Will Starbucks (proper) ever come here?

yer man! · 28-04-2012 12:40am #1

They seem to be all over Dublin now and was wondering if they would ever come here. There was talk of one years ago but it never happened. A lot of people are heavily against them but I really like them. Ya know what you're getting in there and the layout of most stores are kinda nice, a lot of them do half couches/chairs + coffee table and the other half being tables and chairs. AFAIK there is nowhere in town like this, I would love to be able to sit down on a proper couch or chair with a coffee and just go online for a while or something.

Shakti · 28-04-2012 1:50am

I dont see the attraction unless perhaps one of novelty if you visit Seattle,
To me they are a tribute to the homogenous, the golden arches of coffee,
like a giant bland vacuum ready to suck up any locations character or history,
IMO The only refreshing thing about Starbucks refreshments is when I visit a city that doesn't have one.

Redhairedguy · 28-04-2012 2:19am

Shakti wrote: »

I dont see the attraction unless perhaps one of novelty if you visit Seattle,
To me they are a tribute to the homogenous, the golden arches of coffee,
like a giant bland vacuum ready to suck up any locations character or history,
IMO The only refreshing thing about Starbucks refreshments is when I visit a city that doesn't have one.

Jaysus! Venomous much? It's only an auld coffee house at the end if the day, and a particularly decent one at that. I for one would welcome a Starbucks. Maybe use up one of those useless empty properties in the city that seem to be lying around these days.

joeKel73 · 28-04-2012 3:06am

Shakti wrote: »

the golden arches of coffee

IMO the mickey D's coffee is actually much better than starbucks!

Shakti · 28-04-2012 3:51am

Redhairedguy wrote: »

Jaysus! Venomous much?

Huh? I was toning it down,

There was a time when you could tell the difference between European cities and immerse in their particular urban instead of the vapid, dull, tedious broadways of H&M, McD's and Starbucks most have become, pushing rents up and locals out,
The centre of Galway to its credit still has residents and craftspeople at its heart IMO that is why people come here to love Galway and cities like it and not to engage in some stupefying, monotonous and regurgitated consumer experience.

Paddyfield · 28-04-2012 4:13am

Starbucks seem to be closing all over the world as trends are changing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/29sbux.html

Wompa1 · 28-04-2012 4:30am

Shakti wrote: »

Huh? I was toning it down,

There was a time when you could tell the difference between European cities and immerse in their particular urban instead of the vapid, dull, tedious broadways of H&M, McD's and Starbucks most have become, pushing rents up and locals out,
The centre of Galway to its credit still has residents and craftspeople at its heart IMO that is why people come here to love Galway and cities like it and not to engage in some stupefying, monotonous and regurgitated consumer experience.

Yeah, they love going into the nice local shops and paying 30 euro for a hat or going to a restaurant and over paying for a crap meal. Why not have both? It gives people options. I always had a better consumer experience in McDonalds than any of the local restaurants and best of all, they create jobs

connemara man · 28-04-2012 9:14am

It would be a good addition especially since coffee shops in galway close at 6 half 6 and Starbucks tend to have longer opening hours, like where can you after alf 6 for a decent take away coffee

biko · 28-04-2012 9:26am

I hope not, in my book they are the McDonalds of coffee and are responsible for "tall" and "grande" - an abomination in it's own right.
What's so fecking wrong with "medium" and "large" SB?!?

There is one in NUIG apparently but I haven't been.

the keen edge · 28-04-2012 9:39am

biko wrote: »

I hope not, in my book they are the McDonalds of coffee and are responsible for "tall" and "grande" - an abomination in it's own right.
What's so fecking wrong with "medium" and "large" SB?!?

There is one in NUIG apparently but I haven't been.

I use the one in NUIG occasionally, nice coffee but a little more expensive.

Also I refuse to ask for a tall, grande or vendi?, just bang me out medium thank you very much.

What are they Italian descriptions? It's not as if there isn't a direct English language translation for these measurement ffs.

ben.schlomo · 28-04-2012 10:41am

Wompa1 wrote: »

Yeah, they love going into the nice local shops and paying 30 euro for a hat or going to a restaurant and over paying for a crap meal. Why not have both? It gives people options. I always had a better consumer experience in McDonalds than any of the local restaurants and best of all, they create jobs

Broad generalistion much?!!!

Seaneh · 28-04-2012 10:48am

Starbucks coffe is ****. They over roast (burn) their beans so that when they make their ****ty frap's and other "coffee based drinks" they have a stronger coffee taste, the problem with this is if you order an espresso, americano or latte, your coffee tastes like ****.

On top of that they are stupidly expensive.

