CrescentFresh Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 What's your Maximum Starbucks Density?I'm at 76. Although it probably changes pretty regularly.Find out yours here and let us know.I wish there was a site that could give me my tasty bar snacks density.
V.H. Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 I'm in Arlington, so my score of 80 is not surprising.
laniloa Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 (edited) Woops...make that 81 Edited October 28, 2005 by laniloa
Sthitch Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 43 and I can happily say that I have never been to a single one of them.
oliveDC Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 72 for me. I'd love to see the ratio of Starbucks to non-Starbucks. I'd guess around me it's about 3:1 to 5:1. Maybe that's too optimistic...
shogun Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 75 within a five mile radius, 45 of which are within a two mile radius. There are about seven in the immediate vicinity of campus (defined as 'on campus or within a block of the perimeter')
MissCindy Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 I can top that - 14 - and I live in Baltimore City. I'm proud to say that Baltimore residents tend to fight the Starbucks invasion every step of the way. I fear that we will soon start losing the battle, though.
Tweaked Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 (edited) 59 from my lovely spot on the Hill...but I wonder how many are on the Anacostia side of the river??? opps that's right just one... Safeway-Wash DC #1445 2845 Alabama Ave SE Washington, Washington DC 20020 note: I don't live on the Anacostia side of the river, just close to the Anacostia side of the river. Edited October 28, 2005 by Tweaked
B.A.R. Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 (edited) This exercise is both fantastically amusing and pathetic all in one. 82 Surrounding my office Only 12 surrounding my house. I'm going to send Starbucks and e-mail offering them the use of my garage. 12 is waaaayyy too low. edited because my typing sucks Edited October 28, 2005 by B.A.R.
deangold Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 78 at work 9 at home (I would have never guessed it that high!
Buckinghamilton Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 (edited) 77 (from Adams Morgan) And 44 within 2 miles. Edited October 28, 2005 by Buckinghamilton
ScotteeM Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 I guess I'm out in the vast wasteland--12 stores near home and 18 near work (Merrifield). The latter includes two stores in the Pan Am shopping center at Nutley and 29--a stand-alone store and one in the Safeway several yards away. Now, if only I liked their products. They'll do if I'm desperate, but give me a good independent coffee place (and there are not too many out this way that are good), or a Caribou Coffee, and I'm set.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Using "retail store" and 2-mile radius Home 6 Office-45
bilrus Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Only 9 at home in Ashburn. 16 from work in Reston.
DanielK Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Home: 15 Work: 3 I work near UMBC campus, so it's pretty rural for a couple of miles. I'll bet if I change that 5 mile radius to 10, it'll jump to 20 or 30 stores.
hillvalley Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Within a two mile radius: -48 for work -a refreshing 9 for home Withing a five mile radius: -75 for work -70 for home
DC in DC Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 damn- this is hiliarious. 73 within 2 miles of work (downtown DC) 64 within 2 miles of home (Friendship Heights). I am not *gasp* coffee drinker (I prefer my caffeine in the diet coke form in the AM), so I only go to starbucks to get the mocha drinks. But after we bought the house, I tried to cut those out of my budget. I saw a story a few months ago on how much $$$ people spend on Starbucks per year. Crazy.
LoganCircle Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Home - 73 Work - 65 my hometown of Dublin, GA - 0 (nearest Starbucks is 49 miles away).
Heather Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 16 near home. I am one of those who likes their roast and buys beans there. I mail-ordered it for years before the opened a store here in 92. Sure wish I'd bought some stock back then too.
deangold Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 78 at work9 at home (I would have never guessed it that high! Within 5 miles for both
Banco Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 58 within 5 miles from my home near Lincoln Park. I wonder how many there were when I went to school in Seattle, back when Starbucks was just local. OK, feeling very old now...
