Let’s see, I don’t normally go to Starbucks because they don’t carry irish cream flavoring, which is unforgivable. Nevermind that the only sugar-free flavor they have is vanilla. When I go to a coffee shop, I must be able to have my iced, triple-tall, sugar-free, irish cream, ristretto, americano (with room for cream). It’s pretty much the only coffee beverage I’ll drink.
FYI, Starbucks is the only place where I can’t get that, every single mom 'n pop cafe I’ve been to has been able to make that for me.
Usually I get an iced quad venti latte. On cold days the order goes something like this:
Barrista: Hi, what can I get for you today?
Me: I would like a venti latte with five shots.
Barrista: Five? (looks to other barrista to see if he/she thinks I’m for real.)
Me: Yes. (holds out hand with fingers splayed) Five. Please. (smile)
Barrista: Uh… OK. That’ll be…
Considering my Starbucks is a B&N Cafe posing as the coffee people, I’m not really surprised at the reactions of its employees. Nobody ever batted an eye when I’d place my orders in “real” stores.
(One day, just as experiment to see if my town’s store could get it in one try, I’d like to pull a Jen [my good friend]: venti, six pump hazelnut, two equal, no foam latte. My bet would be the entire cup would be covered with each word written out. :))
[hijack]Dairy products supposedly increase phlegm production. One singer I know won’t eat anything containing dairy for several days before a gig. I’m not concerned about phlegm to that extent, but it’s part of my “performance mode body chemistry” management ritual. I try to be well-rested, warmed-up, highly caffeinated, hydrated, have high blood sugar but not much food in my stomach, be free of intoxicants, and not be phlegmy. A lot of it may be superstition, but when I feel like my body is firing on all cylinders, I feel that I do better work and I have more fun.[/hijack]
[other hijack]I also live in downtown Vancouver. The kitty-corner Starbucks branches are across Robson and Thurlow, aka Gateway to Hell. They’re three blocks from my apartment; I feel privileged. On Granville and Georgia, there’s a branch in the Sears, and another branch not quite across the street from it (on the other side of Granvile, but partway to Robson).
I actually like the close-packed Starbuckses. If I’m on my way somewhere downtown and I want a cappucino, I don’t have to go out of my way to get one. Along downtown Granville, there really is a Starbucks every block. If there’s a long line in one, I’ll keep walking until I pass a branch without a line. I feel like Mr. Efficiency when I not only have my coffee and/or breakfast during my commute, but also get it without having to wait in line. Aw, yeah . [/other hijack]
–Max, who wonders if there’s a reason why this thread’s most vocal dectractors of Starbucks are Australian
Relatively new to Starbucks. I have recently begun using it as a place to sit and chat, where the coffee’s kind of an extra. It works better that way.
I seem to remember that I officially disapprove of Starbucks, can’t remember why. It might have been some corporate=evil thing. Anyway, everyone has his price, and mine turned out to be Mint Moca Chip Frappuccinos (or whatever they’re called). It’s a chocolaty minty coffee frap, and it’s fabulous, especially with whipped cream on top. I like to have one in front of me when I have my weekly “date” with my wife, because whatever she says, or however unreasonable I was feeling beforehand, a Mint Moca Chip Frappuccino makes me into just the most amiable gent you could care to meet.
ps: where does the name “frapuccino” come from? Is the “fr” to do with it being cold, whereas “CApuccino” is hot? Is it like in French where chaud is cold and froid is hot? What are the Italian equivalents? Is it a made-up word?
The Starbucks in my Safeway does this, although it’s probably a Safeway thing, since I have to swipe my Safeway card to get it. After just seven you get one free. Yay!
I usually get a medium (grande?) cappachino, easy on the whipped cream, sometimes with a shot of flavor - maybe vanilla or almond.
Ehr… maybe this is a California thing, but when did it ever leave? I’ve been drinking one or two a month since last November (the only thing I’ll order in a Starbucks, actually, to answer the OP). Sure, they don’t advertise it like they did, but it’s there on the menu board, near the bottom. I’ve had them in Berkeley, San Francisco, LA, San Jose, Anaheim, and Bakersfield, so I’m pretty sure it isn’t just my particular one that’s rebelling and still serving it.
Basically, it’s a French hot chocolate - melted chocolate in whole milk, served very hot. I’m told that it’s sweeter than they serve it over there, though (sugar, too), and I’m pretty sure something else in Chantico that plays with the mouth-feel a little, but that’s the gist of it.
The Chantico has been at the Starbuck’s near me since they brought it out - it never went away.
There are other seasonal things that come and go, like the gingerbread and peppermint flavored coffees, but the Chantico’s always been there.
I’m a huge chocolate lover, but that one’s just too rich for me.
Nope. It’s a made up word that comes from blending the word frappe with the word capuccino. A frappe is another word for a milkshake. So, basically, a capuccino milkshake.
Nah, Starbucks generally have sugar free vanilla, almond and hazelnut. I’m partial to Tully’s since they have sugar free raspberry. Does anyone have sugar free chocolate? It seems like a good drink would be sugar free rasp/chocolate.
Venti* caramel frap with whip. It’s the only thing I buy from the buks, but I can usually find someplace else to get my fix. I like Tully’s better and they don’t smell like burnt coffee.
Very interesting…I always do the drive-thru thing, and it was totally gone from that menu board. I just assumed it was seasonal, but I didn’t ask to make sure. I’ll have to go inside and ask for it; I am really jonesing for one now!
I have never seen a drive thru Starbucks… I had no idea they had them!
And I wish you people would shut up about Chanticos, I would give anything to get my hands on one. I’d even give anything to get my hands on some good quality chocolate to make my own.
There’s a drive-thru Starbucks near me. I’ve used it a few times, but I do consider it the height of laziness.
“Gimme a venti, double espresso, extra foam, extra hot, double shot of vanilla, full-fat milk, extra sugar and I’m using the drive-thu 'cuz I haven’t had my caffeine yet, so MAKE IT SNAPPY!!”
In reading these recent posts, I’m reminded of a memory.
About 10 years ago, I shot a job for a coffee plantation that grows a rare bean called La Minita. I spent a week at Hacienda La Minita in Costa Rica. Then we flew to Boston. Why Boston? Cause just off Hahhvahhd Square there was a coffee shop that sold this rare and apparently beautiful bean. ( At the time, I eschewed coffee but adored all things coffee-flavored).
It was a brutally hot summer. The Starbucks ( what is this thing you call Starbucks? For, I know not of it. Not then anyway ) was sweltering. See, it was closed…cause we bought it out…and they wouldn’t put on the air for us. Putz’s. Anyway, I was hot. Swelteringly hot, actually. When I heard ice being ground up in a blenderlike device, I was all aquiver. So, I asked if I might have one of those delicious-looking coffee slurpees. Gosh, but it was good. Then I asked for another, cause I was so very swelteringly hot. About an hour later, I was so very very hot. Really quite swelteringly hot and yet filled with energy and so I asked for a third.
Yep. I drank three Venti Frappucino’s in the space of about 2 1/2 hours. I did NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT NOT ONE LITTLE DAMNED BIT NOPE NOT ME. Sure got a lot of work done, though.
It’s pretty much the only coffee beverage I’ll drink.
. [/other hijack]
Sure got a lot of work done, though.