Caffeinated Blog

Yahoo & Starbucks= Caffeinated Love

From now until Valentine's Day, Yahoo! Personals has partnered with Starbucks for Espresso Dating, an online dating service that comes with a $10 Starbucks card for every subscriber.

A poll of Yahoo! Personals subscribers revealed that meeting for coffee is the location of choice for a first date.  Coffee houses such as Starbucks have a relaxing atmosphere and provide an environment where short meetings are commonplace, should the need for an early exit be apparent.

Check out the Espresso Dating site for dating ideas, and coffee house tales.
 

Coca Cola May Compete With Starbucks Coffee

Soft drink maker Coca-Cola is preparing to take on Starbucks in the world of coffee sales.

Coca-Cola has filed a trademark for the name Far Coast and has been looking into ways to brew high-quality coffee, espresso and teas quickly in individual servings.   Coke "has filed five U.S. patent applications in 2005 for coffee and tea ‘pod’ designs, single-serving brewing machines, and a system to steam milk to make hot espresso and cappuccino. Coca-Cola already has been awarded two patents.”   

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Coca-Cola has been eyeing the booming coffee business championed by Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee for over two years.

Starbucks, a proven leader in the gourmet coffee industry, earned $6.4 billion in 2005 sales from its more than 8,500 coffee shops worldwide. Starbucks Corp. has also dominated the ready-to-drink coffee market with partner PepsiCo in the production of bottled Frappucinos.

Starbucks Coffee now accounts for 7 percent of the total coffee consumption in the United States.

How Many Calories in a Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte?

There is a nice calorie comparison table for many of Starbucks' wonderful drinks, including the increasingly popular Cinnamon Dolce Latte at the Starbucks website.  Have a look!

Starbucks Will Sell Music CDs Globally

According to a news report, Starbucks has seen so much success with the sales of mucic CDs in their stores that they are planning to offer music CD selections internationally as well.

Starbucks does not currently have plans to launch any of their Hear Music Coffeehouses internationally at this time.

The first Hear Music Coffeehouse was launched in Santa Monica, California in March 2004.  A second one opened in San Antonio, Texas last month.  A third is in the works for Miami, FL.

Starbucks is New Hangout for Highschoolers

Hamburger joints and arcades may be highschool hangouts of the past as Starbucks seems to be the destination of choice for many teens. Given the techno-friendly environment Starbucks has worked hard to convey, it has become the logical choice for young coffee-drinkers to congregate. 

According some Starbucks staffers, most of the kids forgo most of the heavier coffee-based drinks like lattes and espressos for the blended Frappuccino's that contain large amounts of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla.

Read more Turlockjournal.com

Bryant Simon Offers New Starbucks Observations

Bryant Simon, a professor currently traveling around the world visiting Starbucks coffee shops for a book he's writing, has recently vocalized some observations of America's favorite coffee chain. Bryant has been to 300 Starbucks in six nations since 2004.

— Twentysomethings don't go to Starbucks. "For teens it works differently. For them it actually is a public space where they can try on new identities," says Simon.

— Seniors also are not big fans. When they do go, they "always drink the shortest coffee, because they don't understand the huge cup of coffee. Like the Big Gulp thing doesn't make sense to them."

— Starbucks baristas don't hand-make espresso shots. They press a button on a machine. "If you go to a really good coffeeshop you actually see them make the drinks and it's a spectacle. Here the coffee machines are hidden. I think all the coffee things they sell — the travel cups, pressers, pots and beans — are to give the coffee legitimacy that's been left out by using automatic machines."

— Unlike a diner counter or the corner bar, strangers don't talk to each other at Starbucks. "Starbucks is a great meeting place, but not a great community space."

— Starbucks' future could be limited. "Starbucks is going more and more down-market all the time. It's spreading out, and it can't do that without enlarging who goes there. Starbucks' everywhereness is a threat to uniqueness everywhere. If it becomes the coffee shop everywhere, how do we make sense of the texture of our lives?"

via MarshallNewsMessenger.com

Starbucks Launches Benjamin Franklin Coffeehouse Challenge

Starbucks Coffee Company has announced along with The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary the launch of the Ben Franklin Coffeehouse Challenge. This is a community driven campaign which celebrates Franklin's legacy and also encourages civic collaboration to create positive change.

