Starbucks Passion
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Showing posts tagged Andrew Bartucci
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Challenging Climate Change - Organic Shade Grown Mexico
In keeping with one of my favourite aspects of Starbucks’ corporate mandate, this post is dedicated to examining Starbucks’ climate change CSR initiative. But more specifically, I want to talk about Organic Shade Grown Mexico coffee.
Not only is Shade Grown Mexico one of Starbucks’ finest coffees, it’s also certified organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. This is a big deal because they don’t just hand out Organic certified labels. Organic coffee needs to follow rigorous guidelines in order to be certified. Making an organic bean means that the coffee growing process has to be monitored very closely and no details can be overlooked. And when all Starbucks stores carry Organic Shade Grown Mexico, it shows Starbucks’ dedication to selling an environmentally-friendly, organic product…without compromise.
Starbucks partners with Conservation International to produce this coffee, which epitomizes their endless commitment to the environment. Starbucks and CI work with coffee farmers to protect the tropical forests in their coffee growing regions – especially in Chiapas, Mexico. These tropical forests absorb carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change. Carbon dioxide depletes the ozone layer and contributes to climate change. “Did you know the burning and clearing of forests contributes approximately 16 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and fuels climate change?” (http://www.conservation.org/learn/climate/Pages/overview.aspx) By protecting these carbon-absorbing forests, Starbucks is doing their part to challenge and slow down climate change.
How does Starbucks prevent deforestation in the Chiapas region? Well, it’s simple. By creating a need for the shade grown bean, Starbucks is keeping the forests ‘in business.’ Money is king and when Starbucks invests so much into a product, they are single-handedly saving these forests from deforestation. “For every acre of tropical forest we protect, we can keep up to 100 tons of carbon dioxide out of the air.” (Organic Shade Grown Mexico package)
Also, we can’t overlook the support Starbucks and CI give to these shade grown coffee farmers. These farmers represent a niche coffee growing population and because of their contracts with Starbucks, they are able to support their families and well, save the planet. Business sense never had such an environmental-friendly focus. Sure, many of Starbucks’ CSR initiatives help the environment, but this one is exceptional; helping farmers help the planet.
Finally, I think it’s appropriate to talk about the coffee itself for a second. It’s medium-bodied and crisp with citrusy and nutty undertones. It’s delicious. Starbucks says it can be paired with fruit, like bananas and blueberries. Or choose citrus fruits to expose its acidity. Simply put, it’s a great coffee. Thankfully, when a coffee is so delicious, demand for it spikes and when demand spikes, supply needs to follow suit. It’s simple economics that results in the continued production of this environmentally-friendly coffee. The more we buy, the more they make, allowing for continued tropical forest protection. A win-win on all fronts.
So buy a bag and do your part for the environment.
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Starbucks in the Community – a unique store
Starbucks has always been committed to community, whether that’s in communities in coffee growing regions across the world or in communities where their stores are located. Simply put, Starbucks is a responsible neighbour in every community it comes in contact with.
I live in Oakville, Ontario. It’s a peaceful, scenic town located about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. There are 9 Starbucks stores in Oakville. Some stores are located on major roads and serve commuters. Others are in relatively secluded areas that attract neighbours in the area. Yet, each one is unique and attracts a different type of customer.
For this post, I want to highlight Oakville’s most unique and beautiful store. It’s located in downtown Oakville, on Lakeshore Rd., which runs through the heart of downtown Oakville. This area of Oakville, (South-East Oakville) is the oldest, most exclusive and most picturesque area of the town. Houses tend to cost well over a million dollars because of its proximity to the lake and downtown district.
The Lakeshore Starbucks is the oldest Starbucks in Oakville. It has a lot of character and is the most welcoming Starbucks I’ve ever visited. It’s definitely a part of Oakville’s community. Here’s why:
Community Board: Just like every Starbucks, Lakeshore Starbucks has a large community board right in front of the condiment bar. This board was filled with several events and invitations:
- 3 Charity Golf Tournament invitations
- 3 Charity Run Events
- 1 Thank You letter from a local school
- Walk for the Cure information
- Local upcoming events
I was truly impressed with this store’s community involvement.
