Why is Starbucks so popular?

[Janet H]

Starbucks stores smell great and that's good enough reason to go in occasionally.

 

[Achiever51]

For coffee, I prefer McDonald's -- and the price is right. As a Senior (over 55, although no one's ever asked and I suppose to the 16 year old counter clerk, everyone not in their HS class is a senior) I can get a 12 oz. cup of coffee for 25 to 75 cents -- price is set by the local MickyD owner/operator.

I really don't like the taste (or the smell) of Starbux, but I do applaud their policy of providing health care benefits to all workers, who are referred to in Starbuck speak as "partners". See this from the Starbuck's website:

Starbucks Total Pay package is referred to as “Your Special Blend” because it is unique to each partner. Partners who work full time or part time (generally 20 hours or more per week) may participate in a variety of programs, and make choices based on individual needs and interests.

Depending on job and a partner's personal situation, a partner’s total pay package may include:

Progressive Compensation Package

Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Prescription Drugs, Dental and Vision)

Retirement Savings Plan

Stock Options and Discounted Stock Purchase Plan

Income Protection Plan (Life and Disability Coverage)

Management Bonus Plan

Adoption Assistance Plan

Domestic partner benefits

Referral programs and support resources for child and eldercare

Discounted Starbucks merchandise

And of course, all partners get a pound of coffee each week. (Oh, darn...they lost me with this!!)

 

[Gotadimple]

It's the ambiance. When Howard Schultz was creating the plan for the 'stores' he was modelling the ambiance found in Austrian cafe's. He wanted to provide the customer with an experience that was more than just the coffee. So, as others have said, you get a consistent product, the customer service when you are in the stores is very good, and you're encouraged to stay as long as you like.

Nice place (I'm not crazy about the blend, either), but then there are so many latte competitors in Seattle, there are plenty of choices.

-- Rita

 

[Olav23]

*$ needs to brew their fair trade coffee in their stores, not just give it lip service by selling it by the pound. They control something like 20% of the coffee industry; should definitely be better corporate citizens. The $3 cup of coffee is about the daily wage of a coffee picker in Central and South America.

Besides that, I prefer the taste of Dunkin' Donuts, and the side-benefit, all their espresso based drinks are Fair Trade.

I do my best to be an ethical consumer, where I can. This is a very easy change to implement.

 

[JonnyM]

Consistent known article. You know what you're going to get. On average, if you like what you get there, you can go nearly anywhere and get what you like. They make great pitstops on the road when you need a break. Clean bathroom, good cookies, and a jolt of caffeine before you re-hit the road. A safe bet.

We like Seattle's Best a bit better, that's what we typically make at home. You can have the same coffee as Starbuck's, SB's, Peet's, made in the privacy of your own home for less than a buck a pot, truely a bargain.

I'm as the non-native of Washington State (unlike DW) constantly amazed when we visit downtown Seattle and there is a coffee outlet on 3 of the 4 corners at a typical intersection, and they are all packed with people.

 

[bssc]

Starbucks found out early on, while remodelling a store that traffic will actually increase in both stores if they are across the street from each other. It makes it more of a destination I guess.

I think that, like McDonalds, Starbucks offers consistency. You don't have hit and miss.

 

[Maurice]

There's no question that its now fashionable to criticize Starbuck's as the 21st century McDonalds, and I admit I was unhappy to see a second store open within two blocks of my apartment. And I definitely think they have deteriorated from a service and aesthetic point of view in their relentless pursuit of increased average ticket size and same store sales.

But I will be eternally grateful to them for their role in changing the coffee culture in the US. It wasn't that long ago when all you could get was that watered down dishwater that Americans called coffee. Now you can get a decent cup of coffee or even an espresso most anywhere - I don't mean at Starbucks, necessarily, I mean everywhere else. Heck, even most McDonalds and 7-11 have stiffened up their brew. Thanks Howard!

By the way - several people here have commented on the smell of Starbucks - it used to be much better, up until just a few years ago they ground their own coffee in the store - they no longer do.

 

[Dawg52]

Our first Starbuck's is opening in a new shopping center next month. Also our first Chill's restaurant. The price you pay for living in a small town.

I have had Starbuck's coffee when on vacation. Nothing special to me but not bad. Just had a cup of Folger's coffee sweetened with Splenda's hazelnut flavor for coffee. Mmmmm mmmmm good. Ahhhh the simple life.

 

[Maurice]

Our first Starbuck's is opening in a new shopping center next month. Also our first Chill's restaurant. The price you pay for living in a small town.

I would say that's the benefit of living in a small town - you're not inundated with all these national chain stores.

 

[Delawaredave5]

Don't quote me but a couple of years ago there was an article about how they come into a good location and gradually increase the caffeine content, hooking people who are already addicted to coffee.quote]

I believe above. I picked up a customer at hotel last week - gourmet free cofee in lobby - he HAD to have me drive up the road to a Starbucks - we passed several other coffee spots.

$2/day for Starbucks is over $1,000 /year of my pretax salary - forget it.

I brew Costco/Kirkland brand at home - great coffee - easy.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

We have a shopping plaza with a starbucks in it, and the grocery store next door to the starbucks also has a starbucks in it.

The first time they opened two stores across the street from each other, I recall some marketing shmoe saying that they increased visibility and eliminated people not wanting to do a u-turn. Having them across the street from each other drove 20+% more traffic into both stores than putting them in discrete locations.

Consumer reports taste tests show that the darker, bitter, overroasted coffee tastes better with milk and sugar than medium roasts. Many starbucks drinks are laden with milk and sugar.

The rest is a package of destination marketing. It makes you feel better about yourself to buy what is presumably a premium product in a premier locale.

Ever check the fat and calorie content of some of the starbucks drinks? More than a big mac. A Venti Java Chip Frappachino has 600 calories and 23 grams of fat. Couple that with a sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle (560 calories, 32 grams of fat) and you've pretty much hit your fat and calorie limit for the day.

 

[ERD50]

Consumer reports taste tests show that the darker, bitter, overroasted coffee tastes better with milk and sugar than medium roasts.

If that is true, it explains a lot. I drink my coffee black no sugar, as the gods intended - I love coffee and I want to taste the coffee. If I want milk and sugar I'll have ice cream.

Seems that the coffee snobs criticize Starbucks for the burnt over-roasted taste, and that is how I feel about it. If I actually knew more about the various beans and roasts and things, I'd qualify as a coffee snob. I guess I'm just a coffee-snob-wanna-be. Coffee snobs are probably more likely to drink it black, no sugar. But is also seems, when I buy the beans and brew at home, I think it is pretty good. But are the beans they sell different from what they brew in the store?

At first I figured the coffee snobs were putting it down, just because it is so popular - that counter-culture kind of thing. But I agree with them - over roasted seems to be the problem.

-ERD50

 

[kcowan]

I think the over-roasted beans contributes to the aromas in the store and with the addition of milk and sugar it still retains the coffee flavour. Seems to be a brilliant marketing program to me.

 

[Mavourneen]

Starbuck's is my Friday-after-work hangout. I drink my coffee black, no sugar for about $2.00 per cup. I usually sit there at least and hour talking to my buddies so I feel I'm getting my money's worth.

I have heard people complain about the "burnt" taste of Starbucks. I think they just brew it very strong in the stores. When I rarely buy a pound and brew it at home, it does not taste as strong. The brewed coffee in the stores is always fresh, so it is good even if a little strong.

I read somewhere that cup-for-cup Starbucks has more caffeine that other coffees.

For general home consumption, I buy Sam's 100% Arabica at Walmart.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Coffee thats been roasted longer and darker has less caffeine than light or medium roast coffees. Although its generally made with darker, lower caffeine beans, coffee made in an espresso machine has approximately double the caffeine of regular coffee due to the high pressure used to make the drink. Decafe coffee still has a little caffeine in it and some broad testing has found decafe coffee with almost the same caffeine level as regular coffee.

 

[Olav23]

Coffee thats been roasted longer and darker has less caffeine than light or medium roast coffees. Although its generally made with darker, lower caffeine beans, coffee made in an espresso machine has approximately double the caffeine of regular coffee due to the high pressure used to make the drink. Decafe coffee still has a little caffeine in it and some broad testing has found decafe coffee with almost the same caffeine level as regular coffee.

