-- Well, just popped in for a coffee and hey guess what - I wrote a review! Its been a while, but I...
-- Well, just popped in for a coffee and hey guess what - I wrote a review! Its been a while, but I think I've still got the hang of it....
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Life these days is all about brand names. The recent plethora of Coffee houses that have sprung up all over the UK, has been led by that mega US brand STARBUCKS. Strange though that over in the US, many people hate them. In fact there is even a website dedicated to the ‘hobby’ www.ihatestarbucks.com. Amazing – they only serve coffee, they aren’t exporting nucleur weapons to third world countries. Well that’s the Yanks for you.
But one thing they do well is provide comfortable places to relax and indulge yourself in a nice cup of coffee – or try something just a little more exotic.
Myself, I’ve always been a coffee drinker. Ever since I was old enough to tell Mum – nope I don’t like Tea, please could I have coffee. You see I was a very polite child (no, really ask my Mum, ring her now on 01992 68………..). Coffee is synonymous with America – and Starbucks are THE American coffee house!
Travel to the US and they are everywhere. We have sat in Airport lounges in Detroit, Chicago O’Hare and McCarron, Las Vegas and drunk our Lattes (we used to call it ‘frothy coffee’, in the
old days didn’t we? Boil up a saucepan of hot milk, take a cup, put a teaspoonful of instant coffee, sugar to taste, pour the boiling milk into a cup – and stir). Add to that a streetside Bar in San Francisco and a couple in L.A. That’s why this op is under the ‘Los Angeles’ section – I could not find one for ‘Milton Keynes’. Starbucks have become an ‘institution’ in the US and probably because of their high profile they get ‘stick’ from all quarters. But what they do – to my mind – they do well.
Just like Fast Food outlets, like BK, McD or KFC, the surroundings and what is on offer is pretty standardised. Starbucks just off Sunset Boulevard in LA, is nothing special. It is opposite a ‘Carls Jr’ diner and a ‘Boston’ fish restaurant. It is accros from an intersection from the road that 100 yards away brings you out onto Hollywood Boulevard itself. Nothing special, but a little more glam than Peterborough!
Each Starbucks that we tried in LA – the other two were at the Beverley Center and one at the Airport – were stylishly decorated and had a mixture of table and chairs to sit at or a couple of comfy sofas to lounge on. Except they were ALWAYS being used! Not exactly as shown in 'Central Perk' on TVs ‘Friends’ show at the or even another very popular TV Coffee House, ‘Café Nervosa’ Frasier’s usual haunt.
The good thing about Starbucks – anywhere – is that they make the coffee properly and you can drink it in a proper mug. None of that serving you coffee in cardboard crap. OK – I know if you’re in a hurry and an the move you can get it ‘to go’, but I’m talking ‘relaxing with a nice mug of coffee’ here.
Back to L.A (No, I’ve got to wait till we go again in October) and our ‘Starbucks experience’. As well as 'specials', you can have the usual favourites like, standard filter coffee, cappuccino, latte, mocha and for those sultry Summer afternoons (not sounding to much like a cheesy TV Ad, am I?), Iced Coffee. We decided to make a change and try a muffin with our coffee. Jill chose her fave – blueberry, I went for the chunky chocolate. Right ladies don’t get all drooly over the mention of the word chocolate..I’ve only mentioned it once………………CHOCOLATE…..sorry. I guess not surprisingly, the muffins did not live up to expectations. They were nice, but not jaw droppingly ooooohhhhh yesssss!!!, which you are led to believe all things American are. From memory they were a $1 each – compare that to one over here and they are good value in the USA.
We sat at the table and read the complimentary copy of that day’s L.A Times. “Mmmm I notice Copper’s up” I commented on browsing the Business section – no response… “and Kevin’s making a new movie”. “Yes, really, where, when – let me see!”. Well that bit of news got Jill’s interest, but lost me the newspaper. But at least I had my coffee to savour.
A couple of days later we’d got a Cab into the Beverly Center – a shopping and leisure complex on about 12 Floors. We’d got tickets to see the film ‘Galaxy Quest’ up at the Cineplex at the top of the Center, so we thought after a pre-movie browse amongst the shops, we’d have a coffee. Now this Starbucks was in the heart of Beverley Hills. I felt very underdressed. Same coffee, Same tasteful surroundings, but the people here – no, not stars, but they were of a certain …standing. Business people, Personal Shoppers taking a break, just general ‘classy’ people. There were no ‘ethnics’ on the customer side of the Coffee House, if you get my drift. No tourists either – apart from us.
Surprisingly the prices were no different to those at the Airport, nor at the one in Sunset Boulevard. Compare that to London sometime and you’ll pay more in the City than at say, Cathedral Square Peterborough.
Oh yes, don’t forget to pick up a ‘Starbucks’ coffee mug. You can buy a mug – with the instantly recognisable green logo – for around $10 – which includes the mug and endless refills while you are in that particular outlet. And a great souvenir too. I don’t know if they do the same kind of offer in UK Branches though.
Anyway I’ll close this op now, it’s getting to be more of a travelogue than anything else. But, Starbucks – just go into your local one and sit back, relax and imagine you are a star, waiting for a casting, just off Hollywood. I could say that it’s what dreams are made of, but come on – it’s ONLY a Coffee House, but a Quality one.
The only Starbucks I have been in are the ones in the US bookshop chains Barnes & Noble. I didn't think their coffee was anything special, they keep it in large pump action thermos flasks and as they day goes on the coffee gets cooler and cooler. Nope, as far as I'm concerned Starbucks means paying over the odds for indifferent coffee.
Dizz 03.06.2001 21:03
Have to agree that Starbucks serve great coffee! A little on the expensive side, but worth it.
Heather_D 03.06.2001 19:52
good op - i want some coffee now! Starbucks = good! I love the frappucino things- the original ones are the best, none of this new-fangled cream/tea stuff. Can't help but think of the scene in the Simpsons though where they go to a shopping mall and every shop is a Starbucks. I never understood the joke untill they built 4 Starbucks in Manchester City Centre over the past year.
Thanks, Heather :0)
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Advantages: Comfy, excellent service, fantastic choice of drinks and snacks. seasonal drinks are amazing. Disadvantages: can be crowded and busy if you go at the wrong time, e.g. saturday afternoons!
zoelouisa 13.10.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Starbucks Coffee
Advantages: Comfy, excellent service, fantastic choice of drinks and snacks. seasonal drinks are amazing. Disadvantages: can be crowded and busy if you go at the wrong time, e.g. saturday afternoons!
zoelouisa 13.10.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Starbucks Coffee
May 28th, 2001
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