffee is shit.

Caribou Coffee FTW!

I discovered Caribou in a Hornbacher's Supermarket in Fargo. Love the stuff. If you're ever in Louisiana, check out Community Coffee (http://www.communitycoffee.com/ccc/default.aspx). Excellent stuff from Acadiana.

This better be funnier then that Denis Leary bit. That guy is not cool.

Seriously? Well, it takes all kinds.

With a serious face, ask for steaming hot infant's blood with a hint of low fat cream and a small spoon of brown sugar.

See where that gets you.

Now THAT's a funny idea. Straight-faced, and then a hint of disappointment if they say "we don't have that", and immediately ask for something plain on the menu.

but thats not funny.:rolleyes:

Oh, come on. What are you, comedically challenged? :p

As for coffee, I've never developed a taste for warm beverages beyond tomato soup or broth consumed in that fashion. I do occasionally need a caffeine boost, however, so no matter what the weather, if I need coffee, I have a nonfat iced mocha, no whip. It's the whipped cream that confuses me. I've seen people order sugar-free, nonfat drinks and then add the whipped cream. *shakes head vigorously* huh?

I like the bitter, earthy flavor of the espresso combined with the sweetness of chocolate. Mmmm. We have a local place, but their shop, while superior, is inconveniently located and they don't do iced drinks well.

Are Mormons not allowed to drink coffee?

Right. No coffee, certain types of tea, cigarettes, illegal drugs.

Starbucks is icky. All hail Tim Hortons! Don't worry Merkins...we'll conquer you soon.

Starbucks is icky. All hail Tim Hortons! Don't worry Merkins...we'll conquer you soon.

Some states have Tim Hortons. Not Minnesota, unfortunately. I've never been to TH, but would love to try it.

Some states have Tim Hortons. Not Minnesota, unfortunately. I've never been to TH, but would love to try it.

It's our national obsession.

It will become yours.

http://euroross.blogspot.com/Tim%20Hortons%20Big%20Cup.jpg

Some states have Tim Hortons. Not Minnesota, unfortunately. I've never been to TH, but would love to try it.

Meh. TH used have good doughnuts, but they are mediocre at best now. Never tried their coffee. You should hit one, but don't go out of your way.

Starbucks is icky. All hail Tim Hortons! Don't worry Merkins...we'll conquer you soon.

Well, they are different types of places. Starbuck's doesn't serve sawdust-flavored doughnuts...or have full-service diners.

I refuse to even go into Starbucks. Same with McDonalds and a few other places. :p

Their regular coffee blends suck. They taste earthy and sometimes even bitter. Now their caramel machiotto is a different story. So, no on the coffee thing, but yes on the fraps and lattes

Starbucks does lots for their employees, giving full healthcare for full time workers among other benefits. They are almost a philanthropist organization to Americans.

I heard this from my barrista, she says she makes less per hour but gets so many benefits it works out the same and her kid gets medical.

i like starbucks. when im drinking coffee i tend to drop by starbucks when im in albuquerque. we have a local restaurant that sells starbucks but they must not have been paying attention in barrista school becuase the local stuff sucks.

we have a couple other local espresso places but they are too poorly run to bother with.

Well, they are different types of places. Starbuck's doesn't serve sawdust-flavored doughnuts...or have full-service diners.

You take that back! *prepares to scratch out your eyes*

Tim Hortons coffee is hands down the best coffee in existence, and their donuts kick any Merkin donuts asses! If donuts had asses. Which might be the whole purpose of having holes in them, maybe we're just eating the ring around their asses? That's disturbing. But not nearly as disturbing as your blasphemous words! *hisses*

No, to be serious though, I'm not a coffee snob, just like I'm not a wine snob or a food snob. When something tastes good, I like it...I don't just like it because it is a specific brand, or what have you. That's just idiocy. Why eat or drink something that makes your tongue curl in a bad way just out of brand loyalty or some other misguided reason (like trying to impress people with your 2001 Australian Zinfadel that tastes like balsamic vinegar).

But, Tim Hortons has consistantly good coffee (to my taste). As does McDonald's, disgustingly enough. Starbucks, however...is another matter. I don't know what it is, but I cannot stand their coffee. It's as bad as the coffee served by a very nice man in the law school, and...even though he is a nice man and I'd like to support his small business, I just can't choke down that tar he calls coffee. If I can't even support this nice man, why on earth would I support a big chain company with equally shitty coffee?

What go to Starbucks when I can go to a good quality tea shop

Their Iced Chai Tea Latte, with soy milk is tha bomb!

How do you milk a soybean? That must take hours because those have got to be some tiny little nipples.

As far as the whole Starbucks/Tim Hortons/McDonalds/Caribou debate goes, it's my opinon that coffee is pretty much coffee wherever you get it from. It's like a burger, it's so basic it's pretty hard to fuck up.

I'll tell you what I don't like is the stupid pretend Italian they use. It's a 'Large.' I know it, you know it, and the Aemrican people know it. I'm not going to call it a 'Venti' just so you can call yourself a 'barista' and feel better about your Art History degree.

If and only if a fair trade certified coffee is brewing.

The only Starbucks I know of that has a fair trade coffee always on brew is the one on my university campus; this one shop does so in order to please the various student, labor, and other social organizations that protested its moving in. I don't normally go there anyway because it is understaffed (long lines) and overpriced. I buy fair trade beans and make coffee at home.

Hurray for Fair Trade!

There's a local chain where I live, Bridgehead, that serves only fair trade certified, organic coffee. I'd rather walk two kilometers through a hailstorm for Bridgehead than have Starbucks delivered to me.

As far as the whole Starbucks/Tim Hortons/McDonalds/Caribou debate goes, it's my opinon that coffee is pretty much coffee wherever you get it from. It's like a burger, it's so basic it's pretty hard to fuck up.

