Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

Go Back   Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community > Chatter > General Discussion


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 07-15-2008, 10:43 AM   #41 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by genuinegirly
Have you noticed that a Starbucks drip coffee is less expensive than a drip coffee at McDonalds lately?
Not in my market. Tim Hortons coffee starts at around $1.00. Extra larges are, like, $1.50 I think. McDonald's has to compete with that, and they do. Starbucks tall starts at around $1.85.

Quote:
Overroasted, eh? Sounds like you haven't tried light note.
I have, but I prefer dark roast. But one should not overroast my dark roast.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 10:48 AM   #42 (permalink)
Asshole
 
The_Jazz's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Chicago
Quote:
Originally Posted by jorgelito
*sigh* It's not arbitrary. This is easily explained.

There used to be only three sizes: small, tall, and grande. Pretty straight forward. Due to customer demand, they added a new size, venti (20oz). So now they have, small, tall, grande, and venti. I hear they are getting rid of small so now it will be tall, grande, and venti. Instead of renaming the sizes, they felt it was easier and less confusing to just stick with what they had. I see this as no different as any other company that has different labels for different sizes.
But it is arbitrary. For everyone else, those sizes are small, medium, large and extra large. That is how I order them. I refuse to learn how to "officially" order sizes at Starbucks. Why should I have to learn their codewords for their sizes?

The fact that you had to explain at all basically proves my point.
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo
The_Jazz is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 11:14 AM   #43 (permalink)
Addict
 
ktspktsp's Avatar
 
Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
I'm not a Starbucks fan, though I will go there if I can't find a place that sells espresso, and I want one. I don't like drip coffee nor milk so I basically always order espresso (probably because strength-wise it matches the turkish coffee I grew up drinking).

For me, the problem with Starbucks is that they seem to have moved to automated machines for their coffee: a button is pressed and your coffee is made. Therefore the barista doesn't have to master the skills of making a good shot (which include factors like adjusting the amout and tamping pressure on the grounds to account for the type and grind of the beans, etc). So starbucks coffee ends up being a more or less consistent, though mediocre, product.

Of course, if you're mixing the coffee with a lot of milk and whatnot, then it doesn't matter as much because the taste of the coffee in the drink will be much less distinct.

And yes they tend to overroast, which is another thing that enables them to establish a uniform taste across different places.
ktspktsp is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 03:22 PM   #44 (permalink)
All important elusive independent swing voter...
 
jorgelito's Avatar
 
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
Quote:
Originally Posted by genuinegirly
Have you noticed that a Starbucks drip coffee is less expensive than a drip coffee at McDonalds lately?

Overroasted, eh? Sounds like you haven't tried light note.



Short. Not small. Short.

The short cup will always exist for hot beverages. I will be shocked if they ever remove it. It's for the children's size hot chocolate. I personally like getting a short breve raspberry hot chocolate. Besides, it's the only reasonable sized cup for a single almond camapana to go.
Oops, thanks for the correction. Short. I think short is available only on request except the children's drink.

The mild blends would be good for Baraka too
jorgelito is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 04:26 PM   #45 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz
But it is arbitrary. For everyone else, those sizes are small, medium, large and extra large. That is how I order them. I refuse to learn how to "officially" order sizes at Starbucks. Why should I have to learn their codewords for their sizes?

The fact that you had to explain at all basically proves my point.

Well, the flip side of that is that even "properly" named sizes are arbitrary except as compared to each other. A McD's small drink today is the exact size of a McD's medium drink 15 years ago. MD became SM, LG became MD and the new lard ass sized cup o' sugar is now LG. They did the same thing with fries, and then about 8-10 years ago started offering SMALL fries again if you specially ordered them... I still don't think they are on the menu. It's the size they put in a Happy Meal.
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage
xepherys is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 05:31 PM   #46 (permalink)
Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side
 
Sion's Avatar
 
Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.
"coffee culture"

now there's a phrase that just makes my skin crawl...makes me want to vomit...makes me feel like I'm channeling George Carlin during one of his "fuck you, you trendy scumbag" rants

coffee is not a culture, it's a damned hot beverage and nothing more!
__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz

I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...
Sion is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 06:10 PM   #47 (permalink)
Eat your vegetables
 
genuinegirly's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Arabidopsis-ville
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Not in my market. Tim Hortons coffee starts at around $1.00. Extra larges are, like, $1.50 I think. McDonald's has to compete with that, and they do. Starbucks tall starts at around $1.85.