bookluvingbabe Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 72 within five miles (Van Ness) 14 within two miles I have often thought there weren't enough because there isn't one right here at Van Ness when I want a Chantico fix. Of course, I can still fit into my jeans so being farther away from Chantico is probably a good thing.... There are 4 within 2 miles of where we are house hunting.... Jennifer
JLK Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 (edited) I'm a 73 within five miles, just like my neighbor booklovingbabe. And I second her thought because to my knowledge and based on my walking-comfort level, there's only one (and it's in Cleveland Park, about 3/4 of a mile away). I suppose I could walk to the one near Politics & Prose, but that's more than a mile. There is only one within fifty miles of my hometown which is where I often find myself wishing for one. That lone shop isn't FAR-far, but it's not convenient for dropping in either. There are some seriously bad knock-offs (and no quality local shops) in Scranton. And my mother makes really bad coffee. Edited October 28, 2005 by JLK
mdt Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 I'm a 73 within five miles, just like my neighbor booklovingbabe. And I second her thought because to my knowledge and based on my walking-comfort level, there's only one (and it's in Cleveland Park, about 3/4 of a mile away). I suppose I could walk to the one near Politics & Prose, but that's more than a mile.There is only one within fifty miles of my hometown which is where I often find myself wishing for one. That lone shop isn't FAR-far, but it's not convenient for dropping in either. There are some seriously bad knock-offs (and no quality local shops) in Scranton. And my mother makes really bad coffee. Then get yourself one of these to take with you.
Yentruoc Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Jeezus! 85 within 5 miles of home and 72 for work. That's just gross.
africanist Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Five miles from both my house and my work there are 74. Even if I take it down to 2 miles there are 48 near my work (Farragut/Dupont area) and 25 for my house (Columbia Heights). It is worth noting though that of those 25 the closest Starbucks to my house is in the Howard U Student center, which is at least a 10 block walk from my house. So the other 24 must really be on the outer limits of the 2 mile thing.
Venerable Bede Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 i have 75 within 5 miles of my work (washington circle) with the closest being in my building. 47 within 2 miles. and 59 within 5 miles of my house (cap. hill-ne). man, i think the last starbucks i've actually been in was the original one at pike place market in seattle (wife wanted to pick up some beans to take back to her mom). i hate coffee (taste and smell), so i avoid coffee places.
JeffC Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Only 22 out here in the Silver Spring boonies. Folks, this is frightening! Best coffee in DC area, IMO, can be found at the Bucks County Coffee Roasters kiosks at Union Station and in the Reagan Building. Truly outstanding beans, roasted perfectly, and not overpriced. The website coffeereview.com gives Bucks County coffees consistantly high marks, having given the Kenyan AA one of their highest marks ever--95 points--a couple years ago. Their Guatemalan Free Trade Organic is my all-time favorite bean--better than any of the more exotic Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain, etc.,--so much so that I'm willing to take the Metro to Union station every couple of weeks to pick of a pound of that and the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe--my wife's favorite. If you haven't tried their coffee, check them out.
ustreetguy Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 From home: 76 within 5 miles 44 within 2 miles From work: only 27 within 5 miles (Bethesda) 8 within 2 miles
tastedc Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 9 within 2 miles of my house/office...not ashamed to say I like Starbucks, it's one of the few chains that actually raised the level of quality/awareness of coffee, I would say much the same as Whole Foods formerly Fresh Fields did in the supermarket category...I now make most of my own coffee, but I actually like Price/Costco's offerings as well, and they're a HUGE chain!
Biotech Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 70 within 5 miles of work in Penn Quarter (work_ 16 within 5 miles of vienna (home)
perrik Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 (edited) Wow, only 9 within 5 miles of my house (northern Silver Spring), and two of those are in Safeways. A 10th is under construction in Beltsville. I've only been to Starbucks twice - once in Burtonsville and once in Vancouver (because there are 84 Starbucks within 5 miles of the Wedgewood Hotel). I'm more of a tea drinkin' gal. Edited October 29, 2005 by perrik
Sthitch Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 16 within 5 miles of vienna (home) Shockingly there are actually 6 in the city of Vienna, Austria. I cannot understand how this purveyor of burnt tasting double mocha lattes could survive in the land of fine coffee. Thankfully, there are no Starbucks in Italy.
Sthitch Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 my hometown of Dublin, GA - 0 (nearest Starbucks is 49 miles away). For me, Portage, WI, has 0 as well, the nearest is in Wisconsin Dells, the Midwest's answer to Ocean City, but with more cheese.
Free Wilma Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 South Alexandria - Mt. Vernon....... The 5 mile is 9. The 2 mile radius is ONE! However, number 2 will be opening next week.
Heather Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 Shockingly there are actually 6 in the city of Vienna, Austria. I cannot understand how this purveyor of burnt tasting double mocha lattes could survive in the land of fine coffee. I don't understand this. Their coffee does not taste burnt to me. Regular roast (not dark) all taste sour or bitter - and not bitter in a good way. I almost always order a cafe americano or a short latte, so I can't speak to their sweet offerings.
DanielK Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 I'm more of a tea drinkin' gal. As is my wife, and she loves the tea at Starbucks...