I wish that were so, I really do...because then I could just buy a coffee anywhere an not worry that it's going to dissolve my insides.

I'll tell you what I don't like is the stupid pretend Italian they use. It's a 'Large.' I know it, you know it, and the Aemrican people know it. I'm not going to call it a 'Venti' just so you can call yourself a 'barista' and feel better about your Art History degree.

i always ask for a large. sometimes they look at me as if they dont know what the word means. i just repeat it.

i always ask for a large. sometimes they look at me as if they dont know what the word means. i just repeat it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLs9RI8mSA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLs9RI8mSA

lol

im old they dont dare pull that shit with me. (they know im too old to understand)

lol

im old they dont dare pull that shit with me. (they know im too old to understand)

;) I thought you would enjoy it.

I made the guy who is fixing my door coffee, he was like "wow! you make awesome coffee" and I was like "yeah, I grind the beans and put them in the metal filter thing and put water in and then it's done" he replied "makes you wonder why Starbucks is so expensive"

:p

I'm pretty sure it's because all of the health insurance and crap they give the employees.

I tend to go to independent or smaller chain ones, partly because of price and a decision not to support large chains like Starbucks or McDonald's, but mostly because of the atmosphere and, in general, better taste.

I wish that were so, I really do...because then I could just buy a coffee anywhere an not worry that it's going to dissolve my insides.

I've got an iron stomach. Maybe it's just that I've spent too many years buying coffee from The Waffle House(one of the greatest restaurants ever)and gas stations to appreciate fine coffee when I get it.

i always ask for a large. sometimes they look at me as if they dont know what the word means. i just repeat it.

Yeah, don't get me started on the pretentious fucks that too many coffee places hire by the gross, apparently. There's one Starbucks here that I've been told not to come back to because of my low tolerance for pretentious fuck-ery.

I don't drink coffee.

If and only if a fair trade certified coffee is brewing.
Fair Trade coffee drives up coffee prices by producing coffee less efficiently.
Their Iced Chai Tea Latte, with soy milk is tha bomb!
I get a hot version of that every morning. But I currently live in the city with the highest density of Starbucks in the world.
I used to drink their Tazo Chai Latte, but realized you can get the container of the liquid at the supermarket for the price of one cup, but make yourself a dozen. Now I make it at home.
Except, the one you buy at the store is pre-diluted. At Starbucks they use a syrup they dilute with hot water and then add your milk. But I order it without the water, so I get a creamier drink, but I can't reproduce that with the store-bought chai.

Fair Trade coffee drives up coffee prices by producing coffee less efficiently. And more ethically. Efficiency is not everything, and frankly, some people are more than willing to pay more for ethics. Woohoo for the market, no?

Fair Trade coffee drives up coffee prices by producing coffee less efficiently.



I don't really consider soil-depleting, water-contaminating, sun-cultivated coffee plantations "efficient". If a more expensive product will lead to more sustainable agricultural practises, it's a price I'm willing to pay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLs9RI8mSA

I art amused.

Fair Trade coffee drives up coffee prices by producing coffee less efficiently.


It drives up the cost of fair trade coffee, anyway, which is kind of the idea. I'm willing to pay the extra price if it means that coffee farmers earn more money and are treated more decently.

If other people are unwilling to pay the price, then they don't have to. This is the beauty of market-based solutions to social problems. The price isn't being driven up; I'm simply buying more for my money: the satisfaction that I'm helping poor producers lift themselves out of poverty and become self-sufficient.

Concerning the economics of Fair Trade, from the TransFAIR FAQ (link at end):


Does paying farmers a fair price encourage overproduction and create an oversupply problem?

While in theory, higher Fair Trade prices might incent farmers to increase production, in practice we have often seen the opposite. Fair Trade farmers invest Fair Trade revenues into improving their homes, sending their children to school, and on farming methods and equipment that improve crop quality -- rather than on increasing production. In fact, any Fair Trade farmer groups have successfully implemented crop diversification and income generation projects in order to reduce their dependence on a single crop as their primary source of income. Fair Trade revenues provide a safety net that allows farmers to explore alternative income generation projects such as beekeeping, ecotourism, and handicraft production.

Another reason Fair Trade does not lead to overproduction is that most Fair Trade farmer groups are currently only able to sell a fraction of their production on Fair Trade terms; they must sell the rest to conventional buyers and local traders at lower prices. In other words, most Fair Trade farmers have no incentive to increase production only to sell the majority of their harvest at low prices. As demand for Fair Trade grows, certified farmer groups will be able to sell a larger share of their production on Fair Trade terms and extend the benefits of Fair Trade to a greater number of farmers.

Nor is there any evidence that Fair Trade prices have any effect on world prices or depress prices for non-Fair Trade farmers. In fact, studies show that when Fair Trade markets are operating in rural areas, prices paid to non-Fair Trade farmers actually increase. This is because Fair Trade makes accurate market information more widely available to previously isolated farmers, and forces local intermediaries to compete with prices paid to farmers by Fair Trade cooperatives.

Fair Trade addresses the problem of asymmetric market information that renders classical "free trade" a fiction. Commodity prices can fluctuate wildly, and isolated, poor growers are often unable to take advantage of the sophisticated financial instruments employed by buyers to lower risk and volatility. The Fair Trade floor price gives farmers market information, financial stability, and access to credit.

Perhaps most importantly, Fair Trade is a voluntary, market-based model of trade: farmers only receive Fair Trade minimum prices and premiums if they have a buyer willing to pay them. Unlike government mandated pricing or subsidies, any producer, company or consumer can opt in or out of Fair Trade. The Fair Trade system enables companies to take advantage of growing consumer demand for sustainable products; that's why over 600 U.S. companies have chosen to participate in the Fair Trade certification system, helping to make Fair Trade the fastest growing segment of the 11 billion dollar specialty coffee industry.


http://transfairusa.org/content/resources/faq-advanced.php#oversupply

Starbucks is icky. All hail Tim Hortons! Don't worry Merkins...we'll conquer you soon.