I have, but I prefer dark roast. But one should not overroast my dark roast.
Hmmm, that's very odd. $1.45 for a tall Starbucks drip coffee around here, and at McDonald's it is $1.65
__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy
genuinegirly is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 06:12 PM   #48 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sion
coffee is not a culture, it's a damned hot beverage and nothing more!
Yeah, it reminds me of "gun culture."

It's not the coffee that's the culture; it's what people are doing around it. If you're a writer who hangs around other writers at a coffee shop and you exchange ideas, show each other your work, and proudly announce your next publication, then what you are partaking in is writing culture or literary culture. The coffee is the thing you drink to give you a buzz to do so.

Quote:
Originally Posted by genuinegirly
Hmmm, that's very odd. $1.45 for a tall Starbucks drip coffee around here, and at McDonald's it is $1.65
You must be in the States or something.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 06:22 PM   #49 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sion
"coffee culture"

now there's a phrase that just makes my skin crawl...makes me want to vomit...makes me feel like I'm channeling George Carlin during one of his "fuck you, you trendy scumbag" rants

coffee is not a culture, it's a damned hot beverage and nothing more!

Well, technically, ANY culture is "just something" to people not into it. Music can be cultural... or just notes played on instruments, air blown through tubes or metal struck. Movies can culture, or just moving pictures telling lame stories. *shrug*
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage
xepherys is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 07:39 PM   #50 (permalink)
Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side
 
Sion's Avatar
 
Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.
you guys use a very broad, vague definition of culture
__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz

I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...
Sion is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 08:12 PM   #51 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sion
you guys use a very broad, vague definition of culture
Who is "you guys"? I don't consider the "coffee culture" to be anything serious. I do however think that culture, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage
xepherys is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 09:36 PM   #52 (permalink)
Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side
 
Sion's Avatar
 
Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xepherys
Who is "you guys"?

you and Baraka Guru
__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz

I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...
Sion is offline  
Old 07-15-2008, 09:43 PM   #53 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sion
you and Baraka Guru
Perhaps you have a very narrow, rigid definition of culture...
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage
xepherys is offline  
Old 07-16-2008, 03:57 AM   #54 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sion
you guys use a very broad, vague definition of culture
Oh, I can be more specific about literary culture if you want. I was just giving you an example of what literary types would do in a coffee shop, which is vaguely on topic in this thread.

Culture generally is an open word. It's up to those who use it to properly contextualize it.

What are you getting at, exactly?
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 07-16-2008, 10:10 AM   #55 (permalink)
Upright
 
thats disgusting
__________________
Brandy Thomas | Sex | Porn
Xoote is offline  
Old 07-16-2008, 12:23 PM   #56 (permalink)
Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side
 
Sion's Avatar
 
Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
What are you getting at, exactly?

actually, I thought my original comments on the subject pretty well summed up my position:

"now there's a phrase that just makes my skin crawl...makes me want to vomit...makes me feel like I'm channeling George Carlin during one of his "fuck you, you trendy scumbag" rants

coffee is not a culture, it's a damned hot beverage and nothing more!"


but since you insist on more: basically, I see culture as another one of those over-used words that loses a little bit more of its meaning each time it's tacked onto something that someone is a little too preoccupied with.

"gun culture"..."drug culture"..."coffee culture"

what's next? "paper clip culture"

I see it as a pretentious way to describe a (possibly unhealthy) interest in something. when everything is a culture, then nothing is.
__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst.
Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz

I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...
Sion is offline  
Old 07-16-2008, 12:33 PM   #57 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
You're assuming "culture" has a value in and of itself. It's use should not suggest that. Today, it's use is for categorization purposes. It's easier to say "Coffee culture" than "What people do in coffee shops and how they enjoy their coffee."

