Thoughts on Starbucks?

[amm7qy]

Hello -

I'm an American student working on a research paper about Starbucks shops in London.

Does anyone care to just share their opinions about the chain?

Thanks so much for your help!!

[roguepink]

God I hate Starbucks.Overpriced and makes my hih school look common.

[roguepink]

I meant high street*. Also I dont like the green colouring.

[Panic Button]

Never been in one.

It looks a bit too fancy and expensive.

[drwhofan]

I know it's overpriced and there's far too many of them aroun but I still love it and I don't know why. I alwas get the same things too. Spring= Skinny Vanilla Latte, Summer= Coffee Light Frappucino, Autumn= Skinny Vanilla Latte, Winter= Gingerbread latte...

sad, but true.

[Octavius]

Have to say I don't like the decor, ambience or their coffee.

Costa Coffee & Cafe Nero are always better in my opinion.

[Maypole]

I love starbucks
I used to think the coffee tasted special till I realised the sugar dispensers meant I poured in 2-3 times as much sugar as usual!

[Eve]

What is it you want to know? I lived in London for a bit though am back up north now.

It may not be the best coffee in the world but it's quick and easy. Cafe Nero is nicer but always takes so much longer and always takes ages to get served.

They are great for meetings for work and often meet clients and contacts in them. Light , bright and more business suited than Cafe Nero and more comfy sofas as well.

I get a Starbucks every morning during the week and someof the ones in Manchester have some of the loveliest staff which makes it a really nice place to go in.

I like the Starbucks card but wish they had some kind of loyalty card like Cafe Nero. They did vouchers for regulars after Christmas but they were a bit fiddly.

[funnygirl]

Overpriced.
I don't like their normal coffee and when on the odd ocassion I have ventured into Starbucks, I have to add extra shots of expresso to my coffee!!

[Rosetta]

I agree overpriced.

My local one is in a supermarket chain in my nearest town. I dont need all that choice and there needs to be more comfy seating. Nor do I need a bucketul of the stuff.

Much better if they served smaller cups at a reduced rate. I guess they dont as they would think they wont get the same turnover or profit

[Eve]

Oh, I like the seasonable specials as well like the Christmas ones :)

The sandwiches are horrendously priced though.

[Octavius]

If I do end up in a Starbucks for whatever reason, I only order tea. Even that takes them ages to make.

[heathfield]

I was first in a Starbucks years ago and decided it would be the last time on principles of rip-off cost. A couple of weeks ago I was in a local bookshop that has an in-store Starbucks caf� and tasted one a friend had ordered. As a coffee addict, I couldn't believe how foul it was, and wondered why on earth people were lining up to buy it.
Americans are generally quite particular about their coffee. Do you notice a difference between the coffee served in UK Starbucks and those in the US? (I would hope so!!!).

[amm7qy]

I was actually shocked at how identical the drinks were both at home (in DC) and in London. Even the prices were the same, although if you take the exchange rate into account it's rather appalling because that makes it twice as much over there.

Is anyone opposed to them opening more shops? I have read that some groups protest it because it drives local businesses out. Or do you think it lowers the look of a street?

Thanks again for answering...you guys are great =)

[roguepink]

well my high street was always full of independant retailers, and I guess it annoys me and and my local community when large chains join the area, but we have strict codes so ridiculous signange isn't allowed in order to preserve the 'feel' of the village.

I'm opposed to large chains in principle but not in practise, ie I like Waterstones, and McDonalds. >.> But Starbucks doesn't provide me with a service which I would use, its too overpriced for me and isn't even nice.

[Eve]

I noted how much everything was the same in Starbucks when I went to New York last year, the look, everything really save some slight differences, can't think of the name but a special drip I think, sure there was a thread about it not long ago in the main Food and Drink category.

There are so many of them in Manchester, I can think of about 10 in the city centre alone without even trying, more now I think. They kind of blend in in the city centre really and if I'm honest I'd be more likely to pop in there/Neros/Costa for a coffee than most independant cafes, different if I wanted something to eat though, it'd be the other way round.

For me it's convenient to grab a quick coffee. I mainly take out and don't drink in very often.