There's one in PA, but it's in Erie, and that's too far.

I don't think Starbucks sucks, but I do think their coffee might be a bit strong for most people. I love really strong black coffee, so Starbucks kicks ass in my eyes.

Woohoo for the market, no?

It's not a "market" if we aren't ripping each other's guts out with bare teeth. It's that "civilization" thing again.

Or so I'm told.

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkg0WLj7TJ8

There ya go. :)
I think he's had a bit too much coffee, but not a bad performance. could do with more variety in types of joke.

Yeah, thats right, I wanna know what you think about Starbuck's. They just built a new one about 3 miles from where I live. I like Starbuck's. I don't drink straight coffee but I like their chocolate flavored drinks. My only problem with Starbuck's is their prices. I can buy 2 boxes of Raman noodles for the price of a Venti Cappuccino. Plus the local coffee shop sells drinks for less money and I can't tell a difference. What do ya'll think?
I don't drink coffee, although i can drink it i don't really like it.

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07AKNQUywLw

I like this one, a starbucks opposite a starbucks now that's corporate market management.:)
I know of other types of shop that also have multiple stores next to each other, (in my little town there were about 3 all the same within ohhh 1000metre's of each other) i think it's to do with it being cheaper to buy out competition, but it shouldn't really happen.

I've got an iron stomach. Maybe it's just that I've spent too many years buying coffee from The Waffle House(one of the greatest restaurants ever)and gas stations to appreciate fine coffee when I get it.



Yeah, don't get me started on the pretentious fucks that too many coffee places hire by the gross, apparently. There's one Starbucks here that I've been told not to come back to because of my low tolerance for pretentious fuck-ery.

lol. banned from starbucks for refusing to call it a venti?

Poll Phails.

I don't drink coffee.

Poll Phails.

I don't drink coffee.

Poi consumers can voat 9. -_-

I guess you could call me a social Starbucks drinker-if my friends want to go in after a movie or something that's fine, but I don't go out of my way to go there. Hot coffee isn't really my thing, and iced I can make at home, but I haven't figured out how to replicate the Iced Chai Latte, my usual drink.

I guess you could call me a social Starbucks drinker-if my friends want to go in after a movie or something that's fine, but I don't go out of my way to go there. Hot coffee isn't really my thing, and iced I can make at home, but I haven't figured out how to replicate the Iced Chai Latte, my usual drink.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000T3KTJA/ref=cm_rdp_product

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/3/36/Tim_hortons_logo_original.gif

lol. banned from starbucks for refusing to call it a venti?

Well, that's at the root of it, but it was more a 'the coffee boy had a snotty attitude and insisted it was a 'venti' and not a 'large' to the point where I yelled at him to just give me the damn coffee and then the manager got involved and gave me free coffee and told me not to come back.' I may have questioned his masculinity/sexuality at one point also.

Well, that's at the root of it, but it was more a 'the coffee boy had a snotty attitude and insisted it was a 'venti' and not a 'large' to the point where I yelled at him to just give me the damn coffee and then the manager got involved and gave me free coffee and told me not to come back.' I may have questioned his masculinity/sexuality at one point also.

thats pretty much how i pictured it in my mind.

some people take fancy coffee jargon way too seriously.

wait a minute.


Starbucks is for DRINKING?

And NOT for degreasing auto parts?

Or can you do both with it?

I think I might have had something dreadfully confused.

Well, that's at the root of it, but it was more a 'the coffee boy had a snotty attitude and insisted it was a 'venti' and not a 'large' to the point where I yelled at him to just give me the damn coffee and then the manager got involved and gave me free coffee and told me not to come back.' I may have questioned his masculinity/sexuality at one point also.
I approve.
thats pretty much how i pictured it in my mind.

some people take fancy coffee jargon way too seriously.

My first few times at Starbuck's went something like this:
Me: Uh..
Employee: Yes?
Me: I'll take the biggest size of that coffee, with ice.
Employee: You mean a venti?
Me: I don't know, is that big?
Employee: *point to cup*
Me: Yeah, sure.
Employee: That's a venti.
Me: Ok, I'll have a lar.. er, venti iced..
Employee: That'll be your first born, please.
Me: *signs away first born*
Employee: *hands me receipt*
Me: Uh..
Employee: Next!
Me: *looks around confused as I slowly walk away from register*

If you didn't know, it's kind of embarrassing when you accidentally take someone else's coffee because you have no idea what your's is supposed to look like. I think I've done that twice.

wait a minute.


Starbucks is for DRINKING?

And NOT for degreasing auto parts?

Or can you do both with it?

I think I might have had something dreadfully confused.

I'm sure it's efficient either way.

I'm sure it's efficient either way.

Shumpdewump.

And more ethically. Efficiency is not everything, and frankly, some people are more than willing to pay more for ethics. Woohoo for the market, no?
I don't really consider soil-depleting, water-contaminating, sun-cultivated coffee plantations "efficient". If a more expensive product will lead to more sustainable agricultural practises, it's a price I'm willing to pay.
But paying extra for ethics is a price not all people can afford. By producing fair trade coffee, coffee producers are reducing the world supply of coffee, and thus driving up prices. This means that poor people are now less able to afford coffee.

This is the same thing biofuel subsidies are doing to the cost of food. Farmers now sell grain to biofuel producers, thus reducing the amount available for human consumption. They also now consume more fertilizer, thus driving up the market price of things like potash (Saskatchewan's pretty happy about that).

The market forces act whether you like it or not.

If you didn't know, it's kind of embarrassing when you accidentally take someone else's coffee because you have no idea what your's is supposed to look like. I think I've done that twice.
They're supposed to call it for you. IF you didn't order the grande, half-sweet, decaf, mint mocha, then don't take it when it's called.