Don't get hung up on the word. It's a word of utility more than anything. There is no capital "C" culture anymore. That died around the turn of the 20th century—actually, probably during or just after the Great Wars.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 07-18-2008, 10:40 AM   #58 (permalink)
Junkie
 
biznatch's Avatar
 
Location: France
I personally believe Starbucks coffee is terrible. i drink a lot of coffee, and even though the crap you find at Delis in NYC is terrible, it's usually between 50c and a dollar for a cup, and it still tastes better in my opinion.
Also I don't like their company too much because they kind of stole the market from all the independent coffee shops, but I suppose more power to them.
__________________
Check it out: The Open Source/Freeware/Gratis Software Thread
biznatch is offline  
Old 07-22-2008, 07:48 AM   #59 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
They didn't "steal" the market from indies... The indies let them come and take it. *shrug* That's generally how it works. You think Wal-Mart "stole" the mom-and-pop shop? No, but not enough was done early on to stop them. Same deal... Think about it this way. The anti-Sbux crowd here say the coffee is too pricey and not very good. The neighborhood cafe is tastier and cheaper. If that's true, how is Sbux so huge? Why would people pay $5 for a cup of sub-standard coffee when they could drive two more blocks and pay $1 for a great cup?

At any rate, I like Sbux coffee and Caribou as well. I HATE Beaners/Bigby coffee. As for smaller cafes? They are hit and miss, so if I'm in the mood to be adventurous, I'll try one. If I just need good coffee I go where I know I can get it.
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage
xepherys is offline  
Old 07-22-2008, 08:45 AM   #60 (permalink)
Unencapsulated
 
JustJess's Avatar
 
Location: Kittyville
On topic: nice picture!
Off topic:
I love Sbux. I do. You can't make me change my mind. I don't drink "real" coffee, so I have to get my caffeine in light and sweet concoctions. Thus my MEDIUM (i don't use their terms) caramel skim latte. Yummmmmmm.

If you get the light version of the caramel frappuccino, it's only 180 calories. And tastes awesome.

DON'T get sugar-free syrups, though, they suck. They have a chemical aftertaste that is truly disturbing and grody.
__________________
My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.
JustJess is offline  
Old 07-22-2008, 09:30 AM   #61 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustJess View Post
DON'T get sugar-free syrups, though, they suck. They have a chemical aftertaste that is truly disturbing and grody.
a) This is true. In fact, Sbux and B&N (A Sbux branded cafe) are getting rid of many of their sugar-free syrups and going to a light syrup (either lower sugar or Sucralose... not sure which)

b) grody? LOL
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage
xepherys is offline  
Old 08-11-2008, 05:39 PM   #62 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Just saw this pic on TMs phone again. I had, oddly enough, forgotten about it. *sigh* Gotta love customer service like this!
-----Added 11/8/2008 at 09 : 40 : 42-----
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustJess View Post
I love Sbux. I do. You can't make me change my mind. I don't drink "real" coffee, so I have to get my caffeine in light and sweet concoctions. Thus my MEDIUM (i don't use their terms) caramel skim latte. Yummmmmmm.


Latte is real coffee. Most "real" coffee drinkers couldn't handle the power of espresso!
__________________
The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible...
-- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato


My Homepage

Last edited by xepherys; 08-11-2008 at 05:40 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
xepherys is offline  
Old 08-11-2008, 06:08 PM   #63 (permalink)
Kick Ass Kunoichi
 
snowy's Avatar
 
Location: Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by xepherys View Post
They didn't "steal" the market from indies... The indies let them come and take it. *shrug* That's generally how it works. You think Wal-Mart "stole" the mom-and-pop shop? No, but not enough was done early on to stop them. Same deal... Think about it this way. The anti-Sbux crowd here say the coffee is too pricey and not very good. The neighborhood cafe is tastier and cheaper. If that's true, how is Sbux so huge? Why would people pay $5 for a cup of sub-standard coffee when they could drive two more blocks and pay $1 for a great cup?

At any rate, I like Sbux coffee and Caribou as well. I HATE Beaners/Bigby coffee. As for smaller cafes? They are hit and miss, so if I'm in the mood to be adventurous, I'll try one. If I just need good coffee I go where I know I can get it.
They certainly didn't steal any market share from the independent coffee shops in my town. Starbucks is probably the least popular coffee place here, though it is busy on Saturday mornings--when all the independent coffee shops are packed.
__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
snowy is offline  
Old 08-11-2008, 06:51 PM   #64 (permalink)
Crazy
 
BogeyDope's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru View Post
Starbucks is a plague.

