Overrated: Coffee from the Northwestern United States, i.e., Starbucks and Seattle's Best. 
Don't get me wrong, I love a skinny Caramel Macchiato as much as the next girl, but overall Starbucks and it's little brother Seattle's Best are extremely overrated, IMO.
Have you ever had their coffee or espresso not in latte form? Without cream or something to mellow it, it often tastes burned like they are over-roasting the beans. Nas. Tee.
What is with their sizing? The smallest size is a "Tall?" I know, some Starbucks have "short" now, which is - surprise - actually smaller than tall. But they don't have "short" in my area. I really thought smaller than tall would be called "extra tall." Seems more Starbucksy if they had called it extra tall. Oh well. I'm not the only one who finds their sizing annoying. Seattle's Best also serves Tall and Grande, but instead of Venti they serve "Grande Supremo." What. Ever.
Can you say "overpriced?" Holy crap - I can get the same damn drinks at my neighborhood coffee shop (where they roast their beans right there in the store - OMG, it smells so good!) for half the price. $4+ for a simple latte? WTF? I can go to McDonald's - McDonald's! - and get a cheaper, just as tasty mocha or latte. Seriously. Even 7-11 or Speedway can be just as good (though don't get me started on that extra caffeinated coffee at Speedway. OMG - insane.).
The Starbucks coffee houses are so cookie cutter as to be BO-O-O-RING. The local neighborhood coffee shops at least have character. I love the hippie-dippie staff, the handmade signs, and the little sign at the register that says "We accept Visa, MC, Discover, Amex, Diner's Club, debit cards, checks, cash and YOU, just the way you are." And they CHARGE to use their wi-fi at most Starbucks (in my area, at least). Um, yeah my local coffee shop has FREE wi-fi, in addition to cheaper, better tasting coffee. Sheez. Even McDonald's gives you an hour of free wi-fi connection with a purchase.
Starbucks (and little bro Seattle's Best)? Way OVERrated.
*Overrated/Underrated is the new meme from my favorite hottie Troll. See here for more info!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Overrated!*
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18 comments:
Agreed. The only saving thing for me, is that I don't buy "caramel latte fru-fru whatevers", just plain coffee.
But starbucks, particularly, is over-roasted and over-rated.
Give me a nice cup of tea any day. Funnily enough I used to LOVE coffee until I got pregnant, then the smell of it turned my stomach and I haven't touched it since.
I'm glad I don't like it actually...all those long winded ridiculous names for their cup of joe would just end up confusing me anyway :)
God. Good point... BUT I really, really, really love Starbucks. Not their reg coffee. I could never go in there and buy just a 'normal' cup of coffee. But their specialty coffees...specifically a nonfat, extra hot, venti carmel macchiato, first thing in the morning.
*sigh* I covet their coffee when I can make time when dropping kiddos off. LOL
I do like a nice peppermint mocha on occasion, but a plain old cup of black coffee generally suits me to a tee, and I do not care to pay their prices. And I agree about the fun little coffee places, Portland abounds with them.
Ahhh. A well-deserved BASHING of Starbucks! Love it. My local place is also a book-store. Better quality and prices.
Happy Overrated Friday!
Ugh....Starbucks is nasty ass coffee!!! Tim Hortons is the way to go, but since there are very few of them here in Michigan (Canadian coffee place) I settle for Duncan Donuts coffee or even McDonalds. If I want burned tasting coffee I can drink my day old shit! lol
Gah!! Why do they make it so F#$&ing complicated?! Mocha mucho latte frapo mushu gaipan light extra shot that'll be $10 please!
Do love the chocolate covered espresso beans... makes me run around like Beavis.. rrRRhrrRrRAAAAHAHA!!! CornhoolioooooOOOooOOOH! Crack for caffeine addicts.
Yep, I'm with you here for sure. Queenie loves it, I hates it. Madly. Can't even just walk in and ask for a cup of Joe, they look at you like you just pulled a gun on 'em! Freaks.
I am from the east coast. I miss Dunkin Donuts Coffee.
Flyinfox-SATX
Well, Bunny, much as I enjoy me a hazelnut/vanilla latte (fat-free, sugar-free, of course) from time to time, I can't really argue with you here. If my kids' school didn't sell the gift cards for a tuition credit, I'd probably skip 'em altogether.
But I do have to agree w/ Pluff on the chocolate-covered espresso beans. My gosh, those things are like cocaine (uh, not that I'm talkin' from personal experience here. . .).
And I'm absolutely with you on the stupid size names. . . 'Extra tall' - I love it. . .
They actually DO burn their beans. That's why they are distinctive--because their coffee tastes different.
Hey, I didn't say it tasted GOOD! :-) I agree, overrated (although dees peppermint hot cocoa at Christmas). I go with Caribou, but most of the world doesn't have that.
A casino I USED TO patronize removed the coffee-makers from the rooms and put a mini-Starbucks in the lobby.
Give me a regular coffee at Dunkin Donuts any day!
My ex loved Starbuck's until he discovered Tim Horton's. I don't know if that is in your neck of the woods.
We've been drinking coffee distributed out of Santa Rosa California by the Ecco Caffe company. Bets the hell out of Starbucks and most everything else. Check it out.
My old town had a place that was run by a local that had some really nice character. It was so much more enjoyable to all the other cookie cutters. We used to hang out there just for the atmoshphere.
Well, it may not surprise you, but here, over The Pond, Starbucks has an equally bad reputation regarding the pricing of its coffees, etc.
Sometimes there is no getting away from them, though, where there are no alternatives, but then I just try to stick with a cappuccino rather than go all skinny, etc.
Coffee seems to have become the new tea here in the UK, although I hear there is a quiet revolution and the leaves may be making a comeback!
I brew the F word....flodgers...:)3 bucks for a small (grande) Black coffee....or 90 cents for a 24 ounce black coffee at the gas station...with better attitude..
Fuck starbucks.........lol :)
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