An espresso cup has about as much caffeine as a cup of strong coffee. But servings for espresso are much smaller, so the content of caffeine per ounce are much higher than with a regular brew.

A *$ Tall Drip Coffee has 240mg of caffeine. A solo espresso has 89, and a doppio 178mg.


I'm not sure where you heard about decaf having as much caffeine as full-caf. Reading:

The results showed that the caffeine content of the decaffeinated espresso shots varied widely -- from 3 to nearly 16 milligrams; the caffeine content of the decaf brewed coffee ranged from 12 to 13.4 milligrams per 16-ounce serving.

 

[happy2bretired]

Use the slide to show several types of coffee, including Starbucks and McDonalds and other drinks with the caffeine content.

http://www.ketv.com/slideshow/style/14021070/detail.html

 

[W2R]

Starbucks is way too expensive for my LBYM preferences right now, and the taste is disappointing compared with other specialty coffee places.

The older I get, the more caffeine disturbs my sleep. At first, I had to stop drinking coffee at lunch time. Now, I am even reluctantly making my morning coffee as half decaf. I have always loved coffee but my future says "decaf".

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

An espresso cup has about as much caffeine as a cup of strong coffee. But servings for espresso are much smaller, so the content of caffeine per ounce are much higher than with a regular brew.

A *$ Tall Drip Coffee has 240mg of caffeine. A solo espresso has 89, and a doppio 178mg.


I'm not sure where you heard about decaf having as much caffeine as full-caf. Reading:

Values are pretty variable depending on whose stats you read, but the USDA says that coffee averages about 64mg per fluid ounce, while espresso may range up to 200mg per 1.5 ounce serving depending on the machine used and the beans.

Consumer reports did the analysis of decafe coffees at the point of sale. Clearly theres some mixup of beans and/or caffeinated finished product ending up in the decafe decanter. Some of the mixups were pretty consistent IIRC. I guess the point is, if you get wound up from drinking decafe, chances are it wasnt really decafe.

 

[chinaco]

Starbucks was the first nationwide Specialty coffee chain. The first mover sometimes captures the prize in a market. It worked for them. So far no one has been able to knock them off. Plus, they began replicating the McDonalds formula... put one on every corner.

Plus, it is kinda hip in areas that do not have many coffee shops.

I like strong coffees... But I am not interested in paying a huge premium for it on an ongoing basis. I will every once in a while. When I do, I liked the Ethiopian coffees... Extra Strong.

 

[Mavourneen]

The older I get, the more caffeine disturbs my sleep. At first, I had to stop drinking coffee at lunch time. Now, I am even reluctantly making my morning coffee as half decaf. I have always loved coffee but my future says "decaf".

I am experiencing the same thing. I used to regularly drink an entire pot at home in the morning plus several cups during the day right up until bedtime. Nowadays, I only drink three or four cups per day and I need to cut off my caffeine by 3 in the afternoon to avoid the "big eye" at bedtime.

 

[Mavourneen]

I like strong coffees... But I am not interested in paying a huge premium for it on an ongoing basis. I will every once in a while. When I do, I liked the Ethiopian coffees... Extra Strong.

Ditto on the Ethiopian coffees...the best!

 

[Spanky]

I restrict my intake to one tall cup in the morning. Starbuck or Caribou are too strong and bitter to me. I prefer the coffee from Penera Bread.

 

[ziggy29]

Starbucks was the first nationwide Specialty coffee chain. The first mover sometimes captures the prize in a market. It worked for them. So far no one has been able to knock them off. Plus, they began replicating the McDonalds formula... put one on every corner.

There are quite a few similarities between Starbucks and McDonalds. They were both among one of the first in their space, they were one of the first to aggressively expand nationwide and beyond, and even though not many people consider their consumable products to be among the best available, they are both extremely consistent and no matter where you go, when you ho into one of their locations, you know exactly what to expect and what you're going to get.

 

[HFWR]

Ditto on the Ethiopian coffees...the best!

Labradorian, man... O0

Most truckstops have good coffee!