But apparently we're beating it; they're closing a bunch of locations.


You're not beating anything, starbucks shut down those locations because Howard Schultz wants it to return to its roots.

Oh, and I know this because I work for them and I know people high in corporate.
__________________
Focus. Control. Conviction. Resolve. A true ace lacks none of these attributes. Nothing can deter you from the task at hand except your own fears. This is your sky.
BogeyDope is offline  
Old 08-11-2008, 08:34 PM   #65 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneralMao View Post
You're not beating anything, starbucks shut down those locations because Howard Schultz wants it to return to its roots.

Oh, and I know this because I work for them and I know people high in corporate.
Any regression in a disease such as a plague should be seen as a victory. Even if it does it on its own accord.

We win again!
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 08-11-2008, 08:56 PM   #66 (permalink)
All important elusive independent swing voter...
 
jorgelito's Avatar
 
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
Baraka, why do you see it as a win if Starbucks closes stores? Why all the hatred and vitriolic sentiment?
__________________
"The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but
to the one that endures to the end."

"Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!"

- My recruiter
jorgelito is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 02:27 AM   #67 (permalink)
Unencapsulated
 
JustJess's Avatar
 
Location: Kittyville
1. Xepherys - lattes may be real coffee, but they don't taste like it.

2. I'd go to a "real" cafe, but they are always too strong for me, too bitter. I ask for extra milk, and it's like I'm talking to myself. That said, there's one awesome place in my nabe, but it's completely inconvenient to my commute (and their prices aren't that much cheaper, actually).

3. Baraka, dude... go enjoy your coffee-snob stuff! (I say that with all affection.) It's all good! Just don't hate on those of us who enjoy our Starbucks! I agree there might be a few *too* many stores in places like NYC, but overall? Who cares? They're not an evil company. They take care of their employees, they give back, and they don't kick puppies. A win all round, I'd say.
__________________
My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.
JustJess is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 03:32 AM   #68 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by jorgelito
Baraka, why do you see it as a win if Starbucks closes stores? Why all the hatred and vitriolic sentiment?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustJess
Baraka, dude... go enjoy your coffee-snob stuff! (I say that with all affection.) It's all good! Just don't hate on those of us who enjoy our Starbucks! I agree there might be a few *too* many stores in places like NYC, but overall? Who cares? They're not an evil company. They take care of their employees, they give back, and they don't kick puppies. A win all round, I'd say.
Guys, I was joking. See my post 32. Besides, I prefer the invective over the vitriolic, so you'll know when I'm hating something.

As long as Starbucks doesn't participate in unethical practices, then I have nothing against them. But that goes for just about anybody. I am far from being a coffee snob. I drink all kinds of stuff. I'm not even adverse to using those instant coffee vending machines when I'm in a pinch.

jorgelito, just don't get me started on the Olympics.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 07:17 AM   #69 (permalink)
Crazy
 
BogeyDope's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru View Post
Any regression in a disease such as a plague should be seen as a victory. Even if it does it on its own accord.

We win again!


haha, in that case, Victory!
__________________
Focus. Control. Conviction. Resolve. A true ace lacks none of these attributes. Nothing can deter you from the task at hand except your own fears. This is your sky.
BogeyDope is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 08:20 AM   #70 (permalink)
All important elusive independent swing voter...
 
jorgelito's Avatar
 
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru View Post
Guys, I was joking. See my post 32. Besides, I prefer the invective over the vitriolic, so you'll know when I'm hating something.

As long as Starbucks doesn't participate in unethical practices, then I have nothing against them. But that goes for just about anybody. I am far from being a coffee snob. I drink all kinds of stuff. I'm not even adverse to using those instant coffee vending machines when I'm in a pinch.
Starbucks is a fine company; not perfect, no corporation is, but they are good as it is. I just find it disingenuous to pick on Starbucks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru View Post
jorgelito, just don't get me started on the Olympics.
What does the Olympics have to do with coffee? As far as I know, Starbucks is not affiliated with the Olympics.

By the way, there are a few great threads on the Olympics you should participate in if you want to talk about Olympics.
__________________
"The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but
to the one that endures to the end."

"Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!"

