Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> I totally agree, Barbara. I only drink iced coffees, but I have an Iced
> Venti Americano on my way to work every morning. Sometimes I have the same
> thing on the way home, but with a couple of pumps of mocha.

Agreeing with sf and Wayne here. I like Starbucks, but I very rarely get
their latte or mocha drinks. Straight, unflavored coffee for me. Usually
though, it's the whole bean coffees I like and I grind at home. We have
plenty of coffee houses around here. I prefer the Starbucks -- whether
it be at one of their stand-alone coffee houses or the kiosk at my
grocer. Nice thing about our little kiosk is that when I buy a pound of
coffee, they give me a free cup of fresh brewed stuff that I sip on as I
shop.

So, please don't try to tell me how it tastes burned or bitter. Not what
I've been getting, and with all the stores that were opened, not what
others were getting either. Supply and demand. I like what I've gotten
here and the little guys haven't proven that they have anything better
(though most of the time the little guy does cost more for the roasted
beans).

I for one am disappointed to see stores closing and people out of work
-- but it's that way EVERYWHERE right now. Has nothing to do with the
cup of coffee they brew. And if you'll pardon the pun, it's part of the
"trickle down" effect and when you have to choose between coffee or a
gallon of gas to get to work, that gallon of gas is going to win and
stores will close. Come to think of it, people are driving LESS as well
even with lower gas prices.

--Lin

"Lin" > wrote in message
...
> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> I totally agree, Barbara. I only drink iced coffees, but I have an Iced
>> Venti Americano on my way to work every morning. Sometimes I have the
>> same thing on the way home, but with a couple of pumps of mocha.
>
> Agreeing with sf and Wayne here. I like Starbucks, but I very rarely get
> their latte or mocha drinks. Straight, unflavored coffee for me. Usually
> though, it's the whole bean coffees I like and I grind at home. We have
> plenty of coffee houses around here. I prefer the Starbucks -- whether it
> be at one of their stand-alone coffee houses or the kiosk at my grocer.
> Nice thing about our little kiosk is that when I buy a pound of coffee,
> they give me a free cup of fresh brewed stuff that I sip on as I shop.
>
> So, please don't try to tell me how it tastes burned or bitter. Not what
> I've been getting, and with all the stores that were opened, not what
> others were getting either. Supply and demand. I like what I've gotten
> here and the little guys haven't proven that they have anything better
> (though most of the time the little guy does cost more for the roasted
> beans).
>
> I for one am disappointed to see stores closing and people out of work --
> but it's that way EVERYWHERE right now. Has nothing to do with the cup of
> coffee they brew. And if you'll pardon the pun, it's part of the "trickle
> down" effect and when you have to choose between coffee or a gallon of gas
> to get to work, that gallon of gas is going to win and stores will close.
> Come to think of it, people are driving LESS as well even with lower gas
> prices.
>
> --Lin

That's true.

sf wrote:

> Frankly I can't understand why people say Starbucks coffee is so
> terrible. It's pretty damned good, so IMO those people are used to
> drinking dirty dishwater masquerading as coffee.

I agree. I have never had a problem with their coffee. Waiting a long
time to get one has been a problem. Finding a place to sir down and
enjoy that coffee has been a problem. I don't mind spending more for a
good cup of coffee and a nice place to drink it, but 50% extra is a
little steep


> Starbucks expanded way too quickly, anybody could see the writing on
> the wall. They would have had to cut back even if there wasn't a
> recession.


Has it expanded faster than Tim Hortons? They are everywhere around
here. I live in a town of 15,000 and there are 3 of them in town. There
are cities around here where you can't drive more than a few blocks
without seeing one.

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>
> Has it expanded faster than Tim Hortons? They are everywhere around here.
> I live in a town of 15,000 and there are 3 of them in town. There are
> cities around here where you can't drive more than a few blocks without
> seeing one.

NYC has something like 700 of them. There are even more than one an a
block.

In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>>
>> Has it expanded faster than Tim Hortons? They are everywhere around here.
>> I live in a town of 15,000 and there are 3 of them in town. There are
>> cities around here where you can't drive more than a few blocks without
>> seeing one.
>
> NYC has something like 700 of them. There are even more than one an a
> block.
>
> In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
> town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.
No wonder Americans are so fat

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> I totally agree, Barbara. I only drink iced coffees, but I have an Iced
> Venti Americano on my way to work every morning. Sometimes I have the same
> thing on the way home, but with a couple of pumps of mocha.
>
> David insists that Starbucks puts something in their drinks to make them
> addictive. :-)
>
> The only Starbucks anywhere near the Phoenix area that is closing is one
> located in a very obscure little town. Don't know why they put one there
> in the first place.
>
You are lucky, given your coffee-drinking habits. I don't know
what might happen to the various Starbucks here. I don't remember
the last time I ventured into one--I guess it was when they had
their divine hot chocolate.

