Today Starbucks has officially issued a list of the 600 stores it will close in the coming months. Nationally, the state with the most Starbucks to close is California with 88, followed by Florida with 59, Texas with 57 and New York with 39.
A quick look at the list of stores reveals that only 5 New York City locations will be shuttered. In fact, I’m seeing new Starbucks being built in the vicinity of my work at 27th and 7th Avenue. In this area there is literally 1 Starbucks every 2 blocks. New York Baristas and those concerned about their morning coffee fix have little to fear. What the rest of the US will do is anybody’s guess.
Here is a breakdown of closures by state (after the jump).
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Many people I know love coffee, they say that it is the ultimate drug for them, they drink their morning cup of joe and instantly feel happy, as the caffeine hits their system they feel like they could accomplish anything. As a tea drinker this isn’t something I get. It all just tastes kind of burnt to me, especially the Starbucks stuff (though, admittedly I haven’t tried their new blend). Anyway, I am aware that I am a huge majority, in fact I think I am the only one of my friends who does not drink coffee, apparently though people aren’t drinking nearly enough coffee, at least not from Starbucks.
Despite their inflated prices and push to be more then just a coffee shop, Starbucks is laying off 12,000 employees and closing the shutters on almost 600 stores. According to their press release this is part of their “Transformation Strategy” I guess that strategy would be to close stores so they are no longer a bloated mega-corporation that is losing too much money to properly function. The company had initially projected closing just 100 stores, but with the current economic climate and the company seemingly in a free-fall, 100 stores proved to be just a bit too optimistic and they are forced to shut down 600.
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Starbucks launched the new Pike Place Roast today along with a new cup design. While the Pike Place blend still maintains Starbucks’ trademark paint thinner bouquet, it is noticeably smoother. The excessive caffeine level seems to have remained the same ensuring that Starbucks will not loose it’s legions of faithful junkies, who cling to this last legal addictive substance.
As I am sure many of you coffee drinkers know, Starbucks was closed for a few hours last Tuesday as they re-trained their baristas on how to make a proper cup of coffee. While Dunkin’ Donuts took advantage of this and was selling $0.99 cups of joe, Starbucks was busy putting up signs in their stores saying “Your drink should be perfect every time. If not, let us know and we’ll make it right.”
And the NY Post put them to it, going to a couple of different Starbucks and placing orders and having some of their coffee remade at each. At one they had their drink made a total of three times.
Now while conceptually this is nice (cause really, how many people are actually going to say something after the first month of this) their may be a few snags in their plan which won’t be revealed until you already have a 10 minute line ahead of you in the morning and someone up front insists that their coffee be made over-and-over again.
Personally, I think each and every one of you coffee drinkers should get out there and take advantage of this. Have those Starbucks baristas make you pot after pot of coffee until it meets your standard for fine quality. I mean, after all, if you are going to pay a premium price for coffee you might as well get what you consider to be a premium cup of coffee, right?
Summer is now clearly over (ed: has Al Gore confirmed this? Yeah? OK), and daydreams of iced coffee are morphing into lusty visions of cream-frothed steamy cappuccinos and cozy hot chocolates. But regardless of the season, there’s always something wonderful and chemically uplifting about a cold shot of coffee.
Sapporo wants to be your instant coffee friend. Though I haven’t seen these distributed widely (and I find no mention in the blogosphere), a local Japanese market near me in Astoria recently began carrying 300ml cans of Sapporo’s “Jack Black Mocha Blend” coffee.
It’s just cold, dark, medium-strength coffee. I hadn’t had a cup of full-on caffeinated coffee in one month, but decided to fall on the sword last night. I can testify to the drink’s authenticity. Or my neighbors can if they heard me dancing to 80s hits at 7am (great…and now I’ve brought my sexuality into question).
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