Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with coffee and starbucks

French-press carafe only?

mattbucher — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:56:04 -0800

Is there anywhere online or brick-and-mortar where I can buy just a glass carafe for a French press coffee maker? I'm always breaking the damn things and it just seems silly to keep buying new ones when all I really need is the carafe. I've bought several sizes and brands (Ikea, Starbucks, etc.), but I'd be open to any suggestions.

Why would Starbucks throw perfectly good coffee away?

bach — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:42:15 -0800

Why would Starbucks throw perfectly good coffee away? As a temp picking orders for a Starbucks warehouse (18,000-24,000 packages shipped per shift) I happened upon one of the custodial staff disposing of unopened coffee, teas, and other food-type items. When I asked why, he said it was company policy to do so. The store the items were picked for wasn't going to open for two months, so they returned them to the warehouse.

I see this as extremely wasteful and uncharacteristic for a company like Starbucks to essentially trash 100 cases or so of perfectly good product. Could they not donate it to a food bank or soup kitchen, etc.... or give it to the employees. :)

Should I be mad or is this the norm for food warehousing?

I can see the "chain of custody" view, that by doing so, the company doesn't open itself to a lawsuit because someone somewhere drank something that was a returned item, etc... but I'm curious if other companies have similar procedures.

Other "beginner" coffee drinks?

blahtsk — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:15:00 -0800

Starbucks mocha... mmm... what next? I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I loves me some mocha goodness. I've tried peppermint and orange mochas as well. Peppermint mocha is good. The orange one tastes like a mocha with an orange creme popsicle melted in it. Not so good.

Anyway, are there any other "beginner" (or even "intermediate") coffee / espresso drinks, preferably with chocolate or something else that eases the coffee flavor?

Where to buy coffee drinks online

Juicylicious — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:10:19 -0800

Is there anywhere I can order Starbuck's Iced Coffee & Doubleshots online? I'm currently deployed to Djibouti. It's hot & humid here and I'm having a difficult time going without my favorite creature comfort - Starbucks Iced Coffee Light and Doubleshot Light, which I was able to buy at my local grocerly store before I deployed. I've only found one place online and they only sell the doubleshot and it's not the Light version. And, that store wants $54 for 12!!!!! A ridiculous price. They normally retail for $1.99 each or $6.99 4 pack.

Does anyone know where I can order these products online? I have an APO shipping address, so they don't go through customs.

She's addicted!

skrike — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 07:54:07 -0800

Starbucks has a line of bottled frappuccino drinks sold in grocery stores, they also make light frappucinos inside Starbucks locations, but do they bottle and sell light frappuccinos? My wife swears she has seen them before but we've looked everywhere and called everywhere and searched all over the internet with no luck. She has even gone as far as to call the 800 number and ask Starbucks if they still make them. They claim that the light bottled frappuccinos are still being made and sold and are bottled by pepsi, but an internet search is finding me either recipes or just the regular bottles.

Does anyone know where I can find them for sale? It would specifically be the Mocha Light Frappuccino. Thanks!

Call me confused . . .

Gordion Knott — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:58:53 -0800

Is it my imagination, or is Starbucks espresso on a long road to suck? Okay, I'll fess up. Chalk it up to bad habits, but for a long time, I've been into an occasional Starbucks espresso as a break from my preferred lighter roast, Italian style espresso brew. Somehow, the carbonated, burnt Starbucks blend scratches a primitive itch.

But lately, I've been dissatisfied. No, not with the burnt taste, still as vulgar and unauthentic as ever. With the thickness. I've sampled espressos (okay, espressi for you Italian speakers) at about six New York Starbucks, and for god sakes, this sh*t isn't *even espresso*. It's a watery brew that's about as viscous as drip coffee.

Is this an east coast, New York thang? Have the espresso machines at Starbucks gone kerfluy? Has the company cut back on workers with the right mojo to pull a good espresso? Is the watery blend all about less coffee grounds and lower costs?

Yes, yes, I know. Starbucks these days is about confectionary drinks and all of that jazz. But sometimes, when I'm jonesing for an espresso, they're my best fallback.

What's the deal here, guys?

Why Does Burned Coffee Rule?

ParisParamus — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:06:39 -0800

Why does (what is the psychology of) Starbucks thrive(ing) selling coffee that, it would seem, most people find less than ideal? From speaking with a friends, family, and collegues, I can't recall anyone saying that they actually love Starbucks' coffee. Perhaps I travel in an atypical "coffee circle," but I wonder.

Specifically, why does Starbucks insist on selling medium-to-dark roast coffee exclusively, when, I suspect, most Americans would prefer a good light roast brew (or, why not sell both; dark roast does make sense for frappuccinos, etc.).

Is it that Starbucks has concluded that, given that most people put milk in their coffee, that "burned coffee" (what many call it) is, overall the best compromise?

Is it that people don't really go to Starbucks for the coffee but the ambiance and/or pastry?

Is it that dark coffee, psychologically, has a status/appeal BECAUSE most people don't actually like it? Something else?

Coffee, Please!

sgt.serenity — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 05:30:38 -0800

How to order a normal coffee...... all i want when i go to a cafe is a coffee with milk , maybe i'm a bit daft but when i just ask for 'a coffee' im asked to supply some sort of thesis on which kind of coffee i'd like.
Is it an espresso , is it a capucino , is the milk warm , is the milk semi skimmed etc etc .
Please can anybody supply me with the correct expression for a standard coffee with normal full fat milk so i dont have to be quizzed ever again.
I've probably found my own answer here but i'd appreciate a concise term that i can use.