Biotech Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 Shockingly there are actually 6 in the city of Vienna, Austria. I cannot understand how this purveyor of burnt tasting double mocha lattes could survive in the land of fine coffee. Thankfully, there are no Starbucks in Italy. Vienna, VA smartass
porcupine Posted October 29, 2005 Posted October 29, 2005 home = 10 work = ZERO! honestly, there are no commercial food purveyors within five miles of where I work. I'd actually welcome a Starbucks there. And I hate Starbucks. Does anybody remember The Onion article titled "Starbucks to Open Branch in Restroom of Existing Starbucks"?
Heather Posted October 30, 2005 Posted October 30, 2005 Does anybody remember The Onion article titled "Starbucks to Open Branch in Restroom of Existing Starbucks"? We were just talking about that Onion piece today. I love the Onion.
porcupine Posted October 30, 2005 Posted October 30, 2005  We were just talking about that Onion piece today. I love the Onion. Last time I checked, I couldn't access it without paying; looks like something's changed: "New Starbucks Opens in Rest Room of Existing Starbucks": http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29030 Also, "Starbucks to Begin Sinister 'Phase Two' of Operation": http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28657 Enjoy!
crackers Posted November 23, 2005 Posted November 23, 2005 Historic Inns of Maryland wants to convert the old King of France Tavern on Church Circle in Annapolis into a Starbucks. The tavern was located in the lower level of the Maryland Inn (circa 1780s), and was a regular haunt for the late Charlie Byrd and Eva Cassidy (it was a wonderful place to enjoy her special style.) Right now there's only one Starbucks in the city - at the city dock, but there are also a Seattle's Best, and three or four independent's in the historic downtown area.
Barbara Posted November 23, 2005 Posted November 23, 2005 Historic Inns of Maryland wants to convert the old King of France Tavern on Church Circle in Annapolis into a Starbucks. Surely you jest .
DonRocks Posted November 23, 2005 Posted November 23, 2005 Surely you jest . Is this next to Treaty of Paris?
crackers Posted November 23, 2005 Posted November 23, 2005 Is this next to Treaty of Paris? The King of France Tavern was indeed next to the (truly mediocre, overpriced tourist trapped) Treaty of Paris restaurant. The tavern closed a couple of years ago and is just used for storage at the moment. A real shame too - it was a great spot for listening to live jazz - much more intimate than the Ram's Head Tavern stage. And that green Starbucks awning will be one of the first things people will see when they enter Historic Annapolis, round State Circle and head up Duke of Gloucester Street. The biggest hurdle will be the Historic Preservation pooh bahs needing to approve it at their meeting next month.
Joe Riley Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Didn't know where else to post this, but this looks intriguing: http://www.slate.com/id/2133754?nav=wp Personally, I've never liked their coffee (it's always tasted "burnt" to me, I don't know how else to describe it) but I'm sure that there are lots of folks who partake of their wares regularly. Give this a try and let us know if it works!
RaisaB Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) Didn't know where else to post this, but this looks intriguing:http://www.slate.com/id/2133754?nav=wp Personally, I've never liked their coffee (it's always tasted "burnt" to me, I don't know how else to describe it) but I'm sure that there are lots of folks who partake of their wares regularly. Give this a try and let us know if it works! Joe, I don't think anything could help their coffee. It has alwauys tasted burnt and bitter to me also. Edited January 7, 2006 by RaisaB
Sthitch Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) Not long ago I was taken to task for claiming their coffee tasted burnt. I stick to my contention, and am happy to read that Joe's taste buds are aligned with mine even if heather thinks otherwise Edited January 7, 2006 by Sthitch
Heather Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Not long ago I was taken to task for claiming their coffee tasted burnt. I stick to my contention, and am happy to read that Joe's taste buds are aligned with mine even if heather thinks otherwise I wasn't taking you to task, merely offering the opinion of a different set of taste buds.
ol_ironstomach Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) I wasn't taking you to task, merely offering the opinion of a different set of taste buds.  My problem with *$ is that it's always been overroasted, and moreover that they've done that across the board to all of their coffees. It's one thing when Peet's used to roast Sulawesi until it was dark as tar...just sniffing the beans was a one-shot caffeine hit. But murdering common French and Italian roasts is simply a coffee crime. Also, it'll be a long time before I forgive them for buying and gutting the old Coffee Connection chain in Boston. Grrr. Reducing the milk in a cappuccino isn't going to fix the roast or the shot. Drink a ristretto from Vivace in Seattle, and forever onward you'll pray that Starbucks tosses in more milk, sugar and/or ice. IMHO. Edited January 7, 2006 by ol_ironstomach
deangold Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Ahhhh 10 more days and then I will have real espresso and real cappuccino in Firenze. You can have your Charbucks all year long.... I will have my Caffe Ricchi on Santo Spirito (No relation to I Ricchi here in DC).
