starbucks

tabatha

does anyone know when and where the new starbucks coming to dublin is going to be?? about time we got one of these places....

Sarsfield

It was rumoured to be the corner site at Foster Place on College Green. But there's still a big "TO LET" banner hanging outside, so I don't know what the story is.

In the meantime, there are plenty of other (and IMO, superior) coffee houses to choose from. If you need the "American Chain Store" experience, theres a Barnies on Westmoreland St where Beshoff's was.

tabatha

thanks for that......its not so much the "american experience" but a good choice of drinks that they have on offer.....especially their frappuccino's that are to die for and there lovely surroundings of comfy chairs to relax in whilehaving your drink....i cant say that i have ever found anything in this country on par with them.....a lot of places here seems so overpriced with no customer service and bad surroundings! :mad:

Tom Dunne

Sarsfield wrote:

In the meantime, there are plenty of other (and IMO, superior) coffee houses to choose from.

Yes, but do they server Low Fat Cinamon Swirls with their coffee? I think not.

tabatha

lol, thats funny!

americanCat

starbucks is definitely overcommercialized but they do have some awesome teas (and they pay realllly well if you get a job there). Personally, i *love* their Chai Tea Latte.

Tom Dunne

I have to say I love Starbucks.

But, and it is a big but, since I got my own capppucino/espresso maker, I now make my own (and damn good coffee it is too).

Larianne

...it ain't all that...

Some much better cafes around. When I lived in America I much prefered Dunkin Donuts coffees and hot chocolates!

Tom Dunne

No, no, no. Krispy Kreme doughnuts were much nicer.

Legend has it that some police force in the US wanted doughnuts so bad, they sent the police helicopter to Krispy Kreme. Allegedly they landed in the car park, picked up the doughnuts and flew back to the station.

Just realised it is Saturday morning. I used to go to Starbucks almost every Saturday morning when I was living in the US.

Saruman

They have some nice stuff there like the apple cider, hope they have it when it comes to Ireland... Anyone working in Microsoft know? There is one there already...

Anyway for coffee though.. maybe it will be better here but every American i know much prefers European coffee as US coffee sucks. So i send coffee over all the time to inlaws etc.

goin'_to_the_PS

there is 3 due to open in rathmines

David19

goin'_to_the_PS wrote:

there is 3 due to open in rathmines

3? Thats a lot. The invasion is about to start! They'll be absolutely everywhere soon enough.

tabatha

good, i cant wait

goin'_to_the_PS

David19 wrote:

3? Thats a lot. The invasion is about to start! They'll be absolutely everywhere soon enough.

well thats what they do, open loads of them to start, sell cheap, which drives all other coffees shops in the area out of business. there was an article about them in the irish times awhile ago very interesting

aphex™

goin'_to_the_PS wrote:

well thats what they do, open loads of them to start, sell cheap, which drives all other coffees shops in the area out of business. there was an article about them in the irish times awhile ago very interesting

Yeah. They will fill an area with as many starbucks as possible. You know they're getting desperate when they open a new starbucks in the toilet of another starbucks tho..

tabatha

well i dont mind as long as there is decent coffee etc...nothing wrong with a bit of competition, something this country needs.

Tom Dunne

goin'_to_the_PS wrote:

well thats what they do, open loads of them to start, sell cheap, which drives all other coffees shops in the area out of business.

But will that model work in Ireland? We aren't yet a nation of coffee drinkers, will they get the volume of customers?

I am not convinced they will. Having said that, I for one will be availing of their services on a regular basis.

goin'_to_the_PS

time will tell....

David19

tabatha wrote:

well i dont mind as long as there is decent coffee etc...nothing wrong with a bit of competition, something this country needs.

Starbuck's whole business idea is anti-competition. They want to smash the competition by opening up as many outlets as possible. Its called infestation.
They basically buy you out or force you out.

As for their coffee, I've had it once and it wasn't bad. Nothing to really write home about.

athena 2000

Starbucks - the Wal-Mart of coffee.
Frappucinos are excellent.
Their primary dark roast tastes like stewed tobacco leaves. Nasty stuff.
The Chai teas are good.
Chairs are comfy and service is always above average.
They expect a HIGH degree of friendly customer service from employees.
If you get the job, can you do it?

