Sweeping Up The Espresso Beans At Starbucks
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Is your espresso from Starbucks a bit on the crunchy, gritty side lately? I may have the answer for you. Isolated event, totally. So don’t run out of the store crying, my BEANS! my BEANS!
There was an incident the other day at Starbucks and I have debated on writing about it. Still, I will not say exactly which Starbucks store it is since I am yet to receive a call back from the store manager about the dirty deed. I will however, tell you the story.
A few days ago I stopped in at the Starbucks in a neighboring town. I ordered a grande coffee and they were making a fresh pot and mentioned it would be a couple minutes. No problem I say, I have to go to the ladies room anyway. So, I did.
After exiting the restroom, I stopped by the mugs and gadgets as I always do (I love them) and the espresso grinder they use is just out of site from the coffee wares. While I was in the ladies room, I heard something drop but I did not pay any attention to that at the time. Well, I looked over to the area where they grind the beans and I didn’t see anyone around. I started to make my way over to the counter when up popped the employee that waited on me holding a dust pan with, what else, espresso beans in it.
What do you think she did with those beans? Throw them in the waste? NO! She dumped them into the dispenser! OMG! I was out of view and she was not aware that I saw it. Since I had ordered coffee that I know came from a sealed pouch, I went ahead and paid for it noting the cashiers name. I called the next morning and told the manager. He said he would get back with me on the issue but so far, nothing. My next step is to contact someone higher up.
I hope this is not a regular thing going on. I’m quite certain that it is not but people you never know where your coffee has been. Do you? Post a comment if you have had a nasty mishap at any coffee shop.
Think There’s No Profit in Selling Coffee? Think Again!
I always figured the price I paid at the store was not much higher than that which a large coffee selling company would pay. Sure … it’s not. Wrong.
Here is an example:
Starbucks reported paying a higher price per pound in 2007 compared to the year before. A penny more per pound. So… I guess that can add up considering how much they sell. But… what did they pay per pound?
Starbucks bought 352 million pounds of coffee in fiscal 2007, according to its report. That’s up from 294 million pounds in 2006.
Starbucks paid an average price of $1.43 a pound for coffee in fiscal 2007!
I would love to go to the store and pay that. Good grief! I don’t know but that appears to be a pretty wide profit margin considering what they charge for a cup and that we are paying nearly $4 a pound. You think?
Note: Even though they are up $48mil in poundage from the year before, they are still needing to close down shops due to profit loss.
Starbucks says: We pay $1.43 a pound, we sell it back to you for $10 a pound! hmmm….
# The average customer spends $4.05 per visit for coffee; the average fast-food-restaurant visitor spends $4.34 for an entire meal.
# For a cup that costs $3.40, at least 40 cents is profit. When Starbucks bumped the 8-ounce cup off the menu, the 10-ounce “tall” (the new small) increased profits by 25 cents per cup for only 2 cents of added product. Can be seen at: Fast Company Article title: Coffee + Cash
Win a Case of Starbucks French Roast Coffee
I am guessing that it will be French Roast since that is what they have pictured. Here is the ENTRY FORM
They say:
Enter to win a a case of 72 2.5 oz packages of Starbucks Coffee!! You don’t want to miss this unheard of opportunity to get FREE Starbucks coffee!! Give it a try and tell your friends! Each convenient portion pack is pre-measured to brew one pot of coffee, and you can win 72, $151.80 worth of coffee!!
So, stop on by. You never know, you may win!
Starbucks and Saturday Night Live ‘ SNL ‘ to do a melding thing
It looks as though Starbucks and SNL will be uniting to sell ‘exclusively’ to the public, the SNL 06/07 DVD set. *I yawn* For who knows how long, Starbucks will be the only place to buy this DVD set.
This will be the first time NBC Universal Television Distribution has created and marketed an exclusive release for a retailer. Before you know it, Starbucks will be selling tires. 
I will be surprised if this one works out. Nothing else has. They should stick with what they’ve always done. Coffee. Why keep trying to muck things up?
