Starbucks to experiment with beer?

[menschmaschine]

How can anyone think this would be a bad thing? I doubt BMC will be the only choice (if they will even carry it). Starbucks might not focus on really premium beers, but I bet some of the stuff they choose to serve will get more people interested in beer culture and spread awareness.

Beer might become "hip" with the Starbucks whippersnappers, which might increase demand for non-BMC beer in younger age groups.

Agreed. If this really does go corporate-wide, it would be cool if each location would always have a few local craft brews on hand.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

The taste of their coffee aside, I think this is a great idea. This will turn Starbucks into a Euro-style café. I can dig that, but it remains to be seen if America as a whole can dig it. They would also have issues in some states/municipalities with getting liquor licenses (Pennsylvania, for example). This will go one of two ways... it will either save them or hurt them even worse.

They would never have a Euro style cafe in my town. A local restaurant is not even allowed to serve wine with their outside meals. Some poor little bugger might see an adult drinking responsibly, become a crack head and start murdering old ladies for their medication.

 

[Edcculus]

I think as much crap as Starbucks gets, they really mean well (or meant well). I agree, their coffee sucks. They brought European coffee house style into the limelight in America. True, they don't serve overpriced super sweet "coffee" drinks in most European coffee shops, but I guess thats just the American taste.

I kind of see what they are doing. Ever been to Italy? A "bar" there is typically located in a Piazza (town square). It serves espresso, wine and sometimes food. I think this is the idea Starbucks is trying to bring to America.

Will it work? With most of America's attitude for drinking, I doubt it. Italians take longer lunches and typically have some sort of wine with a meal. Its much less acceptable in our lifestyle to pop into the bar (read cafe) for a quick sandwich and small glass of wine/beer.

 

[hal2814]

There is a bar in Athens, GA that sells good coffee and also has a full bar. I personally think it's an incredible idea and has worked well for them. They took over the site of a former coffee house there. You can go in the morning for your daily coffee or go later in the day for a beer (and they have a decent selection). Or if you're the DD during a night on the town, you can get a decent NA drink while everyone else is drinking. It is still in business despite Starbucks being two doors down from them.

As far as disparaging Starbucks, I'm not the biggest fan of their coffee but when I'm traveling, I trust it more than the crap that's been sitting in a pot at the convenience store or fast food joint since 5AM that morning. If you think Starbucks tastes burnt, you have no idea.

 

[Boondoggie]

Amusing, considering Gordon Bowker, one of the guys that started Starbucks, is also one of the people that started Red Hook Brewery.

 

[Ksosh]

I'm not quite sure what I think of this. As a non-coffee drinker, knowing there's beer at Starbucks still probably won't make me go there, especially when we have a local beer bar. If I was a stockholder, I would be a little concerned, as I think it's stretching for Starbucks to market Beer when they're so good at marketing (not necessarily making) coffee and coffee related products. If they stuck with coffee stouts, then maybe, but otherwise I think it'll detract from their main business, and the coffee hipsters will probably not take kindly to the change in customer base.

On the plus side, at least they're sticking in the main business ('drink') category, unlike Ebay with its 'shiny new object' expansion model.

 

[beerkrump]

Sure the coffee at Starbucks is not the best. However, what was your gold standard for coffee before Starbucks, Denny's? Cappuccinos and espressos are common now.

Maybe they'll serve up so-so porter's and IPA's to the masses and we'll see the demand and market for beer other than BMC expand.

 

[Brewin_CRAZY]

I wish the smaller coffee shops would try this, not the tyrant starbucks. Either way I think its a great idea. About two blocks from my house is a new coffee shop (its a local mom and pop shop) and they have 5 beers on tap with out side seating across the street from campus. They get killer business, have good prices and keep good beers on tap (i.e. dead guy for $3 a pint, $2.50 at happy hour) And its just a coffee shop that wanted to sell beer, nothing more. I hope more small coffee shops do this before starbucks gets its greesy little hands into another market.

 

[IXVolt]

I could see Starbucks getting things mixed up and creating a hefe' latte or a Mocha pilsner.

Perhaps Keystone would be interested in a partnership with Starbucks...

 

[humann_brewing]

So everybody has their jokes and punches for Starbucks and I think that is why they are not going to label this new venture "starbucks". I heard they were going to name it something else so that they don't associate themselves with what everyone already knows and want that small hometown European coffee shop/wine/beer too shop feel.

 

[SumnerH]

Sure the coffee at Starbucks is not the best. However, what was your gold standard for coffee before Starbucks, Denny's? Cappuccinos and espressos are common now.

Just as far as chains go, we had Green Mountain Coffee Roasters all over the region for almost 20 years before Starbucks came to Maine.

But the gold standard would be local coffee shops, which long before GMCR were there making espresso and cappuccinos. And then regional chains like Tim Horton's have been known for their coffee since the 1960s.

