CoffeeRoastersClub Senior Member Joined: 6 Jul 2005 Posts: 2,515 Location: Connecticut Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Vintage La Pavoni Lever... Grinder: KitchenAid Pro Line Burr... Vac Pot: Vintage Silex Drip: Aeropress, French Press Roaster: "Little Tyke" BBQ Drum,...
Posted Sat Feb 16, 2008, 8:11am Subject: Re: Starbucks to close Feb. 26
I'll put my 2 cents worth in here. I just spoke with a couple of baristas from my local Starbucks yesterday. They will be retrained in how to properly extract the shots from their autos. Currently they extract directly into the cup; they will be going back to extracting into shot glasses again (for presentation purposes).
Also the steaming containers will be a bit different, again for better presentation.
I think the chief found out that many Starbucks customers enjoyed watching the baristas make the espresso when they had the old machines, and that this element is lacking now with the autos. He may have found what he believes to be a happy medium with the focus again on presentation.
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2008, 7:11pm Subject: Re: Starbucks to close Feb. 26
More power to Starbucks, at least they are attempting to address the issue, see my post this morning in the Aussie section. Another Jon. :)
Woody Said:
Geez- My second Starbucks post today!
Starbucks announced they were closing for 3 hours on the 26th of February for barista training. Seems they realize their quality is not as it should be. I'm not sure what they will accomplish in 3 hours.
One point they made was to teach the baristas how not to burn coffee. Ha! Why don't they teach their roasters how not to burn beans!!!
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2008, 7:36pm Subject: Re: Starbucks to close Feb. 26
at the two starbucks that I have gone to over the last few years, when they switched over they put their super-autos in the front side of the counter and you dont see any of the process going on...
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,734 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2008, 10:36pm Subject: Re: Starbucks to close Feb. 26
I was just reflecting on how bad their espresso is this past week after grabbing a double short cino during a 5' run from work. (*$s is the closest shop to work.)
They will have to make really major changes if the espresso is to be anything other than what it currently is, vida: a common basis of grundge for all of their over sweetened bucket-of-milk drinks. These include:
Properly roasted (as opposed to over roasted) beans.
Fresh roasted beans used within 10 days of roasting.
Roast dating on the bags.
Ditching all those super autos and going back to semi autos and replacing all those nice Mazzer grinders that were sold at deep discount.
Frothing milk for the drinks being prepared and pouring it immediately after frothing.
Serving milk in correct proportions to espresso...like 1 oz. espresso to ~5 oz. frothed milk.
My "guess" is that none of these steps are planned. They will just continue to serve their swill to an unsuspecting and uneducated public while raking in obsene profits. We GEEKS of the World will continue to eschew *$s and its ilk, rightly feeling superior for doing so.
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