The place in NUIG isn't a starbucks, it's a coffee shop using starbucks coffee, you can buy the same beans in ****ing tesco.

IF you want a good coffee go to either the little cafe express across from taffes or the lad with the little coffee van in the market on weekends.

Doc Ruby · 28-04-2012 10:54am

Wompa1 wrote: »

or going to a restaurant and over paying for a crap meal.

McDonalds is the very definition of overpaying for a crap meal.

the keen edge · 28-04-2012 11:09am

Seaneh wrote: »

Starbucks coffe is ****. They over roast (burn) their beans so that when they make their ****ty frap's and other "coffee based drinks" they have a stronger coffee taste, the problem with this is if you order an espresso, americano or latte, your coffee tastes like ****.

On top of that they are stupidly expensive.

The place in NUIG isn't a starbucks, it's a coffee shop using starbucks coffee, you can buy the same beans in ****ing tesco.

IF you want a good coffee go to either the little cafe express across from taffes or the lad with the little coffee van in the market on weekends.

Yeah I agree with your Starbucks Critic.

However at the same rate, unless I'm mistaken, the place across from Taffes uses Lavaazza, which you can also buy in Tesco.

Seaneh · 28-04-2012 1:39pm

the keen edge wrote: »

Yeah I agree with your Starbucks Critic.

However at the same rate, unless I'm mistaken, the place across from Taffes uses Lavaazza, which you can also buy in Tesco.

True but they have a good espresso machine and grinder and they generally know what they are doing.

BeardySi · 28-04-2012 2:38pm

+1 for the Never vote....

The actual coffee is starbucks is piss poor, hence the amount of cream, sugar and syrup they have to shovel into it to make it attractive to impressionable sheeple...

If that was the only downside I'd say let them come, but sadly they have the effect of destroying local competition though the sheer power of their brand.

bobbytables · 28-04-2012 2:38pm

I would live in Starbucks if one opened in town. I hate burnt coffee, but was never served one in Starbucks, either here, the U.S. or the U.K.

I don't like Mocha beans or Arabica. I was impressed with Mr. Waffle across from the college/UCHG. Great service & coffee.

the keen edge · 28-04-2012 3:21pm

bobbytables wrote: »

I was impressed with Mr. Waffle across from the college/UCHG. Great service & coffee.

I just popped back to this thread to suggest Mr Waffle.

I was in there recently, and the service was good, but I thought the coffee was as good as I've tasted around town. It was so nice I had a second cup, something I'd never do.

*Awaits for one of the self proclaimed coffee connoisseurs to inform me that a truly great coffee is one that satisfies in a single serving!

yer man! · 28-04-2012 3:29pm

One thing a lot of people notice about the Starbucks places is the layout, it's GOOD!! nice balance of chairs + tables and sofas and stuff, nice lighting, free wifi, not too noisy, just comfortable..... This is why I go. So far I have yet to find a place in Galway which can match this and at the same time do a frappuchino.....

Mrs OBumble · 28-04-2012 4:25pm

Treadhead wrote: »

... local competition

I was up in the big schmoke on Wednesday evening, missed the GoBus back, so had about 1/2 an hour to kill before the CityLink. And I wanted coffee.

Coulda gone to a pub, but I fancied somewhere that no one was going to try to make conversation, that didn't feel like a takeaway.

Starbucks was perfect. Nice layout, nice feel to it, large enough that no one minded a sole customer taking up a table just to have coffee, fast service. Not the best coffee ever - but nicer than I would have got from Spar etc and I didn't have stand on the street to drink it. And unlike the local cafes - they were OPEN at 8:15pm. (Yes, I did look at various local-seeming places, but they were closed, or not looking welcoming to "just a coffee").

If we had 2-3 places like Java, and they were bigger, then I'd see no need. But.

stanley1 · 28-04-2012 4:27pm

horrible coffee, full of people who wanted to be seen there.

blackhound · 28-04-2012 6:59pm

I don't care what the coffee tastes like but for me there's no better place to work on my screenplay

family_guy_2_guys_in_starbucks.gif?w=400&h=300

Wompa1 · 28-04-2012 7:33pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

McDonalds is the very definition of overpaying for a crap meal.

You haven't got food down in "The Latin Quarter" ? Ever have a pizza in Munroes?

deisedude · 28-04-2012 9:35pm

Not big into Starbucks, would much prefer a Costa Coffee Shop if Galway was getting a fast food coffee outlet.

People complaining about the early closing times of coffee shops in Galway should check out Javas on Abbeygate St

yer man! · 28-04-2012 10:50pm

Good news about costa coffee, they are looking to locate here in Galway city sometime this year.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0912/1224303944881.html

Doc Ruby · 29-04-2012 1:42am

Wompa1 wrote: »

You haven't got food down in "The Latin Quarter" ? Ever have a pizza in Munroes?

