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Eve Tahmincioglu

Primary author Eve Tahmincioglu has been covering small business and entrepreneurship for more than a decade. She regularly writes about small business issues for the New York Times and BusinessWeek's SmallBiz magazine. She also writes the Your Career column for MSNBC.com. She is the author of "From the Sandbox to the Corner Office."



Starbucks' problems are a boost to little javas

Posted: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 6:20 AM by Eve Tahmincioglu
Filed Under: , , , ,

I recently visited a local Starbucks and I knew I was in trouble when the barista handed me my cup of coffee in three seconds.

OK, I pay $2.80 for a tall latte, so the least the barista can do is take some time frothing up the milk. If nothing else it would help me feel a bit better about the extravagant purchase.

To make matters worse, when I tasted the latte it turned out the coffee was very weak, and it didn’t seem to have that Starbucks kick of yesteryear.

By contrast, a latte at the local java shop around the corner from Starbucks, Brew Ha Ha, is always something special. The baristas even create works of art on the top of my hot drink, often a beautiful leaf.

So, where do you think I’ll be stopping by for my latte tomorrow?

Duh, Brew Ha Ha.

Image: A cappuccino at a Starbucks store
Andrew Gombert / EPA file

I have always loved Starbucks, and loved the fact that I could stop in one almost anywhere, get a cup of joe I’d enjoy and also get free Wifi access. But in the past year or so, as the company exploded in growth I was worried about quality.

My mom, who visits me from New York often, takes the Jersey Turnpike that is dotted with Starbucks at many of the service stations. A few months ago she arrived at my home with an almost full cup of Starbucks coffee ranting about how bad it was. “There’s no coffee in here,” she said.

Now, full disclosure here: My mom grew up in Istanbul Turkey, where they drink coffee that is strong as thick mud. It’s the kind of coffee that sends you running to the bathroom.

I figured she was just being hard on good ‘ol Starbucks.

Alas, the last few times I visited the mega chain I found the same problem.

This is an opportunity for all you little mom and pop coffee shops out there to shine.

There was an interesting story in the New York Times last week about this very thing, where a local java joint in Kansas City, Mo. eventually overcame the opening of a Starbucks right next store.

Starbucks seems to be on the defensive.

Recently, the company brought  back founder Howard Schultz to save the day. And the pioneer of ridiculously expensive coffee is doing the unthinkable…experimenting with a $1 cup of coffee and free refills.

At a buck a pop, I might try them again. But I’m still expecting some coffee in my coffee please.

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Comments

My problem with local Starbucks is in the filling of the cup. They don't. I would say that on average my cups of coffee from Starbucks is at best 3/4 full. Sometimes much less. So, I pay entirely too much for the coffee and get less than a cup full.

I started using the "little guys" a couple of years ago. I do, from time to time, stop at a Starbucks but it always makes me mad after I have done so.

www.TerryReeves.com (Sent Tuesday, February 05, 2008 11:17 AM)

To the comment about not filling the cups all the way...their cups are actually 2 oz bigger than they say (ex:  16 beverage is in an 18 0x cup).  They do this so you WILL get what you pay for and still have room to add other condiments.  Just thought I would spread a little knowledge your way.

Coffe Snob, Tacoma, Wa (Sent Tuesday, February 05, 2008 5:00 PM)

How do people get to "love" Starbucks in the first place? While their coffee used to be better, it never was even close to the quality the indie joints have always served. I think all this loving of Starbucks is about wanting to follow the "in" crowd instead being a seeker of true quality coffee. And just because it is "in" doesn't mean it was, or is, any good.

Abbie Herman (Sent Tuesday, February 05, 2008 6:00 PM)

Sadly, here in Canada, we have few "indie" options. The other mega chain, Tim Hortons, has weak, commercial gruel coffee, terrible service, and is staffed by ignorant 15 year olds! I love the availability of high quality independent coffee shops all across the US. While I frequent a Starbucks most days, I have narrowed my regular selections there to a few types. Otherwise I leave - or pay another buck for a custom brewed Americano. Since Starbucks bought Seattle's Best, there are even fewer options North of the border.

Ed Wolosezky, Vancouver BC (Sent Tuesday, February 05, 2008 7:55 PM)

I found a small Organic Fair Trade coffee roaster, True Blue Coffee Roasters in West Virginia. Now I don't even think about buying Starbucks coffee anymore.

Martin M, Ann Arbor, MI (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 3:45 PM)

Here in Melbourne, Australia we have Lygon St- the centre of Italian culture. I was there last night and found to my disgust a Starbucks had opened there. I'm happy (and proud) to report it was completely empty

John, Melbourne, AU (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 5:38 PM)

We own a small cafe and pride ourselves on great coffees and teas. We love doing what we do and meet people from all over the world. We get repeat customers from different countries!  We have been open 2 years and looking forward to our third!  We live on the intercoastal waterway and are close to Rte 81, a N\S interstate. I love "LOCAL", you get to experience the flavor of the area you are in.

Ginny, Brewerton, N.Y. (Sent Sunday, February 10, 2008 7:17 PM)

This is a funny ad I found. It might be fake Im not sure. But its funny as hell. http://www.creditsnacks.com/starbuckschick.html

I think I might start drinking Coffee again.

Adhocreporter (Sent Monday, February 11, 2008 1:28 PM)

Ginny, I agree with you whole-heartedly about local "flavor." Not too many years ago, places like Newport, RI and LaJolla, CA offered locals and tourist alike the opportunity to experience the town's unique atmosphere. Today, much of that has been replaced by the generic feel that accompanies the ubiquity of Starbucks, Yankee Candle, and other chains. How unfortunate.

As for Starbucks itself, whatever happened to the days when you would enter a Starbucks and the barista would ask for your name. Consumers simply thought the workers asked so orders would be marked and handed over correctly at the end of the production line. But there was much more to it. After a short time, the baristas learned the names of those who frequented the coffee shops, causing the coffee lovers love their local Starbucks as well. Maybe it's a sign of the state of Starbucks, but it's still a shame to see such an effective, easily applied marketing tactic go to the wayside.

Peter George, Warwick, RI (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 11:31 AM)

WE HAVE A COFFEE SHOP AND ROASTING CO, HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME PLACE FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS. A STARBUCK MOVED IN ACROSS THE STREET ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND THEY HATE ME FOR STEEL BEING THERE. We get new people every day coming over to get a good cup of coffee, what ones used to be a very busy starbucks is now a joke in are area. starbucks is out small shops are in, sorry big green. ( not )

DON RUDICK PORTLAND, OR. (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:28 PM)

After 12 + years of my morning Grande cup of Starbucks, I’ve found I can get anything but a decent cup of coffee.  Years ago you could walk in and get a fantastic BASIC cup of Breakfast Blend (Mild) or bold (Drip) with a little more kick.  It is now a crap shoot about what blend you’ll get with the competition of the “New” blends that Starbucks pushes.  The baristas are so busy with other menu items, many times I have walked into a store more than a half hour after opening, and only one selection of coffee has been brewed.  Starbucks is supposed to be a coffee house isn’t it???  I have now found myself brewing my own coffee at home to ensure I get a quality cup.  Hopefully Starbucks can turn things around by taking a look at their roots.

Paul Sloan, Thousand Oaks, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 9:43 PM)



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