caferacer Senior Member Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 101 Location: NYC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Expobar Pulser Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sat Apr 12, 2008, 12:29pm Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
hmmm. That being the case, I am surprised the pbtc did not know the roast date because I did see a couple of the bullet bags. Clearly I should have checked those. In any event this is a good development since I frequently have few options beyond Starbucks when travelling. Will try some drip next time.
Still, why wouldn't they put the roast date on the 1 lb bags?
Posted Sat Apr 12, 2008, 12:55pm Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
caferacer Said:
hmmm. That being the case, I am surprised the pbtc did not know the roast date because I did see a couple of the bullet bags. Clearly I should have checked those. In any event this is a good development since I frequently have few options beyond Starbucks when travelling. Will try some drip next time.
Still, why wouldn't they put the roast date on the 1 lb bags?
The only thing I can think of regarding no roast date on 1 lb. bags is due to their possibly not trusting the store employees using due diligence when bagging the 1 pounders from the 5 pound bags, and properly transferring roast date. (The 5 pound bags, I would guess, are "officially" dated at the origin location of the roast.)
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
Posted Sun Apr 13, 2008, 12:46pm Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
stevieboy9 Said:
It is my understanding that the "roasted on" date is on the 5 lb bullet bag. They should have been able to tell you the roasted date or a reasonably close approximation date by looking at the next 5 lb bag to be used. Each "scooped" 1LB or 1/2LB bag comes from a bullet bag that was opened that day. Each 5 lb bullet MUST be used within 2 weeks of roasting date. Each open bag of PPR must be used within 24 hours.
I observed stacks of the 5lb bags with a roast date of March 21 and March 25. That was on April 12. Clearly two weeks past roast date. (Yeah its only a few days past, but it's still past the cut off)
What is being done with these ?
It is possible they are just for "display". But I'm curious to go back a week from now and see if they are still there.
I think the "fresh scooped" is just a ploy to make some feel the coffee was roasted that day. Like those that think "fresh baked" is the same as "made from scratch by your granny".
OtterFrylock Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Aeroppress Grinder: Cuisenart Burr Drip: Keurig B-40 Roaster: various home rigs
Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008, 5:45am Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
I was pleasantly surprised by Pike's Place Roast. It was the best cup of coffee I've ever received at Starbucks and a darn good start if they care to turn things around.
Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008, 10:11am Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
markm3 Said:
I observed stacks of the 5lb bags with a roast date of March 21 and March 25. That was on April 12. Clearly two weeks past roast date. (Yeah its only a few days past, but it's still past the cut off)
What is being done with these ?
It is possible they are just for "display". But I'm curious to go back a week from now and see if they are still there.
I think the "fresh scooped" is just a ploy to make some feel the coffee was roasted that day. Like those that think "fresh baked" is the same as "made from scratch by your granny".
The 5 lb bullet bags are vacuum sealed and are being sold to the public at a 20% discount from the regular $9.95/lb price. In other words, 5lbs for $39.95. The Store will continue to use only PPR that is within 2 weeks of being roasted.
There should be a prominent sign posted on the drink menu that tells the roasting date of the coffee that is being served that day. Perhaps you may have missed seeing it. However, it is possible someone at the store may not have posted the sign correctly. People do sometimes make mistakes. I know that I do :-). In either case if you feel uncomfortable about a company policy just ask the shift leader or manager to clarify or explain. BTW, did you try a cup of the PPR coffee? What were your impressions?
Steve in Ft. Worth
Steve in Ft. Worth
"What in the wide, wide world of sports's a-goin' on here?!"
Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008, 7:27pm Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
I guess I'm the odd man out here as I thought the cup of PPR I got at Starbucks the other day was awful. All I could taste was burnt beans (carbon?) & even after adding half & half I threw it away after drinking only half the cup.
Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008, 10:53pm Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
I finally got a chance to try some of this as a freebie with purchase of 1lb Sumatra decaf beans for the wife. I was pretty disappointed with the overall outcome. Mine was too hot to drink for at least 10 minutes. I thought the flavor profile was a bit sour and grassy(?), at least compared to what I'm used to. I'm no expert, but it didn't remind me much of "fresh roasted" coffee. The Barista's were all over the map as far as product knowledge. The one who waited on me mentioned that it was fairly bold, while the girl behind her corrected her by stating that it was actually intended to be pretty mild. If they were aiming for Dunkin' Donuts customers (as I've heard some imply) they actually came pretty close. To me a D.D. coffee without any cream or sugar to mask the flavor is nothing to be savored. I always get this "ashtray full of cigarette butts" sort of odor from it and the Pike's Place seemed to have a bit of that. YMMV
eddo3 Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Location: a Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008, 4:43am Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
I tried a cup yesterday and bought a half pound to bring home. As usual, the store bought cup was too hot for my taste, so I was prepared to be disappointed. The beans however, still smelled fresh - there was a roasted-on-date chalkboard behind the register that stated March 20, York, PA (I think). So the 2 week rule is kind of out the window. The bag was scooped and a label filled out with scooped on date and the name of the scooper.
When I got home I ground up a cup for my melitta pourover and was pleasantly surprised. I've been buying locally roasted coffee from Mayorga (a local, Maryland roaster - usually no more than a few days out of the roaster) and another mom & pop roaster and this coffee didn't disappoint when I made it to my spec - 3 well rounded (7gm) scoops of beans per 12 oz water.
frankEboy Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Elk Grove, IL Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008, 7:43am Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
I assume they're never gonna get the roasting issue solved at their volume. So, here's my never-gonna-happen idea: maybe Starbucks can announce that they'll start selling fine cigars.
If I'm enjoying a fine cigar, I'll hardly notice the over-roasted, past-freshness taste of the coffee. I'll even sit out side so the non-smokers don't protest.
the_coffee_nazi Senior Member Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Tarzana, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Vivaldi II Grinder: Macap M4, Barazta Virtuoso Drip: Chemex, Bodum French Press
Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008, 7:52am Subject: Re: March Coffeeings and Starbucks Watch! by Mark Prince
JVBorella Said:
I guess I'm the odd man out here as I thought the cup of PPR I got at Starbucks the other day was awful. All I could taste was burnt beans (carbon?) & even after adding half & half I threw it away after drinking only half the cup.
not any more. I went yesterday and the counter person told me that it would be a few minutes as they were brewing a new batch. I saw that as a positive - however, she said it's on the house because you have to wait. It was truly horrible - even freshly brewed. I didn't think it had much flavor at all. I'll try it again in a couple of weeks - but you can't fault Starbucks for trying. If it wasn't for them, I'd still be drinking Folgers!
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