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Starbucks and their $5 Coffees


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2016 Dec 1, 7:56pm   15,947 views  69 comments

by BayArea   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

How in the world did Starbucks manage to slowly and methodically convince society that filtered water with a squirt of caramel is worth $5?

And why are we supporting this sick company?

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1   BayArea   2016 Dec 1, 8:11pm  

It's one of those companies that engrained itself into our culture, and then once they had us addicted, started the mark-ups

2   MAGA   2016 Dec 1, 8:15pm  

I normally get a Tall Pike and sometimes a pastry. Before I leave the store, I get my free refill as I am a gold card member.

3   BayArea   2016 Dec 1, 8:21pm  

Ironman says

BayArea says

and then once they had us addicted

Actually, I think their coffee is horrible (unless you're looking to strip off some old paint), and I'll bypass coffee all together if Starbucks is the only choice.

Is your alternative another $5 coffee place or something else?

4   zzyzzx   2016 Dec 2, 4:18am  

Obligatory:

5   theoakman   2016 Dec 2, 5:06am  

I've started stopping in for a coffee and getting work done in between tutoring gigs. Usually sit there for 45 min. The coffee is $2. Figured I might as well since I have about $500 in credit to them after all the gifts from my students over the years. All the fancy stuff is more expensive. That being said, people swear by it. If you have a specialty coffee shop around, it's probably better. If you don't, it's likely your best option. Dunkin Donuts is disgusting IMO.

That being said...don't bet against this place. Everyone goes there in the morning before work. Everyone without a job goes there when they should be working. Everyone with a job goes there when working. And everyone goes there after work. Some people like the food there....which is disgusting. But as I sit there and grade papers, the amount of foot traffic through the place is simply staggering.

One thing that I love is that they bag their used coffee grinds and put them out for pickup if you want it. I literally grab about 75 pounds of used coffee grinds each week as I have one 2 blocks from my house. I spread them over my lawn and it acts as the best fertilizer. I also heavily fertilize my garden and flower beds with them. Then...I have a massive compost pile in the back from them. I've easily saved hundreds of dollars in fertilizer over the past two years by doing this.

6   Y   2016 Dec 2, 5:18am  

It's all about having your coffee 'tweeked' to your personal liking.
It's like ordering a steak and being able to specify how well you like it cooked to a tenth of a degree...
Everybody's taste buds are different. Why compromise when you don't have to...

7   theoakman   2016 Dec 2, 6:24am  

Ranina ranina says

It's all about having your coffee 'tweeked' to your personal liking.

It's like ordering a steak and being able to specify how well you like it cooked to a tenth of a degree...

Everybody's taste buds are different. Why compromise when you don't have to...

Drink coffee fresh from the town of Kona Hawaii....you don't need to tweak it.

8   marcus   2016 Dec 2, 6:41am  

Yeah, I don't drink the fru fru (super high sugar) stuff there, but I do often get either just a straight coffee or cafe ameicano there on many mornings. The quality is very reliable - although if you drink coffee black - you might not care for the dark roasts that they emphasize.

It turns out americans will pay a little bit more (and it's not that much more) for a quality cup of coffee. But it's probably the less healthy more expensive drinks that make Starbucks super profitable.

The only surprise about coffee shops and the availability of good coffee is that the market place took so long to figure this out.

IT Turned out that europe has a thing or two to teach us about coffee, wine, and beer. What took us so long ? MAybe having two wage earners in many households is a factor on the timing. Less time to make things ourselves and more discretionary income.

9   anotheraccount   2016 Dec 2, 6:53am  

marcus says

But it's probably the less healthy more expensive drinks that make Starbucks super profitable.

Yeap,the cost of coffee from StarBucks to society will keep rising because of all the fat overweight teenagers that are sucking down 100 grams of sugar or more in each drink. This place is a menace to health.

10   Tenpoundbass   2016 Dec 2, 6:56am  

marcus says

The quality is very reliable - although if you drink coffee black - you might not care for the dark roasts that they emphasize.

Actually I like the flavor of Dunkin D, Mickey D, and Starbucks coffee, they all have the same robust kick and aroma to it. The problem that bothers me.
They are all huge corporations with the R&D to make their coffee taste unaturally robust that no store bought coffee in the world can match.
Then I just remember why Hamburger chain burgers don't taste like back yard burgers. It's the pink slime.
I'm sure that Corporate Coffee has it's brown slime in the corporate closet. If we really knew why and how their coffee taste like it does we would be turned off.

12   marcus   2016 Dec 2, 7:10am  

The rise of coffee drinking (and the market for quality coffee in urban areas and college campuses) is also maybe a work thing. Soda is unhealthy as is smoking cigarettes. Both of these were used much more as stimulants at work 50 years ago.