--
Jean B.

One of Peter's leg-humpers wrote:

> No wonder Americans are so fat

Is there some institution which makes Aussies so stupid?

Bob

"notbob" schrieb :
> On 2009-01-31, Gloria P wrote:
>
>> incredible number looked down their noses and replied "If it's not
>> STARBUCKS, it's not coffee...." Stoopid yuppies with more money than
>> taste.
>
> Very few Starby customers order plain coffee. It's the milk drinks with a
> splash of coffee/expresso they go for. Milk and sugar are Starby's money
> makers. Coffee is just a flavor base.
>
Flavour ? Starbucks ? <snort>
I've laughed my ass off when they tried to expand into Austria.
Trying to sell Merkin ****water in the mothercountry of the "Kaffeehaus"
;-).
Most of the shops don't exist anymore ...

Cheers,

Michael Kuettner

On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:54:33 -0800, Lin >
wrote:

>I prefer the Starbucks -- whether
>it be at one of their stand-alone coffee houses or the kiosk at my
>grocer. Nice thing about our little kiosk is that when I buy a pound of
>coffee, they give me a free cup of fresh brewed stuff that I sip on as I
>shop.

I think the free cup of regular coffee with purchase of a pound is
standard Starbuck's practice... at least it is where I shop. Nice
little perk! (pardon the unintentional pun)


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:06:59 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>Has it expanded faster than Tim Hortons? They are everywhere around
>here. I live in a town of 15,000 and there are 3 of them in town. There
>are cities around here where you can't drive more than a few blocks
>without seeing one.

I have no idea - I've only seen Tim Horton mentioned here in rfc.

I live on the West Coast. Peets and Starbucks rule in my area, but
they are not driving regular coffee houses out of business - in fact,
many neighborhoods won't allow chains in, so the little guys are
thriving in all parts of The City.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:25:01 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
>town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.

I don't think we have Dunkin Donuts in this area anymore, but I
remember when they were considered the best donuts in town! I still
love the raspberry filled ones.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:40:04 GMT, "FreddyPud****er"
> wrote:

>> In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
>> town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.
>No wonder Americans are so fat

Americans don't get enough exercise.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:25:01 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
> wrote:
>
>>In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
>>town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.
>
> I don't think we have Dunkin Donuts in this area anymore, but I
> remember when they were considered the best donuts in town! I still
> love the raspberry filled ones.

DD is OK but I miss the jelly doughnuts that some of the now long gone
independent bakeries used to make. Very few good bakeries left in the world.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

>
> DD is OK but I miss the jelly doughnuts that some of the now long gone
> independent bakeries used to make. Very few good bakeries left in the world.


SOnut shops have done to donuts what pancake restaurants have done to
pancakes. .... ruined them.
We used to get incredible cake donuts from a chain bakery called
Womens Bakery. In the city where I used to live they had one outlet on
the main street and one at a local mall. They really were great donuts,
much better than Tim Hortons or any of the other donut chains. Alas,
they have gone down the tubes.

There are still lots of good bakeries around here, but most of them tend
to be expensive. As I remember things, bakeries used to have quite
reasonable prices. Now they tend to be quite expensive. For instance,
there is a bakery on the next street. It is a small operation that sells
excellent bread, rolls and goodies..... but they aren't cheap. For
instance they sell date squares that are big enough to cut in half and
serve two people. They charge $2.50 for them. It doesn't cost much more
than that for me to make a batch of date squares that would be big
enough for a dozen of those squares..... so $30 per batch.

One of the newer bakeries in town sells incredible bread. It really is
good. It's $5.25 per loaf.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:25:01 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
>>> town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.
>> I don't think we have Dunkin Donuts in this area anymore, but I
>> remember when they were considered the best donuts in town! I still
>> love the raspberry filled ones.
>
> DD is OK but I miss the jelly doughnuts that some of the now long gone
> independent bakeries used to make. Very few good bakeries left in the world.
>
>
There is an fantastic 3rd generation mom & pop bakery in my town.
Everything is made with real ingredients. I have turned some people on
to the place and they always remark how great everything is compared to
big box.

In article >,
"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:

> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...

> > I don't think we have Dunkin Donuts in this area anymore, but I
> > remember when they were considered the best donuts in town! I still
> > love the raspberry filled ones.
>
> DD is OK but I miss the jelly doughnuts that some of the now long gone
> independent bakeries used to make. Very few good bakeries left in the world.