I approve.


My first few times at Starbuck's went something like this:
Me: Uh..
Employee: Yes?
Me: I'll take the biggest size of that coffee, with ice.
Employee: You mean a venti?
Me: I don't know, is that big?
Employee: *point to cup*
Me: Yeah, sure.
Employee: That's a venti.
Me: Ok, I'll have a lar.. er, venti iced..
Employee: That'll be your first born, please.
Me: *signs away first born*
Employee: *hands me receipt*
Me: Uh..
Employee: Next!
Me: *looks around confused as I slowly walk away from register*

If you didn't know, it's kind of embarrassing when you accidentally take someone else's coffee because you have no idea what your's is supposed to look like. I think I've done that twice.


i hate it when they dont take my name. how am i supposed to recognize the jibberish they shout out?

They're supposed to call it for you. IF you didn't order the grande, half-sweet, decaf, mint mocha, then don't take it when it's called.

"supposed to"

*nods*

I drink Tea.

thats pretty much how i pictured it in my mind.

some people take fancy coffee jargon way too seriously.

Agreed. When I'm in Starbucks with people who don't know the lingo, they invariably get a death glare for having the nerve to call a medium a medium.

Starbucks is icky. All hail Tim Hortons! Don't worry Merkins...we'll conquer you soon.

Speed it the fuck up please.


:p

Seriously? Well, it takes all kinds.


Oh, come on. What are you, comedically challenged? :p



DRINK!

I don't really consider soil-depleting, water-contaminating, sun-cultivated coffee plantations "efficient". If a more expensive product will lead to more sustainable agricultural practises, it's a price I'm willing to pay.

I just want cheap cappuccinos.

Do You Drink Starbuck's Coffee?

Nope, but then I don't drink coffee...

Starbucks tastes like pre-packaged, flavored dirt.

I can get one drink at Starbucks, the same drink at the coffee shop across from it, pour them into identical cups and be able to tell from the vile corporate taste which is which XP

Everything in there tastes like it was just unwrapped from a bunch of plastic :(

It was insufficient for my caffeine needs ...

And when I was working overnights and doubles (or more) coffee be free ...

Now I love the stuff

Though when it warms up I am not much of a hot drink fan at that point and will probably switch back to something else ... not working that many hours anymore I no longer need it and at work everything is free ...

YAY!Try cold brew coffee. It's incredibly delicious, especially when served cold. And because it's brewed cold there is absolutely no bitterness to its taste. Though it is the sort of thing you prepare in advance. Like making a huge tub of it the day before and then slowly drinking your way through it for the rest of the week.

Well, that's at the root of it, but it was more a 'the coffee boy had a snotty attitude and insisted it was a 'venti' and not a 'large' to the point where I yelled at him to just give me the damn coffee and then the manager got involved and gave me free coffee and told me not to come back.' I may have questioned his masculinity/sexuality at one point also.

You were acting like an asshole, and deserved the treatment you got.

Now before you get all defensive (you probably weren't, but just in case), I understand that the wrong barista with the wrong attitude can set off anyone not in the mood to deal with it. But think of it this way -- I'm certain that Starbucks trains their employees, for branding purposes, to insist on their terms. The employee who irritated you could just as easily have defused the situation by nodding and making your drink. Assholes, therefore, can be on both sides of any given counter. Having been on both sides of more than a few counters in my life, and having been an asshole a couple of times on both sides, I recognize that and tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the poor bastard forced to wear the green apron and logo clothing.

On to the core of this froofraw. Espresso is Italian, so they use Italian words to describe sizes. What's so wrong with that? Do you walk into (for example -- I don't care if you never walk into one) a McDonald's and insist on not calling a Big Mac by its name and expecting to get what you're trying to ask for?

Yes, I know that the name of a product and the name of a size are two different things, but it's still part of the marketing/branding process available to the free market.

And hey look! The sizes are listed in order from smallest to largest and left to right, just like if they were called small, medium and large. In addition, if orthography wasn't enough, the prices next to those names actually increase the farther to the right you read! Imagine that! It might even be safe to assume that the higher the price, the larger the drink!

Sorry, but I've got no sympathy for someone who can't take ten seconds to look at a menu and discover the obvious. Renaming small, medium and large is pretentious, but it's not as bad to me as someone who can't figure that out with all the evidence the menu itself provides.

DRINK!

Now that's comedy! :D

How do you milk a soybean? That must take hours because those have got to be some tiny little nipples.

As far as the whole Starbucks/Tim Hortons/McDonalds/Caribou debate goes, it's my opinon that coffee is pretty much coffee wherever you get it from. It's like a burger, it's so basic it's pretty hard to fuck up.

I'll tell you what I don't like is the stupid pretend Italian they use. It's a 'Large.' I know it, you know it, and the Aemrican people know it. I'm not going to call it a 'Venti' just so you can call yourself a 'barista' and feel better about your Art History degree.

Who knows how you milk a soybean... the truth is Starbucks Iced Chai tea tastes better with it.

And according to Dunkin Donuts, it´s a Dieci!!!:D

My first few times at Starbuck's went something like this:
Me: Uh..
Employee: Yes?
Me: I'll take the biggest size of that coffee, with ice.
Employee: You mean a venti?
Me: I don't know, is that big?
Employee: *point to cup*
Me: Yeah, sure.
Employee: That's a venti.
Me: Ok, I'll have a lar.. er, venti iced..
Employee: That'll be your first born, please.
Me: *signs away first born*
Employee: *hands me receipt*
Me: Uh..
Employee: Next!
Me: *looks around confused as I slowly walk away from register*

If you didn't know, it's kind of embarrassing when you accidentally take someone else's coffee because you have no idea what your's is supposed to look like. I think I've done that twice.

oh geeze, thats exactely how I feel when I go in there. And I have taken other people's coffee before too. Its so disconcerting inside Starbucks.

