Comments on: Starbucks caves in to refills, sort of

By: Full of beans

Full of beans — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:22:34 +0000

I thought that the coffee and service in Starbucks in Japan was good but overpriced. Other coffee shops in Japan – next door to Starbucks -now offer lower-priced good coffee with refills so there is real competition for Starbucks.

By: Miko

Miko — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:03:38 +0000

I’m not a huge fan of Starbucks, but I will never forget the role that it played in introducing the concept of “non-smoking cafe” to Japan. (Trust me, before it came along, “coffee shop” was pretty much synonymous with “smokers’ paradise.”) For that reason alone, I’m extremely grateful.

Anyway, why does anyone need more than one coffee in a day? I find that if it’s really GOOD coffee – which I wouldn’t normally expect from Starbucks – then I don’t need to be constantly sipping it all day long. For that, I prefer tea.

By: john

john — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:34:30 +0000

Not all Starbucks in Japan are smoke-free, many have smoking at their outside tables.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:31:42 +0000

uh, the idea was not that it would help them, which it certainly wouldn’t. It was more a comment on the “exclusivity” mentioned in the original post and that this 100 refill offer — and the seemingly free transfer of it — is all well and good now, as long as it’s those same type of relatively well-heeled customers, but that tune would certainly change were less desirable (from Starbucks’ point of view, not mine) elements to take advantage of it.

By: Philip Weyland

Philip Weyland — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:22:30 +0000

“The beverage they sell is still the equal if not superior to that of any other coffee vendor..”

Give me a break! Among coffee fanatics, Starbucks is notorious for it’s over-roasted, bitter, sour espresso. After living in Rome for 5 years, I now can’t bear the taste of Starbucks coffee.

It’s telling that after 10 AM, the overwhelming majority of Italians drink straight espresso – or machiato – which in Italy is rich, sweet and nutty. According to a Seattle Starbucks barista friend, he serves, at most, a dozen straight espressos a day, which is understandable considering that what comes out of those machines resembles battery acid more than it does espresso. Which in turn explains a comment from an Italian friend living in the States – a comment equally valid when directed towards the Japanese – he said, “you Americans don’t drink coffee, you drink coffee-flavored milk.” Starbucks espresso might be drinkable if diluted in 12 ounces of milk, but then, don’t kid yourself that what you’re drinking is coffee.

I haven’t lived in Tokyo for a decade or so, but there must be plenty of specialty espresso places that deserve patronage for putting out a superior product.

Here’s a little trivia question for ya: which European country hasn’t even one Starbucks outlet – that’s right kids – Italy.

By: Cookie Pockets

Cookie Pockets — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 01:02:39 +0000

They’ve been doing this for almost a year now…

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:43:59 +0000

That’s funny how you say “homeless or other in-need folk.” As if a cup of coffee will do them any good.