Barbara Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Ahhhh 10 more days and then I will have real espresso and real cappuccino in Firenze. You can have your Charbucks all year long.... I will have my Caffe Ricchi on Santo Spirito (No relation to I Ricchi here in DC). Why don't you just pour some salt in our wounds, Dean!
ScotteeM Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 I agree about the burnt taste of Starbucks' coffee. But I didn't know it was burnt until I tasted something better. The only alternative I can find out here in the Burke/Annandale/Merrifield area is Caribou Coffee, which is another chain, but better (to me) than Starbucks. I've been "burned" by some independent coffee places in Fairfax County that had very poor quality products, so where do I turn for a good latte or espresso, or just a good cup of coffee?
JeffC Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 I agree about the burnt taste of Starbucks' coffee. But I didn't know it was burnt until I tasted something better.The only alternative I can find out here in the Burke/Annandale/Merrifield area is Caribou Coffee, which is another chain, but better (to me) than Starbucks. I've been "burned" by some independent coffee places in Fairfax County that had very poor quality products, so where do I turn for a good latte or espresso, or just a good cup of coffee? I'm with you on Caribou. If I want a cup-to-go, that would be my choice. Mayorga is not bad, either...and they have free wi-fi. But for really good home-brewed coffee, I order online from Counter Culture Coffee. Their Guatemalan Antigua Finca La Tacita is one of the best coffees I've ever tasted.
deangold Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Why don't you just pour some salt in our wounds, Dean! Â Â Salt! Then I won't mention the Tripe sellers wagons (I know of 4 at least) with the stuffed tripe sandwich, dipped in juice with hot and green salsa and enough salt to supply the Dead Sea all for 4 euro. That would also be off topic too!
Capital Icebox Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) I've been "burned" by some independent coffee places in Fairfax County that had very poor quality products, so where do I turn for a good latte or espresso, or just a good cup of coffee? Have you tried Misha's in Old Town? I'm no coffee connisieur, but I've always liked their brew. The prices are low ($1.50 for a medium) and they don't do any syrup-based concoctions, just straight up espresso, coffee and lattes. They take their roasting and brewing very seriously, as you can see from their website. Majestic Cafe serves their coffee, so that should also tell you something. Edited January 7, 2006 by Capital Icebox
mdt Posted January 7, 2006 Posted January 7, 2006 Have you tried Misha's in Old Town? I'm no coffee connisieur, but I've always liked their brew. The prices are low ($1.50 for a medium) and they don't do any syrup-based concoctions, just straight up espresso, coffee and lattes. They take their roasting and brewing very seriously, as you can see from their website.Majestic Cafe serves their coffee, so that should also tell you something. I believe that Eve serves Misha's as well, and yes there is a huge difference.
ScotteeM Posted January 8, 2006 Posted January 8, 2006 I've been to Misha's, and their coffee is wonderful. Unfortunately, they're not exactly in my neighborhood--they're in Old Town, Alexandria, and I'm out in Burke. It would be nice if the popularity of Starbucks could translate into support for more independent coffee places out in the suburbs.
Sebastian Zutant Posted January 8, 2006 Posted January 8, 2006 Burn starbucks to the ground. Fascists.
Escoffier Posted January 8, 2006 Posted January 8, 2006 Not long ago I was taken to task for claiming their coffee tasted burnt. I stick to my contention, and am happy to read that Joe's taste buds are aligned with mine even if heather thinks otherwise I agree..last time I was in Seattle I went out of my way to avoid Starbucks (try that sometime)....Seattle's Best and Caribou are much better.
Escoffier Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 I believe that Eve serves Misha's as well, and yes there is a huge difference. Restaurant Eve serves coffee from a roaster in Annapolis...the website is: www.GetFreshCoffee.com and unfortunately I don't have any relationship other than drinking their coffee....I buy their French Roast for my coffee press...it's excellent!!
