I think when the newspaper advertisements say they will hand-make your drink, it's more about the barista hand pouring the espresso from a shot glass (or glasses) into your cup and hand steaming the milk. They did get retraining on making sure that there's consistency to what they do in that regard.

You might also see Starbucks repositioning the automated espresso machines (turning them 90 degrees) so that the baristas are better able to see and "chat" with the customers.

Consider yourself schooled...

And also: we take good coffee for granted here in Seattle. Ever been to Memphis? Or Atlanta? Or Houston? That starbucks becomes something of an oasis, and you get very happy to see it.

"My coffee tastes yucky! Make it again! Again! Again!"

(you can get tea at Peet's)

I understand that Starbucks is now testing the Clover machine, which is used to amazing effect at Trabant. The predicted result? Crap.

normally, i tell the barista that "ristretto means a 10-second shot", but i figured i'd let the barista at the world headquarters show off what he knew.

the first two tries were raspberry. the third one was bitter enough that there was no way it was a ristretto...

it took the barista four tries to get my order right, and this was at their world headquarters!!

never going back to starbucks... never

You almost have to use Starbucks when you travel. It's actually safer than risking your delicate tastebuds to some STRANGE BREW in a STRANGE PLACE that doesn't get how coddled lucky we are when it comes to world class coffee here.

I mean, if you have special coffee needs.

Which I do.

sorry.

What was their policy before? "Don't like your latte, too bad"?

Can you imagine hearing "I'd like a half Whopper, half garden burger, warm the pickles face down, 3 dots of mustard, 6 dots of ketchup, cut into triangles" at Burger King? They'd be sunk.

I really do love a good cup of coffee. Trieste, Stumptown, Vivace, Blue Bottle, Ritual - great beans done by people who know how to pull a shot. But I'll go to Starbuck's in a pinch no problem, I don't know what people are expecting. It kinda sucks, but it gets the job done... enough. How in the hell is a global chain going to make money without water cooling the burnt-assed beans and serving'em 8 months passed their prime?

Then again, I'll drink instant.

Prissy whiner.

Except @15.

ESPECIALLY @10. Fucking "ristretto". What the hell? You made me fucking puke on my own cock. You're a fop. And a twot. "He had to try four times before blah blah blah". OH DEAR GOD YOU'RE A HATEFUL HUMAN BEING. You made him do it FOUR FUCKING TIMES?!?! Oh you're a horrible, horrible bag of crap.

I FUCKING HATE SEATTLE. AND NEW YORK. Good god.

Take a sip and spit it on their shoes if you don't like it. Shows that you're a real connoisseur.

Can you imagine hearing "I'd like a half Whopper, half garden burger, warm the pickles face down, 3 dots of mustard, 6 dots of ketchup, cut into triangles" at Burger King?

No. But if a competitor opened up and started selling custom-made burgers at about six times the price Burger King was charging for theirs, then yes -- definitely.

$3 for milk with some coffee in it or $15 for a burger should buy you a little extra attention to detail.

Trieste? Talk about burnt coffee.

That being said, I just love the blueberry scones they've been serving lately. MMMMM. So sugary!

no sane person follows the saga of the coffee company

dull lives void of substance, over invested in a brown liquid that tastes like shit and costs a lot

zzzzzzzzzzzz

I brew mine in a can on the hot plate

middle class muddle - in the coming depression you will not spend 14.00 a day on coffee and snacks

Schultz is the epitome of marketing genius, all flaws to the contrary, a billion dollar international empire on bad tasting over priced coffee. WOW.

Ordering one of those things shows you know/care nothing about coffee. It's like ordering name rum for a rum and coke.

I've been going to Starbucks (and other coffee shops in Seattle) for well over a decade and have almost never had a problem. Every once in a while, sure, but...not to the degree that some of these people seem to be having problems.

I've had coffee at these supposed "better" coffee shops too, but honestly -- it wasn't THAT great. What't the deal?

I think all of you complainers are just band-wagon jumpers.

2. @37 -> totally right. A. milk affects espresso shots and dear god chocolate just messes everything up. if you really wanted to taste the ristretto shots, just get a dopio.

3. starbucks coffee isn't really over-roasted... it's roasted a several minutes shorter but at a higher temperture (faster you can do it, the more you can make!). still, gross.

4. i think it's a nice gesture that starbucks is starting to remake drinks for people, as that's a pretty civil things to do (god knows i do it if someone really wants me to). but what's horrible is that starbucks has set standards for everything else causing confusion like caramel machiattos and frappucinos (who gets frozen drinks in winter?!? do they NEED to be blended?!)

Or go stick your head in a pig.

You're not proving a point by being an asshole in a starbucks, you're being a shitty human being. Stick it to the man all you want, but don't fuck over some minimum-wage worker just because they can't remember how to make your extra-special drinky-po.

And baristas have ALWAYS been told to put up with any shit the customer dishes out, this isn't a new policy.

By the way? If you don't want to pay 3.50 for a drink, order an americano or regular drip coffee. Those are pretty much the price of any coffee shop. It's only the super fancy calorie-rich monstrosities that'll put you out of house and home.

Here is a thought: If you don't like it don't go there. I happen to like the coffee but do not go to the stores since they got rid of the old machines a few years ago. Now I buy the espresso pods and make it at home.

Me thinks many of you are bitching just for the sake of bitching.

This intel is yet to be tested, but I heard it from a Starbucks barista.

If any of you decide to test this, tell me how it goes. I'd rather make my own coffee at home for a quarter of the price.

WRONG! do it again. again!

@48 - they've adopted Metro's fare policy?