It's about the attitude, not the coffee
I thought it was just me, but I was at Starbucks with my friend from Sunny Isles today, and he said that our Starbucks in the Grove has the most unfriendliest people of all the Starbucks. I have noticed that, too. Maybe when they move across the street to CocoWalk, they'll be nicer.There is this anomosity at Starbucks against The Bookstore in the Grove and I don't know why. Maybe the Bookstore is taking away a lot of business, I am sure with their free wifi service that may be the case.
But as Starbucks looses favor worldwide, according to recent newspaper stories, I would suggest they lose their wicked attitude. It really isn't very nice and to be honest, I think most Grove residents would prefer the local coffee places to Starbucks any day. They prefer the fresh coffee that is ground at The Bookstore, Pommes and Pane Cafe and Fococcia's and all the restaurants in the area. It's ironic that Starbucks, the most famous coffee place has pre-packaged coffee. I even love McDonald's coffee more -- hot and iced.
We happened to be at Starbucks today for their free coffee promotion. We were there five minutes early, they made us pay. We would have waited, but we were late for a meeting. That free coffee, five minutes ahead of time would have been a nice gesture. I'll stick with my usual at Fococcia's now. They treat me better.
Oh, and I would have taken a photo or two at the Starbucks, but whenever I reach for my camera, they throw me out -- store policy -- no photos. Guess they don't want me to show the unhappy staff.
posted by Tom Falco at 2:00 PM
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19 Comments:
No Photos!???? Why? I'm not a coffee drinker but if I want to keep friends I have to go with them to Starbucks. It's a cult isn't it. I'm sure of it.
It is with all of the Starbucks, you see they employ qualified Coffee Technicians, they are professionals. Don't forget that, you are not dealing with some moms and pops home made coffee outfit, they are very very serious about coffee;)
June, I can tell you have never stepped foot in Fococcia Rustica. If you want to talk barristas, go to Fococcia, Starbucks can take a lesson from them.
give me a break june, you never get a consistant cup of coffee at sbux and the don't even grind the beans anymore. no one is qualified to pour a glass of water there.
I think June was being sarcastic...
it isnt starbucks the corporation that is at fault for lame service at specific locations. hiring is done by the local manager. he/she has to work with what is available locally.
i can guarantee you that however bad the service may be at the grove starbucks, it's still better than you will find at any fast food joint where the personnel really, and i mean really, suck.
most people who work for low wages are angry. wouldn't you be?
Starbucks is the Home Depot of the coffee world. They flooded the market with their stores, driving the "mom and pops" out of business. I even remember being in a city with a Starbucks on every corner of 4 corners!. Then, when they were (are) sure that they have driven everyone else out, they close half of their own stores and, like magic, they are the only game in town, and making a huge profit to boot. The employees that get laid off? Too bad. It's a common corporate tactic and enlightened people don't play the game. Like the people that shop at Shell when they can, a person needing coffee really should support our local people instead of some corporate fatcat that doesn't even know where Coconut Grove is (unless he's visiting Perez, of course).
Jeez. Thanks Blind Mind, the rest got me wrong, I was being sarcastic, I should have been more clear though. I love Fococcia's curry chicken salad and make it a point to visit moms and pops versus multinational chains in a heart beat. Starbucks coffee is awful , to me it tastes salty and they can never get it right, and the Coffee Technicians make me want to through the coffee back at them. This is true at almost all locations I have tried.
Is taking coffee "seriously" burning it? That's what Starbucks coffee has always tasted to me...no matter who makes it!
Now, as far as "low paying jobs" and "job satisfaction"...I understand that Starbucks offers its employees health insurance and other benefits. Maybe that's why they've succeeded so far.
With the economy what it is with people being laid off left right and center, if one has a job, one does not poo poo it!
And as far as the attitude at Starbucks (I wouldn't know cause I don't like their coffee so I don't patronize their stores)the management will do well training their employees more carefully and getting them to understand that the customer is always right and should be treated with courtesy and respect. Its contagious. Customers will react positively for sure.
I like Cuban coffee and I'm in Miami where I can get enough of it to keep me awake forever and ever:-) As long as I get a colada, I really don't care whether the server even says hello...in English OR Spanish!
I rarely go in, today was the free promo and so took my friend in. Promo was just for one hour so we missed that. They couldn't find the right keys to ring a refill. Worse, my friend ordered one of those fancy drinks and when it arrived it was small he'd paid for a med.
He didn't want to bother with their slow service and bad attitude. I guess he won't be going in any time soon. This was to be there shining example of fine coffee and fine service.
grapevine,
i usually agree with your on stuff but your attacks on starbucks are unfair and flat out ignorant. Starbucks coffee IS expensive, and for good reason. For one they offer all employees who work more then 20 hours a week full medical coverage. name me a retail outlet that offers something like that. Secondly they are one of the largest promoters of fairtrade coffee and invest millions no only in there employees in the US but also in the people across the world who harvest their coffee. They give them medical, build schools and hospital etc. They do a lot of good in the world. Merely because they are popular doesn't take away from what they do as a company. We should be supporting them and supporting other businesses in this country to take similar approaches.
I agree with anonymous. However, they should also make better coffee and train their staff better.
I SUPPORT MOMS AND PUPS BECAUSE THEIR PROFITS ARE SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY THEY PROFIT FROM.
you are enraged because you had to pay for coffee you cheap skate, they did not give a heck you are grapevine dude. Are you really that cheap?
Obviously Sarnoff's fault.
(Oh wait a minute...I forgot that this bog doesn't do sarcasm. My bad.)
We paid for three cups of coffee, if it was about free coffee, we would have left and not paid for anything. We even got cookies and paid for them. And how about you sign your name your filthy mouthed freak?
I have to say I'm torn on the starbucks issue. I am one of the few who actually likes the taste of their coffee.... sorry but I do.
However, I haven't been going there lately due to changes in my work habits. But, I used to stop in almost daily for a coffee because they were the only place open at 6 a.m. when I left for work. When I did that the staff was very nice. They always said hi to me, and even knew my order. I usually didn't have to wait - they would see me coming and start preparing my drink.
However, that was over a year ago and I haven't been going there recently. So, maybe some staff has changed and they aren't as nice.
I have to say, I do love the coffee at the bookstore. Now that I'm not going to work so early in the morning, I have time to stop in there and it is great.
Man, this blog has been inundated with asshole commenters lately... This is Grapevine's blog and he can say/do whatever he feels. If you disagree, its not too hard to state your opinion without being a dick.
My friend used to manage that Starbucks and when she was there it was running smoothly. Ever since she left its been a complete disaster both with service and appearance. I couldnt care less because I hate coffee but a lot of others seem really affected.
The nice thing about living in a 2 horse town (as opposed to the one-horse variety) is that you can have a choice of going to Starbucks, Foccaccia, the Bookstore or Olaf's for a morning coffee. You can even go all the way to Dunkin Donuts. you can hit one per day. or go to another in the afternoon. Gosh! how cosmopolitan is that!
Variety is the spice of life. Go with it.
--Margot Channing
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