ScotteeM Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 Restaurant Eve serves coffee from a roaster in Annapolis...the website is: www.GetFreshCoffee.com and unfortunately I don't have any relationship other than drinking their coffee....I buy their French Roast for my coffee press...it's excellent!! Thank you for that tip--I just placed an order!
Barbara Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 I agree..last time I was in Seattle I went out of my way to avoid Starbucks (try that sometime)....Seattle's Best and Caribou are much better. I believed that Starbucks bought out Seattle's Best some time ago. I will be glad to be corrected.
DanielK Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 I believed that Starbucks bought out Seattle's Best some time ago. I will be glad to be corrected. You are correct. Happened nearly three years ago.
Giancarlo Buonarotti Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 I believed that Starbucks bought out Seattle's Best some time ago. I will be glad to be corrected. Misha's in Old Town is excellent!
Lydia R Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 Starbucks bought out Seattle's Best some time ago. I will be glad to be corrected. The SBC in the Kentlands (Gaithersburg) was pretty quickly assimilated after the 2003 purchase. I miss SBC's baristas - they seemed more skilled/artistic.I'm interested if anyone can compare the restaurant-supplying roasters mentioned upthread with Peet's (Bay Area), Green Mountain Beanery (Vermont) or Community Coffee (New Orleans). At one time or another I've ordered from each, but keep looking around. Sietsema has a Bay Area roaster favorite & I can't remember its name - whatever - has anyone tried it? In Seattle, Tully's is a good alternative. It's still a regional brand and its coffeeshops are plentiful if you want to avoid Starbucks (other than visiting store #001 in Pike Place Market - it's not too far from the original Sur la Table).
JeffC Posted January 9, 2006 Posted January 9, 2006 The SBC in the Kentlands (Gaithersburg) was pretty quickly assimilated after the 2003 purchase. I miss SBC's baristas - they seemed more skilled/artistic.I'm interested if anyone can compare the restaurant-supplying roasters mentioned upthread with Peet's (Bay Area), Green Mountain Beanery (Vermont) or Community Coffee (New Orleans). At one time or another I've ordered from each, but keep looking around. Sietsema has a Bay Area roaster favorite & I can't remember its name - whatever - has anyone tried it? In Seattle, Tully's is a good alternative. It's still a regional brand and its coffeeshops are plentiful if you want to avoid Starbucks (other than visiting store #001 in Pike Place Market - it's not too far from the original Sur la Table). I do know that Green Mountain Beanery is excellent. Peet's, IMO, has begun to go the way of Starbucks--grown a little too large and their quality, while good, is not as exceptional as it once was. There's an excellent website that rates coffees, Coffee Review. That's where I discovered the Counter Culture Coffee Roasters that I mentioned in an earlier post. Coffee Review gave their Guatemalan Antigua one of the highest ratings they've ever given to a coffee--see October reviews--so I ordered a couple bags of beans. It may be the best coffee I've ever tasted and, best of all, my wife agrees. Coffee Review does pretty detailed reviews of many coffees. The webmasters ratings read like the coffee version of the Wine Advocate, but the coffees I've ordered due to his reviews have been consistantly excellent. In addition, the reviews link to each coffee roaster's website and breaks each review down by body, aroma, flavor, degree of roast, etc. Very infomative and worth a look.
starfish Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 i am very firmly in the camp of: "starbucks is an evil life force that is teaching the world to enjoy crappy coffee; and i would have no issue if everyone of those green monuments to mediocrity as a step-up burned to the ground" that being said, due to a severe caffeine fit, immediate proximity, and extreme time pressures, i swallowed my hypocrisy and got a large iced americano from the one on spoutrun parkway this morning. the young lady behind the register, and the gentleman at the espresso machine could have taught the staff of any number of restaurants a thing or two about service. i was so impressed that after i left, i came back to compliment both of them, and get the email address of their district manager. of course i also slipped both of them my business card with an invitation to give me a call if they ever want to work in a restaurant.
Jacques Gastreaux Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 of course i also slipped both of them my business card with an invitation to give me a call if they ever want to work in a restaurant. Absolutely shameless.
JPW Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 Absolutely shameless.There is no shame in the restaurant business when it comes to finding competent staff.
