The Power of Starbucks

[crew]

I'm at the Ft. Lauderdale airport waiting for my flight home.
I'm seated across from a Starbucks and, as I'm a little bored, I'm watching the line there. There are easily 50 people in line now! Not 100' away is a small bagel shop that also has coffee. They have 6 people in line.
Btw, the Starbucks line is very slow. It looks like a 15-20 minute wait. What does Starbucks put in their coffee that make people crave it so badly?
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm drinking a cup of their coffee now and loving it. I'm with my partner and she waited in the Starbucks line while I got us bagels in the other line. (As I said, I'm a little bored and felt the need to share this useless information)

[mjclark32]

In the past couple of weeks I've been at a hotel in Charlotte and an airport in Miami, both Starbucks there have had massive lines. I told myself I need to buy stock. Thanks for reminder

[Zuger]

We are creature of habits and like things we are familiar with. This is the same reason why crowds and lines are always longer at McDonalds if you are ever inside the food court in a shopping mall.

[crew]

Originally Posted by Zuger

We are creature of habits and like things we are familiar with. This is the same reason why crowds and lines are always longer at McDonalds if you are ever inside the food court in a shopping mall.

I agree, and as my partner said, when you go to Starbucks you know what you're going to get. Someplace else is a crapshoot.

[Zuger]

Originally Posted by crew

I agree, and as my partner said, when you go to Starbucks you know what you're going to get. Someplace else is a crapshoot.

I personally dislike the idea of trying something new and then be disappointed. Restaurants in particular. If I am taking a client I want to be able to recommend something on the menu I have tried and enjoyed. It helps with the impression if I can take the guess work out of the equation.

[c41006]

Originally Posted by Zuger

We are creature of habits and like things we are familiar with. This is the same reason why crowds and lines are always longer at McDonalds if you are ever inside the food court in a shopping mall.

pretty much this...

[SearChart]

I love starbucks but would never step into a waiting line like that.

[69mach351]

To be perfectly honest, I can never say that I have had anything great, or even something that I considered really good at Starbucks. I just don't get it. My wife and I are "foodies" and don't mind paying a premium for food/drink that is of exceptional quality, but I can usually find better quality and prices at a local place. My wife still occasionally goes for some seasonal things and I have a relative that works for them. Good for them because it works, but it ain't for me.

[Tri-Tip]

I'm a creature of habit, and at any given restaurant, I have 1-2 "go-to" meals. Exception is Cheesecake Factory where there are 4-5 things that I rarely stray from.

When it comes to coffee, I prefer Iced Coffee, and only like it the way Starbucks makes it. If I'm drinking hot coffee I really don't care what brand it is.

[AL7273]

MSG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

I understand that Starbucks uses MSG in their coffee. Remember, these are not organic beans. They are mass produced.

[T. Ferguson]

Want to see a massive Starbucks line try any location in a Vegas strip hotel at about 8 AM on a weekend morning.

The thing that surprised me about their popularity is that their pastries are in my mind mediocre at best.

[rodrob59]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

Want to see a massive Starbucks line try any location in a Vegas strip hotel at about 8 AM on a weekend morning.

The thing that surprised me about their popularity is that their pastries are in my mind mediocre at best.

Exactly why the wife and I are buying a cheap coffee maker for our room on our next visit.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

The thing that surprised me about their popularity is that their pastries are in my mind mediocre at best.

It amazes me that they think they improved them when they changed providers a couple of years ago. Pastries are awful now.

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by SMD

It amazes me that they think they improved them when they changed providers a couple of years ago. Pastries are awful now.

Agreed. I don't mind Starbucks coffee but all of the food offered at Starbucks looks awful and so processed.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by AL7273

MSG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

I understand that Starbucks uses MSG in their coffee. Remember, these are not organic beans. They are mass produced.

No wonder it tastes like crap.

[Rootbeer]

Originally Posted by AL7273

MSG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

I understand that Starbucks uses MSG in their coffee. Remember, these are not organic beans. They are mass produced.

I understand the point about commercial bean production to be concerns over pesticides.

