You favorite Starbucks coffee?

BlueMonke

Hi all,

More for convience I will buy my coffeebeans from Starbucks. They have got a decent selection and just wondering what people like. I buy the wholebeans as I have a grinder and I like to make Lates but Id like to hear the opinions from others who have tried them.

My most recent purchase has been the "Guatemala Antigua" the is a Medium coffee with the description of Soft Coco Flavors I have only made Lates from these beans and while the soft coco flavor description would be right Id also add to the description "Earthy" and does not make for a great Late. I might try this in a course gind and french press to see if it produces a nicer cuppa.

Id rate this coffee a 6/10

Has anyone else tried their coffees?

Mr Magnolia

Tried several of their coffees and thought they were all pretty bad (same as most cafés unfortunately). Wouldn't buy their beans for home use either, there's plenty of great suppliers that sell quality freshly roasted beans with a roast date on them.

BlueMonke

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

Tried several of their coffees and thought they were all pretty bad (same as most cafés unfortunately). Wouldn't buy their beans for home use either, there's plenty of great suppliers that sell quality freshly roasted beans with a roast date on them.

Ok well for those who have Id like to hear what they prefer as I dont think they are that bad. Trying to get really good coffee can be a nightmare sometimes. Either having to wait a few days or more after buying online or a trip into town and still then I dont know where Id get good coffee.

So lets not turn this thread into I hate Starbucks one!!

Mr Magnolia

It's not about hating starbucks, I don't. If people are happy there then enjoy.

Buying beans online is simple, all of my coffee arrives this way. The best coffee I've ever tasted was delivered via the interweb. I like to try and let people know that there are always very good alternatives if you want good, freshly roasted beans. It's all about informed decisions

RE*AC*TOR

Jesus wept.

Gran Hermano

OP, if you're rating Starbucks at 6/10 why are you offended when others suggest you can do far better elsewhere?

Rather than discussing what's the best below par coffee and getting all defensive have a look at the other threads to see what people are enjoying.

BlueMonke

Gran Hermano wrote: »

OP, if you're rating Starbucks at 6/10 why are you offended when others suggest you can do far better elsewhere?

Rather than discussing what's the best below par coffee and getting all defensive have a look at the other threads to see what people are enjoying.

Because if you actually read what I typed earlier Starbucks are handy with many stores around Dublin and Im rating that particular blend they do not Starbucks in general and I did look to see if anyone rated particular blends by Starbucks but couldnt find any.

I knew before I bothered my arse typing this thread the reaction it would get. Everyone knows best and this that and the other. If I wanted to know about other coffees I would have said so. I am specifficaly stated Starbucks in the title.

Can we not keep it to that. :mad:

BlueMonke

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

Jesus wept.

Had to stick your oar in. That how you have 7k plus posts.

Arciphel

Might not be high-brow enough for the connoisseurs, but I have to say I like the christmas coffee they have in Starbucks, they're not bad at all. I had a Creme Brulee latte concoction in Costa Coffee the other day, it was delicious - but so sweet I could hear my teeth forming cavities as I was drinking it.

ch2008

They do an awful lot of good things for the coffee industry but get slated a lot in the specialty world. I dont try their coffees that often but when I do I generally dont like the roast profile they use, it tends to overwhelm any flavours in the coffee.

I'm kind of tempted to do a starbucks taste test now to see which of their coffees is the best. I'd imagine it would be pricey enough though? Anyone else wanna join in?

Slaphead07

ch2008 wrote: »

Anyone else wanna join in?

Eh..... no. I have to admit the few times I've tasted their beans used in espresso it was ok but the stuff they sell in their cafes is closer to confectionary than coffee. I see the branch in Ranelagh is now closed. Well done the good people of Ranelagh.:D

RE*AC*TOR

ch2008 wrote: »

They do an awful lot of good things for the coffee industry

Please elaborate.

ch2008

They educate the public. Without them introducing the masses to terms like Barista, cappuccino, latte et al our job would be an awful lot harder. I'm not suggesting they are at the forefront of quality but when regular customers come into any shop I've worked in they generally have a basic understanding of coffee jargon and a reference point thanks largely to Starbucks. People also see coffee as a luxury nowadays and I think starbucks have a lot to do with this.

They buy an awful lot of coffee in an ethical manner that supports farmers and the quality of the coffee. Farms like Herbazu in Costa Rica and Tanzania Blackburn sold a lot of coffee to Starbucks in the early days and used the funds to up the quality in recent years.

They've begun using farm names on their coffees, light years ahead of the other high-street chains.

Clover Programme, its been rolled out into nearly 50 stores in the US. I know people bashing them for taking over and not putting them everywhere but before starbucks came along nobody was buying them. The programme is due to expand further in the new year and they're hoping to get them to Europe soon AFAIK

They've trained a lot of people in coffee. Its very difficult to get a proper education in coffee as a barista or roaster and Starbucks takes this very seriously. I'd love to know how many famous (relatively) baristas and roasters started life in starbucks?

They do some of the best brewed coffee in the country with proper brewing ratios, temps, shelf life etc. Again let down by the profiles imo

They've recently begun a seasonality programme. I think this is a massive step forward for the highstreet stores. Most independents dont even do this!

In saying all this they still have a strange ideal when it comes to roasting, which I dont understand. Its not that they don't know what they're doing either, they're well aware that they roast their coffee too dark. Its just the way they do it

I also have no idea how I ended up sticking up for them, but there you go

RE*AC*TOR

ch2008 wrote: »

They educate the public. Without them introducing the masses to terms like Barista, cappuccino, latte et al our job would be an awful lot harder.