Nope, I can get a better tasting, cheaper coffee at the local cafe.

[Lewis Black]There's no such thing as soy milk. Why? 'Cause there's no soy titty, is there? It's not soy milk, it's soy juice -- and they knew NObody would drink soy juice.[/Lewis Black]

Starbucks tastes like pre-packaged, flavored dirt.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

It's our national obsession.

It will become yours.

http://euroross.blogspot.com/Tim%20Hortons%20Big%20Cup.jpg

I heard they put nicotine in their coffee.

Coffee tastes like burnt shit...actually it probably is burnt shit.

Black coffee tastes like burnt shit...actually it probably is burnt shit.

Fixed for accuracy.

Coffee tastes like burnt shit...actually it probably is burnt shit.

Coffee, in general, tastes like burnt shit. But this burnt shit smells good... oddly enough...

Coffee tastes like burnt shit...actually it probably is burnt shit.

Is this something about which you're an authority?

Coffee tastes like burnt shit...actually it probably is burnt shit.

Actuall, you can buy some sort of coffee where an animal has eaten the beans, then shat them back out again.



Edit: found a link (http://www.lifeaftercoffee.com/2005/09/16/the-straight-poop-on-kopi-luwak-coffee/).

But paying extra for ethics is a price not all people can afford. By producing fair trade coffee, coffee producers are reducing the world supply of coffee, and thus driving up prices. This means that poor people are now less able to afford coffee.


I'll bold it this time :D :

"...most Fair Trade farmer groups are currently only able to sell a fraction of their production on Fair Trade terms; they must sell the rest to conventional buyers and local traders at lower prices. In other words, most Fair Trade farmers have no incentive to increase production only to sell the majority of their harvest at low prices. As demand for Fair Trade grows, certified farmer groups will be able to sell a larger share of their production on Fair Trade terms and extend the benefits of Fair Trade to a greater number of farmers."

http://transfairusa.org/content/resources/faq-advanced.php#oversupply

To repeat: only a small fraction of coffee produced is actually sold on Fair Trade terms. Thus the vast majority of coffee produced is not sold on fair trade terms. Thus the vast majority of coffee is sold at the lower non-Fair Trade price. If anything, the widespread availability of cheaper non-Fair Trade coffee would compete Fair Trade out of the market, if not for the fact that there are people like me who seek to purchase the social good that Fair Trade provides.

And, of course, as Fair Trade becomes more and more popular, increased sales will bring prices down while still being able to provide the social benefits. The solution to the problem of pricey social coffee is to buy more pricey social coffee, increase Fair Trade revenues, thus allowing social benefit and profit at progressively lower prices.


The market forces act whether you like it or not.

Indeed, they do.

Actuall, you can buy some sort of coffee where an animal has eaten the beans, then shat them back out again.



Edit: found a link (http://www.lifeaftercoffee.com/2005/09/16/the-straight-poop-on-kopi-luwak-coffee/).

Costs a shitload, too.

only if it's stolen.

Costs a shitload, too.

That's actually not a crappy pun. :p

That's actually not a crappy pun. :p

Oy gevalt! I've been pun-fenced! Argh! Y'got me!

I don't know, I'm a vegetarian.
I'll try that next time, but I somehow suspect that strategy may backfire.

I suspect that the purpose of the strategy is to prevent backfiring.

Anyway, as for the topic. I don't drink coffee, only tea. Generally either typical English breakfast, or now loose leaf green tea. Combine that with generic dislike for multinational chains, and I don't go to Starbucks.

You were acting like an asshole, and deserved the treatment you got.

Now before you get all defensive (you probably weren't, but just in case), I understand that the wrong barista with the wrong attitude can set off anyone not in the mood to deal with it. But think of it this way -- I'm certain that Starbucks trains their employees, for branding purposes, to insist on their terms. The employee who irritated you could just as easily have defused the situation by nodding and making your drink. Assholes, therefore, can be on both sides of any given counter. Having been on both sides of more than a few counters in my life, and having been an asshole a couple of times on both sides, I recognize that and tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the poor bastard forced to wear the green apron and logo clothing.


I used to work at a bistro. One time my manager told me to spit in someone's soup. The guy was being a huge asshole. He made our waitress cry.

Try cold brew coffee. It's incredibly delicious, especially when served cold. And because it's brewed cold there is absolutely no bitterness to its taste. Though it is the sort of thing you prepare in advance. Like making a huge tub of it the day before and then slowly drinking your way through it for the rest of the week.

Not a big fan ... I have had some but just not my thing ... I probably switch back to soda during the summer ...

I'll bold it this time :D :

"...most Fair Trade farmer groups are currently only able to sell a fraction of their production on Fair Trade terms; they must sell the rest to conventional buyers and local traders at lower prices. In other words, most Fair Trade farmers have no incentive to increase production only to sell the majority of their harvest at low prices. As demand for Fair Trade grows, certified farmer groups will be able to sell a larger share of their production on Fair Trade terms and extend the benefits of Fair Trade to a greater number of farmers."

http://transfairusa.org/content/resources/faq-advanced.php#oversupply

To repeat: only a small fraction of coffee produced is actually sold on Fair Trade terms. Thus the vast majority of coffee produced is not sold on fair trade terms. Thus the vast majority of coffee is sold at the lower non-Fair Trade price. If anything, the widespread availability of cheaper non-Fair Trade coffee would compete Fair Trade out of the market, if not for the fact that there are people like me who seek to purchase the social good that Fair Trade provides.

