| Author |
Message |
    
alison kosakowski
Citizen
Username: Alikoz
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 3:59 pm: |     |
It seems like there are two sorts of people in this world: those who love Starbucks, and those who loathe Starbucks. I am curious, what is it that people love? or hate? Which side of the fence are you on? Why? |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 4800
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 4:14 pm: | |
It's a $5 conference room rental for business meetings. What's not to like? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1666
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 5:43 pm: | |
Love the coffee- as a coffee lover who can't have caffeine, it fills a need. There was a good 10-year gap between the time I first gave up caffeine & the first Starbucks hit Manhattan. Oh, I tried the decaf in other coffee houses. I tried tea (which I drink when I'm in Europe). Nothing was satisfying. Until.... decaf Sumatra! Decaf iced latte! Finally, the need was satisfied. I still have to get an extra shot for the full coffee flavor I love.
Yet- I also hate Starbucks. More specifically, I hate myself for being sucked into the over-priced, addiction.
Oh well. |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 763
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 7:12 pm: | |
Give me a good ole cup of Chock Full O' Nuts. When I was in high school, their restaurants had the best soups and cheap sandwiches. Their coffee always works for me.
Keep those five dollar rumbachino mochachino frappachino thingies. |
Nohero
Citizen
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 1784
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 8:04 pm: | |
Can we be neutral? I mean, I just look for a place to get a cup of coffee, and if it's a Starbucks, then so what?
Of course, at Starbucks it usually takes a big explanation to say that I just want coffee; no milk, no cream, no sugar, no foam, no sprinkled stuff, no other extra stuff, just coffee.
That is, unless it's one where they give you an empty cup, and send you over to the "self-serve" part of the store, where you feel you've insulted them because you don't require the services of a barista ... |
Nlanzieri
Citizen
Username: Nlanzieri
Post Number: 102
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 9:13 pm: | |
Speaking of StarBucks, How about one on SA?? |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1055
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 9:54 pm: | |
I hate the whole "skinny venti" malarky. It makes no sense to me that tall = small. I buy my coffee there once in a blue moon and when I am expensing it. $3.00 for a small (tall) latte? Insanity . |
akl
Citizen
Username: Akl
Post Number: 25
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 10:18 pm: | |
I mainly go there for the beans -- particularly fond of the Kenya and Ethiopian varieties -- and grind and brew them at home.
Whether or not you're put-off by Starbucks' prices, atmosphere or pretensions, you have to admit they make great coffee. (Personally, I get annoyed by some of the barristas who think they are just too cool to work with any sense of urgency even when the line is to the door). |
Curious Onlooker
Citizen
Username: Curiousonlooker
Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - 10:47 pm: | |
I'll take a cup of Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla over a cup of anything from Starbucks anyday. I've been to several Starbucks in three different states, and have never understood the fascination with the place. |
Ed May
Citizen
Username: Edmay
Post Number: 1590
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 12:26 am: | |
The best coffee in Maplewood for my money is the Quickchek at Springfield Avenue and Boyden Avenue. (Sorry Deanne). Starbucks has a cozy atmosphere but the coffee is too expensive and gives me agida.
Ed May |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 940
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 5:21 am: | |
Starbucks sucks in my opinion. I think it's way too strong and bitter. I did try the iced coffee once and it was alot better than their hot coffee. I guess the ice waters it down some.
|
Phil
Citizen
Username: Barleyrooty
Post Number: 664
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 7:36 am: | |
I can't drink the stuff. The over-roasting makes it bitter and they make it too strong. My theory is that it's one of those cases where a trend in something yucky is just a marketing triumph (and OK, it's a nice atmosphere in there), but if you really like your coffee that way, go for it. Rather like bell-bottoms. Dunkin Donuts used to be good but I think they've moved to a darker roast too now to try and compete.
Read this (especially the last paragraph) for a really good cup - and look at the color of the background beans.
Perhaps Deanne should offer "light roast" and "dark roast" as two options - and keep us all happy!
http://www.mgt.smsu.edu/churchill/trends.htm
|
ml1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1054
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 9:14 am: | |
I like Starbucks coffee, and I try to ignore a lot of their pretensions. Very hot, very strong, very bitter -- that's what I like about it. That said, there are a number of other places around town that have good coffee: Village Coffee (the house blend), NetNomads, Maple Leaf (for a good old-fashioned cup o' joe), Cait and Abby's, Dunkin' Donuts. Believe it or not, Burger King has very good coffee (at least in the morning when you know it's fresh). On the other hand, there are a couple of places in Maplewood whose food I like, but don't go to very often because I think the coffee is dreadful. |
deborahg
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 591
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 9:28 am: | |
Slight thread drift: Rate the best coffee in MSO! For instance, I like Starbucks OK; much prefer the ambiance at Tamaya del Sol (on Ridgewood), but the coffee tastes incredibly weak to me. Likewise the coffee at NetNomads isn't strong enough for me. If I could find a place with strong enough cofee but a better atmosphere than SB I would be all over it. |
Curious Onlooker
Citizen
Username: Curiousonlooker
Post Number: 10
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 12:53 pm: | |
I know you're trying to find great coffee/atmosphere in MSO, but one of the best places I've been is the Van Gogh's Ear Cafe in Union on Stuyvesant Ave. Good coffee, good desserts, AWESOME grilled chicken sandwiches, live jazz on Tuesdays and Sundays... Wonderful, wonderful place. |
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 1028
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2003 - 9:12 am: | |
No value judgement implied, but there are whole segments of this country's population who derive their primary social interactions from yer Starbucks, yer Borders, yer Mall at Short Hills, or similar venues, where, although the surface premise is quaffing, browsing, or whatever other variety of consumerism you care to name, what's really taking place is people converging in hopes of meeting, mixing, and maybe mating.
