Starbucks is dialing me in...should I worry?

[noddin0ff]

I hate feeling like I'm someone's target demographic (almost as much as I hate not being someone's target demographic). I'm finding my visits to my local Starbucks becoming more creepy. I used to look at all the CD's they sold and think, "Lame...who doesn't get out so much that they need to buy their music in coffee shops." Now, more and more, I find myself lingering over the title's they're pushing. Do I have a problem? I even started succumbing to the marketing machine. Am I being assimilated?

I've picked up...

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band: It's Not Big It's Large
Over all it's pretty good. Reminds me of a cross between the first Large Band and I Love Everybody. Pretty easy going mix, not as humorous as LL&HLB. There's more seamless mixing of various genres with Lyle's impeccable talent. Maybe because it's so seamless I feel it falls in the 'bit more of the same' category for me but its a nice album none-the-less.

Grateful Dead: Eternally Grateful
A 2-CD set. CD1 is a studio comp, CD2 is a live comp. And excellent cross-section for a someone lacking exposure to the culture of the Deadheads. It's got a Rhino logo as well; I probably wouldn't have picked it up so readily if it weren't for that. It's a well done package. Follow the link for track list and sources.

and before I get accused of selling out by buying my coffee at Starbucks, I was a Seattle patron when there were no more than 3 stores, years later turned my back on SB and pledged loyalty to Peet's. Now Peet's is far away and SB is half a block...what can I say. You will never never see me ordering a no whip skinny frap or some such nonsense...

[ForeverAutumn]

and before I get accused of selling out by buying my coffee at Starbucks, I was a Seattle patron when there were no more than 3 stores, years later turned my back on SB and pledged loyalty to Peet's. Now Peet's is far away and SB is half a block...what can I say. You will never never see me ordering a no whip skinny frap or some such nonsense...

Ah, you know us too well. You jumped right in there and took the thunder out of my post.

Well, as both a coffee lover and a music lover...I say that good coffee is good coffee and good music is good music. Both are subjective and sometimes overpriced, but you can't take for granted the enjoyment of either so you should buy them whenever and wherever you can.

(P.S. I often go to Starbucks for a caffe mocha with non-fat soy and no whipped. I don't care how pretentious it sounds...it's delicious!)

[kexodusc]

Yeah, no kidding...They're giving music away now too - Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Dylan, etc...all downloadable from iTunes. Clever bastards...
Starbucks makes a decent mass market espresso in a pinch - I travel a lot for work, that's the first question I ask about a town's coffee shops - "how does the espresso compare to Starbucks"? Depending on the better/worse answers, I go from there. A lot of coffee lovers are hard on them, but trust me, most hotels, airport lounges, etc do much, much worse....

[GMichael]

I am a huge fan of coffee, but I've never been able to stomach Starbucks. Not sure what it is. It makes my insides fight hard to be on the outside. Sounds like fun to be able to shop for music while sipping my morning brew though.
Anyone ever go to Barnes & Noble to sit and read in their coffee section?

[kexodusc]

I am a huge fan of coffee, but I've never been able to stomach Starbucks. Not sure what it is. It makes my insides fight hard to be on the outside. Sounds like fun to be able to shop for music while sipping my morning brew though.
Anyone ever go to Barnes & Noble to sit and read in their coffee section?

Could it be because Starbucks is a milk beverage store rather than a coffee shop and GM is lactose intolerant?
You pretty much need to order an espresso, or maybe an espresso americano on that menu...My stomach isn't a fan of the dairy derivatives of espresso drinks on their menu either.

[ForeverAutumn]

Could it be because Starbucks is a milk beverage store rather than a coffee shop and GM is lactose intolerant?
You pretty much need to order an espresso, or maybe an espresso americano on that menu...My stomach isn't a fan of the dairy derivatives of espresso drinks on their menu either.

I think that you can order pretty much any of their hot drinks with soy instead of milk. It's the cold pre-fab drinks that you need to stay away from. Starbucks coffee can be pretty strong. I like a rich cup of java, but I find that their mild blends are about as much as I can handle.

A friend of mine once told me that "friends don't let friends drink Starbucks". In fact, it's the same guy who recently said that "friends don't send friends Porky Tree". But what does he know?

[GMichael]

So far, I have no trouble with any dairy products. I do put half & half in the coffee I make at home. Something about the Starbucks that rips right through me. I don't think I'm alone in that either.
Many years ago I worked at the IBM Research Center, down in Yorktown NY. Some VP had gone on a trip and tried some Starbucks coffee. He liked it so much that on his return, he had our cafeteria switch completely to them. The first day after the switch, there were huge lines to get into every restroom in the building. By the second day, coffee consumption had dropped in half while tea consumption went through the roof. By the third week, you could get Starbucks or the regular coffee. Some people seem to love it, while others can't take it. I fall into the second group.

[noddin0ff]

Hmmm...Eddie Vedder...might have to drag my laptop over there.

I do enjoy and occasional soy-latte...usually home-made with my stovetop maker.

Best reliable espresso I've had is from one of these nespresso thingies a colleague got in his office. He ordered a cheaper one and got the nice one by mistake. Needless to say, nothing was said. Uses little pods in something like 20 varieties. Works out to about 50 cents a shot for the pods. Tempting, tempting...

[kexodusc]

I think that you can order pretty much any of their hot drinks with soy instead of milk.

This guy doesn't touch much soy if at all possible - there's some nasty scientific studies regarding soy and it's affect on...err...certain vital components and hormones in men. I do have a wee bit from time to time though, but since I'm really not much of a dairy/dairy substitute fan anyway, especially in my coffees, it's not an issue usually - besides, it masks the taste of my coffee! Coffees like a religion to me. I hate paying $5 for coffee, but I hate paying $2.50 for steamed milk even more.
Gotta admit though, you sure feel like you get more in a cappuccino or latte.

It's the cold pre-fab drinks that you need to stay away from. Starbucks coffee can be pretty strong. I like a rich cup of java, but I find that their mild blends are about as much as I can handle.

I tried one of those cold drinks once...I think it lasted 3 sips...worst thing I've ever tasted. IIRC there's a days worth of calories in them too. I can't believe how popular they are, sometimes I wonder if people just drink them to accessorize?

"friends don't let friends drink Starbucks".

Swishy swishing the pot again?
Actually, that's pretty funny - I would tend to agree with him if it can helped. Unfortunately, I often find myself faced with the reality that bad coffee is better than no coffee.

[ForeverAutumn]

I'm really not much of a dairy/dairy substitute fan anyway, especially in my coffees, it's not an issue usually - besides, it masks the taste of my coffee! Coffees like a religion to me.

I'm with you brother. Unless you're getting some kind of fancy steamed drink, the only way to drink coffee is black.

Um, wasn't this threat supposed to be about the music at Starbucks?

[GMichael]

Um, wasn't this threat supposed to be about the music at Starbucks?

Sorry. My bad.

[kexodusc]

I'm with you brother. Unless you're getting some kind of fancy steamed drink, the only way to drink coffee is black.

Um, wasn't this threat supposed to be about the music at Starbucks?

You're right...I meant to say "I'm really not much of a dairy/dairy substitute fan anyway, especially in my coffees, it's not an issue usually - besides, it masks the taste of my coffee! Coffees like a religion to me" when I'm listening to my new Eddie Vedder tune at Starbucks...

[ForeverAutumn]

You're right...I meant to say "I'm really not much of a dairy/dairy substitute fan anyway, especially in my coffees, it's not an issue usually - besides, it masks the taste of my coffee! Coffees like a religion to me" when I'm listening to my new Eddie Vedder tune at Starbucks...

That's better.

[dean_martin]

Anyone ever go to Barnes & Noble to sit and read in their coffee section?

Sit and read? Who goes to a book store to sit and read? I do like Barnes & Noble. I think I've been more this summer than any other time. I hit the cafe first for a Java Chip Frappuccino with whip and choc. syrup. I'm a sucker for chocolate milk shakes and coffee so this is the perfect drink. It can sub for a meal too. (Health nuts gasp here. Hey, I only get out maybe one weekend a month.) From there it's to the music and movie section - 2 of the 3 locations in our area have music and movie sections. By the time I'm done, I'm too juiced to sit and read.

I think the B&N cafes serve Starbucks coffee. Their menus are basically the same, but the last Starbucks I went in didn't have a Java Chip Frap. (If I go to a Starbucks, I almost always get mine to go.)

[3-LockBox]

Funny...there's thread over at ProgressiveEars on the same subject, only the CD in question is a Genesis comp which includes The Knife, Watcher Of The Skies, The Lamb', Squonk...

I live in the Pungent Sound area, I go to Starbucks every now and then, when its convenient, but I don't have to seek them out or anything, cuz why pass up 20 other espresso stands to get to a Starbucks?

I have purchased a comp from them, a good one too, Senses Working Overtime, which is a collection of late '70s, early '80s underground acts. The Genesis one surprised me, but I wonder how well it sells.