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2006--The and Starbucks Coffee Company are partnering to present the Ben Franklin Coffeehouse Challenge, a grassroots program to encourage lively and informal discussions during which a diverse range of civic-minded individuals can share their thoughts on particular local issues and, most importantly, generate potential solutions. The Ben Franklin Coffeehouse Challenge will run from now until June 2006 throughout neighborhood Starbucks locations in Greater Philadelphia and Central Pennsylvania, and offers the region's residents an exciting opportunity to recreate Franklin's special brew of civic generosity.

"Starbucks is delighted to be partnering with The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary for this unique and ambitious initiative, which both celebrates the rich history of coffeehouse discussion and debate and aims to enable our local communities to find real solutions to local challenges," said Morgan Schafer, regional vice president, the Starbucks Coffee Company.

via Yahoo News

How Many Calories in Starbucks?

Ever wonder just how much damage you're doing to your waistline on that daily stop to Starbucks? 

• Starbucks Cafe Mocha prepared with whole milk, about 370 calories
• Starbucks Cafe White Chocolate Mocha prepared with 2% milk, about 440 calories
• Starbucks Cafe Latte prepared with lowfat milk, about 220 calories

via DietBites.com

Starbucks Strikes Deal with Lionsgate

Beginning in April, you can expect to see a huge push for the new movie,"Akeelah and the Bee" from Lionsgate movie studio at your local Starbucks. 

Starbucks has agreed to spend "millions of dollars" to promote "Akeelah," in its 5,500 stores across the U.S. and Canada, according to Lionsgate president Steve Beeks.  In return, Starbucks will receive an undisclosed sum of the movie's ticket sales.

Starbucks has seen success selling select CDs in their stores, selling DVDs like "Akeelah and the Bee" seems like the next logical step. Rumor has it that they have plans to add books to their menu later this year as well.

"Over the past year, we viewed countless films in pursuit of finding the perfect film," Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz said in a statement. "We think our customers will appreciate the warmth and authenticity of "Akeelah and the Bee."

Device Left in San Francisco Starbucks Was Not A Bomb

An investigation has revealed that the device left in the Starbucks bathroom by Ronald Schouten was in fact, not explosive. 

Ronald Schouten apparently told police he thought the object might make a useful self-defense weapon, and accidentally left it in the bathroom.

"He said he just found the thing, somewhere downtown -- it was not far away," said Lt. Dan Mahoney of the special investigations detail.

Police said that when they "detonated" the device, it was merely the effect of water at high pressure hitting a corroded flashlight battery.

Suspect May Not Face Charges in Starbucks Bomb Scare

Ronald Schouten,the man suspected of causing a San Francisco bomb scare was arrested and in court Wednesday, however police now say he may not face explosives charges. Police stated that interviews with the suspect revealed additional information, and there are indications that the device found in the San Francisco coffee shop may not have been a bomb.  The new information has been handed over to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and will be investigated. 

(via CBS5.com)

Starbucks Adds Green Tea Lattes to its Menu

Korea has recently proven itself to be a test marketer for the global specialty coffee market.

Recently Starbucks rolled out Green Tea Lattes in Korea with overwhelming success.

"Based on the consumer response of Green Tea Latte here in Korea, it has been agreed that the product would be launched in other Starbucks chains in Asia and parts of the United States by the second half of this year," said S.K. Chang, president of Starbucks Coffee Korea. The local chain's idea to create a green tea version of the latte was incited by the popularity of green tea in Korea, he emphasized.

(via The Korea Herald)

Explosive Device Found in San Francisco Starbucks

An explosive device was found in a Starbucks coffee shop in central San Francisco on Monday at approximately 1:15 p.m. The device was found in the bathroom by an employee. Police were notified of the situation and the building was promptly evacuated.  A police bomb squad disarmed the device, authorities said.

"If it had detonated, it would have caused damage," spokesperson Gittens said. "It was what we consider an IED," an improvised explosive device.

Starbucks said in a written statement that it is working in full cooperation with the San Francisco authorities.

