Why all the hate against Starbucks?

U2@NYC · 06-28-2005, 06:54 AM

Note: I posted this in 'Just the Bang and the Clatter' but I thought that it would be better here to have a wider discussion.

Why all the hate against Starbucks?

To me, and pardon my ignorance, Starbucks is a company that truly transformed America's substandard taste in terms of coffee and created a true culture. Before Starbucks, all we had in the U.S. was 'standard' American coffee which, in my opinion, was pretty much flavorless. Now we have caramel macchiato, frapuccino, moccha, etc.

I read Howard Schultz' book (Pour Your Heart Into It) and saw how a guy from the Brooklyn projects was able to realize his American dream and, at the same time, create a culture with it. Maybe I am being naive, but I see no harm in that. Overexpansion maybe?

I am a big fan of Starbucks but would like to hear your views on it to better understand why there is so much hate against it.

Thanks.

Chizip · 06-28-2005, 07:04 AM

its a giant corporation so by definition it must be evil!

Liesje · 06-28-2005, 07:07 AM

I hate coffee in general, nothing personal.

timothius · 06-28-2005, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LivLuvAndBootlegMusic
I hate coffee in general, nothing personal.

Tea on the other hand..

ewen · 06-28-2005, 07:15 AM

I'm not a coffee connoisseur, I have simple tastes in my tea or coffee. but, I hate Starbucks because I find their coffee far too hot (I was always lead to believe that coffee should be warm not scalding), too expensive for what it is and almost tasteless. I mean sue me, I don't like the taste of their regular coffee or cappacino. That's the only kind of coffee I'll drink.

There's that fast-food thing that I hate too. I'd rather sooner go to an independant coffee shop if I just want to sit and relax for a bit. If I'm in a rush I'd choose a Costa Coffee if I have the option. Starbucks would only be if I feel desperate for coffee, which really isn't that often.

When I was in the States recently I did like the coffee at Dunkin Donuts.

Pax will probably remember me having about two sips of my Starbucks coffee in Baltimore and then throwing it in the bin. She'll remember the stop at DD on our way to New York and that I liked their coffee.

my two cents. apart from that i don't care, i don't go so doesn't bother me.

randhail · 06-28-2005, 07:18 AM

The hate for Starbucks is because of the smarmy hippy people they have working there. My biggest annoyance with starbucks are the terms they have for small, medium, and large. It may be petty but I will never sell out and ask for a grande double mocha whatever. It will always be medium in my book.

Aardvark747 · 06-28-2005, 07:21 AM

Coffee tastes like shit

MsMofoGone · 06-28-2005, 07:24 AM

I cannot stand the taste of coffee ... I am a "tea" drinker !!

Dismantled · 06-28-2005, 07:32 AM

Their coffee is too strong...
Their stores are annoying!!!.....
Their coffee is WAY too expensive....

I have only been once and it wasn't my choice anyway yeah the minute I walked in I was really annoyed..

ewen · 06-28-2005, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by randhail
The hate for Starbucks is because of the smarmy hippy people they have working there.

I have to say in defense of Starbucks (even though I do hate the coffee) I have always found the people that work there very customer friendly. just my personal experience but I have been to Starbucks less times than i have fingers because I don't like their coffee.

Quote:

Originally posted by randhail

My biggest annoyance with starbucks are the terms they have for small, medium, and large. It may be petty but I will never sell out and ask for a grande double mocha whatever. It will always be medium in my book.

me too

Chizip · 06-28-2005, 07:36 AM

i once went to a starbucks in columbus, ohio. the person working there was a huuuuuge hippy. i think she was a U2 fan though.

Liesje · 06-28-2005, 07:38 AM

I have an old HS friend who now works at Starbucks and she's a thief, not a hippy, but yeah, a thief is not good either...

Maggie1 · 06-28-2005, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by randhail
The hate for Starbucks is because of the smarmy hippy people they have working there. My biggest annoyance with starbucks are the terms they have for small, medium, and large. It may be petty but I will never sell out and ask for a grande double mocha whatever. It will always be medium in my book.

