Starbucks beans?
- Thread starter GarageBoy
- Start date
L
Lo'Tek
Those aren't beans they're little beetles, but who would know the difference the way Starbuts burns their beans.
Italians (the guys who pretty much invented espresso) and the rest of Europe (the people who pretty much invented coffee) LAUGH OUT LOUD at American Starbuggs type "coffee".
See http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/03/making_perfect.html and notice the referance to Starduds.
Good News - Americans are catching on. I heard news of one city area where Starnuts had to close their doors because locals found coffee at a little local roaster down the road to offer better coffee than Stardust. That is only one of several recent cases.
Don't mean to burst your bubble, but independant roasters will give you a better bean than Starmuts, and you won't have to re-mortgage your house to get it.
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Italians (the guys who pretty much invented espresso) and the rest of Europe (the people who pretty much invented coffee) LAUGH OUT LOUD at American Starbuggs type "coffee".
See http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/03/making_perfect.html and notice the referance to Starduds.
Good News - Americans are catching on. I heard news of one city area where Starnuts had to close their doors because locals found coffee at a little local roaster down the road to offer better coffee than Stardust. That is only one of several recent cases.
Don't mean to burst your bubble, but independant roasters will give you a better bean than Starmuts, and you won't have to re-mortgage your house to get it.
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Have to agree - I boycotted The Evil Empire years ago. Convenience is overrated. Buy local.
Better yet, roast your own. It's easy, it's cheaper than Folgers in a can and it's the best tasting coffee you'll ever enjoy.
It's not the greatest coffee, but if you stick with something that isn't roasted to death you may get something decent. Stay away from their espresso blends and any dark roast, and look for one of their single-origin special offerings.
There's a good reason it's called "Charbucks."
In Portland Maine, when the first Starbucks opened, the storefront window was broken several times before things settled down. Portland has at least 4 small, independent, quality coffee roasters.
I will only buy their coffee in an airport 'cause there's seldom a good alternative.
- Thread starter
- #8
I don't think that you should appologize for buying starbuck from time to time, it's convienent as all get-out, and they seem to be pretty consitent - not the best, but I've had far worse from some independants. I've had their "Komodo Dragon" or something like that and it was quite tasty.
When buying beans, be it at my local roaster or SB, I try to find what they turn over the most, i.e. the freshest, within the color shade I'm feeling like.
Their French and Italian Roast if you like strong coffee.
However the Anniversary Blend just goes great with a cigar.
L
Lo'Tek
Yes, I have found that not all independents know what they're doing. I got talking to a local shop owner about espresso and quickly found that he knew little about coffee roasting and less about the mechanics of pulling a quality espresso. Not that I'm an expert but he wasn't one. He didn't even tamp the grind. I did get a free shot from the exchange which was nice. Goes to show that you have to shop around for good beans.
If you get coupons from SB then power to you. I've found though that the dark roasts are a bust; real espresso isn't even made with dark beans, and not many espresso bars even use a special "espresso roast", it's the concentration that makes it espresso. Anything burned has less taste. You should be able to taste nutty and or berry accents without a flavored bean. IF SB has a good Light, then that would be what serious, knowledgeable coffee connoisseurs would recommend. I haven't gotten to the level of hand roasting yet, but that is my next stage of evolution.
I like the idea of getting high turnover beans though - if you can get a med to Lt. roast. I do the same at delis with meat so I don't buy something that has been sitting for three days.
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When I was working at starbucks I got a pound of coffee a week. Id say Ethiopia Sidamo or Kenya are decent, especially if you're getting it for free...
I generally eschew Starbucks coffee, but I too like their Komodo Dragon blend
The hard part is finding something with an expiration date at least 7 months out. OTherwise, it's stale. I like some of their Latin Americans, but am afraid of their blends because they're fond of mixing in stale old beans.
And, agree with most here. I only buy from them when I run out of better stuff and need it now. Like I'll have to do this morning.
And, agree with most here. I only buy from them when I run out of better stuff and need it now. Like I'll have to do this morning.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please welcome Glenn Beck to our forum!...
Seriously, though. I will give you kudos for your mea culpa in a later post. Such a simple question and such a kooky answer and attempt to hijack the thread.
Not that you're not right about Starbucks coffee being less than great. But that wasn't the OP's question. So, as someone mentioned, their Ethiopian is okay.
"If you get coupons from SB then power to you."
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
Steve
L
Lo'Tek
Welcome Glenn Beck, to our forum!
Wasn't trying/intending to hijack anything
If there's a booger hanging out of your nose and your friend doesn't point it out - is he really a friend?
Saving the USA - One bean at a time.
I won't follow this any further - my work here is done.
. . .and I believe that those who echoed helped point to the better beans brother.
No harm, insult, or injury intended.
Some things just get the better of a man.
Wasn't trying/intending to hijack anything
If there's a booger hanging out of your nose and your friend doesn't point it out - is he really a friend?
Saving the USA - One bean at a time.
I won't follow this any further - my work here is done.
. . .and I believe that those who echoed helped point to the better beans brother.
No harm, insult, or injury intended.
Some things just get the better of a man.
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7 months? Roasted coffee is stale within a week. Ground coffee is stale within minutes. 7 months would be undrinkable.
I've had a few bags that still bloomed, but the expiration date was always more than 7 months out. I can only guess that they date them 8 months out from when they're roasted. Some of the light and medium Latin Americans aren't bad at all when they're reasonably fresh.
When I can find it, the Serena Organic is an enjoyable blend.
I'm fond of the Brazil Ipanema Bourbon when it's fresh and I must drink at Starbucks.
Not all of their coffee is burned beyond recognition, but it's almost always stale (unless you're lucky).
Free can't hurt.. as long as you know what you're looking for.
I'm fond of the Brazil Ipanema Bourbon when it's fresh and I must drink at Starbucks.
Not all of their coffee is burned beyond recognition, but it's almost always stale (unless you're lucky).
Free can't hurt.. as long as you know what you're looking for.
SWMBO and I used to like the Yukon Blend and the Christmas Blend (which should be around soon if it isn't already), although we haven't gotten coffee beans from Starbucks in many years.
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