Miseducate. Unless you think a superauto button pusher / whipped cream attendant is a barista.

ch2008 wrote: »

I'm not suggesting they are at the forefront of quality but when regular customers come into any shop I've worked in they generally have a basic understanding of coffee jargon and a reference point thanks largely to Starbucks. People also see coffee as a luxury nowadays and I think starbucks have a lot to do with this.

In the past. As in they "did" an awful lot of good. I'll give you jargon though.
Fair ****s to them for proliferation of the jargon. I don't know where we'd be without all the jargon.

ch2008 wrote: »

They buy an awful lot of coffee in an ethical manner that supports farmers and the quality of the coffee. Farms like Herbazu in Costa Rica and Tanzania Blackburn sold a lot of coffee to Starbucks in the early days and used the funds to up the quality in recent years.

They were dragged kicking and screaming into Fairtrade. They are "ethical" as far as the market demands.

ch2008 wrote: »

They've begun using farm names on their coffees, light years ahead of the other high-street chains.

Yeah? If I go into Starbucks in Dame St, there'll be farm names on the bags? Or is it only in a handful of stores in the US?

ch2008 wrote: »

Clover Programme, its been rolled out into nearly 50 stores in the US. I know people bashing them for taking over and not putting them everywhere but before Starbucks came along nobody was buying them. The programme is due to expand further in the new year and they're hoping to get them to Europe soon AFAIK

How is this good for the industry?

ch2008 wrote: »

They've trained a lot of people in coffee. Its very difficult to get a proper education in coffee as a barista or roaster and Starbucks takes this very seriously. I'd love to know how many famous (relatively) baristas and roasters started life in starbucks?

Idle speculation.

ch2008 wrote: »

They do some of the best brewed coffee in the country with proper brewing ratios, temps, shelf life etc. Again let down by the profiles imo

They do some of the only bloomin brewed coffee in the country. How is this good for the industry?

ch2008 wrote: »

They've recently begun a seasonality programme. I think this is a massive step forward for the highstreet stores. Most independents dont even do this!

See farm names comment.

ch2008 wrote: »

In saying all this they still have a strange ideal when it comes to roasting, which I dont understand. Its not that they don't know what they're doing either, they're well aware that they roast their coffee too dark. Its just the way they do it

I also have no idea how I ended up sticking up for them, but there you go

If you love Starbucks so much, why don't you marry it?

Slaphead07

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

Miseducate. Unless you think a superauto button pusher / whipped cream attendant is a barista.



In the past. As in they "did" an awful lot of good. I'll give you jargon though.
Fair ****s to them for proliferation of the jargon. I don't know where we'd be without all the jargon.



They were dragged kicking and screaming into Fairtrade. They are "ethical" as far as the market demands.



Yeah? If I go into Starbucks in Dame St, there'll be farm names on the bags? Or is it only in a handful of stores in the US?



How is this good for the industry?



Idle speculation.



They do some of the only bloomin brewed coffee in the country. How is this good for the industry?



See farm names comment.



If you love Starbucks so much, why don't you marry it?

Oi Reactor, do you ever drink decaff at all?

L31mr0d

The problem with a general Coffee forum is that it's like having a general food forum. You're going to have your people who like Michelin Star restaurants and then your people who like McDonalds.

Starbucks is the McDonalds of coffee, but for what it is, I personally have no problem with it (sure I'll have a Big Mac on occasion also) Its coffee is not great, but it's consistent and everywhere so getting a coffee to go isn't as much of a risk as chancing a no namer café. I'll usually only have one of their dessert coffees being honest, anything without milk and buckets of sugar just tastes awful.

I personally like their Winter range of drinks, gingerbread, toffee nut and dark cherry. Dark Cherry being my favourite. They also have the best cinnamon swirls and apple fritter doughnuts.

Arciphel

Oh yeah, I forgot the dark cherry mocha, like drinking a liquidised black forest gateaux! I think I am going to pick one of these up tomorrow if they are still doing them...

And Reactor or whatever your name is, I'll raise the cup to you & drink it to your health :pac:

LoanShark

OP,
To answer your question.. I always have a Grande Americano with an extra shot...TO Hell with Mocciato, Latte and that other stuff that if the truth be told tastes like crap.. Strong Coffee with a splash of milk is the future!,Trust me people will be talking about it for years to come!

arabica69

Personally and professionally, i would side with ch2008 on this one. Whilst i could never recommend them to anyone i know or drink the stuff myself, i do think they recruit a lot of people to the world of 'coffee' (and i'm using that word very loosely).

i compete directly with them on a daily basis and do find that there serve as a very good reference point for my customers. i believe they sell a lifestyle (i.e. Sarah Jessica / Sex in the City pseudo-sophisticated kind of thing) rather than a quality coffee experience.

i do however find it interesting that as one of the perceived pioneers bringing specialty coffee to the masses back in the day, they are now getting their claws into the initiatives sparked off by the indie coffee industry - i.e. clover, seasonality, etc. - and starting to question the fully automatic machines.

they are now chasing rather than leading...

L31mr0d

arabica69 wrote: »

they are now chasing rather than leading...

A lot of successful companies fall into this habit of resting on their laurels. Microsoft is now chasing Apple when they where the leaders is OS's. Sony is now chasing Microsoft when they where previously the leaders in gaming consoles.

It's better for the consumer in the long run anyway that they are forced to innovate (or copy) to remain competitive.

Regular Latte

L31mr0d wrote: »

Starbucks is the McDonalds of coffee...

I think McD would like to think of themselves as the McDonalds of coffee.

Coffee Review wrote and article last year that compared Starbucks coffee and McDonalds coffee in the USA. You can read the article here.