Out west, Starbucks started off buying their beans from Peet's, who predate them and still make a better cup of coffee, IMO.

If you're going to name a big chain, Dunkin' Donuts has far better coffee than Denny's, and is on par with Starbucks for a simple cup of coffee.

Now, Starbucks does deserve credit for popularizing the frappucino-style iced drinks, which receive a lot of undeserved derision IMO. They're not interchangeable with a cup of coffee, but they're a great summer drink from time to time.

 

[babypacman]

I like Starbucks, because I like to travel.
You can go into a Starbucks in most corners of the world and be assured of the following:
- Relatively clean bathroom
- Ok coffee
- Place to rest weary feet for as long as you want in a non-threatening environment
That to me is the value of the Starbucks brand.

I look forward to their new experiment.

 

[MBasile]

I like the look on their face when I use crazy terms like small medium or large.

Pat

I hate that they try to correct you, they know what you mean, so stop wasting time and pour my damn coffee!
[/rant]

 

[GearBeer]

I saw this on the morning news. Not sure about whether or not it's a good idea. I think it will come down to the location (what are the laws and is there enough seating). The renaming will probably go over well on the coasts but I don't think it'll catch on in the rest of the nation.

As for whether or not I like them serving beer... well exposure is good, but it depends on what they're serving.


We had an unspoken understanding at the coffee shop in the Warren Tech Center. All of the engineers would order a "large" and the lady at the register would say "grande regular" to her coworker, who was pouring, without "correcting" us.

This works fine.

Of course the studio designers and marketing people order by the "creative" names.

 

[david_42]

Yes, I actually know some of the people who make Fourbucks a going concern. In Portland, all they'll have to do is serve PBR and the hipsters will never leave.

Tried searching for one 'near' my town, the search hung! I guess I'm out there. Not saying the Fat Cat (local shop) makes coffee good enough to drive into town for a cup.

 

[taylornate]

I've always found it incredible that no one will admit that they like Starbucks, but yet they're the biggest chain coffee store in the country.

Last I heard, Dunkin Donuts was bigger. Did Starbucks beat them back again? I couldn't find anything on that.

 

[MBasile]

Last I heard, Dunkin Donuts was bigger. Did Starbucks beat them back again? I couldn't find anything on that.

Even if Dunkin' Donuts technically has more branches, Starbucks is definitely more widespread. In the Bay Area (including the south bay, San Jose, and East Bay) there are 2 DD's, over an hour apart from each other. I'm not even going to try to count the Starbucks in that same span of space

 

[chefmike]

Starbucks in 2008 had almost twice as many units as Dunkin Donuts (16,680 to 8,835)and had almost triple the sales (13,500 to 5,500 (in millions)).

I also do not consider Dunkin Donuts to be a coffee house... they have coffee and are marketing it in response to the coffee craze, but they are a dooughnut shop, IMO.

Starbucks is the 4th largest chain, behind McD's KFC and Burger King. Dunkin Donuts is 10th, with Subway, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Dominos in between.

 

[MBasile]

Yeah, given I've personally witnessed two Starbucks branches at one intersection, I didn't see how DD could be bigger

 

[SumnerH]

Even if Dunkin' Donuts technically has more branches, Starbucks is definitely more widespread. In the Bay Area (including the south bay, San Jose, and East Bay) there are 2 DD's, over an hour apart from each other. I'm not even going to try to count the Starbucks in that same span of space

Well, that's west coast. On large parts of the east coast it's going to seem exactly the opposite--Maine has over 90 Dunkin Donuts and just 15 Starbucks.

Nationwide, there are 6,400 DDs in the nation compared to 11,000 Starbucks, so the numbers are heavily tilted toward Starbucks--but it's not like there are even 2 Starbucks for every 1 Dunkin Donuts in the country. There are plenty of places in New England where you see the silly "Dunkin Donuts across the street from Dunkin Donuts" thing like you see for Starbucks out west.

I also do not consider Dunkin Donuts to be a coffee house... they have coffee and are marketing it in response to the coffee craze, but they are a dooughnut shop, IMO.

FWIW, they started off as Open Kettle Coffee in the 1940s, then added donuts to handle hungry customers during coffee breaks. They changed the name to Dunkin Donuts in 1950, but they began with coffee and they've always billed themselves as "a coffee and baked goods chain".

When they canned the in-store donut cooking (around the time that they dropped the "time to make the donuts" campaign) in favor of regional bakeries shipping donuts around to stores, the donut quality went way downhill; nowadays, the only reason to go there is for the coffee, IMO.

 

[frolickingmonkey]

There is a bar in Athens, GA that sells good coffee and also has a full bar. I personally think it's an incredible idea and has worked well for them.

About two blocks from my house is a new coffee shop (its a local mom and pop shop) and they have 5 beers on tap with out side seating across the street from campus.