LoganCircle Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 that being said, due to a severe caffeine fit, immediate proximity, and extreme time pressures, i swallowed my hypocrisy and got a large iced americano from the one on spoutrun parkway this morning. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if a large iced Americano quenched your need for caffeine, I think the effect was more psychosomatic than real. Have a look at this table from a CSPI brief on caffeine (they're the folks that told us how bad movie theater popcorn and food-court Chinese was for us). You'll see that a 16 oz. drip coffee from Starbucks has 550 mg of caffeine whereas an 8 oz. Americano has 35mg. Add two more shots to make it a Venti Americano and you're barely topping 100 mg. That's less than 80% the caffeine that is contained in an at-home-prepared, non-gourmet 8 oz. cup of joe. As a nonregular drinker of drip coffee and an occasional consumer of espresso drinks, I once drank a venti drip coffee from Starbucks (probably ~700 mg of caffeine, equivalent to taking SEVEN regular strength No-Doz or Vivarin) and felt like I'd discovered methamphetamine. I couldn't stop my knees from shaking and my hands from trembling, which made for an unpleasant afternoon in the park. That led me to the aformentione table. That stuff is like crack. But it'll make you skinny [ever notice it as an ubiquitous accessory in photos of Laura Flynn Boyle, Nicole Ritchie, the Olsen twins, etc.?]
starfish Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 Absolutely shameless. shameless, guiltless too. the way i see it i was doing them a favor. offering a rope to people drowning in the sea of corporate-crappy-coffee
ol_ironstomach Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 offering a rope to people drowning in the sea of corporate-crappy-coffee Ah, but would you leave one behind to keep cultivating new talent, or would you harvest the entire crop at once? "Always there are two, a master and an apprentice." - Yoda
DLB Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 shameless, guiltless too. the way i see it i was doing them a favor. offering a rope to people drowning in the sea of corporate-crappy-coffee I know people have issues with Starbuck, however it is a few steps up from what you use to be able to get in the states. DC really does need better local coffee shops. I was in Chicago last month, and I discovered Intelligentsia Coffee. This place was packed just like Starbucks, but it as local and had great service. One of the employees told me they only let the regular drip coffe sit for an hour or less, then it's trashed for a fresh pot. Is there a place like this in DC, that I have been missing? BTW you can order the coffee from Intelligentsia on line, it's good stuff http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/
mdt Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 I know people have issues with Starbuck, however it is a few steps up from what you use to be able to get in the states. DC really does need better local coffee shops. I was in Chicago last month, and I discovered Intelligentsia Coffee. This place was packed just like Starbucks, but it as local and had great service. One of the employees told me they only let the regular drip coffe sit for an hour or less, then it's trashed for a fresh pot. Is there a place like this in DC, that I have been missing? BTW you can order the coffee from Intelligentsia on line, it's good stuffhttp://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/ Good coffee is hard to find here. Murky Coffee and Misha's spring to mind, although Misha's is in Old Town. Granted my last cup o' regular coffee from Murky tasted exactly like $tarbucks. BTW, I really hope that they trash it much sooner than that. Doesn't $tarbucks trash the pot after 20 minutes?
cucas87 Posted June 8, 2006 Posted June 8, 2006 BTW you can order the coffee from Intelligentsia on line, it's good stuff Oh, Intelligentsia coffee, what a wonderful thing. I order the Black Cat Espresso blend and brew it at home, sometimes as regular coffee and sometimes as espresso. Amazing stuff. But there are days like today, when I need caffeine in the middle of the day to get rid of a killer headache. And in those moments, I forego the office coffee and walk to Starbucks for an iced Americano: it really hits the spot and there's enough caffeine to keep me going without making me fly. Plus, if I have time for a break, I can escape the office for a few minutes. Sometimes it's nice to be somewhere...else for a few minutes.
CrescentFresh Posted June 8, 2006 Author Posted June 8, 2006 I know people have issues with Starbuck, however it is a few steps up from what you use to be able to get in the states. Starbucks appeared at a time when everyone thought Dunkin' Donuts coffee was primo. This is in a world of Folgers and Maxwell House. The ability to order something significantly better, something that was specially sourced, something that was roasted with more care, something that was packed to retain flavor brought this country beyond the shit swill it was drinking, much like the Anchor Steams and the Sam Adams's got us (to some extent) to reach a verdict in Bud v. Miller and basically throw the both of them into the slammer. The people said, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not gonna drink this shit any more!" And they started rejecting the Folgers crystals and asked the server to secretly replace it with fresh brewed coffee. The die was cast. The demand was high. The supply was limited. And there was money to be made. Then they started multiplying faster than e. coli on a McArches burger left in a walk-in that was kept a little too warm. We met at Starbucks. Not at the same Starbucks, but two different Starbucks across the street from each other. And many other corporate and individual shops followed wanting to sink their teeth into this need for good coffee and bring home the bacon. And many of these followers started doing the job better than Starbucks. And that's when it ended. Starbucks, bless them, raised the bar for everyone in this country. I don't see how it's any different than what we all hope will happen to things like cheese, bread, meat, fish, cans of tuna and Twinkies for crissakes! I think they completely succeeded in changing Americans' taste in a food product for the better and to get people to start thinking that their food comes from places like El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Sulawesi and not just aisle 5 at Safeway and that maybe there are other things I eat and drink that can be better than what I've settled with. So, I have great appreciation for what this corporate behemoth has done. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that Starbucks is now past its prime and should report to Carousel immediately. (And enough with that fucking "venti" shit! I hate that!)