13   marcus   2016 Dec 2, 7:12am  

tr6 says

ok so maybe not 100g, close though

I'm amazed at how many kids can afford these drinks. When I was a kid in high school (70s) my allowance was $5/ week. I guess that would be like at least $30/ week now. But if I was a kid now I don't think I would spend it on frappacinnos, unless maybe it was a date. Of course on the other hand they do get their music for free.

14   MisdemeanorRebel   2016 Dec 2, 8:12am  

Ironman says

Dunkin Donuts for half of that (and a LOT better tasting).

Yup.

Everytime I had Starbucks, it was like they left the coffee on the burner/warmer for 8+ hours, had that bitter-burnt taste. Dunkies is vastly superior.

15   Mrs Wonderful   2016 Dec 2, 8:16am  

The way this works is the haves go to Starbucks where they attain social status.
The havenots go to DD while dissing starbucks cause they cant afford it.

16   Philistine   2016 Dec 2, 8:24am  

Thunderlips is Tovbot2 says

like they left the coffee on the burner/warmer for 8+ hours, had that bitter-burnt taste

Can't figure out if they are a case of the emperor's new clothes, or if their coffee is really not as bad as I think it is.

I used to theorize their coffee was so brackish because it was meant to be shitted up with sweeteners, flavorings, whipped cream, and other delights, but even that explanation might be overly cheritable.

If one is inclined to drink coffee black (as God intended), Coffee Bean is a better option if you are too wussy to make your own.

The greatest offense to taste and decency is weak coffee.

17   zzyzzx   2016 Dec 2, 8:33am  

marcus says

Soda is unhealthy

Is coffee any less unhealthy?

18   Shaman   2016 Dec 2, 8:38am  

A decent size cup of coffee at Starbucks was less than $3.00 last I checked. It's only when you add your froo-froo extra calorie shit to it that it gets spendy. That's about twice the cost of a bottle of water at most places. Seems in line. I almost never go there and prefer to make a pot at home and take it in my travel thermos. My wife goes there probably every day, and sometimes takes the kids too, getting them smoothies and snacks. I think Starbucks has morphed into a quasi breakfast place, where you can feed your kids and satisfy your coffee craving if you're a suburban mom. I'm pretty sure that's the profit point. I don't complain because 1)I'm not stupid and 2) she makes her own money.

19   MMR   2016 Dec 2, 8:41am  

Ironman says

store, WaWa out here has better coffee for even less.

Wawa has solid coffee and Although not a subs person per se, they have better sandwiches than subway

20   MMR   2016 Dec 2, 8:42am  

Ironman says

tr6 says

because of all the fat overweight teenagers that are sucking down 100 grams of sugar or more in each drink.

That's an important point. Just observe and watch how much additional sugar and condiments people put in their cup of Starbucks just to make it "drinkable" and you'll have your answer.

Especially the fat chicks wearing low rise jeans and having love handles hanging out

21   MMR   2016 Dec 2, 8:45am  

I prefer high quality coffee prepared as a pour over using light to medium roasted beans that are single origin

Should be drank black and it is sort of like drinking wine and comparing tasting notes

22   Mrs Wonderful   2016 Dec 2, 8:47am  

CellarDwellets NEED social status so they go to Starbucks with their government handouts to attain it.
DD is nothing more sugared whitened pisswater.

Ironman says

Real coffee drinkers DON'T need social status, so they just go for decent coffee, which isn't Starbucks

23   indigenous   2016 Dec 2, 8:51am  

Mickey Ds is the best value for coffee.

The sign in Starbucks states that they make their coffee with 2 tablespoons of coffee per cup.

Just like Mickey Ds and sugar in the hamburger buns Starbucks has their customers addicted to the buzz.

Their customer will say endless reasons why Starbucks is the best but the simple reason is that Starbucks has their customers addicted to caffeine.

Reminds me of smokers stating why they smoke. Smokers are addicted to nicotine period.

24   Y   2016 Dec 2, 8:56am  

Starbucks give you more variety of coffee beans. ( latin america, africa, asia )
Dunkin donuts source their beans from Latin America only.

If you are a coffee connoisseur then Starbucks is set up to serve your hobby.
If you're a one trick pony then Dunkin Donuts should suffice.
If you just want to wake up and have the stomach grind keep you going all day visit AmPm...

http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-foodies/do-you-know-where-your-coffee-beans-come

25   Blurtman   2016 Dec 2, 9:09am  

You can get your drug just about anywhere and in a standardized dosage and in a predictable format. Folks obviously will pay a premium for the convenience. Ka-ching!

26   BayArea   2016 Dec 2, 10:37am  

One big plus for Starbucks... it seems to consistently have clean single person bathrooms that make for great shitting.

It's become my go-to establishment if I need a bathroom away from home...

27   marcus   2016 Dec 2, 10:49am  

Starbucks isn't any more expensive than dunkin donuts unless you're getting a latte or cappuccino type of drink.

http://www.vaughandugan.com/blog/starbucks-cheaper-than-dunkin-donuts

So for some of us, that actually like dark roast coffee with a little cream and sugar, it's not about status. It's just good coffee. Someone above talks about "taste notes." I would argue that a dark roast with cream and sugar is more interesting and complex tastewise than a lighter roast (drinking it black), becasue with black coffee (even light roast) the bitter flavor takes over. But that's just me.

