Does anyone here really like Starbucks coffee?

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:33:22 -0400

The French are masters of making edible meals from the worst ingredients. (They're like the first masters of Soul Food in that regard) French roasting is used to cover up poor quality coffee beans by toasting them excessively. (Sort of like Persians dyed pistachios red to cover up blemishes) Basically then, Starbucks sells bad beans burnt and charges ridiculous prices to con everyone into believing it's "special". Personally, I developed a taste for coffee in the Army, cowboy coffee, thick enough to float a horseshoe. Still a helluva lot better than Starbucks and it was free and plentiful.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 9 at 2016 12:37 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:37:12 -0400

Its better than Mcdonalds, 7 Eleven, ect

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Aug 9 at 2016 12:42 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:42:37 -0400

No, I don't. But obviously many folks must like it. McDonalds has much better coffee and so does Dunkin donuts. Plus its cheaper.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 9 at 2016 12:43 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:43:58 -0400

Not me, CPT Jack Durish. It's way too strong somehow, although I certainly can't explain it. I drank strong coffee all over Germany (the FRG) and always liked it. Starbucks just doesn't work for me.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Aug 9 at 2016 12:44 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:44:34 -0400

Back in my Army days, if you couldn't chew the coffee it was too weak. I couldn't drink that swill nowadays, but it did its job back then.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 9 at 2016 12:45 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:45:10 -0400

Used to but not anymore. To sugary and had an after taste.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 9 at 2016 12:57 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:57:59 -0400

A couple years ago as I was going to an appointment at Martinsburg, WV VAMC I stopped at a pace class Black Dog Coffee in Shenandoah Junction, WV CPT Jack Durish. They offer 10% discounts for veterans and have a black dog who lounges on bags of coffee much of the time. He is the second black dog who rescued like the first one who died earlier.
I like good strong-black coffee. I was browsing through the bags of coffee beans and noticed they all had roasted dates on them. I talked with the owner who started roasting his own as a hobby. He told me about the rule of 2s for coffee: coffee should be roasted within 2 months of harvesting; it should be ground within 2 weeks of roasting and it should be sipped within 20 seconds of brewing.
I have looked in many stores and coffee shops at coffee bags and I have never seen a roasting date on them.
I buy 4 half-pound bags of coffee from Black Dog each month and ground some every other day or so.

Response by Alan K. made Aug 9 at 2016 1:16 PM

Alan K. — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:16:40 -0400

Gotta' throw my two cents in since I was one of the six Managers that opened the Boston area market for Starbucks back in 1994...We had to sit through many videos on where our coffee came from, how it was harvested, It's tasting differences from region to region and on and on and on....! The coffee we got was the finest available in the World at the time. Very strict storage guidelines. If an espresso shot was not between 19-24 seconds we threw it out. My sons friend works at the one near me and brings me #'s when she comes over....I have 5 or 6 favorites, Sumatra is my all time........So, yes!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 1:18 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:18:30 -0400

I like Starbuck's for it's availability and consistency. AM/PMs, Circle K's, etc. range from pretty damn good to Rio sewer water. I prefer Peet's but harder to find.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 1:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:20:07 -0400

I don't. It's not very tasty and it costs too much. I'm not much on ant designer drinks. I just like plain old black coffee.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 9 at 2016 1:29 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:29:46 -0400

I like Burger King coffee better.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Aug 9 at 2016 1:43 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:43:08 -0400

Honestly McD's has pretty good coffee for a buck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 2:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:09:33 -0400

I love coffee, and I'm not a fan of starsucks, not at all. With that said though, if I had to choose between something horrible like Folgers and the coffee they serve in Army chow halls, I would be hard pressed to decide. Maybe it was better back in the day.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Aug 9 at 2016 2:17 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:17:48 -0400

Eh...It's ok, but there are other coffee shops (Caribou Coffee, I'm looking your way) and store bought brands I like better.

