Starbucks closed 7,100 outlets the other night to retrain baristas on the art of making coffee. So, this morning, I bought my usual (grande nonfat two-pump no foam mocha--hey, I live in Los Angeles). I am trying to determine if it tastes any different. I think so...?

Maybe not quite so burnt? Maybe I'm imagining things? Have you folks noticed any difference? The barista did make more chitchat with me, which I read was part of the retraining. The Chicago Tribune reports, "Staffers...participated in role-playing exercises to encourage connections with customers."

Tim Bueneman of Seattle-based brokerage McAdams Wright Ragen took the photos you see outside one Starbucks

SBUX loading...

Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profile

[SBUX  Loading...      ()   ] in the company's home town and said returning CEO Howard Schultz told the troops via videotape, "If that beverage is not good enough, please pour it out. Let's measure our actions by that perfect shot of espresso." Apparently a lot of emphasis was put on steaming the milk properly.

Bueneman also said baristas stood outside Starbucks passing out free coffee (FREE!) while the store was closed, perhaps in response to Dunkin' Donuts' attempt to capitalize on the closures.

So, is the coffee better? The experience? Bueneman says his office is divided half and half on whether the coffee tastes better (Half and half, get it? Milk? Heh heh). His analyst, Dan Geiman, says he can't tell any difference, but Geiman does report some test stores are trying new techniques, like delaying grinding the beans until closer to the point of sale.

READERS RESPOND TO COUNTRYWIDE, MORTGAGE FEES, KIDDIE COOKBOOKS, AND MEXICAN DENTAL WORK
From Anonymous on the Countrywide ski junket that was cancelled:
"Countrywide didn't save any money by cancelling their ski trip. At this short notice, they would be obligated to pay the entire cost of the hotel, dinners, flights, decor, etc. At this point, they are only hiding from the press. I think someone should investigate how much money was thrown away on this cancelled event. They should have given the trip to a group that could have benefited from it since it has been paid for anyway. Like families that lost their homes and can't afford a vacation. What a waste! "

Eric L. weighs in on the mortgage fee blog I posted yesterday:
"Does anyone find it odd that with housing tanking, the 30-yr fixed is rising rapidly? Money is getting made cheaper and cheaper by the fed but banks are the only people seeing the benefit. They are pocketing that money and hiking rates on their customers at the same time. Basically, those that would normally be willing to borrow and have great credit are forced out. Thus, no buyers. If I was one of the big banks right now looking to drum up some business to repair my horrifically damaged balance sheets, I'd have a high standard for issuing loans but drop the rate under everyone else and rake it in. There's the competition for rates in the market here?"

Julia B. goes OFF on the dueling cookbooks (including lawsuit) between Jerry Seinfeld's wife and another author (blogged about it Tuesday):
"OK, I have SO many issues with these books. Either way, I won't ever buy either book. Is this what we've reduced ourselves to as a society? TRICKING our children to eat veggies? These books seem to me to be a symptom of a society that has become addicted to processed, sugary foods...Since when do veggies taste so bad that we have to hide them? I want to raise my kids to CHOOSE right foods, not trick them into eating them. What happens when they move away from home? No one will be sneaking carrots into their Big Macs...The sneaky chef website features PB&J muffins. Um... since when is peanut butter a vegetable? Canola Oil?! How in the world could a cookbook promote healthy eating and then use canola oil??"

From Annie T. on my blog about people traveling to Mexico for dental work:
"My sister belongs to a large group of self-employed artists and vendors. Most of them are between 50 and early sixtyish. All of them seek out their dental care and expensive prescription medications across the border in Mexico. No horror stories yet, but as a Registered Nurse it puts the hair up on the back of my neck."

Comments? Funny Stories? Email

Tools:

PrintEmail Del.icio.us Digg It

Next Post

Previous PostBack to Main Page