Coffeemickey Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2011 Posts: 25 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Johnston Star Drip: Mr. Coffee
Posted Tue Jun 21, 2011, 2:00pm Subject: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
It is apparent that Starbucks has built a huge, successful business centered on its coffee. And it is similarly obvious that most of us Coffee Geeks, as well as members of other Coffee Forums, regard Starbucks coffee as less than good. How do account for this conundrum? Is it their advertising, their sheer size, are we coffee advocates out of touch with reality, or do you have another explanation?
Posted Tue Jun 21, 2011, 4:42pm Subject: Re: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
Coffeemickey Said:
It is apparent that Starbucks has built a huge, successful business centered on its coffee. And it is similarly obvious that most of us Coffee Geeks, as well as members of other Coffee Forums, regard Starbucks coffee as less than good. How do account for this conundrum? Is it their advertising, their sheer size, are we coffee advocates out of touch with reality, or do you have another explanation?
Starbucks is a focal point and leader in the industry. Its human nature to attack such; and triple that when you enter a forum that specializes in the same product. Add a bit of jealously for their success and you get the perfect storm. Pure and simple.
Len
"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 Tue Jun 21, 2011, 4:58pm Subject: Re: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
Coffeemickey Said:
It is apparent that Starbucks has built a huge, successful business centered on its coffee. And it is similarly obvious that most of us Coffee Geeks, as well as members of other Coffee Forums, regard Starbucks coffee as less than good. How do account for this conundrum? Is it their advertising, their sheer size, are we coffee advocates out of touch with reality, or do you have another explanation?
The misconception in your question is that Starbucks sells coffee. What they really sell is chocolate smoothies with a hint of coffee thrown in. Or the popular "Vanilla Bean Frappuccino" which has no coffee at all.
Just enough so that they can still call it "Starbucks Coffee". Can you blame them though? The name "Starbucks Smoothies, Shakes, Tea, Pastries, Bottled water, Oatmeal, Pre-Packaged Sandwiches, CD's, and Newspapers" just doesn't have the same ring to it and is very hard to write at the bottom of that little green circle. = P
Posted Tue Jun 21, 2011, 5:10pm Subject: Re: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
Nobody will argue that a McDonald's burger, no matter how full of Angus (and textured vegetable protein) it is, is actually a good burger. Anyone can buy a pound of mediocre ground chuck and make something tastier at home. Alternative, smaller chains survive just fine on marginally better products but less market share. And even the gourmet places, which give you quality local grass-fed beef, cave-aged cheese and fresh produce cooked properly, which wow the customer with creativity and flavors they can't fathom at home; even those restaurants can survive and still be overshadowed by the mass-produced Golden Arches Deluxe. Is it convenience, consistency, price? It certainly isn't quality. Whatever it is, it's consumer culture, and it's just plain weird, worldwide.
Chopperzz Senior Member Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 24 Location: Erin, Ontario Expertise: I love coffee
Roaster: Cast iron pan, with uncanny...
Posted Tue Jun 21, 2011, 6:52pm Subject: Re: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
CoffeeRoastersClub Said:
Starbucks is a focal point and leader in the industry. Its human nature to attack such; and triple that when you enter a forum that specializes in the same product. Add a bit of jealously for their success and you get the perfect storm. Pure and simple.
It can't be said any clearer. In fact it could be easily argued that Starbucks has done an amazing job of introducing coffee, and it's variations, to millionsXmillions of people. As a newbie to coffeegeeks, I'm willing to admit that Starbucks, over time, has sparked my interest and led me here. Today I pan roast my beans, grind for my French press every morning and gladly read this forum to gain knowledge.
If I may add, when no home brewed option is available where do coffeegeeks stop for coffee while out on the town? Is there any coffee chain that is acceptable? The exponential growth of the coffeehouse industry has also opened the doors of many substandard independent shops, focused on the culture not the coffee. So as difficult as it might be to shell my money to the green circle, there's a good chance that what I buy will be consistent, be that in Toronto, New York or San Diego.
joshuamurphy75 Senior Member Joined: 2 Jun 2009 Posts: 50 Location: Palmview/Mcallen/Edinburg/Weslaco Texas Expertise: Professional
Posted Tue Jun 21, 2011, 11:07pm Subject: Re: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
I consider them to be marketing geniuses. They know that the majority of their customers drink coffee for the caffeine content rather than flavor. Taking this into account, they don't focus on coffee. They focus on profits.
They employ countless strategies to make the coffee faster and more convenient for the customer, while saving on labor costs: Drive through systems Fast food style POS systems (does inventory, time clocks, multiple tills, expediter screens, easy to navigate menus) Pre-baked pastries Shorthand drink markings The funny names (makes it really fast and easy to memorize and mark drink modifications) Super auto machines more then 11,000 locations bottled beverages Scales to count money They even have employees who study stores and try to find more efficient ways of doing things
They also do some interesting marketing tactics The funny names (makes people more comfortable with higher costs) not putting the smallest size on the menu advertising "iced coffee with milk" (milk is cheaper then cream, after reading that, regular coffee drinkers put milk in their coffee)
Obviously, the list is much longer, but I am not thinking that well after a long day at work... Perhaps the independent shops can learn from them.
Very good observations. Good part of it ? They made people consume more coffee, and after a while they may start to look for quality. Good for who does quality.
Posted Wed Jun 22, 2011, 8:23am Subject: Re: Is it Starbucks, or is it Us?
I've been a member of this board for a few years. Personally I find the Starbucks bashing a bit tiring. I don't know, maybe for some it is the common bind that ties.
I'm coming to believe it is a secret passphrase that allows new members to get let through the front door of CG. I see it alot in a newbies first post, "Hello I am Joe Sixpack and I hate Starbucks Coffee".
Keyholder: "OK, you can come in."
:(
Len
"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
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