I understand that there is some debate around msg and the putative links to obesity, though to quote from the wiki posted:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation. While a popular belief in the Anglosphere holds that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort, in controlled studies scientists have been unable to trigger reactions consistently

But i'm struggling to find evidence to support your statement that there is MSG in Starbucks coffee. Do you have some links to help back this up?

[Tri-Tip]

Originally Posted by Rootbeer

I understand the point about commercial bean production to be concerns over pesticides.

I understand that there is some debate around msg and the putative links to obesity, though to quote from the wiki posted:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation. While a popular belief in the Anglosphere holds that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort, in controlled studies scientists have been unable to trigger reactions consistently

But i'm struggling to find evidence to support your statement that there is MSG in Starbucks coffee. Do you have some links to help back this up?

I heard once that Starbucks DECAF has as much caffeine as other company's regular coffee and Starbucks regular has 3x the caffeine as anyone else.

I don't know if this is true, and have no data to back it up.

[69mach351]

Originally Posted by Tri-Tip

I heard once that Starbucks DECAF has as much caffeine as other company's regular coffee and Starbucks regular has 3x the caffeine as anyone else.

I don't know if this is true, and have no data to back it up.

I read an article about a study a few months back and they were looking at Starbucks, Dunkin donuts, and McDonalds premium coffees. In short, the higher priced coffee, starbucks in this case, did have more caffeine, but I don't think it was 3 times but maybe closer to twice that of McD's. IIRC, DD was in between.

[handsfull]

Originally Posted by crew

What does Starbucks put in their coffee that make people crave it so badly?

The burnt taste of Starbucks is alluring, but I'd say it's the caffeine.

http://www.coolinfographics.com/caffeine-poster/

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news...from-java.html

Originally Posted by Rootbeer

But i'm struggling to find evidence to support your statement that there is MSG in Starbucks coffee. Do you have some links to help back this up?

I've never heard of MSG in Starbucks coffee. Please provide some data - I'd like to see this myself.....

[AL7273]

Originally Posted by Rootbeer

I understand the point about commercial bean production to be concerns over pesticides.

I understand that there is some debate around msg and the putative links to obesity, though to quote from the wiki posted:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation. While a popular belief in the Anglosphere holds that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort, in controlled studies scientists have been unable to trigger reactions consistently

But i'm struggling to find evidence to support your statement that there is MSG in Starbucks coffee. Do you have some links to help back this up?

Be wary of the phrase "artificial flavoring". This means MSG:

Natural and artificial flavors– This is a whole category of possible ingredients, none of which are specified and are usually classified as trade secrets. However both natural and artificial flavors typically contain the toxin monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is frequently used in laboratories to create obese animals for testing. Here’s an example of this practice. And another.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the...#ixzz3XvQxjxLd


Also, look at those lines of people. Ask yourself: did you ever see lines like that for any other coffee product before Starbucks came out? Do you think Starbucks coffee is simply so good that people will line up like that? Do these lines look like "that magical place between work and home" that the the CEO says he is "passionate" about creating?

No mate, it is the combination of a highly addictive substance (caffeine) Plus the MSG = serious addiction.

[Rootbeer]

Originally Posted by AL7273

No mate, it is the combination of a highly addictive substance (caffeine) Plus the MSG = serious addiction.

Thanks for the reply. I think you might have misunderstood the author in your link. He is talking about the ingredients that give the pumpkin flavor in a pumpkin coffee drink that is available seasonally. He says there are unlisted ingredients and that he believes "typically" might include MSG, but he doesn't know. He is not saying that he believes MSG is included in any other Starbucks product.

[Jonathan007]

Originally Posted by AL7273

MSG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

I understand that Starbucks uses MSG in their coffee. Remember, these are not organic beans. They are mass produced.

I've heard MSG is basically salt on steroids?

[dba]

Originally Posted by AL7273

Remember, these are not organic beans. They are mass produced.

I might be simple but isn't almost everything grown in the ground organic? As far as fruits and veggies in this country are concerned, if there is no measureable pesticide residue on the plant 30 days from picking, it can be labeled as "Organic."