- My recruiter
jorgelito is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 08:41 AM   #71 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by jorgelito View Post
What does the Olympics have to do with coffee? As far as I know, Starbucks is not affiliated with the Olympics.
Only in presence. Currently, the Olympics can be found "on every corner," just like Starbucks. (I watched a record-breaking swim by accident.) Imagine the Starbucks outlets that are serving the visitors in Beijing, as well.

Quote:
By the way, there are a few great threads on the Olympics you should participate in if you want to talk about Olympics.
Are there any in Philosophy or Politics?
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 09:00 AM   #72 (permalink)
 
roachboy's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: essex ma
what you make of starbucks is a function of what you choose to look at---if all you see is a retail outlet that sells mediocre-to-ok coffee (which can be excellent coffee in a context that doesn't otherwise provide it from a retail viewpoint) then you head one way---if you prefer locally owned places and a greater variety of interiors and coffees, then you go another-- (on this much depends on where you live--in philadelphia, starbucks definitely had an impact on the coffeehouse circuit, but they didn't kill it off by any means---in chicago, it seems that the folk never really understood the coffeehouse thing at all, so the impact starbucks had was, from what i could tell, a zero-sum thing: most places sucked anyway, starbucks tends to suck, so it all zeros out). if you look at them in terms of how anti-globalization mobilizations constructed their symbol-systems in the late 1990s, then detesting starbucks becomes more comprehensible.

thing is that the pressure they got from this last bit makes them kinda interesting in terms of their purchasing strategies.
i don't know how much folk care about where the stuff they consume comes from, but anyway: fair trade coffee is often better in terms of flavor and is definitely preferable in terms of the politics of coffee production (direct democratic producer collectives...) but it comes with a limit on how much they can supply--starbucks is on the industrial side of the procurement system---so they developed their curious "cafe" system, which enables them to get about 20% of their coffee via fair trade---enough so they can use the logo---and the rest from plantations and other conventional (monocrop) growers. in this, starbucks really has the basic problems of the industrial food system as a whole, in a condensed form, and with reference to a relatively GMO-free commodity (coffee) the problems associated with which have largely to do with how production is organized.

but like i said, it's just a cup of joe.
__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite
roachboy is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 09:03 AM   #73 (permalink)
All important elusive independent swing voter...
 
jorgelito's Avatar
 
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru View Post
Only in presence. Currently, the Olympics can be found "on every corner," just like Starbucks. (I watched a record-breaking swim by accident.) Imagine the Starbucks outlets that are serving the visitors in Beijing, as well.

Are there any in Philosophy or Politics?
Consider yourself lucky to have witnessed that historical and exciting event. I do not have television and had to watch highlights on the net. It's hard to get coverage of the Olympics here in the US. The Olympic threads are in General Discussion where it makes the most sense. Feel free to stop by and participate.
__________________
"The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but
to the one that endures to the end."

"Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!"

- My recruiter
jorgelito is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 09:11 AM   #74 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by jorgelito View Post
Consider yourself lucky to have witnessed that historical and exciting event. I do not have television and had to watch highlights on the net. It's hard to get coverage of the Olympics here in the US. The Olympic threads are in General Discussion where it makes the most sense. Feel free to stop by and participate.
Sorry, I don't feel so lucky. It was rather anticlimactic for me.

I'm not that interested in general discussions of the Olympics, but thanks for the invite. I much prefer discussions of coffee and its distribution.

* * * * *

roachboy, that's a good summary—thank you.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 08-12-2008, 01:56 PM   #75 (permalink)
Psycho
 
Ayashe's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru View Post
Not in my market. Tim Hortons coffee starts at around $1.00. Extra larges are, like, $1.50 I think. McDonald's has to compete with that, and they do. Starbucks tall starts at around $1.85.

I have, but I prefer dark roast. But one should not overroast my dark roast.
I have heard that Tim Hortons coffee is wonderful, never tried it myself. One of these days I will have to order some of their beans and give them a try. As for Starbucks.. well perhaps the pee is why I never cared for the taste of their coffeee. On the rare occasion I would go to a coffee shop it would be from Caribou, Kodiak or Dunn Brothers. Preferably Kodiak, though they are out of the way for me.
Ayashe is offline  
 

Tags
avoid, blended, lemonade, starbucks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:54 AM.

Tilted Forum Project

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
© 2002-2012 Tilted Forum Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360