Not in the last decade no, but I got some free vouchers for McDonalds a while back and by god they were more edible than the food.

Incidentally is there a BSG connection to starbucks? It would be awesome except for the massive irony of them taking a good product and turning it into something dark, sour, and wholly unlike the original.

Going purely by the horse's mouth of course, the closest I've ever been to a starbucks was sitting across the road slurping tae from a thermos.

Seaneh · 29-04-2012 2:01am

yer man! wrote: »

free wifi,

The only starbuckswith free wifi in Dublin is the one in Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport. The rest of the all have either ****ty bitbuzz or other pre paid wifi services.

GerardKeating · 29-04-2012 9:10am

Seaneh wrote: »

The only starbuckswith free wifi in Dublin is the one in Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport. The rest of the all have either ****ty bitbuzz or other pre paid wifi services.

Blanchardstown has free WiFi (or at least it did last Christmas).

RobAMerc · 29-04-2012 9:33am

have to agree on Starbucks - really it's now a lifestyle, not for coffee lovers. I have noticed in Dublin that a quality independent coffee house "fixx" has set up across the road from Starbucks and Insomnia in a premises Costa couldn't make work.I am happy to say it's winning. It is always busy compared to the other 3 (it's acutally expensive too ) but the quality of the coffee is beyond reproach.
I also see another opened directly across from Starbucks on Adelaide rd and seems to be doing well to.
I just realised I am starting to sound like an anti globalisation activist !:eek:

29-04-2012 10:32am

I really hope they don't come here properly. It would put a lot of weight on the smaller (and much nicer) cafes that exist around the city. I, for one, would very much mourn the demise of Java's, one of the few cafes where they have no problem with you sitting there for hours while reading a book or chatting with others.

ben.schlomo · 29-04-2012 11:15am

Wompa1 wrote: »

You haven't got food down in "The Latin Quarter" ? Ever have a pizza in Munroes?

Nope cos that aint pizza, thats some Irish equivalent. But i do get pizza in 'The Latin Quarter' from Pizza Pasta Napoli, and its by far and a way the best in Galway, they also do a damn nice coffee.

29-04-2012 11:51am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Nope cos that aint pizza, thats some Irish equivalent. But i do get pizza in 'The Latin Quarter' from Pizza Pasta Napoli, and its by far and a way the best in Galway, they also do a damn nice coffee.

While I agree that they make absolutely incredible pizzas, it really irks me when people refer to it as "The Latin Quarter".

the keen edge · 29-04-2012 12:04pm

Deleted User wrote: »

While I agree that they make absolutely incredible pizzas, it really irks me when people refer to it as "The Latin Quarter".

Come on that Quarter is so steeped in Latiness. They just wouldn't be allowed to call it such if it wasn't, the Latiners wouldn't let them.

yer man! · 29-04-2012 12:15pm

Out of interest is there wifi in Javas? what is it like upstairs? is there couches up there or plain wooden seats?

inisboffin · 29-04-2012 12:23pm

yer man! wrote: »

Out of interest is there wifi in Javas? what is it like upstairs? is there couches up there or plain wooden seats?

Afaik no wifi, but at least one couch upstairs. To be honest I am between two minds about this. On the one hand, I do like to work/surf on my laptop somewhere cosy. On the other hand it's nice to have at least one 'old school' place where people go to talk to each other instead of becoming our individual techcubicles! Nice place to brin a book if you're on your own too (except Sat, very noisy and lots of plinky plonk on Sat!)

yer man! · 29-04-2012 1:09pm

inisboffin wrote: »

Afaik no wifi, but at least one couch upstairs. To be honest I am between two minds about this. On the one hand, I do like to work/surf on my laptop somewhere cosy. On the other hand it's nice to have at least one 'old school' place where people go to talk to each other instead of becoming our individual techcubicles! Nice place to brin a book if you're on your own too (except Sat, very noisy and lots of plinky plonk on Sat!)

That's fair enough, I'm sure there is no wifi just for this reason. I do think there is room in Galway for another type of place that is cosy and does wifi for those times when you don't want to talk to anyone and just want to go online with a coffee next to you.

yer man! · 29-04-2012 1:27pm

Gloria Jeans coffee wants to locate here too, they're very similar to costa coffee.

http://www.barkeeper.ie/page.asp?Page=611

ben.schlomo · 29-04-2012 1:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

While I agree that they make absolutely incredible pizzas, it really irks me when people refer to it as "The Latin Quarter".

Same as,i was just quoting the previous poster.