"The safety of our partners and customers is a very high priority for Starbucks," the company statement said. "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot provide additional details at this time."

Starbucks Smart Pricing Gains Them "Four Bucks"

Starbucks is often jokingly called "Fourbucks" because of what you pay for a latte.  Funny thing is, so many of us are willing to pay four bucks, when you can get a cup of joe at the gas station or McDonald's for half that.

This is the beauty of Starbucks' brand marketing as well as smart pricing according to Slate.com:

Writing for the online magazine Slate, Tim Harford argues that part of Starbucks' brilliance is smart pricing. The company, he says, hides cheaper versions of its products in plain sight. According to Harford, you can order a "short" cappuccino or latte in any Starbucks in any city, and they'll gladly provide you with one. He says the espresso taste is even better in the smaller dosage. And yet, the lion's share of Starbucks customers blindly order at least a "tall" coffee--if not a "venti."

Starbucks' Exemplary Business Model

As I surf the Web, I am constantly seeing the Starbucks business model being mentioned as a good example for other companies to follow. For example, Krispy Kreme is wanting to break out of the downward spiral they've fallen into and the Starbucks model may be something that could help them do just that.

      "Becoming a place that's about more than doughnuts might be just what Krispy Kreme needs. St. Joseph's University food marketing professor John Stanton said a better model might be Seattle's Starbucks Corp., which has retained the mystique of its brand, without a big, national advertising budget, even as it has expanded to the point where comedians joke about the ubiquitous nature of the company's nearly 7,000 stores. "I think the key with them is their cafes," Stanton said. "It's little to do about the coffee. It's the ambience.""

Straight.com also sings the praises of the Starbucks business model for marketing in particular.

  "Lenderman believes in taking the message to the people, one shopper at a time. He points to companies like Starbucks and Nike, which allow consumers to customize their experience—i.e., the Starbucks two-pump extra-hot half-dry, et cetera, ad nauseum, and Nike’s modular DIY shoe—and to others, such as American Apparel, that sell a lifestyle alongside their product. He urges marketers to go out where the shopper is, through practices like “leaning” (attractive volunteers loudly ordering specific brands in bars, for example) and flash mobs (groups mobilized to act in concert through text messaging)."

Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte~Sinfully Sweet

Starbucks has introduced the Cinnamon Dolce Latte.  Yummy! We sampled this yesterday at our local Starbucks. Creamy, cinnamony and sweet.

Oh, in case your wondering, as we were, we checked the definition of "Dolce".  Webster defines it as "sweet".  In Italian, it also means soft or smooth.  A pretty good title for this wonderful new latte!

Professor Writing 'Starbucks Book'

A forty-four year old professor of history at Temple University Bryant Simon is writing a book about the world’s largest, and seemingly unavoidable, coffee-shop chain, which he has called “the corner bar of the twenty-first century.”  He hopes the book will be —a cross between “Bowling Alone” and “Fast Food Nation,”.

Over the past year, he estimates that he’s been to three hundred Starbucks outlets in six countries. He sits in Starbucks for at least twelve hours a week, observing.

(via The New Yorker)

Starbucks Wins China Trademark Dispute

A Chinese court has sided with Starbucks over use of their same Chinese name with a rival Shanghai coffee house.

Chinese customers  pay up to $6 for a cup of coffee - more than the average Chinese worker makes in a day.  China's seemingly booming market for gourmet coffee has further illustrated the country's struggle to mediate trademark disputes.

Starbucks Denies Coffee To Marines

You've heard the rumor about how Starbucks denies coffee to marines, well let's dispel that rumor right here:

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace went on a six-nation holiday tour to thank the troops and left them with free bags of Starbucks coffee beans and mugs. Pace said that employees of the U.S. chain had donated 18,000 pounds of the beans to share with forces during his tour.

Starbucks as a company donates to nonprofit organizations that are designated as public charities under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code, and are extended to public libraries and schools, but says the US military do not qualify as a public charity.  Starbucks gives a free pound of coffee a week to employees as an employee benefit.  Many of Starbucks' employees have elected to send their weekly mark-out of coffee to members of the military or military families, and related organizations.