Starbucks Greedy? No Compassion for Ethiopian Coffee Workers
Ethiopia, where coffee was first born is wanting a fair profit share for it’s produce. By trademarking most of their famous coffee, they will in fact share a greater dollar amount for it’s crop and need I say, the hard work it takes to produce this wonderful coffee that we all enjoy.
Starbucks is opposing this plan by Ethiopia to trademark their coffee saying that this will cut into their profits. Are you serious? Just how much would this take off from their 2005 profit of $494.5 million on $6.37 billion in sales?
Did you know that Starbucks in south London gets £1.35 for an espresso shot? Well, the cost for that one shot is about double what an Ethiopian coffee worker makes for an entire day! An espresso shot where I’m from is approx. $1.50
Please visit the resource for this and finish reading the article at The Independent
Egg Nog Latte Recipe :: copycat to Starbucks :: Delicious!
Egg Nog Latte Recipe :: copy cat to Starbucks Egg Nog Latte
Ingredients:
1/2 cup egg nog (Borden is very thick and good and Starbucks uses a local brand according to the area they are in)
1/4 cup whole milk or 2% milk. (recommend whole for frothing)
1 - 2 shots espresso or 1/4 c Espresso Roast coffee (ground and brewed strong)
a sprinkle of ground nutmeg
Instructions:
Combine cold egg nog with cold whole milk. Non-fat milk or soymilk can be substituted for the high-fat milk.
Steam the egg nog - milk mixture until the temperature reaches 145°F. or use stove-top and do NOT scorch. You just won’t have the foam unless you use some sort of mixer to create the foam. Hey, it works!
Egg nog heats and scalds quicker than milk, so watch your heat temperature closely.
Pull your espresso shots and place in mug or pour the 1/4 cup strong coffee in mug.
Fill the remaining room in mug with steamed egg nog mixture. Add extra eggnog foam to the top of the mug.
sprinkle with ground nutmeg.
The Seattle Times says: Starbucks recalls 73,000 coffee-makers
According to an article written on 10.17.06 on the site of The Seattle Times, Starbucks is recalling some 73,000 coffee makers because defective electrical wiring may cause them to overheat, smoke and melt their plastic shells.
It is a voluntary recall for Starbucks Barista Aroma 8-cup coffee brewer. Head on over to The Seattle Times and read the rest of the story and if you have one of these coffeemakers, beware!
Pumpkin Spice Latte — Delicious Copycat to Starbucks
Pumpkin Spice Latte ( compare to Starbucks )
Note: if you are using the pumpkin spice syrup, you do not need the canned pumpkin
Ingredients:
1-2 shots espresso (1/4 C. espresso or 1/2 C. strong brewed coffee)
1 c. half and half
1 tb. canned pumpkin :: you may use either whole pumpkin or pie mix
1 tsp. Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Optional pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon.
Directions:
(no espresso machine?)
To make a pumpkin latte in your home: In a small saucepan, stir pumpkin puree into half and half. Add the syrup. Heat on medium until steaming, stirring constantly. You do not want the milk to burn.
In a blender on high speed, use whip setting for 20 seconds until foaming. Pour the mixture into a tall glass and pour coffee over the top. Dust with ground pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg.
(with an espresso machine)
Pour syrup in medium mug and pull your shots. Steam the half and half. Add shots to syrup and then add the steamed milk. Dust with nutmeg. Yum yum!
Upcoming Reviews
note: don’t forget to enter our Starbucks good or bad experince contest. It runs until 12.31.06 :: Enter Here
Upcoming Review Schedule
Buzz Bites caffeinated candy
Senseo single server coffee pod system
Shock Coffee done
Starbucks Bottled Frappuccinos
Godiva Belgium Blends:Â Bottled Lattes and Mochas semi-finished
Coca~cola Blak coffee soda blend
Starbucks Gift Card Contest starts today! 10.04.06
Please follow the link at the end of this post to enter for our $100 Starbucks gift card contest.
Just post your best or worse experience with a Starbucks Store and you’ll be entered. Please be sure to read the rules!
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Thought I’d share this Starbucks related photo. LOL!
Some Interesting Facts about Starbucks or not
Interesting Starbucks facts or statistics
In a Fortune Magazine article (I am unable to find that article now in the archives) I read these:
