![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by madeline on October 15, 2006, at 12:20:40
But I just had a caramel macchiato and it was delicious.
So are their chai eggnog lattes.
Just putting my two cents out there.
Maddie
Posted by inimitable on October 15, 2006, at 13:27:26
In reply to Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by madeline on October 15, 2006, at 12:20:40
i LOVE starbucks! i used to work there, but now i attend college where there isn't one around and i miss all those delicious drinks! caramel machiattos....breve mochas.....toffee nut lattes...the list goes on, but i also just miss working there, cause the atmosphere, well i tried to keep it very upbeat and cheerful, and it was the best job i ever had!
*inimitable, starbucks lover
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 15, 2006, at 13:50:00
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by inimitable on October 15, 2006, at 13:27:26
Maddie,
you are right- Starbucks has a lovely creative selection of fancy coffee indulgences.I enjoy their eggnog lattes, their frappucinnos, and especially the pumpkin spice lattes.
However, I find their espresso roast to be too (acidic? bitter? strident? tannic?) to enjoy in simpler drinks, such as Cafe Americano, Latte, Cappucinno, etc. I can only enjoy it when it's diluted with all kinds of fancy syrups and foamy dairies:)
As I write this, I'm sitting in an independent Cafe. The owner is also a barista, and their espresso is simply the finest I have ever had anywhere, with the possible exception of a few small cafes in the Italian countryside.
It's a very rich warm coffee taste- not bitter, almost has hints of nuttiness and chocolate, perfect crema, and it mixes into the most delicious vanilla latte- tastes like a toasted marshmallow. mmm! This cafe is the most important source of inspiration for my dissertation research at this stage :)
((((pumpkinspicelatte))))
-Li
((((vanillalatteskim))))
Posted by Phillipa on October 15, 2006, at 15:34:43
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Lindenblüte on October 15, 2006, at 13:50:00
I love Starbucks but the first panic attack I'd had in years was after my first Starbucks iced coffee. And they are all over here. I want so much to have an iced Starbucks. How come you can all tolerate coffee no anxiety amonst you? Love Phillipa
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 15, 2006, at 19:41:44
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Phillipa on October 15, 2006, at 15:34:43
i luuuuv the anxiety, phillipa!
that's how i know i'm alivvvvvEEE!no, seriously- can't drink coffee all the time. sometimes i have to drink tea.
i just painted my nails a color best described as somewhere between crimson and black. kinda dramatic.
hey- you might enjoy a chai tea latte. no coffee in it. if you like pumpkin pie spices, you would like this.
-Li
Posted by alexandra_k on October 15, 2006, at 21:49:04
In reply to Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by madeline on October 15, 2006, at 12:20:40
i knock starbucks.
firstly for their coffee with no coffee to appeal to people who don't really like coffee...
secondly for their globalisation which results in small independent coffee shops with EXCELLENT coffee makers and EXCELLENT local roasts being taken over by yet another starbucks...
but that being said they make fantastic frapachinos (with no cream!)
sigh.
Posted by madeline on October 15, 2006, at 21:56:41
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Phillipa on October 15, 2006, at 15:34:43
They have pretty good decaf things.
Sometimes caffeine can really get me going, other times I seem totally resistant to it.
But I love coffee.
Take care
maddie
Posted by laima on October 16, 2006, at 16:48:29
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks » Phillipa, posted by madeline on October 15, 2006, at 21:56:41
Best not to forget Starbucks pioneered full health benefits, including drug coverage, vision, mental health visits, and dental- for ALL part-time employees. Just for 20 hours per week average. They also hand out stock options which can vest into a fortune, and also were one of the first companies to hand out same-sex domestic partner benefits.
Posted by madeline on October 16, 2006, at 16:53:51
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by laima on October 16, 2006, at 16:48:29
That is fabulous! I had NO IDEA Starbucks did that.
Another reason to support them!
Posted by Jost on October 16, 2006, at 22:37:10
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks » laima, posted by madeline on October 16, 2006, at 16:53:51
Without wanting to be a grinch or a lout, I can't say I like Starbucks. Maybe it's the curse of advanced capitalism (:)) but where I live, in a city where almost nothing appears to be owned by a human being, and thus has some remnant of personality-- in decor, atmosphere, and merchandise--I find myself at odds with having a "Grande" (what a thought...), when all I want is coffee with milk, no sugar. (Plus the coffee is very bitter, IMO--)
Maybe the more exotic drinks are great, but I like the donuts in these old, hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, which maybe used real ingredients.
Sorry, I 'll become less crotchety,
Jost
Posted by laima on October 17, 2006, at 22:36:22
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Jost on October 16, 2006, at 22:37:10
I don't know- seems like sometimes good and bad qualities are intertwined in the same entity. Some hole in the wall coffee shops have bad coffee, too. But if Starbucks didn't raise the bar by giving all part-time employees such good health care, etc- would any competetors have ever done it? Now you almost take it for granted that you might find a part time job, or a minimum wage, "unskilled" job with some kind of benefits- but when they started that- it was unheard of.
Posted by laima on October 17, 2006, at 22:43:45
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Jost on October 16, 2006, at 22:37:10
ps- I don't like the exotic drinks either- I miss the old days, "no-nonsense" pre-frappaccino Starbucks. Before they demoted Howard Schultz, who instigated all those fabulous benefits...
Posted by madeline on October 18, 2006, at 17:37:03
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Jost on October 16, 2006, at 22:37:10
I agree, a lot of the time the coffee is better at a little hole in the wall place.
However, if you want a maple soy latte half decaf half regular extra foam with cinnamon,
well starbucks is the place to be.
;)
Posted by Jost on October 19, 2006, at 22:05:50
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks » Jost, posted by madeline on October 18, 2006, at 17:37:03
Well, should I ever have the uncontrollable desire, there's a Starbucks only three blocks from where I now sit.
Although it closes at 9 pm, I think. so I might have to go further to find an all-night Starbucks. If there are any.
And all the hole-in-the-wall places are kaput.
As I discovered today on my futile quest to locate one, at which to buy a decent donut (did I mentione that I don't like Krispy Kreme, either?).
Nada. --all this made necessary because the little corner rickshaw coffee stand, where I've bought a few donuts employs a guy who gingerly, slooowly lifted my last boston creme donut off the shelf and unceremoniously dumbed it, chocolate frosting down, into a brown paper bag. Which I only discovered when I got home. Needless to say the frosting was squished and sticking to the bag.
I mean how do you do that???? How??? How I say? How?
Jost
Posted by laima on October 20, 2006, at 0:25:23
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks, posted by Jost on October 19, 2006, at 22:05:50
Truely, Starbucks was a whole different vibe 10, or better, 15 years ago, before the Board demoted Howard, telling him he wasn't good for profits. And the taste- is aquired. They didn't have such an expansion plan back then- you had to go looking for a Starbucks. I like Peet's also- they are actually my all time favorite- they are kind of toasty, too. As is Lavazza.
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 20, 2006, at 12:13:00
In reply to Re: Everybody always knocks Starbucks » Jost, posted by laima on October 20, 2006, at 0:25:23
Seattle's Best Coffee is another chain/coffee brand that I have seen in ? Borders? Cafes inside their bookstores.
If you're looking for a smooth brewed coffee, that's their specialty. Scones and muffins and donuts and such haven't been impressive at all.
Their vanilla latte was "okay" but nothing special.
Panera bread has very nice breakfast pastries (baked, though-- sorry Jost, no donuts, but they have some bagels). Advantage of Panera Bread is that there is free refill coffee and free wireless internet. I owe Panera Bread credit for my data analysis on my Master's thesis. Since I have moved, however, I no longer go to Panera every Saturday morning for hours of coffee and variables, interupted briefly with injections of refined carbohydrates...
Warning- their "lattes" are basically desert drinks. I can barely detect a coffee flavor in most of them, delicious though they may taste. mostly taste like warm milk, whipped cream and whatever flavor you pick.
Einstein's Bagels has pretty good brewed coffee.
Here's my continuum of brewed coffee experiences, ranging from mild&smooth to strong&strident. Keep in mind that these are averaged over several different locations and different coffee varieals (i.e. Columbian or House or whatever I order that day). Different brews may not follow this general trend, and I'm by no means a coffee expert. I am a tea snob, and have a sophisticated palette for chocolate, but I'm very much a novice coffee drinker. Please feel free to add to, or modify this list!