Barbara Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 (And enough with that fucking "venti" shit! I hate that!)The most I will order at Starbucks is a "small" coffee. I refuse to use their ridiculous terms. Personally, I brew my own coffee using a Faberware Percolator ( ) and, since the Fall, I order my coffee directly from Louisiana. The Safeway doesn't carry French Market Coffee with Chicory CITY ROAST. Nothing else will do.
JLK Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 I'm scared to even think of what my daily iced venti skim latte carries in terms of mg. Please, no more charts! On the independent tip, I spent the first few weeks of my commute (upper NW to Tysons) scoping out the ABS options. Yep, anything but Starbucks. Sadly, I have come up empty-handed; not even bad options to choose from, so Starbucks it is. The people who work at Starbucks on Macarthur and Arizona are quite nice and efficient. How I miss Grey Dog...that's the spot.
MBK Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 since the Fall, I order my coffee directly from Louisiana. The Safeway doesn't carry French Market Coffee with Chicory CITY ROAST. Nothing else will do. And now the truth is told. Nothing's better than real Louisiana coffee, either French Market or Cafe du Monde. Tastes like home.
LoganCircle Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 I'm scared to even think of what my daily iced venti skim latte carries in terms of mg. Please, no more charts! You're good. Each shot of espresso has approximately 35 mg of caffeine. With 2 shots in your venti, you're caffeine intake isn't much more than what's in a 12 oz. can of soda. It's the drip coffee that's jacked up off the charts. edited to reflect 2 shots in a Venti at the 'Bucks instead of 3.
ScotteeM Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 Last time I ordered a venti latte at $tarbuck$ it had 2 shots of espresso. I asked them to make it a Quad (4 shots). Granted, that was a couple of months ago. Cariobou Coffee's large latte contains 3 shots, and I usually upgrade to 4.
Michael Landrum Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 Nevertheless, I firmly believe that Starbucks is now past its prime and should report to Carousel immediately. (And enough with that fucking "venti" shit! I hate that!) Working a Logan's Run reference into a post on Starbucks...Priceless. I'm going to go dial up Farrah Fawcett on my date machine now.
Barbara Posted June 9, 2006 Posted June 9, 2006 Working a Logan's Run reference into a post on Starbucks...Priceless.I'm going to go dial up Farrah Fawcett on my date machine now. Um, Michael, I hate to tell you this but she is older than I am.
Buckinghamilton Posted June 12, 2006 Posted June 12, 2006 There's an excellent website that rates coffees, Coffee Review. That's where I discovered the Counter Culture Coffee Roasters that I mentioned in an earlier post. Coffee Review gave their Guatemalan Antigua one of the highest ratings they've ever given to a coffee--see October reviews--so I ordered a couple bags of beans. It may be the best coffee I've ever tasted and, best of all, my wife agrees. Tryst and The Diner (and Open City?) now use Counter Culture.
Heather Posted April 12, 2007 Posted April 12, 2007 A Washington Post article today about attempts to unionize Starbucks, supposedly one of the "top employers to work for."
DanielK Posted April 12, 2007 Posted April 12, 2007 A Washington Post article today about attempts to unionize Starbucks, supposedly one of the "top employers to work for." I was sort of puzzled about what the guy's chief complaints were about Starbucks. The only one that came through loud and clear was that scheduling wasn't consistent. Excuse me? I worked a hundred different retail and restaurant jobs through high school and college, and the only constant is that you were always upset about your hours. Put in your request, hope for the best, and swap shifts with your buddy when it doesn't work out. Nature of the biz, kid.