ScumLord · 29-04-2012 1:54pm

I've never been in a starbucks, I've just never been around one at the right time. I'll have to go into one next week when I'm in England so that I can come back here and say how bad they are.

When I'm in other European countries I like going to the smaller local cafes though, I like the whole European urbanite feeling from sitting in one and having someone bringing you down the coffee and saying something foreign.

29-04-2012 3:47pm

Honestly I don't notice too much difference between what they serve and most other places but their thermos cups they sell are the best I've ever used (I do most of my coffee drinking in the car)

29-04-2012 3:47pm

Honestly I don't notice too much difference between what they serve and most other places but their thermos cups they sell are the best I've ever used (I do most of my coffee drinking in the car)

Seaneh · 29-04-2012 3:49pm

yer man! wrote: »

One thing a lot of people notice about the Starbucks places is the layout, it's GOOD!! nice balance of chairs + tables and sofas and stuff, nice lighting, free wifi, not too noisy, just comfortable..... This is why I go. So far I have yet to find a place in Galway which can match this and at the same time do a frappuchino.....

Problem being, wifi in Starbucks, atleast on dame street, isn't free, it's a bitbuzz service, which means you have to sign up for it and pre pay.

Java/Rouge are opening a new cafe on Dominick street aross the road from Rouge where the chemist used to be, looks really nice inside, and it's a big unit, goes really far back.

macgabhs · 29-04-2012 3:55pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Honestly I don't notice too much difference between what they serve and most other places but their thermos cups they sell are the best I've ever used (I do most of my coffee drinking in the car)

+1 for the Starbucks thermos cups. I've got a stainless steel one that easily keeps my coffee warm enough to drink for several hours. Fantastic for the car. I'd also agree with the comments about their coffee though really Starbucks are in the milky drink market not real coffee but I can understand their attraction given that you could sit in one all day long and nobody would be trying to get you out. I would say that kind of cafe is missing from Galway

Bandana boy · 29-04-2012 3:58pm

Paddyfield wrote: »

Starbucks seem to be closing all over the world as trends are changing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/29sbux.html

That article is 3+ years old ,there old CEO returned did a consolidation and they have been showing strong growth for the last couple of years

yer man! · 29-04-2012 5:02pm

Seaneh wrote: »

Problem being, wifi in Starbucks, atleast on dame street, isn't free, it's a bitbuzz service, which means you have to sign up for it and pre pay.

They advertise free wifi online anyway. http://www.starbucks.ie/coffeehouse/wireless-internet

dmcg90 · 29-04-2012 7:18pm

A lot of the small coffee places in town are very similar in quality I've found, I'd welcome Starbucks to Galway. Places like Starbucks are what tourists expect from a city nowadays, I don't think any tourist has gone "Right, I'm not going to any city with a Starbucks". I don't see why Galway can't have the best of both worlds and have popular European chains like H&M and Starbucks and still keep it's originality, if Starbucks is as bad as is claimed then the smaller shops won't notice any drop in sales then.

It brings jobs, and a place to relax in town (that isn't a pub) and isn't that overpriced in it's food compared to some outlets in town (two buns and coffees in Arabica cost me an arm and a leg the last time).

Personally, location wise? Bar 903's old location or the spare unit beside HMV would be great for it.

Shakti · 29-04-2012 7:27pm

dmcg90 wrote: »

location wise?.

Inishbofin,

MagicMarker · 29-04-2012 7:32pm

I went into a Starbucks for the first time a while back, just out of convenience. I was really disappointed in the quality of the coffee tbh, also a large coffee and muffin was 5.50, which is absolutely fúcking scandalous. The same thing in Insomnia is 3.50 and, while the coffee isn't that great either, it's better than Starbucks.

yer man! · 29-04-2012 10:02pm

Ya tbh I hate Starbucks americanos but i like all the other milky coffees and stuff like frappuchinos, they're just different. I just like the atmosphere and I find them pretty cosy to stay in for a while. I never get the feeling like I'm being rushed or on top of anyone.

ScumLord · 30-04-2012 1:30am

dmcg90 wrote: »

A lot of the small coffee places in town are very similar in quality I've found, I'd welcome Starbucks to Galway. Places like Starbucks are what tourists expect from a city nowadays,

Yes tourists love travelling thousands of miles to find the same shops and restaurants as the place they just left.

Doc Ruby · 30-04-2012 5:17am

dmcg90 wrote: »

I don't see why Galway can't have the best of both worlds and have popular European chains like H&M and Starbucks and still keep it's originality, if Starbucks is as bad as is claimed then the smaller shops won't notice any drop in sales then.

We could keep them in their own area like Chinatowns in US cities, maybe call it Chaintown or something.

Will Starbucks (proper) ever come here?

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