And, of course, as Fair Trade becomes more and more popular, increased sales will bring prices down while still being able to provide the social benefits. The solution to the problem of pricey social coffee is to buy more pricey social coffee, increase Fair Trade revenues, thus allowing social benefit and profit at progressively lower prices.
But if they didn't produce ANY fair trade coffee, they could produce more coffee, and that would drive down the price of coffee overall. By removing some of the coffee-producing land from the regular coffee-production process, you're reducing the supply of regular coffee, and thus driving up the price.

And if you buy more fair trade coffee, economies of scale will probably bring down the price of fair trade coffee, but it will drive the proce of regular coffee even higher, until the two meet.

You're depriving poor people of coffee.

i onlydrink it if someone else buys it for me... i love the java chocolate chip and and the double chocolate coffee fraperinoes

You were acting like an asshole, and deserved the treatment you got.

But Mooooom, he started it! I usually only get defensive about things worth defending, and in the cold light of looking backwards, that's not really all that defensible. A few quibbles with your argument, though:

Espresso is Italian, so they use Italian words to describe sizes. What's so wrong with that? Do you walk into a McDonald's and insist on not calling a Big Mac by its name and expecting to get what you're trying to ask for? Yes, I know that the name of a product and the name of a size are two different things, but it's still part of the marketing/branding process available to the free market.

A) Is 'Venti' actually an Italian word, or is just a made-up word that sounds Italian?

B) You can't try and 'brand'(and the pointless 'verbing' of nouns is almost as annoying as pretend Italian) everyday words and then act pissy when people prefer actual words. The difference between 'Big Mac' or 'Whopper' or 'Coolata' and 'Venti' is that one is a trademarked product name and one is a pointless affectation. One could not go into a McDonald's or a Burger King, ask for a 'hamburger' and reasonably expect a Big Mac or a Whopper, whereas one could go into a Starbucks, ask for a 'large' and reasonably expect not to be stared at like he'd just taken a shit on the counter and be told 'It's not a large, its a Venti'

Sorry, but I've got no sympathy for someone who can't take ten seconds to look at a menu and discover the obvious. Renaming small, medium and large is pretentious, but it's not as bad to me as someone who can't figure that out with all the evidence the menu itself provides.

I do not ask for sympathy, only naked pictures of attractive brunnettes. ;) It's not so much 'can't figure out' as 'can't be arsed to play the game.'

A) Is 'Venti' actually an Italian word, or is just a made-up word that sounds Italian?

Venti is Italian for twenty. Try it at babelfish! (Or it could be Italian for "winds", but considering a hot venti-sized drink is 20 floz., I'm going to go with twenty as the translation. A cold venti-sized drink is 24 floz., probably a concession to labor. (twice the size of a grande -- easier proportions to remember when you're in a hurry and trying to make 8 frappucinos, 3 venti, 5 grande...you get the idea.)

Starbucks still has its two original sizes -- short and tall -- but short isn't listed on the menu anymore because it doesn't make financial sense to advertise it. Grande and Venti are wise concessions to American gluttony.

B) You can't try and 'brand'(and the pointless 'verbing' of nouns is almost as annoying as pretend Italian) everyday words and then act pissy when people prefer actual words. The difference between 'Big Mac' or 'Whopper' or 'Coolata' and 'Venti' is that one is a trademarked product name and one is a pointless affectation. One could not go into a McDonald's or a Burger King, ask for a 'hamburger' and reasonably expect a Big Mac or a Whopper, whereas one could go into a Starbucks, ask for a 'large' and reasonably expect not to be stared at like he'd just taken a shit on the counter and be told 'It's not a large, its a Venti'

First of all, "to brand" isn't pomo-speak; I suggest you go up to a bunch of cowhands burning symbols into the sides of cattle in order to identify them as their property and say "Hey! You're engaging in pointless 'verbing' of nouns!", 'cause I'd like to see what they'd say.

Second of all, you can brand whatever the copyright laws will let you get away with.

Lastly, the training I got at every Starbucks and every non-Starbucks coffee place and every restaurant I worked in was "if you can figure out what the customer wants, it doesn't matter what they call it." Doesn't change what I'm going to call it. I'm going to figure out what you want and then call it to the person working the bar using standard Starbucks language. And it's only the true assholes who will then take me to task for "changing their order" because they can't read the fucking menu.

I heard they put nicotine in their coffee.
I wish. I've got severe cravings after going a week and a half without tobacco (have a pretty bad chesty flu thing, thought that smoking probably wouldn't help that, so have stopped for a bit), and the Sturbucks I had on Thurs didn't help out at all.

Their regular coffee is absolute crap.

But the white mocha is addictive.

The only thing I'll purchase from Starbucks is their chocolate-covered coffee beans.

Delicious, and addictive!

You can get 'em cheaper and better elsewhere.

Of course I'd be calm, but don't you see? They'd get in trouble for reacting like a normal person would react to a person trying to order heated infant's blood in a mug to drink.

...I think I have an addiction to irony. I need help.

That would explain your blood-craving. Not enough irony -- you're anemic. ;)

How do you milk a soybean? That must take hours because those have got to be some tiny little nipples.

As far as the whole Starbucks/Tim Hortons/McDonalds/Caribou debate goes, it's my opinon that coffee is pretty much coffee wherever you get it from. It's like a burger, it's so basic it's pretty hard to fuck up.

I'll tell you what I don't like is the stupid pretend Italian they use. It's a 'Large.' I know it, you know it, and the Aemrican people know it. I'm not going to call it a 'Venti' just so you can call yourself a 'barista' and feel better about your Art History degree.

Venti is a short way of saying "20 ounce" ;)
See Foamy on "tall" being "small" ;)

;) I thought you would enjoy it.

I made the guy who is fixing my door coffee, he was like "wow! you make awesome coffee" and I was like "yeah, I grind the beans and put them in the metal filter thing and put water in and then it's done" he replied "makes you wonder why Starbucks is so expensive"

:p

I'm pretty sure it's because all of the health insurance and crap they give the employees.

ACTUALLY, having just done a speech with my kids on this (no joke!) it's because they place the shops in very expensive rental areas. Their overhead is pretty high.

I used to work at a bistro. One time my manager told me to spit in someone's soup. The guy was being a huge asshole. He made our waitress cry.

... so... did you?

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07AKNQUywLw
Not bad, but he's never seen the mystery that is "Waffle House". How can there be so many and how can they all stay in business. A Waffle House across the street from another Waffle House is nothing... It's the Waffle House at every exit on an Interstate that is truly the "End of the Universe".

Except, the one you buy at the store is pre-diluted. At Starbucks they use a syrup they dilute with hot water and then add your milk. But I order it without the water, so I get a creamier drink, but I can't reproduce that with the store-bought chai.

I asked my barista about that -- he said to get the same flavor as Starbucks use less of the liquid and more hot milk. He may have been pulling my leg, but it tastes fine to me.

That would explain your blood-craving. Not enough irony -- you're anemic. ;)

Zing!

Or you can jerry-rig the chai mix by oversteeping a chai teabag and sweetening with honey. On the plus side, no preservatives. On the minus side, no preservatives so it doesn't last in the fridge that well, it's a lot of effort to go to just for one drink.

What do the Russians call chai, I wonder? Considering that the Russian word for "tea" is "chai".

I used to work at a bistro. One time my manager told me to spit in someone's soup. The guy was being a huge asshole. He made our waitress cry.

Now call me crazy, but as a manager I'd go to the table and tell the person there, "We don't allow customers to abuse our employees. Leave now," rather than suggest to an employee that they should do something vile that could leave them getting a fine and leave the business getting a health code violation.

Or did he not want to be out the money for the food said asshole ordered?

Or you can jerry-rig the chai mix by oversteeping a chai teabag and sweetening with honey. On the plus side, no preservatives. On the minus side, no preservatives so it doesn't last in the fridge that well, it's a lot of effort to go to just for one drink.

What do the Russians call chai, I wonder? Considering that the Russian word for "tea" is "chai".

LOL, so to refer to it as chai tea is being redundant repetitive.

I like Starbucks coffee if I grind the beans and make it at home. The plain black coffee that I like is so overheated and bitter when made in the store as to be undrinkable by my mouth. It's also cheaper at home.

That said, there are lots of better coffees out there than Starbucks for better prices, and my budget says to stick with those ones if I'm allowed a coffee-plus week.

But Mooooom, he started it! I usually only get defensive about things worth defending, and in the cold light of looking backwards, that's not really all that defensible. A few quibbles with your argument, though:



A) Is 'Venti' actually an Italian word, or is just a made-up word that sounds Italian?

B) You can't try and 'brand'(and the pointless 'verbing' of nouns is almost as annoying as pretend Italian) everyday words and then act pissy when people prefer actual words. The difference between 'Big Mac' or 'Whopper' or 'Coolata' and 'Venti' is that one is a trademarked product name and one is a pointless affectation. One could not go into a McDonald's or a Burger King, ask for a 'hamburger' and reasonably expect a Big Mac or a Whopper, whereas one could go into a Starbucks, ask for a 'large' and reasonably expect not to be stared at like he'd just taken a shit on the counter and be told 'It's not a large, its a Venti'

I was gonna answer you, but TFA homered:

Venti is Italian for twenty. Try it at babelfish! (Or it could be Italian for "winds", but considering a hot venti-sized drink is 20 floz., I'm going to go with twenty as the translation. A cold venti-sized drink is 24 floz., probably a concession to labor. (twice the size of a grande -- easier proportions to remember when you're in a hurry and trying to make 8 frappucinos, 3 venti, 5 grande...you get the idea.)

Starbucks still has its two original sizes -- short and tall -- but short isn't listed on the menu anymore because it doesn't make financial sense to advertise it. Grande and Venti are wise concessions to American gluttony.

First of all, "to brand" isn't pomo-speak; I suggest you go up to a bunch of cowhands burning symbols into the sides of cattle in order to identify them as their property and say "Hey! You're engaging in pointless 'verbing' of nouns!", 'cause I'd like to see what they'd say.

Second of all, you can brand whatever the copyright laws will let you get away with.

Lastly, the training I got at every Starbucks and every non-Starbucks coffee place and every restaurant I worked in was "if you can figure out what the customer wants, it doesn't matter what they call it." Doesn't change what I'm going to call it. I'm going to figure out what you want and then call it to the person working the bar using standard Starbucks language. And it's only the true assholes who will then take me to task for "changing their order" because they can't read the fucking menu.

[Sainte Croix]I do not ask for sympathy, only naked pictures of attractive brunnettes. ;) It's not so much 'can't figure out' as 'can't be arsed to play the game.'[/QUOTE]

I applaud your preferences. Were it in my power to grant you what you ask, I would grant it to myself first, but I would then grant it to you.

"Can't be arsed" to learn two syllables that actually do a good job of describing 20 ounces of an Italian beverage in Italian. Got it.

Found this and I needed to share it with you all.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/luvmedudegirl/Funny%20comments/starbucks.jpg

Found this and I needed to share it with you all.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/luvmedudegirl/Funny%20comments/starbucks.jpg

That is gonna be one frazzled nervous system if that's all for him. What's he doing, speed-climbing Olympus Mons?

That is gonna be one frazzled nervous system if that's all for him. What's he doing, speed-climbing Olympus Mons?

Who knows wth he´ll do, but to him, he´s prepared.:D

I don't like coffee. Period.

I don't like coffee. Period.

Agreed!

Overpriced and, to be honest, not that nice.

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkg0WLj7TJ8

There ya go. :)

Ha ha! Good stuff!

Be funnier if he didn't swear so much though. The aggressive tone gets boring quickly.