I personally eschew stimulants, but ya gotta love that logo.
--The Oracle of MOL
BTW: I predict that the Cold Stone Creamery will open sometime in 2003. I will accept offerings of coffee ice cream sodas whenever that takes place. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 6
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2003 - 6:28 pm: | |
I used to try and avoid Starbucks after my weekend run's (thats exercise, not a medical condition) and head to Kate and Abby's. Unfortunately K and A's stopped serving Chai and I got hooked on Starbucks Chai. What I do miss is the weekend meetings in Starbucks of the, "Puppet People". These are a bunch of grownups who used to meet at Starbucks on the weekend, get a big table than pull out some elaborate hand puppets and have detailed discussions using the puppets. I swear this is true, it was like entering an alternate universe. As of late, the ,"Puppet People" seem to have abandoned Starbucks. |
curb
Citizen
Username: Curb
Post Number: 315
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2003 - 10:18 pm: | |
Dunkin Donuts exrta large, black, no sugar.
Starbucks` is lousy. |
gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 167
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 4, 2003 - 10:57 am: | |
I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I do consume "coffee" -- as Mr. Gozerbrown puts it. Those cold, ice-blended coffee drinks aren't real coffee, he says. And whenever I tell him I'm going out for a Frappacino or Coffee Coolata, he puts up those little quotes in the air.
I prefer DD over Starbucks in terms of "coffee" taste, but the atmosphere of Starbucks is nicer. (Is it just me or is the staff in the SO Starbucks ruder than most others?) |
alison kosakowski
Citizen
Username: Alikoz
Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 7, 2003 - 5:34 pm: | |
This is great. So, what does Starbucks STAND for? Environmentalism? Quality beans? Community? Intellectualism? Caffeine addiction? |
thegoodsgt
Citizen
Username: Thegoodsgt
Post Number: 254
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 7:26 am: | |
Alison, here's the Starbucks Mission Statement:
Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow.
The following six guiding principles will help us measure the appropriateness of our decisions:
Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity.
Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business.
Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee.
Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time.
Contribute positively to our communities and our environment.
Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success.
|
alison kosakowski
Citizen
Username: Alikoz
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 12:59 pm: | |
Thanks "thegoodsgt!"
Actually, I am more curious about what it means to people personally.... ie: "corporate mastadon" or "personal refuge"... "corporate/community partnership"..."the 'thinking man's McDonald's"...."death of small business".."the best beans in town"... |
Tommy Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 218
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 5:20 pm: | |
Starbucks's coffee is excellent. Not everyone likes heavily roasted coffee, but I do. However, I object to the prices. I can get coffee just as good at Fairway or Zabars in NYC. The trouble is, I have to go to NYC to get it. But it's about half the price!
I also don't like chains, because it makes me part of a big trend. I like to think, erroneously, perhaps, that I'm an independent thinker. So I don't hang around Starbucks.
To be honest, though, the sort of atmosphere they create is rather nice. I'm just a curmudgeon who won't conform, even if I'll enjoy it. It's just being part of a trend that bothers me, even if it is the anti-McDonald's.
Tom Reingold |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 4819
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 5:54 pm: | |
Ahhh... the good ole non-conformist trend :-)
Starbucks succeeds because their environment says, "sit, relax, enjoy some nice coffee, decent music and read the paper or a book." Duncan Donuts' environment says "order, eat and leave or our flourescent lighting will burn a hole in your cornea" |
alison kosakowski
Citizen
Username: Alikoz
Post Number: 18
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 6:20 pm: | |
lol!...loving you, Dave Ross! Anyone else care to chime in on this? |
NCJanow
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 874
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 8:53 pm: | |
Well, I prefer DD to Starbuck's for flavor but for ambiance I now have to recomend The Dancing Goat. They serve dark roast, expresso, cappuchino,etc as well as smoothies but the atmosphere is terrifically welcoming. The hours are incredible and now, finally, we have a great place to hang out over an ice brew (my kind sans alcohol).Plus the extra added bonus of patronizing a local owner, not a chain.
Just have to reeducate my coffee taste buds, but I think it'll be worth it.
Cheers, NC
NCJ aka LL- Any and all posts are my personal opinions, not as an employee of the South Orange Public Library. |
Jamaine Cripe
Citizen
Username: Jamaine
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 9, 2003 - 12:46 pm: | |
If I *have* to drink SB, I will. I don't like it (I get their light roast and have them add water because its still too strong) but its handy. I work in the city and I like the corner cart coffee better than any SB. DD is a really good alternative but then again, I grew up in the military. Maybe weak, mud is what my tastebuds call "good joe". I'm so uncultured.
 |
orphalese
Citizen
Username: Orphalese
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 9:33 am: | |
salvation: the dancing goat |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1671
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 10:13 am: | |
Where and what, pray tell, is this Dancing Goat, of which you speak? |
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