Seattle's Best
Dunkin Donuts
Panera Bread
Einstein's Bagels
Starbucks "mild"
Starbucks house
-Li
Posted by laima on October 20, 2006, at 14:01:46
In reply to Alternative coffee brands/ cafe experiences, posted by Lindenblüte on October 20, 2006, at 12:13:00
Oh dear, thank goodness for choices. Seattle's is at bottom of my list :) But I do like the Dunkin Dark Roast....but not nearly as much as Peet's, and they don't even le\t you fix it up yourself.> Seattle's Best Coffee is another chain/coffee brand that I have seen in ? Borders? Cafes inside their bookstores.
>
> If you're looking for a smooth brewed coffee, that's their specialty. Scones and muffins and donuts and such haven't been impressive at all.
>
> Their vanilla latte was "okay" but nothing special.
>
> Panera bread has very nice breakfast pastries (baked, though-- sorry Jost, no donuts, but they have some bagels). Advantage of Panera Bread is that there is free refill coffee and free wireless internet. I owe Panera Bread credit for my data analysis on my Master's thesis. Since I have moved, however, I no longer go to Panera every Saturday morning for hours of coffee and variables, interupted briefly with injections of refined carbohydrates...
>
> Warning- their "lattes" are basically desert drinks. I can barely detect a coffee flavor in most of them, delicious though they may taste. mostly taste like warm milk, whipped cream and whatever flavor you pick.
>
> Einstein's Bagels has pretty good brewed coffee.
>
> Here's my continuum of brewed coffee experiences, ranging from mild&smooth to strong&strident. Keep in mind that these are averaged over several different locations and different coffee varieals (i.e. Columbian or House or whatever I order that day). Different brews may not follow this general trend, and I'm by no means a coffee expert. I am a tea snob, and have a sophisticated palette for chocolate, but I'm very much a novice coffee drinker. Please feel free to add to, or modify this list!
>
> Seattle's Best
> Dunkin Donuts
> Panera Bread
> Einstein's Bagels
> Starbucks "mild"
> Starbucks house
>
>
> -Li
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 20, 2006, at 14:33:02
In reply to Re: Alternative coffee brands/ cafe experiences » Lindenblüte, posted by laima on October 20, 2006, at 14:01:46
>Oh dear, thank goodness for choices. Seattle's is at bottom of my list :) But I do like the Dunkin Dark Roast....but not nearly as much as Peet's, and they don't even le\t you fix it up yourself.
Oops! I guess I wasn't very clear!I meant to write in order from mild to strong, not in order from favorite to least favorite.
My preference really does change on an hourly basis, so there's no way that I can make a list of favorites like this. I will say that I'm going to give Starbucks *one* more chance to show me a brewed coffee that will not burn a hole in my stomach. I'll have to request the mildest one they have and hope that the barista is a competent expert as they typically are.
Thank goodness for choices indeed!
indecisively,
-Li> Seattle's Best
> Dunkin Donuts
> Panera Bread
> Einstein's Bagels
> Starbucks "mild"
> Starbucks housep.s. has anybody tried McDonalds coffee sinced they changed it? or any other major chains? Brands?
Posted by MidnightBlue on October 20, 2006, at 15:11:29
In reply to Re: Alternative coffee brands/ cafe experiences, posted by Lindenblüte on October 20, 2006, at 14:33:02
Glad to hear someone else has problems with Starbuck coffee. It leaves me with heartburn! I love a smooth coffee.
Posted by laima on October 20, 2006, at 16:28:23
In reply to Re: Alternative coffee brands/ cafe experiences » Lindenblüte, posted by MidnightBlue on October 20, 2006, at 15:11:29
You know, that so called guormet coffee McDonalds came out with is surprisingly not bad!A supposed coffee fact I learned (full disclosure- ex Starbuck employee from the days they sent us to 20+ hours of "coffee school")- is that the darker the coffee is roasted, the more caffeine is burnt away. And that Arabica beans (mountains, high altitudes, expensive) are supposedly milder and smoother than robusta beans (tropical lowlands, cheap.)
Alas, since those coffee- guzzler days, ALL coffee hurts my stomache. Weirdly, I find it all far more caustic than even alcohol.
Yes, but choices are great.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.