Ha ha! Good stuff!

Be funnier if he didn't swear so much though. The aggressive tone gets boring quickly.

Not if you're in the right mood.

a double-double at tim hortons works for me thank you very much ;)

Yeah, thats right, I wanna know what you think about Starbuck's.

I think "Starbucks" doesn't have an apostrophe in it.

They just built a new one about 3 miles from where I live. I like Starbuck's. I don't drink straight coffee but I like their chocolate flavored drinks. My only problem with Starbuck's is their prices. I can buy 2 boxes of Raman noodles for the price of a Venti Cappuccino. Plus the local coffee shop sells drinks for less money and I can't tell a difference.

If you have a problem with somewhere's prices, don't shop there. It's that simple. I think the reason why their prices are so high is because the use 'fair trade' coffee, and they seem to pay their staff fair wages. If you can't tell the difference, don't bother paying more.

What do ya'll think?

*Cringes*


I buy Starbucks about once a week. Unfortunately, Starbucks is quite expensive, but I don't mind paying for it when I have the money because, in my opinion, their coffee tastes great. However, I tend to buy coffee on campus more often because I'm there all the time. It's slightly cheaper, and it's nice coffee, but it's nowhere near as flavoursome as Starbucks. Although, I wouldn't go so far as to say Starbucks is the best coffee shop. There are many unique coffee shops with much better coffee, and at least those coffee shops aren't multi-million-dollar companies.

I don't drink coffee. Nasty stuff.
I do buy fairtrade tea though. I'm a proper little socialist.

I don't drink coffee. Nasty stuff.
I do buy fairtrade tea though. I'm a proper little socialist.

Whoa, BK, long time no see!

Whoa, BK, long time no see! I'm loving seeing everbody. Off my meds awhile. Basically I become a veggie without them.

I'm loving seeing everbody. Off my meds awhile. Basically I become a veggie without them.

Well, if it matters, I like you on them and stirring things up around here, so, welcome back.

Well, if it matters, I like you on them and stirring things up around here, so, welcome back.Thanks. Glad somebody missed me.

Thanks. Glad somebody missed me.

You iz alive! :fluffle:

How ya been?

Venti is Italian for twenty. Try it at babelfish! (Or it could be Italian for "winds", but considering a hot venti-sized drink is 20 floz., I'm going to go with twenty as the translation.

Well..just because there's some kind of internal logic behind it doesn't mean it's not stupid. ;)

First of all, "to brand" isn't pomo-speak; I suggest you go up to a bunch of cowhands burning symbols into the sides of cattle in order to identify them as their property and say "Hey! You're engaging in pointless 'verbing' of nouns!", 'cause I'd like to see what they'd say.

Yes, but the word that describes how cowboys mark the cattle is not the same "word" that prompted my comment on pointless "verbing" of nouns. Let's try and use a little common sense, shall we?

Second of all, you can brand whatever the copyright laws will let you get away with.

I was in no doubt about their ability to do so, but rather I was commenting on the propriety of them doing so.

You iz alive! :fluffle:

How ya been?Thanks. What can I say? The Bitch is back.

I used to be really into a special drink they had a few years back called the Chantico, that was basically pure molten chocolate in a cup. It was the richest, sweetest drink I've ever tasted.


...the bastards took it off the menu :(

Thanks. What can I say? The Bitch is back.

Hehe. I'd post something more substantive, but I have to run to class

I used to be really into a special drink they had a few years back called the Chantico, that was basically pure molten chocolate in a cup. It was the richest, sweetest drink I've ever tasted.


...the bastards took it off the menu :(Sounds like evil, sinful goodness.

Yes, but the word that describes how cowboys mark the cattle is not the same "word" that prompted my comment on pointless "verbing" of nouns. Let's try and use a little common sense, shall we?

Uh..."brand" has been a verb for at least as long as there have been cowboys. That was the point. To put your mark on something: to brand it. Your denial of verbal reality only seems to compliment your shortsighted attempts at arguing just for the sake of being contrary. That's fine as far as it goes, but don't expect to be taken seriously.

Yes, but the word that describes how cowboys mark the cattle is not the same "word" that prompted my comment on pointless "verbing" of nouns.
Uh... actually, yes it is. Where did you think the verb "to brand" came from in the first place???

Aaaaand the argument about the way words are used has just extended itself past the point where I care one way or the other.

I think I'm going to just go ahead and keep ordering 'large black coffee' from whatever coffee monkey I happen to find myself in front of at the time, as it's simple and uncomplicated, and as I get older, that's what I really appreciate in life..and in coffee.

Now if I could just get them to stop asking me if I want cream after I order it black...

I prefer dunkin donuts, if you don't mind :cool:

I prefer dunkin donuts, if you don't mind :cool:

They closed all the dunkin donuts in N.Ireland a couple of years ago :(.

They closed all the dunkin donuts in N.Ireland a couple of years ago :(.

And people wonder why there's so much violence there. No donuts, no peace.

Yeah, thats right, I wanna know what you think about Starbuck's. They just built a new one about 3 miles from where I live. I like Starbuck's. I don't drink straight coffee but I like their chocolate flavored drinks. My only problem with Starbuck's is their prices. I can buy 2 boxes of Raman noodles for the price of a Venti Cappuccino. Plus the local coffee shop sells drinks for less money and I can't tell a difference. What do ya'll think?

The canteen where I work sells tea for a dollar per 16 oz cup.

I did the math. 500 teabags cost $4.00 (roughly). So I'm paying a ten thousand percent markup.

The math is easier to do with tea, but I assure you, I was getting a bargain compared to Starbucks.

And while I didn't miss the 2 dollars a day for tea I did mind getting ripped off, and I've decided that the $40 per month can be much better spend on things like home electronics, or the occasional Broadway show (though of course they'd be consolidated into fewer individual purchases).