xcanuck Posted April 12, 2007 Posted April 12, 2007 I was sort of puzzled about what the guy's chief complaints were about Starbucks. The only one that came through loud and clear was that scheduling wasn't consistent.He sounds like a whiny little s**t. You work at Starbucks. It's only a step up from McDonald's. Be thankful you're pushing relatively decent coffee in a clean, comfortable setting. I'd love to see this little turd spend one day as a dishwasher at someplace like TGIFridays. This is the kind of dingdong that gives the rest of us socialists a bad name!!
jpschust Posted April 12, 2007 Posted April 12, 2007 He sounds like a whiny little s**t. You work at Starbucks. It's only a step up from McDonald's. Be thankful you're pushing relatively decent coffee in a clean, comfortable setting. I'd love to see this little turd spend one day as a dishwasher at someplace like TGIFridays. This is the kind of dingdong that gives the rest of us socialists a bad name!!No kidding. And full health benefits? Come now.
Al Dente Posted April 12, 2007 Posted April 12, 2007 I'm not going to voice any opinion on the unionization situation. I just wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate that Starbucks sucks ass.
nick Posted April 13, 2007 Posted April 13, 2007 I'm not going to voice any opinion on the unionization situation. I just wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate that Starbucks sucks ass. As a matter of aesthetics or taste, everyone's certainly entitled to their opinion. I've always thought the vim and vigor of the "anti-Starbucks" sentiment out there a bit disproportionate in general. I interviewed (on my coffee-industry podcast) a guy who's writing a book about Starbucks, and his theory is that people are (whether they know it or not) offended the fact that Starbucks offers things like "community" and "connections with people..." things that can't be packaged or mass-marketed. I didn't completely agree, but it's an interesting thought. In general, Starbucks is clearly attacked beyond what they're guilty of. They are what they are. The fact is, quality-wise, they do a consistently better job with coffee than the vast majority of independent (and smaller-chain) coffeeshops out there.
DonRocks Posted April 13, 2007 Posted April 13, 2007 In general, Starbucks is clearly attacked beyond what they're guilty of. They are what they are. The fact is, quality-wise, they do a consistently better job with coffee than the vast majority of independent (and smaller-chain) coffeeshops out there. Thanks, Nick. Appreciate the input. Everytime I walk into Starbucks I begin wretching from the smell. It's because of "The Oven" - that disgusting, high-speed oven they have between the cash register and the front door, the oven that heats up their gross, nasty breakfast sandwiches. Not "nasty" so much as they are maladoo. Rocks.
Waitman Posted April 13, 2007 Posted April 13, 2007 I interviewed (on my coffee-industry podcast) a guy who's writing a book about Starbucks, and his theory is that people are (whether they know it or not) offended the fact that Starbucks offers things like "community" and "connections with people..." things that can't be packaged or mass-marketed. I didn't completely agree, but it's an interesting thought. This thesis is laughable. There is nothing in Starbucks that isn't packaged and mass marketed. "Connections with people." Does that mean WiFi? Poor Starbucks, disliked for offering "community." "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." (Not that I loath the place. Not that I like it.)
DLB Posted April 13, 2007 Posted April 13, 2007 That funny, Don. I was just thinking the other day that Starbucks never smells like coffee. I usually just order regular coffee at Starbucks, which is really not all that bad. I was going to support this vendor the other day, who sells coffee near my office, that is until I saw him using Costco brand coffee.
Heather Posted April 13, 2007 Posted April 13, 2007 That funny, Don. I was just thinking the other day that Starbucks never smells like coffee. I usually just order regular coffee at Starbucks, which is really not all that bad. I was going to support this vendor the other day, who sells coffee near my office, that is until I saw him using Costco brand coffee. Costco coffee is produced by Starbucks. They're everywhere!
DLB Posted April 13, 2007 Posted April 13, 2007 Costco coffee is produced by Starbucks. They're everywhere! They ONLY produce the coffee that comes in a green package that's "fair trade". The package says "Produced by Starbucks" The coffee that this vendor was using, was the one that Costco sometimes roast on sight. Not that it's bad coffee, I was just expecting something diffrent.
bookluvingbabe Posted April 17, 2007 Posted April 17, 2007 I am generally not a huge fan of Starbucks but they are earning huge bonus points with me for the drive-thru location in the Peking Cheers strip mall. I dropped off Mr. BLB at the metro, picked up a half-caff with skim milk and sugar and never had to get the sleeping BLBaby out of his car seat. Defintely an improvement over McDonalds and Krispy Kreme coffee (both with drive thrus...) Jennifer
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now