But I will grant you, that the cream and sugar is less healthy. I'm not putting any more cream and suger in it than I would a Mcds coffee, perhaps a little less than sugar than I would put in DD coffee which I find kind of bland.

28   MisdemeanorRebel   2016 Dec 2, 10:56am  

Ironman says

You could be right. Why sell regular coffee for $2.50, when if you put a splash of flavorings or whipped cream, you can charge DOUBLE!

OH YEAH.

The other reason I hate shitbucks: For $2 Dunkies adds the cream and splenda for me.

At Starbucks, they charge me $5 and make me put that shit in myself. WTF?

29   Patrick   2016 Dec 2, 11:06am  

I worked with some of their tech guys a few years ago and was so impressed that I bought the stock. It has done well for me.

I find their espresso a bit sweet and boring, but acceptable.

30   Tenpoundbass   2016 Dec 2, 11:21am  

rando says

I find their espresso a bit sweet and boring, but acceptable.

Yeah I'm not a fan of espresso.
dumping a spoon of sugar in the cup after you poured the espresso in the cup, doesn't have the same flavor characteristics as infusing a few spoon of sugar with a few drops of espresso, whipping it up to a frothy beige marshmallow, then gently stiring that into the espresso. Makes it a totally different animal.

And is the only Coffee or Tea drink I ever drink sweetened.

I take ice Tea, Hot Tea, and American coffee straight without anything.

The Cuban Coffee style of espresso, is more like liquid toffee, I think is what I like about it. And another weird thing about this concoction. If you don't drink it up before the brown camel toffee froth on the top dissipates, then it ends up tasting like regular espresso that just had a spoon of sugar dumped in the cup without the espuma making ceremony.

A good Cuban coffee shouldn't have the espuma stirred into the coffee until the coffee is sweetened. Instead you gently fold it in so that there are two liquid dynamics going on in the cup. The rich robust unsweetened espresso, and brown froth on top that is sweet, the sweetening should happen in your mouth after you sip the coffee. The first few sips are exquisit, you got the robust coffee flavor then a toffee carmet sweet thing happening separate from that. After a few minutes in the Cup it all start mixing into the coffee, and by that time there is no difference in flavor or texture between Cuban coffee or table sweetened espresso. Often I'll chuck it after about the thrid or fourth sip, and it cooled down and the espuma merged with the coffee.

31   mell   2016 Dec 2, 11:24am  

BayArea says

One big plus for Starbucks... it seems to consistently have clean single person bathrooms that make for great shitting.

It's become my go-to establishment if I need a bathroom away from home...

Haha. Agreed.

32   mmmarvel   2016 Dec 2, 11:45am  

BayArea says

Is your alternative another $5 coffee place or something else?

Actually I home roast and home grind my own coffee. Fresher, more control, cheaper and tastes better.

33   indigenous   2016 Dec 2, 1:25pm  

BayArea says

One big plus for Starbucks... it seems to consistently have clean single person bathrooms that make for great shitting.

Are you calling Starbucks a shit hole?

34   indigenous   2016 Dec 2, 1:26pm  

mmmarvel says

Actually I home roast and home grind my own coffee. Fresher, more control, cheaper and tastes better.

How many table spoons of coffee per cup?

35   zzyzzx   2016 Dec 2, 2:07pm  

MMR says

they have better sandwiches than subway

Which really doesn't say much.

36   Mrs Wonderful   2016 Dec 2, 4:08pm  

Donald says coffee is only as rich as the billionaire buying it.

37   MisdemeanorRebel   2016 Dec 2, 4:24pm  

zzyzzx is deplorable says

Which really doesn't say much.

Yeah, what the hell happened with Subway. When I was a kid they used to have fresh stuff. Today it seems like their meats especially are like "Use it today, cause it'll be rotten tomorrow".

"You don't want the roast beef."

38   Patrick   2016 Dec 2, 4:26pm  

Yes, coffee can be interesting or not. Caffeine is only part of the fun.

39   marcus   2016 Dec 2, 5:08pm  

Ironman says

You rate coffee like wine to see if it's "interesting and complex"?

No, not like it's a big deal. But I enjoy it. The most recent beans I've bought are Starbucks espresso roast that I havent tried yet. I'll probably make some tomorrow.

https://www.amazon.com/Starbucks-Christmas-Blend-Espresso-Coffee/dp/B00685HGLW

Should be somewhere between good and very good. But yeah, it's just coffee.

40   Blurtman   2016 Dec 3, 7:45am  

Most successful food chains sell death. The tubby two-tons who gorge on the sugary syrup and whipped cream loaded drinks should be fined for self abuse.

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