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with a Starbucks any more than they should have a problem with a Haggendaus. What? Did they lose their indie cred or something when they got popular and started making money?

[GMichael]

Funny...there's thread over at ProgressiveEars on the same subject, only the CD in question is a Genesis comp which includes The Knife, Watcher Of The Skies, The Lamb', Squonk...

I live in the Pungent Sound area, I go to Starbucks every now and then, when its convenient, but I don't have to seek them out or anything, cuz why pass up 20 other espresso stands to get to a Starbucks?

I have purchased a comp from them, a good one too, Senses Working Overtime, which is a collection of late '70s, early '80s underground acts. The Genesis one surprised me, but I wonder how well it sells.

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with a Starbucks any more than they should have a problem with a Haggendaus. What? Did they lose their indie cred or something when they got popular and started making money?

I never had a problem with their name. I had never even heard of them before I tried them. But I fear their coffee now.

[noddin0ff]

I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with a Starbucks any more than they should have a problem with a Haggendaus. What? Did they lose their indie cred or something when they got popular and started making money?

oooh. Get me started... Time was you could walk into a Starbucks in the U. District order a coffee or a latte and have it served fairly quickly. THEN, they exploded across the country and someone in middle management decided that all the franchises must look alike and all must have some common organization where a floater behind the counter takes your order and maybe starts preparing it while you queue up to another person at the register who takes your order and money while marking up a cup that is handed off to another person who makes your coffee drink when they're not mixing 18 ingredients into the newest frappuccino concoction while you stand in another queue waiting for your drink to come up. Why it takes a minimum of three people to serve coffee drinks is beyond me. But now, the music is looking good and mine started serving donuts and maple bars so I'm hooked.

[3-LockBox]

I never had a problem with their name.

not what I was driving at but...

whatever

[3-LockBox]

Why it takes a minimum of three people to serve coffee drinks is beyond me.

Like I said, I live in a land of so many choices, I only go to Starbucks if its convenient. Espresso stands up here are like pancake houses in the 'south' - they're everywhere.

[kexodusc]

Like I said, I live in a land of so many choices, I only go to Starbucks if its convenient. Espresso stands up here are like pancake houses in the 'south' - they're everywhere.

Ahh, you been to Atlanta, I see...

[bobsticks]

My love for coffee and other stimulants became prominent in college with Big Al's Lebanese Cuisine right around the corner. If you think Starbucks serves some heavey fare, try some Turkish coffee. Damn.

I feel pretty fortunate to have developed an "iron gut" with the proliferation of the latino community 'round these parts. There's alot of authentic south-of-the-border goodies and, in certain parts of town, jabaneros are finger food.

I guess I'm just lucky that way...and it didn't hurt being raised by wolves and suckled on The Laphroaig.

[3-LockBox]

If you think Starbucks serves some heavey fare, try some Turkish coffee.

I've had it, and you can keep it. I don't like coffee so strong it leaves a film on my teeth.

If you look at some super market coffee grinding stations, you'll that Turkisk is last on the progressive scale of grinds, right below espresso. I ground some coffee using the Turkish setting and it was like coc...er, talcum powder. It'll go right through a paper filter and don't even try it with a french press.

[bobsticks]

You gotta love that ...er,talcom powder.

[kexodusc]

You gotta love that ...er,talcom powder.

I had Turkish coffee for the first time about 8 years ago in Cyprus.
The first thing I thought as they pounded the beans in a mortar into a fine "coffee dust" was "this is gonna be nasty".
Yep - that was tough. I liked my coffee with cream and sugar back then -not strong, typical North American watered down stuff. Damn, it knocked me off my chair. I remember thinking that this is basically the coffee equivalent of powdered instant hot chocolate mix with 1/3 the recommended water amount.

Funny thing though, I developed a taste for espresso that day. They didn't seem so bitter after that. I've been hopelessly in love with coffee ever since.

Tried the Turskish stuff a few times, I don't mind it as much now, but it's still a bit too much for me, even. A friend of mine from Egypt drinks it exclusively. I don't think he's missed a day of work in his life, and I'm not sure the two aren't related. I don't know what anti-oxidants do exactly, but I'm sure he's as anti-oxidified as they come.

[3-LockBox]

For more paletable strong coffee, try the cold brew method, sometimes called totty style (no, not with alcohol). Its where you put espresso grind into cold water a steep for 24 hours, then filter. Produces a good strong shot of espresso with less than half the acid that heat brewing does.