Anonymous
Post 02/08/2025 12:18     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My coffee pot broke last weekend so I went to Starbucks for the first time in a while. My big issue with Starbucks is that my vanilla latte was gross. I don't know what they've changed, but it wasn't good. It tasted very artificial. I think their food is gross too. If they want me to be a customer, the food and coffee needs to taste good. I'm not a particularly price sensitive consumer (if I'm there, I've already decided to treat myself) but it's not a treat if I don't enjoy the product. Sharpies won't fix that.


Yeah I don't know if they've changed their syrups recently or what, but it's not good. I used to treat myself to a chestnut praline latte once or twice a season and this year it was gross. Food is not good either. The breakfast sandwiches are gas station quality.


The food is so bad. They used to have decent fresh food options - salads, fruit and cheese plates, bananas, etc. That’s all gone. When they switched to dried fruit in their cheese plates I gave up entirely.

The egg bites are pretty good. Although you can also buy them at Costco…
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2025 11:09     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
I've noticed the few locations near us the drive-thru traffic is WAY down. Like where you'd used to see 6-10 cars in front of you, there are only 1 or 2 cars in front of me. A couple of times I've been the only drive-thru car. Are their sales dire right now? It's easy for a CEO to juke a stock by slashing and burning costs, headcount, etc. to conceal crashing sales and margins.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 21:27     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:Duh, OP, their sales are down and they are trying to get back to their roots. I don't know how dumb you have to be to even ask this question, but I guess as dumb as you.


Lower prices.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 21:21     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My coffee pot broke last weekend so I went to Starbucks for the first time in a while. My big issue with Starbucks is that my vanilla latte was gross. I don't know what they've changed, but it wasn't good. It tasted very artificial. I think their food is gross too. If they want me to be a customer, the food and coffee needs to taste good. I'm not a particularly price sensitive consumer (if I'm there, I've already decided to treat myself) but it's not a treat if I don't enjoy the product. Sharpies won't fix that.


Yeah I don't know if they've changed their syrups recently or what, but it's not good. I used to treat myself to a chestnut praline latte once or twice a season and this year it was gross. Food is not good either. The breakfast sandwiches are gas station quality.


The food is so bad. They used to have decent fresh food options - salads, fruit and cheese plates, bananas, etc. That’s all gone. When they switched to dried fruit in their cheese plates I gave up entirely.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 13:08     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My coffee pot broke last weekend so I went to Starbucks for the first time in a while. My big issue with Starbucks is that my vanilla latte was gross. I don't know what they've changed, but it wasn't good. It tasted very artificial. I think their food is gross too. If they want me to be a customer, the food and coffee needs to taste good. I'm not a particularly price sensitive consumer (if I'm there, I've already decided to treat myself) but it's not a treat if I don't enjoy the product. Sharpies won't fix that.


Yeah I don't know if they've changed their syrups recently or what, but it's not good. I used to treat myself to a chestnut praline latte once or twice a season and this year it was gross. Food is not good either. The breakfast sandwiches are gas station quality.

Big companies always do this -- they move to a lower-cost, objectively worse product, and are then SHOCKED when sales tank. It's nearly impossible to gain back customers who have been burned.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 12:38     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
No idea. Never went there in the first place so I don't need to "go back."
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 12:34     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:My coffee pot broke last weekend so I went to Starbucks for the first time in a while. My big issue with Starbucks is that my vanilla latte was gross. I don't know what they've changed, but it wasn't good. It tasted very artificial. I think their food is gross too. If they want me to be a customer, the food and coffee needs to taste good. I'm not a particularly price sensitive consumer (if I'm there, I've already decided to treat myself) but it's not a treat if I don't enjoy the product. Sharpies won't fix that.


Yeah I don't know if they've changed their syrups recently or what, but it's not good. I used to treat myself to a chestnut praline latte once or twice a season and this year it was gross. Food is not good either. The breakfast sandwiches are gas station quality.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 12:32     Subject: Re:What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
I like having my name misspelled at Starbucks. It's a little laugh ...

A Starbucks near me has been "retrofitted" and is really nice, with lots of seating and a cozier vibe. I hope more stores follow!
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 12:28     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
I mostly stopped going to Starbucks when they got rid of all the comfy seating (some locations used to have couches and easy chairs). If I was going to pay Starbucks prices I was also going to sit in and read or catch up with a friend - not all day but 30-45 mins. The welcoming atmosphere made the drink prices feel worth it to me.

Now if I just need caffeine while out and about, I'd much rather pull through a McDonalds or Dunkin for a basic iced coffee.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 11:33     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I actually like the direction they were going - ordering on the app and picking up is so convenient. The prices are atrocious so I don’t do it often, but when there’s an early soccer game for my kids I often grab a matcha tea or shaken espresso to get me going. I’ve never been one to sit in a coffee shop, I don’t have the patience!


What on earth is a "shaken espresso?"


It’s a marketing gimmick that allows them to charge several more dollars.

It’s basically 2-3 shots espresso with a flavor and a milk over ice. So the brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso is espresso, brown sugar syrup, oat milk, iced.

I learned if you order it that way the price is massively reduced. The word “shaken espresso” makes it sound like a fancy thing so they can charge more.


Ugh, this is just expensive candy for adults.

Yeah but they shake it so it’s nice and frothy. I get mine with stevia instead of any sugar or flavorings, it is delicious.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 11:30     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:My coffee pot broke last weekend so I went to Starbucks for the first time in a while. My big issue with Starbucks is that my vanilla latte was gross. I don't know what they've changed, but it wasn't good. It tasted very artificial. I think their food is gross too. If they want me to be a customer, the food and coffee needs to taste good. I'm not a particularly price sensitive consumer (if I'm there, I've already decided to treat myself) but it's not a treat if I don't enjoy the product. Sharpies won't fix that.


Agree with you and a PP that the food is terrible. Only grab a flat white once in a blue moon, agree their flavorings are also terrible.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 11:28     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
My coffee pot broke last weekend so I went to Starbucks for the first time in a while. My big issue with Starbucks is that my vanilla latte was gross. I don't know what they've changed, but it wasn't good. It tasted very artificial. I think their food is gross too. If they want me to be a customer, the food and coffee needs to taste good. I'm not a particularly price sensitive consumer (if I'm there, I've already decided to treat myself) but it's not a treat if I don't enjoy the product. Sharpies won't fix that.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 11:14     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
The Starbucks at Lee Harrison shopping center used to be a nice place to meet friends, wait for your kids while they were in their lessons, and to stop in on a cold day before doing the grocery shop. Then they moved to a sterile, unwelcoming drive thru spot on Langston, and I've never been back, and I don't intend to go back because I've since discovered better places to spend my money. Oh well.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 11:11     Subject: Re:What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I know a single Starbucks without seats, and I live in NoVA.


I was in a Philadelphia suburb last weekend and went to my first starbucks that had no seating. Had never seen these. Not only is there nowhere to sit, you also can't order inside. You have to use the App.

ouch that's cold
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2025 11:08     Subject: What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
Anonymous wrote:I actually like the direction they were going - ordering on the app and picking up is so convenient. The prices are atrocious so I don’t do it often, but when there’s an early soccer game for my kids I often grab a matcha tea or shaken espresso to get me going. I’ve never been one to sit in a coffee shop, I don’t have the patience!


Anything to avoid human contact, amiright?