Hey!! Im a smarmy hippie person! I don't however hang out in starbucks because all the terms they use for their coffee are just overwhelming and make me feel stupid. Double latte, mocha something? Just give me a cup of joe!

pax · 06-28-2005, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ewen
When I was in the States recently I did like the coffee at Dunkin Donuts.

Pax will probably remember me having about two sips of my Starbucks coffee in Baltimore and then throwing it in the bin. She'll remember the stop at DD on our way to New York and that I liked their coffee.

Dunkin' Donuts...

Yes, I remember.

I like Starbucks well enough, but man, they're expensive. There is one near me, but I never go to it. Just a plain small coffee is, like, $1.40 or something! I usually make my own coffee at home and take it to work, or, failing that, I buy a regular cup at work for fifty cents.

I'm kind of a coffee junkie...if it's reasonably strong and actually tastes like coffee, I tend not to be especially picky. I drink it black, so I'm easy to satisfy as a coffee customer.

That said, though...a Starbucks caramel macchiato is a lovely occasional treat.

Liesje · 06-28-2005, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maggie1

I don't however hang out in starbucks because all the terms they use for their coffee are just overwhelming and make me feel stupid. Double latte, mocha something? Just give me a cup of joe!

No kidding! There's only ONE word for my nectar of choice: DEW.

redkat · 06-28-2005, 07:56 AM

I love and hate Starbucks. I hate it only because I'm so addicted to it and it's costing too much.

I used to agree with your views and prefer an independent shop. But, I was often frustrated at the inconsistency. I LOVE my coffee and I want the same one all the time. If I go into any Starbucks and order my Latte I know it's gonna be good. That's why I go there. That and all the local ones know me and usually have my coffee ready for me when I get to the counter

I've seen very few employees that aren't really nice.

popacrobat · 06-28-2005, 07:59 AM

ill have a venti sized triple mocha chino something blah blah latte

**Sicy** · 06-28-2005, 09:22 AM

I like Starbucks.. but I like the Starbucks coffee I make at home better

My boss just gave me a Starbucks card.. its pretty cool. She was thanking me for handling a situation and making executive decisions while she was out of town last week

Dismantled · 06-28-2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by randhail
The hate for Starbucks is because of the smarmy hippy people they have working there.

Thank you

and everyone with their laptops sitting around the fireplace all geeked out...

pub crawler · 06-28-2005, 09:32 AM

The whole "Starbucks is an evil corporation" thing comes from the perception -- whether true or not -- that Starbucks has a history of purposely opening stores right next to or across the street from independent coffee houses with the intent of putting them out of business. I don't know if that is indeed Starbucks' strategy, but I do know it's a perception people have.

I buy coffee there. In my opinion, Starbucks' coffee is bitter, but I've developed a taste for it.

As for the employees, almost without exception I find them very cool and personable.

06-28-2005, 06:54 AM	#1
U2@NYC Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Back in Buenos Aires Posts: 4,281 Local Time: 05:05 AM	Why all the hate against Starbucks? Note: I posted this in 'Just the Bang and the Clatter' but I thought that it would be better here to have a wider discussion. Why all the hate against Starbucks? To me, and pardon my ignorance, Starbucks is a company that truly transformed America's substandard taste in terms of coffee and created a true culture. Before Starbucks, all we had in the U.S. was 'standard' American coffee which, in my opinion, was pretty much flavorless. Now we have caramel macchiato, frapuccino, moccha, etc. I read Howard Schultz' book (Pour Your Heart Into It) and saw how a guy from the Brooklyn projects was able to realize his American dream and, at the same time, create a culture with it. Maybe I am being naive, but I see no harm in that. Overexpansion maybe? I am a big fan of Starbucks but would like to hear your views on it to better understand why there is so much hate against it. Thanks. __________________

06-28-2005, 07:04 AM	#2
Chizip Blue Crack Addict Join Date: May 2001 Location: gone Posts: 17,905 Local Time: 04:05 AM	its a giant corporation so by definition it must be evil! __________________

06-28-2005, 09:22 AM	#18
Sicy Sizzlin' Sicilian Forum Administrator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 69,349 Local Time: 02:05 AM	I like Starbucks.. but I like the Starbucks coffee I make at home better My boss just gave me a Starbucks card.. its pretty cool. She was thanking me for handling a situation and making executive decisions while she was out of town last week __________________