My nephew is a produce manager for a large California grocery store chain. He always tells me, "everything is sprayed"

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by dba

I might be simple but isn't almost everything grown in the ground organic? As far as fruits and veggies in this country are concerned, if there is no measureable pesticide residue on the plant 30 days from picking, it can be labeled as "Organic."

My nephew is a produce manager for a large California grocery store chain. He always tells me, "everything is sprayed"

Actually there is a legal enforceable standard set forth by the California Code of Organic Products Act of 2003 §110810 So when a grower in any state says "we are organic" or "we grow according to the CA Code" they actually have to prove it, and their status is investigated, inspected, tested and regulated. So all due respect to your nephew but he's wrong as far as this country and the term "organic"

As for other countries, from WIKI:

Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic farming organizations established in 1972.[3] The USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) definition as of April 1995 is:

“Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."[4]

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control. Depending on whose definition is used, organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) if they are considered natural (such as bone meal from animals or pyrethrin from flowers), but it excludes or strictly limits the use of various methods (including synthetic petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides; plant growth regulators such as hormones; antibiotic use in livestock; genetically modified organisms;[1] human sewage sludge; and nanomaterials.[2]) for reasons including sustainability, openness, independence, health, and safety.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Actually there is a legal enforceable standard set forth by the California Code of Organic Products Act of 2003 §110810 So when a grower in any state says "we are organic" or "we grow according to the CA Code" they actually have to prove it, and their status is investigated, inspected, tested and regulated. So all due respect to your nephew but he's wrong as far as this country and the term "organic"

As for other countries, from WIKI:

Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic farming organizations established in 1972.[3] The USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) definition as of April 1995 is:

“Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."[4]

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control. Depending on whose definition is used, organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) if they are considered natural (such as bone meal from animals or pyrethrin from flowers), but it excludes or strictly limits the use of various methods (including synthetic petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides; plant growth regulators such as hormones; antibiotic use in livestock; genetically modified organisms;[1] human sewage sludge; and nanomaterials.[2]) for reasons including sustainability, openness, independence, health, and safety.

There are many agencies and bodies that govern the "organic" label at the state and federal level. None mean they are healthier, and a recent Stanford study concluded just that. The key distinction to be organic is that you cannot use a synthetic pesticide, but you can still use pesticides, just not synthetic ones. Off topic, but there are some really big misunderstandings as what organic really means, and it can quickly devolve into a political discussion, which I want to avoid at all costs.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by SMD

There are many agencies and bodies that govern the "organic" label at the state and federal level. None mean they are healthier, and a recent Stanford study concluded just that. The key distinction to be organic is that you cannot use a synthetic pesticide, but you can still use pesticides, just not synthetic ones. Off topic, but there are some really big misunderstandings as what organic really means, and it can quickly devolve into a political discussion, which I want to avoid at all costs.

what agencies? what bodies? Just pick your state for example, tell us who governs the term "organic".

Are you suggesting there is a lack of empirical evidence? Kind of an obvious point, there is no evidence on either side as you well know. If you vote with your taste buds however, then there is no contest IMHO. Why do you think every restaurant worth their salt is clamoring to align itself with eco-friendly bio-diverse farmers? It's not because of the PR I assure you, It's night and day they way the food tastes.

[azguy]

I get 2 venti soy lattes everyday at SB, so I'm part of the cult. It doesn't matter if I'm in mid-town Manhattan, Scottsdale or Newport Beach it tastes exactly the same and hits the spot like nothing else.

Where I'm at in scottsdale there are 5 stores within 5 miles and 2 more in supermarkets in that 5 mile circle and every one is busy, super busy actaully.

[tkerrmd]

Glad I don't do coffee!

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Glad I don't do coffee!

X2

Java-junkies, caffeine-crack-addicts!!

Worst 6 weeks of my life was the period it took me to get off coffee, the best thing I ever did was go through those 6 weeks, it has improved my life in many many ways!!!

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Glad I don't do coffee!

x2....