I think the reason half the people buy Starbucks is the "hip & trendy" factor which still seems to be at play with that brand.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 9 at 2016 2:43 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:43:10 -0400

I prefer the "hipster" coffee shops in inner cities as opposed to Starbucks. I only go to Starbucks when I want breakfast or coffee and there is nothing else available.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 3:40 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:40:46 -0400

I like the coffee beans and bags of ground coffee from there but I do not drink any of their prepared coffee. If ever I find myself in one I ask for some coffee flavored coffee. They usually know what I mean and the cost for their house blend is like that of any donut shop.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 9 at 2016 6:05 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 18:05:07 -0400

I have only been in there when my internet was down and I needed to check my email.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Aug 9 at 2016 6:29 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 18:29:10 -0400

Yes, there are things I really like at Starbucks, and yes, their prices are ridiculous.

Response by LT John Chang made Aug 9 at 2016 6:42 PM

LT John Chang — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 18:42:38 -0400

lol - a friend of mine who opened up a "5th wave" cafe in San Francisco, which has plenty of self-confessed coffee snobbery described Starbucks as having "a burnt rubber finish with an aftertaste of rusty nails."

Response by MSgt David Heil made Aug 10 at 2016 2:53 PM

MSgt David Heil — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:53:31 -0400

If you cut it with 2/3 water you can get it down and still be part of your group. The trick is to be the last one in line. Or order a "misto" I don't think its on the menu. They are somewhat drinkable. Other than that....no way. And I drank German coffee made by Germans for 3 years. Hummmmm wonder if thats where the ulcer came from

Response by Deborah Gregson made Aug 11 at 2016 12:28 AM

Deborah Gregson — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:28:59 -0400

Here's my five bucks worth as the the civilian female, I love Starbucks. It's calm, quiet, clean, consistent, free wifi, newspapers, comfy chairs, an oasis on stressful days anywhere in the US. Starbucks is a treat for me, not a daily or weekly thing. We live in the country so don't get into town often, and the cost means it remains a special treat for special days. It's not just about the coffee, it's about the whole experience of going to a special place to relax and chill, or find solace. I would take refuge there often while caregiving for my mother in law who had dementia while having to make difficult decisions concerning her financial situation or placement; or while helping make decisions for my parents after my mom became a quadriplegic. It was a lovely place to sit and look over paperwork, do internet research, go outside and make phone calls, gather my thoughts before talking about difficult things to family. You just can't do that at McDs. I love frappuccinos, mocha light, decaf, with chips and an extra shot of decaf - I know it's a lot of nothing, but it tastes good and it's decadent but not. My sister and I exchange gift cards as presents for birthday and Christmas. She has lost over 180 lbs using Starbucks as her special treat, learning how to do their menu as low fat and low sugar, and takes her rescue service dog (a whole other cool story) with her on every trip for a special Starbucks treat they offer Pearl. I have a special gift card that has the Golden Gate Bridge on it to remind me of my roots in San Francisco, so on really horrible humid days like today with thunder storms in NC I think of the fog on the Bay and it's like a mini vacation for me. So that's my girlie answer. BUT so you know I'm not a weenie I've can drink dispatcher high test coffee that's been made at 5am and set for 6 hours on the burner black no additives when offered. My mama taught me right.

Response by PO2 Brian Lathe made Aug 11 at 2016 12:40 PM

PO2 Brian Lathe — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 12:40:16 -0400

I'm not sure that I like anyone's coffee without 2 pats of sugar and 4 pats of cream.

Response by PO2 John Crutchfield made Aug 11 at 2016 2:04 PM

PO2 John Crutchfield — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 14:04:53 -0400

I really dig Starbucks coffee, especially the darker roasts. I ALWAYS get a Venti Latte when I physically go to their stores. No sweetener of any kind. I also use Starbucks French Roast (whole-bean) at home. I keep trying other whole-bean coffees at home, but I just don't find the consistency/flavor that I do with Starbucks.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jul 12 at 2017 4:38 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 16:38:34 -0400

Only when I'm in a throw my money out the window kind of mood.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 22 at 2023 2:37 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 14:37:47 -0400

Never had Starbucks coffee. I love home brewed coffee. I got hooked while stationed in Kenya. But I've never had a better than a "good" cup from any restaurant in the US.