Shad0r

I used to work for Starbucks in Canada and am huge into coffee. I havent been able to find a Cafe Mocha anywhere in Dublin that even remotely compares to Starbucks'.

Starbucks Gingerbread Mocha = the best coffee ever made tbh.

Saruman

Their plan will not work.. driving others out of business!! All that will happen is that the price will fall in the other places to a decent level. The price of coffee like everything here is way too high.

aphex™

Saruman wrote:

it won't work...the price will fall in the other places to a decent level.

Doesnt that happen everywhere else? Has it put them out of business yet?

Downtime

tom dunne wrote:

No, no, no. Krispy Kreme doughnuts were much nicer.

MMMM yes - polished off 6 at the weekend - delish - 8 seconds in the micro - just right

tabatha

exactly, look at how many "big" supermarkets there are around such as dunnes and tescos and yet the robbing spar shops seem to be popping up all around the place.

Blisterman

Well competition is always good for the consumer. As long as theres antitrust laws.

Anyway, I don't like starbucks much. (To be honest, I only ever drink hot chocolate) Costa, here in London is much better. Don't think they have any branches in Dublin, though.

tabatha

oh i love costa's hot chocolate...there chocolissimo drinks are to die for!

tabatha

have just been out in dundrum today and they have a new starbucks their. not opened yet but id say its in the next couple of days!!! roll on i say!!!

babaduck

According to the Sunday Business Post, the Dundrum Starbucks is due to open at the start of September. Bring on the Venti Iced Mocha Frappuchino Light (no cream please) and I will be in heaven!!

For all you lucky sods living up the North, there's a Starbucks in the Junction One outlet centre

patrickmooney

From all reports I've heard it's going to be this Thursday 18th! Only today have their irish website starbucks.ie started to resolve to the US one. Here's hoping for the 18th, if it is I'm heading there for lunch and leaving just after dinner!

whiskeyman

will be interesting to see if the prices are comparible to abroad... like the Big Mac price index.

sceptre

whiskeyman wrote:

will be interesting to see if the prices are comparible to abroad... like the Big Mac price index.

Ah, the Tall Latte Index. We've the Economist to blame for that one too.

patrickmooney

IS it OPEN?
I've been getting reports that it is.....can anyone confirm before I make the trip on out?!?!

patrickmooney

From todays indo:

STARBUCKS' plans to increase its planned coffee shop outlets in Ireland have run into difficulties, amid claims the company's presence would "dumb down" an historic part of Dublin.

The US chain will open its first coffee shop in the country in the Dundrum Town Centre today, but planning objections have delayed its flagship outlet, on Dublin's College Green.

One objector to An Bord Pleanala has protested that granting planning permission would "dumb down" an historic part of the city; that allowing a coffee shop to open would run contrary to plans for a site that had been earmarked for a high quality restaurant, supposed to bring some class back to the area.

Paul Duffy, from Donnycarney, said he has no axe to grind with Starbucks, but added: "May they continue to grow and thrive and dominate the world as they are doing, but let them do so on the side streets away from our most important and historic buildings."

He suggested Starbucks could relocate to Temple Bar "where the coffee might have a sobering effect on the drunks".

Starbucks has more than 9,500 coffee shops worldwide, serving some 33m customers a week. The Seattle-based chain already has a small outlet in Dublin City University, but the Dundrum shop will be its first in the Republic to open to the general public.

Dublin City Council granted planning permission earlier this year to Treasury CMBS, owner of the College Green premises, to change the use of its Riada Building from a restaurant to a coffee shop, but that has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanala, with a decision due in October.

Another objector, Magdalena Gendek, from Drumcondra, protested that a Starbucks coffee shop would further erode the civic fabric of the urban centre, increase litter and it goes against the council's policy of trying to control the spread of heavy corporate branding.

She said: "A restaurant of high quality such as Shanahans would be appropriate for the area, however a Starbucks multinational coffee shop chain store is an entirely different use."

20 Times 20 Times

there is one also going into the blanchardstown shopping center

tripper

There has been aq starbucks in ulster bank or boi for a long time now, but the thing is it is not the same quality or type of coffee you get in the states they just used the name But i would say the new ones are

JungleBunny

Starbucks... yummy...
Thought I had died and gone to heaven when I found out they had one in work (MS). Think I may have over-dosed at this stage so I am taking a break from it ... verry addicting

... right so... who's for coffee??????

koneko

Sarge wrote:

there is one also going into the blanchardstown shopping center

Yay! Their mochas and frappes are just plain mmmmm

patrickmooney

So has any starbucks fans been out yet? I got the luas on out after work. Very exciting indeed!

