Starbucks pouring free coffee Tuesday!

Posted: 4/7/08 at 3:07pm

SEATTLE (AP) -- Starbucks Corp. is hosting a nationwide coffee-tasting to celebrate the launch of its new “everyday” brew, a key ingredient in its drive to boost slumping sales.

Customers who line up at most of the coffee retailer’s U.S. stores Tuesday morning will get a free 8 oz. cup of Pike Place Roast from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz says Pike Place Roast has a bold flavor, smooth finish and “subtle, rich flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts.”

It will be freshly roasted, hand-scooped, freshly ground and brewed in small batches that sit for no longer than 30 minutes.
Starbucks will sell it -- both regular and decaf -- alongside rotating coffees of the week.

They are gonna be roasting this every thirty minutes?

[courtnyj]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 3:14pm

Just wanted to point out that today is Monday and the article says Tuesday is the day with the free coffee.


And yes. Every 30 minutes a new batch is brewed. Every morning the coffee is freshly ground. It's a lot more labor for the baristas and I hope it makes a noticable difference in the taste.


ETA: No not roasted every 30 minutes. It takes almost that long to roast a batch at the roasting plants! Updated On: 4/7/08 at 03:14 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 3:29pm

So that's what that cryptic ad I saw in the Times on Saturday was about. Personally I abhor their regular coffee, so I'll be sticking with Dunkin' Donuts and 7-11.

Posted: 4/7/08 at 3:30pm

OK that makes sense. How long does a regular batch of Starbucks coffee sit I wonder.

[winston89]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 3:38pm

With most starbucks it sits until the pot is out. Prior to this they didn't want to waist coffee. But, now it looks as if they are going to go with the more fresh route rather then not letting anything go to waist.

The problem I see with this is the turnaround factor. If you come in just when the half hour mark is up, it may mean that you have to wait for the new coffee to be ready before you can get it.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 3:43pm

"No not roasted every 30 minutes. It takes almost that long to roast a batch at the roasting plants!"

You mean burn a batch! Starbucks burns their beans and their regular coffee tastes like feces!

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 4:02pm

We don't roast it every 30 minutes, but it will be freshly brewed every 30 minutes. And it's also not true that the urns sat until we ran out--they were dumped every hour regardless of how much coffee was left. We're changing the way we freshly ground and brew the coffee to ensure premium freshness and flavor. And it really isn't any more labor; my store started the new brewing method last week, and if anything it's easier.

Plus if the store is brewing correctly, you shouldn't have to wait for more coffee. It's not hard to space it out so that everything doesn't go off at the same time. Even if you do come in when the coffee runs out, it'll be ready in 5 minutes--easily how much time you'd spend standing in line in NYC any way.

PS--I seriously suggest trying the new Pike Place Roast. It's an extremely well balanced coffee that will easily appeal to at least 95% of coffee drinkers.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 4:05pm

I'll try it for sure, but no way am I gonna line up and waste an hour of my life for a free 8oz. coffee.

Posted: 4/7/08 at 4:25pm

Posted: 4/7/08 at 4:27pm

It’s like waking up with one arm missing.
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An emptiness that breaks my heart
That thread is gone.

It was there when I went to read my mail
But when I came back it had turned tail.
Vanished, fulfilling my deepest fears-
Where does it go when it disappears?
That Thread is gone.

It might have been deer or homos or porn
Whatever it was, the veil was torn.
Bad jokes, wit and innuendo all tossed
And another legendary thread is lost.
That thread is gone.

[Kasie]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 4:28pm

That was beautiful Joe.

Posted: 4/7/08 at 4:34pm

Why thank you. Miss Zender taught me, when you're down, write a poem.

[winston89]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 6:06pm

I for one am not a fan of the new Starbucks culture that they have invented. My brother was a barista and he hated more then anything having to go to the coffee tastings and whatnot just to serve a cup of friggen coffee or to make a latte.


It was interesting going to the store he was working in. I always got free drinks because he was my brother and he was working there. But, no one working there believed in the whole starbucks philosophy. They worked there because it was a good place to work while they were all looking for other jobs. They could never understand why someone would bend to serve a mass company and follow their way of thinking.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 6:52pm

winston, your second paragraph is true of every retail environment. The employees rarely believe in the "company" philosophy.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 9:42pm

You mean burn a batch! Starbucks burns their beans and their regular coffee tastes like feces!

Have you tasted enough feces to make an accurate comparison?

Updated On: 4/7/08 at 09:42 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:01pm

Rather than change their product, Starbucks should focus on their customer service. Almost every time I've been in Starbucks they have forgotten my order and I'm left standing waiting and have to remind them what I've ordered.

And even though they have it on the menu, I've never been able to order a Caramel Apple Cider in Manhattan. Apparently corporate headquarters forgot to tell the Manhattan stores to take it off their menu.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:05pm

Skittles, LOL!

I for one will take advantage of the free coffee tomorrow. Since I buy one almost every night on the way in to work, I might as well!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:13pm

Skittles perhaps I have. I stand by my criticism that Starbucks burns their beans in the roasting process. Their regular coffee (not the sugary coffee confections) always taste burnt. No matter which Starbucks you go to or how recently said pot was brewed. Some people think it burnt bean taste means strong coffee but it means burnt beans!

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:23pm

I heard they burn them on purpose.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:45pm

Hehehe yeah Jane, I can see them saying in some boardroom, lets burn the beans bad so people will say, "Damned this coffee tastes like crap, throw some flavoring in it and lots of sweetener and some steamed milk, I don't care how much it costs!"
I still say that the deli in my building makes the best coffee, strong and rich tasting and only charges $1.25. Plain simple coffee, strong, well brewed coffee from good beans, there is nothing better! Keep the syrups, flavorings and spices!

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 3:11am

Actually, they are focusing heavily on improving customer service. If you have crappy baristas, it's probably because they don't buy into the company "philosophy." Apathy breeds mediocrity and all that.

If you're ever in Kansas I'll gladly give you a perfectly made whatever with a smile. Although I truly hope you never have to come to Kansas.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 3:27am

Kitz--I work for Starbucks too.

Out here in Seattle you're much more likely to encounter seasoned, friendly, capable baristas. I worked at Starbucks in Brooklyn for three years and have seen a huge difference now that I'm in Seattle. Sure, I still encounter people who should not be baristas (either because of lack of customer service skills or lack of barista know-how) but by and large it's much more pleasant to work for Starbucks here because the partners are good at what they do.

Although I must add that the customers in Seattle are a bit more easy to serve than in New York if you get my drift.

Posted: 4/8/08 at 10:31am

Starbucks is the illustration of how a company can get "too big too fast." It's astounding that their customer services isn't worse when they are adding so many stores every week. Training is a huge problem. They even closed all the stores and re-trained the entire staff a few weeks back.

And Starbucks is apparently MUCH better to it's employees than most retailers. At least they offer benefits and a decent salary.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 11:28am

I have no problem with the baristas at all. I'm pretty clumsy and occasionally I either spill my whole coffee on the table or drop it on the floor. They always give me another one, no charge, with a smile as they clean up my mess.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 11:32am

It's astounding that their customer services isn't worse when they are adding so many stores every week.

And don't think the company doesn't know this. When Howard Schultz came back as CEO, a memo went out that basically said that we're not opening additional stores until the standards are back to where he wants them and that the company will be closing stores that are under performing.

As far as how they treat employees, I'm just thrilled to have a job that offers me health insurance, 401K, and stock options at part time. Makes my up-coming job search that much easier. Unlike all my friends who graduated school and got cut from their parents' insurance while looking for a job, I can have insurance through Starbucks while I'm looking.