Slight derail: As a veteran and ex cop, most people are amazed to learn I dont drink coffee.
Reason:
Early in my military hitch, I was being shown around Security Police CSC. One of the Sergeants was asked to make coffee and I was told to help him so I could learn how to make it. We went into the crapper and the Sarge proceeded to dip the water for the coffee out of the commode. Turns out he did not like having to make coffee and disliked most of the Command Staff who drank it.
Every time I was offered coffee I flashed back to the potty dip.
I have never set foot in Starbucks. I would guess it has saved me lots of $$$.

A few months ago I bought cheap and stacked deep some 5-oz. bags of Starbucks ground coffee from a closeout/discount store for $1 each (later 50¢). I'm down to the last one now. That's as close as I've been to Starbucks. I don't hate them, I just don't care. Fancy coffee drinks with extra shit in them have no appeal for me, and I can get a cup of at least passable black coffee anywhere if I can't or don't wish to make my own. This particular coffee is roasted a little too much for my liking. I prefer a lighter roast ("breakfast blend") for a less mud-like flavor and more caffeine.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

quote:

Originally posted by Jupiter:
...I actually like McDonalds better than most.

That's me! I love their iced coffee, it's an occasional treat on a long drive. A large sugar free French vanilla with extra Splenda costs about $2.50. It's got to be cheaper than Starbucks and the line is usually shorter.

Speaking of lines, there's a Starbucks drive-through near my grocery store and there is ALWAYS a line. Same at O'Hare (people, not cars) though I did not do much travel last year.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:

I have never set foot in Starbucks. I would guess it has saved me lots of $$$.

My brother has self image problems and as a result, he and his wife stopped at a Starbucks every day they went to work, 5 days a week, for over 20 years.

He spent well over $20,000.00 on coffee over that time.

I drink it black.
Starbucks is way overrated.
Why spend $8_10 for a venti, when MacDonald's, Dunkin or Tim Hortons offer a tastier product to a better price point?

quote:

Originally posted by sgalczyn:
They are the epitome of advertising and marketing - you need to buy us to be hip/cool/woke - and it worked...

I've had Starbucks once, dragged there on a date about ten years ago. Didn't have coffee, but some small bite to eat and some fruit smoothie type thing. I found the whole experiance uncomfortable. lol
Fake, phony, pretentious? Hard to describe the place, with customers to match. Just like the woman who took me there. That day was the last time for both of them.

My brother settled in the Puget Sound area after he got out of the Navy. He said he doesn't know anyone who drinks Starbucks.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

burnt mud

quote:

Nailed it!

Does anyone else here just not get the hype over this stuff?

About the only thing I can come with is that some folks like to be seen with their over-priced swill and hang out with other self important snobs and the like.

I don’t care either way, I rarely stop at Starbucks or any other purveyor. I will say this, years ago Starbucks sold a coffee they called Arabian Mocha Sanani. I believe Yemen was the primary source of the beans, and I thought it was outstanding! I assume Yemen became just too dangerous a market to send buyers to; at any rate it’s been a long time. We’ve been drinking a Kirkland coffee called Costa Rica for sometime now and have been happy with it. Just this week someone told my wife that Costco gets their Kirkland branded coffees from Starbucks—-no idea.

Starbucks has a cult following- that is how they are able to charge the outlandish fees for their coffee drinks as well as all their merch and whole beans. I get my beans from Sam's club in 2.5 pound bags that cost 3-4 dollars less than a pound of Starbucks beans that I bet you could never tell the difference between the 2.

If you need more proof of the almost cultish following, I found a 10 year old Starbucks purple, double walled stainless steel travel cup at Goodwill for $3. My wife just sold it on Ebay for $53. Before shipping. Crazy.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
I certainly know what good coffee tastes like and Charbucks isn't!

quote:

Originally posted by JohnCourage:
I can’t speak for what you like your coffee to taste like. Coffee is a hobby of mine and ...

Please read more carefully what I wrote. I wrote "I wonder how many..." I did not write "everybody." All I was saying was my suspicion is many people who refer to Starbuck's as "Charbucks" do so for the same reason many other people buy Starbuck's coffee: It's the cool thing to do.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
Regarding Dunkin, it's weak.

Didn't used to be. It wasn't the last time I tried it. But it's been a year or two, I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
I'm actually quite satisfied with my Keurig.

I have never tasted a pod coffee of any kind that would come even remotely close to freshly-roasted, freshly-ground coffee, properly brewed. In my personal experience pod coffee, at its very best, is about as good as Dunkin's or McD's (last I tried them).

Starbucks seems to me has a burnt taste to it. Actually I prefer Mc Donald’s or Burger King, the unsophisticated slob I am.

Burnt garbage but it’s trendy.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Slight derail: As a veteran and ex cop, most people are amazed to learn I dont drink coffee.
Reason:
Early in my military hitch, I was being shown around Security Police CSC. One of the Sergeants was asked to make coffee and I was told to help him so I could learn how to make it. We went into the crapper and the Sarge proceeded to dip the water for the coffee out of the commode. Turns out he did not like having to make coffee and disliked most of the Command Staff who drank it.
Every time I was offered coffee I flashed back to the potty dip.
I have never set foot in Starbucks. I would guess it has saved me lots of $$$.

I learned to drink bad coffee in Air Force Security Police in Southeast Asia. I have often wondered at the secret to the unique flavor of CSC coffee! No wonder the flight chief insisted the coffee be made from the bottled water jugs.

When in SEA on the night shift, our patrols all had two Igloo metal drink coolers strapped on the back to bring coffee and water for the tower and MG bunker posts. When I was a SAT leader one of my duties was to go to the in-flight kitchen to fill my coolers with coffee and ice water. They made the coffee in huge vats where they dumped a 5 lb can of grounds into a filter basket. We learned to go back at the end of shift and refill our coolers with coffee then take it out and dump it so they wouldn't be serving us the same batch of coffee the next night. I think the aircraft crews also appreciated the kitchen had to make the coffee fresh after we emptied the vats.

I agree with others...McD is the best grab and go coffee.

If I break out the grinder it's Kenya AA.

Unless I missed it, no one has mentioned Turkish coffee made in a cezve. It beats them all, although a hassle to make.

YMMV

I've never been to a Starbucks store and don't foresee ever going to one. My only experience with their coffee was a cup at an airport waiting for my flight. I vowed I'd never buy another cup of the vile stuff again.

I buy my beans from a local roaster and grind them myself. Neither my wife nor I drink more than 2 cups a day anyway.

Jim