The store is on par with others worldwide, didn't see any couches though. Menu is the very same as the UK one, but the baristas will make to demand items that are off-menu, i.e. vanilla cream fraps. Food selection, but is once again identical to that of the UK including a large range of starbucks sandwiches and cakes, however I didn't see any cinnamon swirls.

It was very busy when I went out, around 7:30pm. A few passers by where slagging the queue, which in fact was out the front door; however service was very quick considering. There where two staff (partners in starbucks lingo) taking orders with another four serving drinks. Two additional floor staff where floating around making sure everyone was happy.

The store stocks a full range of merchandise, including a Dublin City Mug. Price wise it’s good. A Large Latte is a little over €3, Venti (24oz) is €3.75. Flavour shot is 50c extra and I think Soya milk is 60c extra (Barnies now charge 90c for Soya – outrageous). Whilst they will sell boxes of tazo tea for €5.50, they will not sell their flavour syrups. The barista did inform me they sell them in the US!

The staff where all very friendly, from accents appeared to be British or American. One thing I would suggest is for them to adopt the concept of taking either your name or initials and putting it on the drink as the collection point was a little crowded and confusing; everyone was grapping each others drinks as they where being severed.

Overall I was impressed with the operation. A very warm welcome to Ireland, long overdue….lets see the Irish coffee wars begin!!

FX Meister

I do like their coffee, even if it is over priced. I hate the way they use tall, grande and venti instead of small, medium and large. I feel like such a fag asking for a grande vanilla latte. For those who can'r wait for them head to DCU where you can get the majority of their coffee in the Starbucks there.

Yeah patmooneyyou can get the syrups in the USA, picked up caramel and vanilla in Canada recently

Blisterman

I was in dundrum on saturday and saw it. The queue was out the door. Didn't bother queueing.

FX Meister

They have free WiFi abroad, do they have that here?

tabatha

was talking to a member of staff from starbucks in dundrum yesterday and she informed me that they are having problems getting staff for the new stores and that is delaying the process. it is also the same for there store as they cant get staff and that is why the queue is out the door. she told me college green will be the next and then harcourt street if they can get the staff.

hshortt

They sell their own brand syrups for €5.10 (375ml) which is actually very reasonable. I get Torrani Vanilla syrup from particular coffee shop which is charged at €13.75 for 750Ml.

The Starbucks one unfortunately isn't a patch on the Torrani flavour.

Why is so hard to buy the Syrups? I've tried musgraves and a half dozen coffee shops before I found my (pusher) supplier

Cheers

Nevyn

Well as long as they open late, hate not being able to go for late night coffee
in this country.

Sarsfield

Thaedydal wrote:

Well as long as they open late, hate not being able to go for late night coffee
in this country.

That's my main complaint about Irish coffee chains. They operate for office workers and shoppers. If Starbucks changes that then it will be a positive thing. College Green could manage 24/7 business with all the Temple Bar crowd, taxi drivers etc.

But I've still never had a good cup of coffee in a Starbucks.

Giblet

I have at least 2 mochas a day in Tallaght IT.

I hate saying Venti and all that crap. "But Venti means LARGE!" They say....:rolleyes:

It means 20, as in 20oz

NoDayBut2Day

I like Starbucks' Frappuchinnos (did I spell that right? Hehe...). Yep...the chocolate one and the strawberry one.

I should try more coffee-stuff though; I never used to like coffee and then one night I tried some and I was like, "Hey! This stuff is good.." Hehe...

Sarsfield

According to todays Business Post, Starbucks will be opening their second outlet at the Harcourt Building on the corner of Harcourt St and Adelaide rd. Nice location, really nice building!

This will be interesting as it puts them in direct competition with O'Briens, Insomnia and Coffee Society, all of which are within a minutes walk of each other.

Business Post

The lovely Harcourt Building

Nevyn

Well if they stay open until 1 am on Thursday I am sure they will get costum.

NoDayBut2Day

I've been craving a frappuchinno for the past week or so. May have to go get one today...