There was a great coffeeshop/pub I used to hang out in when I was working on my undergrad. They had the best coffee in town, 4 craft taps, a small but awesome selection of bottled beers and wines, plus sandwiches, salads, baked goods and dessert stuff. And, lest I forget, they had a pipe/cigar room in the back, and a well stocked humidor to go with it. It was AWESOME and always busy with a diverse crowd of people. Open until 11 most nights, and later on the weekends. Great live music, too.

Starbucks is never going to have the same atmosphere as that joint, BUT I think it's a completely reasonable idea for them to pursue.

 

[chefmike]

FWIW, they started off as Open Kettle Coffee in the 1940s, then added donuts to handle hungry customers during coffee breaks. They changed the name to Dunkin Donuts in 1950,

the donut quality went way downhill; nowadays, the only reason to go there is for the coffee, IMO.

i didnt know that first part... about pre 1950... interesting.

i gavent had coffee or donut in one since kurt cobain was fresh on the scene! plus i live in the land of krispy kreme now.

And I just realized I cited international total units above... not just US. oh well.

Here's to a good doughnut, coffee or beer... pick your poison!

 

[SumnerH]

i gavent had coffee or donut in one since kurt cobain was fresh on the scene! plus i live in the land of krispy kreme now.

The donut mecca was the early 1980s Dunkins. Cooked fresh on site, like current Krispy Kreme, but with all the variety of modern Dunkin Donuts. Nowadays you choose between fresh but limited selection at Krispy Kreme, or not-so-fresh but wide variety at Dunkin. Neither is really satisfactory.

A fresh Boston Creme Filled, hot out of the fryer with the chocolate still warm, was heaven on earth.

 

[chefmike]

that is what I remember from high school... I had a warm crueller once. Never had one as good since.

But krispy kreme... at midnight or so... hot, fresh, now.... just the glazed thank you.

It is like jumping out of an airplane, only you feel your arteries hardening as you suck down each one.

i should likely be in a program...

 

[pnj]

They have one of these opening near me. It's on 15th Ave. and the name will be, I've heard, 15th Ave Something. So i'm guessing they will all have different names across the country? Hard to believe, because it's harder to brand.

Personally, when I want a beer, I go to a bar. But maybe living in the land of great beer, I have more/better options then other people in the country/world.? Or maybe it's that there are SO FREAKIN coffee shops out here that you can get a beer and a decent coffee with the blink of an eye.

 

[Boondoggie]

Yeah, given I've personally witnessed two Starbucks branches at one intersection, I didn't see how DD could be bigger

Come to New England. I can drive the 10 miles from work to home, and ALWAYS be within sight of a DD's...

I think I know where a Starbucks might be around here...

 

[camiller]

Dang, my google-foo is weak this morning, was looking for the Starbucks Rivendell (LotR) photoshop but came up dry.

I did here they are opening a Starbucks in the parking lot of the Starbucks though.

 

[davesrose]

Come to New England. I can drive the 10 miles from work to home, and ALWAYS be within sight of a DD's...

I think I know where a Starbucks might be around here...

Precisely....I lived in Boston for a stint and found it was hard not to notice a DD on every block. I don't think it's a surprise that DD is oversaturated up in NE and Starbucks up in NW: those are the regions they started afterall. One thing that I've noticed recently is that I'm seeing a lot more DDs here in the South the past year. They've really taken a lot of business away from Starbucks in this economy....so this experiment Starbucks is doing will be interesting. Instead of competing with DD in offering just regular cheap coffee, they're going to expand on more specialty drinks. Only time will tell if this strategy will work for them.

 

[Synovia]

Precisely....I lived in Boston for a stint and found it was hard not to notice a DD on every block. I don't think it's a surprise that DD is oversaturated up in NE and Starbucks up in NW: those are the regions they started afterall. One thing that I've noticed recently is that I'm seeing a lot more DDs here in the South the past year. They've really taken a lot of business away from Starbucks in this economy....so this experiment Starbucks is doing will be interesting. Instead of competing with DD in offering just regular cheap coffee, they're going to expand on more specialty drinks. Only time will tell if this strategy will work for them.

More DD in chicago than Starbucks too. That being said, I'm from MA originally, so maybe I just notice them more. I'm also not downtown, so there may be more Starbucks down there. IMO, DD sells a better cup of coffee, doesn't confuse people with stupid sizes, and is much cheaper.


As to Krispy Kreme, any pastry is good hot. Its the ones that are still good cold that are special. Cold Krispy Kreme donuts are vile. Cold Dunkin Donuts are still decent.

 

[mookie1010]

Redhook used to use & promote Starbucks coffee in the Double Black Stout. Now when they sell it, it just says coffee.

I loved that stuff - haven't seen it in years, though I haven't been looking terribly hard.