My daughter's roommate works he

http://www.crixacakes.com/

I'll be going there once I make my first million! I understand that
it's very good.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 17:51:46 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"sf" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:25:01 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>In New England Dunkin Donuts is similar to Tim Hortons. We have four in a
>>>town of 10,000. One is in the supermarket.
>>
>> I don't think we have Dunkin Donuts in this area anymore, but I
>> remember when they were considered the best donuts in town! I still
>> love the raspberry filled ones.
>
>DD is OK but I miss the jelly doughnuts that some of the now long gone
>independent bakeries used to make. Very few good bakeries left in the world.
>
Back when I went to DD, I didn't even know they were a chain.... maybe
they weren't.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"sf" > wrote in message
> Back when I went to DD, I didn't even know they were a chain.... maybe
> they weren't.
>
>

Their headquarters is in Randolph, MA. They used to bake the goods fresh at
every location every so many hours. Now, much is done in a regional bakery
and delivered to the various shops in the area. We have a "factory" here
and I know they supply at least 15 other DD in the area. They used to be
better from what I recall, but after so many years, I can't say for sure.
The damned things are popping up like dandelions though. With no on site
baking they need very little space so they are in supermarkets, gas
stations, etc.

On Jan 29, 6:55*am, Andy > wrote:
> Starbucks closings.
>
> Starbucks announces 300 more store closures. That in addition to the 2008 600
> store closings.


For me, it's no great loss. I have probably darkened their door
thrice in my life. I didn't think the coffee was so great, either.

Does anyone know what percentage of their store have closed in the
last year or so?

On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 21:45:57 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>They used to bake the goods fresh at every location every so many hours.

OK, those were the days when I went there. DD was very good back
then. I don't remember baked donuts though, they were the fried kind.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:54:39 -0800, val189 wrote:

> On Jan 29, 6:55Â*am, Andy > wrote:
>> Starbucks closings.
>>
>> Starbucks announces 300 more store closures. That in addition to the
>> 2008 600 store closings.
>
>
> For me, it's no great loss. I have probably darkened their door thrice
> in my life. I didn't think the coffee was so great, either.
>
> Does anyone know what percentage of their store have closed in the last
> year or so?

They shut down 100% (3 of 3) in my city... and according to this
article, the Australian franchise is shutting (or has shut) down 75% of
its stores.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...006301,00.html

Starbucks to shut its three Adelaide stores

MEREDITH BOOTH

July 29, 2008 11:30pm

ALL three Starbucks coffee stores in Adelaide, employing about 30 people,
are expected to close on Sunday as the U.S.-owned Australian franchise
shuts down 75 per cent of its locations.

The subsidiary of U.S. company Starbucks Coffee will axe about 685 jobs
when, in five days, it closes 61 "underperforming" stores from 84
locations, leaving only 23 stores in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

"After evaluating several options to strengthen the business in
Australia, Starbucks made this decision to concentrate its attention and
resources on profitable growth, operational efficiencies and an enhanced
experience for customers and partners (employees) globally,'' a company
spokesman said.

Employees at Starbucks' Rundle Mall, Glenelg and Noarlunga stores were
told of the closures yesterday.

All closure sites will be made public tomorrow when posted on the chain's
Australian website after all employees are told.

Starbucks Coffee Company (Australia) made an operating loss of $36
million in the year to September 30, 2007, adding to a $27 million loss
the previous year.

This may assist our cousins across the paddock

http://www.franchisebusiness.com.au/...ees_z49743.htm


Horry wrote:
> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:54:39 -0800, val189 wrote:
>
>> On Jan 29, 6:55 am, Andy > wrote:
>>> Starbucks closings.
>>>
>>> Starbucks announces 300 more store closures. That in addition to the
>>> 2008 600 store closings.
>>
>> For me, it's no great loss. I have probably darkened their door thrice
>> in my life. I didn't think the coffee was so great, either.
>>
>> Does anyone know what percentage of their store have closed in the last
>> year or so?
>
> They shut down 100% (3 of 3) in my city... and according to this
> article, the Australian franchise is shutting (or has shut) down 75% of
> its stores.
>
> http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...006301,00.html
>
> Starbucks to shut its three Adelaide stores
>
> MEREDITH BOOTH
>
> July 29, 2008 11:30pm
>
> ALL three Starbucks coffee stores in Adelaide, employing about 30 people,
> are expected to close on Sunday as the U.S.-owned Australian franchise
> shuts down 75 per cent of its locations.
>
> The subsidiary of U.S. company Starbucks Coffee will axe about 685 jobs
> when, in five days, it closes 61 "underperforming" stores from 84
> locations, leaving only 23 stores in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
>
> "After evaluating several options to strengthen the business in
> Australia, Starbucks made this decision to concentrate its attention and
> resources on profitable growth, operational efficiencies and an enhanced
> experience for customers and partners (employees) globally,'' a company
> spokesman said.
>
> Employees at Starbucks' Rundle Mall, Glenelg and Noarlunga stores were
> told of the closures yesterday.
>
> All closure sites will be made public tomorrow when posted on the chain's
> Australian website after all employees are told.
>
> Starbucks Coffee Company (Australia) made an operating loss of $36
> million in the year to September 30, 2007, adding to a $27 million loss
> the previous year.