No, there is no rabbit in my blood.
There is however lots of coffee.
At any given moment if I were cut I would bleed many shades of black: Shade grown, Arabica, Washed, Peaberry…
and this latest move by one of my previous fortresses has cut me deep
It’s a little known fact that I used to work at Starbucks, it’s an even less known fact that I was a member of the elitist “Black Apron” group of employees. Which basically means I took several weeks worth of extra training on top of regular barista training. I learned almost everything one could learn about coffee without taking a trip to South America or the mountains of Jamaica. I could even tell you what you had just brewed in one sip!
(A sip from my cup, not yours)
They trained me, indoctrinated me and doped me up on enough caffeine that I could open and operate a business at 4:45 in the morning… And I loved them for it. Don’t get me wrong there were hard times, amazingly aloof customers and sticky-sweet piles of frappuccino refuse that my dog wouldn’t even get near, much less pick up.
But they gave me coffee, the nectar of the gods and I wasn’t about to bite the hand that fed me.
There was an art to it all, a perfect cup, a mouth feel, a hint of berry or perhaps the lingering of a chocolate note… A new, almost zen like aspect of the formally diminished cup of joe started to take root. I became a elitist, only certain brewing techniques and exotic other worldly coffees could fill my cup. I considering spending hundreds in special water filters and machines that would supply the crema to my life. Starbucks made me want coffee and made me want to spend far than normal amounts of money obtaining it… So why this?
Why instant?
No matter how it tastes it will be instant. Gone is the procedure, the finesse, the deliberate measures that made coffee what it was. It is now a simple, lifeless powder that simply provides an alternative to red bull?
You are no longer the purveyor of high quality coffee experience, you are just a business, and you’re now competing with Maxwell House
And to be honest Maxwell House is Maxwell House no matter how you package it.
We have our McDonalds and our Dunkin’ Doughnuts but I fear our days when Starbucks was a coffeehouse might be numbered.
I’m with ya dude. And what I don’t get is that the CEO keeps lamenting the loss of the “environment” model. “We were supposed to focus on the environment and experience! We remember now! Sorry bout that!”
And now instant coffee. Huh?
peace|dewde
I too was a barista. I was a heartbeat away from joining the Black Aprons and eager to do it.
What has happened!? Honestly, I started questioning Starbucks when they switched to auto-pulls on their espresso machines. A good barista can pull much better shots than those machines not to mention you can’t get a ristretto shot from those auto machines.
come to kaldis, I know someone who can make a latte that will fix your broken heart
Woefully unequipped to comment on this post. But since you have commented on Mommy blog posts and PMS posts I thought I woulld give it a try.
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So, how ’bout those Sonics and those Mariners? You reckon they miss Starbucks?
OK tried.
Chris- My thoughts exactly! My environment and experience with instant coffee includes florescent headaches and vinyl floored office spaces… no happy thoughts
DR- They told us a ristretto can be achieved by just pulling the shot glass before it’s full… My wife worked there as well but is now employed at a local coffee shop, way different; they even do latte art! Love your blog btw.
Cara: As long as it’s free
Jennifer: Hahaha, thank you!
I became hooked on Ginger Snap Lattes over the holidays, and since then I must have a coffee fix everyday at work. I never thought I would be a coffee drinker, actually refused to like it, but now I have let my guard down. I am now an addict.
Now only in the baby stages mind you, but I do feel it might be getting out of control. I am still secrectly drinking the stuff. My family and friends don’t know yet, only my co-workers, and they still give me the eye. Like I can’t believe you are drinking that after all your high and mighty talk about not drinking coffee. I am so so ashamed. 
By the way you need to come over to my blog. You won something
I have never even sipped on the “nectar of the gods” as you put it.
Not sure why, but I absolutely refuse to drink starbux (and all coffee, cappuccino, etc. for that matter)
But this post made me smile.
Coffee Pledge
I will drink boldly, mildly and decaffeinatedly as necessary.
I will talk coffee with anyone, anywhere and will defend Starbucks in most situations.
I will not replace the finer brews with DD, McD, Folgers or QT. *blech*
I will return a cup of coffee if there are grounds or if it’s otherwise not up to par.
I will spend a little more on good coffee than waste a couple bucks on bad coffee.
I will add to this list somewhere else…
Valarie: I so understand, Cara got me hooked on white mochas before I started working at Starbucks… No need to feel ashamed! The pumpkin lattes are amazing as well
Ben: Glad to hear it
Jana: Love it, and of course I agree.
McDonald’s coffee is pretty gross. Starbucks FTW!
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