06-28-2005, 09:32 AM	#20
pub crawler New Yorker Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 2,551 Local Time: 03:05 AM	The whole "Starbucks is an evil corporation" thing comes from the perception -- whether true or not -- that Starbucks has a history of purposely opening stores right next to or across the street from independent coffee houses with the intent of putting them out of business. I don't know if that is indeed Starbucks' strategy, but I do know it's a perception people have. I buy coffee there. In my opinion, Starbucks' coffee is bitter, but I've developed a taste for it. As for the employees, almost without exception I find them very cool and personable. __________________

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06-28-2005, 07:07 AM	#3
Liesje Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the dog house Posts: 19,563 Local Time: 06:05 AM	I hate coffee in general, nothing personal.

06-28-2005, 07:15 AM	#5
ewen Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,887 Local Time: 05:05 AM	I'm not a coffee connoisseur, I have simple tastes in my tea or coffee. but, I hate Starbucks because I find their coffee far too hot (I was always lead to believe that coffee should be warm not scalding), too expensive for what it is and almost tasteless. I mean sue me, I don't like the taste of their regular coffee or cappacino. That's the only kind of coffee I'll drink. There's that fast-food thing that I hate too. I'd rather sooner go to an independant coffee shop if I just want to sit and relax for a bit. If I'm in a rush I'd choose a Costa Coffee if I have the option. Starbucks would only be if I feel desperate for coffee, which really isn't that often. When I was in the States recently I did like the coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Pax will probably remember me having about two sips of my Starbucks coffee in Baltimore and then throwing it in the bin. She'll remember the stop at DD on our way to New York and that I liked their coffee. my two cents. apart from that i don't care, i don't go so doesn't bother me.

06-28-2005, 07:18 AM	#6
randhail Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Outside Providence Posts: 3,560 Local Time: 06:05 AM	The hate for Starbucks is because of the smarmy hippy people they have working there. My biggest annoyance with starbucks are the terms they have for small, medium, and large. It may be petty but I will never sell out and ask for a grande double mocha whatever. It will always be medium in my book.

06-28-2005, 07:21 AM	#7
Aardvark747 Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Obscured By Clouds... Posts: 22,368 Local Time: 11:05 AM	Coffee tastes like shit

06-28-2005, 07:24 AM	#8
MsMofoGone Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Where is not important... Posts: 26,742 Local Time: 04:05 AM	I cannot stand the taste of coffee ... I am a "tea" drinker !!

06-28-2005, 07:32 AM	#9
Dismantled Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 21,345 Local Time: 06:05 AM	Their coffee is too strong... Their stores are annoying!!!..... Their coffee is WAY too expensive.... I have only been once and it wasn't my choice anyway yeah the minute I walked in I was really annoyed..

06-28-2005, 07:36 AM	#11
Chizip Blue Crack Addict Join Date: May 2001 Location: gone Posts: 17,905 Local Time: 04:05 AM	i once went to a starbucks in columbus, ohio. the person working there was a huuuuuge hippy. i think she was a U2 fan though.

06-28-2005, 07:38 AM	#12
Liesje Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the dog house Posts: 19,563 Local Time: 06:05 AM	I have an old HS friend who now works at Starbucks and she's a thief, not a hippy, but yeah, a thief is not good either...

06-28-2005, 07:56 AM	#16
redkat Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: racing to the waterside Posts: 19,620 Local Time: 03:05 AM	I love and hate Starbucks. I hate it only because I'm so addicted to it and it's costing too much. I used to agree with your views and prefer an independent shop. But, I was often frustrated at the inconsistency. I LOVE my coffee and I want the same one all the time. If I go into any Starbucks and order my Latte I know it's gonna be good. That's why I go there. That and all the local ones know me and usually have my coffee ready for me when I get to the counter I've seen very few employees that aren't really nice.

06-28-2005, 07:59 AM	#17
popacrobat Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: this house Posts: 9,866 Local Time: 06:05 AM	ill have a venti sized triple mocha chino something blah blah latte