Store Design: The outside of the store is white and has green awnings and window frames. It looks like a secluded cabin in the Alps, even though it’s in the heart of the downtown district. There are two huge 5 ft. by 6 ft. windows located at the front of the store. Both windows have big, plush, comfy chairs on the window sill, which overlook beautiful downtown Oakville. There are 7 soft, comfy chairs in the store. And even though this store is relatively small, it seats over 25 customers. Sure, the tables and seats are all nestled closely together, but that’s the point. It’s a small, cozy and intimate space.
The ceilings are low and give a ‘cottagey’ feel to the space. The walls are covered in large, mural paintings that engage customers with their designs. The paintings add to the cottage-feel of the store because they are all painted with warm reds, soft yellows and cozy oranges. It feels like you’re by a campfire, wherever you sit. The terracotta floors are warm and welcoming. Also, each table is illuminated by low-hanging lights, which allows for an intimate and warm experience.
The speakers whisper soft, barely audible music. But that’s the point. Because this store is always packed full of customers, it’s conversation and customer interaction that provide the ambience. The fully windowed door even creaks when opened or closed – again, very cozy and warm, just like an old fire-warmed cabin.
But what really makes this store part of the community is the friendly staff. They know their customers and always have a story. The partners remember orders and are always patient when faced with endless line-ups. They are some of the best partners I’ve ever come in contact with.
This isn’t your typical grab-and-go Starbucks, it’s a destination. People come from all over to sit, read, study and interact in this store. It’s a meeting place, a destination and yes, a coffee shop. It epitomizes everything Howard Schultz was talking about when he first started Starbucks. He wanted each store to be part of its community, just like a cafe in Italy. And this store embodies that cafe feel. People stay for hours and wait for a seat by the windows. It’s everything a Starbucks should be – warm, friendly, cozy, comfy and welcoming. It truly is a part of Oakville’s community.
PS: I wanted to take pictures of the interior of the store, but with dozens of people everywhere, I felt awkward snapping pictures of the ceilings and walls. I will add pictures at a later date – when I build up the courage to snap pictures in the crowded store.
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The importance of good customer service
People always ask me: “Why do you love Starbucks so much?!” And I always find it difficult to answer this question in one sentence. I usually say something like: “Well, the products are top-notch, the atmosphere is welcoming, the partners are friendly, the corporation is socially responsible, etc. etc.” Basically, I can’t narrow it down to just a few reasons. I usually just tell that person to visit this blog and see why I love Starbucks.
For this post, I want to talk about the importance of customer satisfaction again. (I’ve already posted a post about customer service… check it out here).
Starbucks partners are dedicated to customer satisfaction – simple as that. They stop at nothing to bring you the best products and the friendliest service. To highlight this truth, I want to compare a recent experience I had at an independent coffee shop and about an experience I had at a local Starbucks.
Experience at Dolce Cafe in Toronto
I walked into Dolce Cafe on a warm, Wednesday night with a few friends. The atmosphere was nice, the staff seemed friendly enough and a lot of people were scattered around the cafe. It was a nice place.
My friends all wanted gelato, I wanted an Americano. I ordered the Americano and waited by the barista bar. The barista asked me: “how do you take it?” I thought it was unusual for the barista to ask this because I’m used to the self-serve condiment stations in Starbucks stores. But I answered the question; “umm 1 sugar please.” He passed me the drink and I sat down with my friends at a table.
After the first sip, I realized that the barista must have put in a huge, heaping tablespoon of sugar in the drink – it was way too sweet for my liking. I don’t like being picky, but this drink was extremely sweet and I just couldn’t handle it. So, I took the drink back up to the counter and asked if they could remake the drink and skip the sugar step (I’d add it myself). This is what happened:
Me: “Excuse me, hi, sorry, this drink is too sweet for me… can you please remake the drink without the sugar? I feel bad asking, but I just can’t drink this.”
Cashier: “Umm, what do you want me to do about it?!”
Me: “Can you ask the barista to please remake the drink?”
Cashier: “Umm, I have to ask my manager.”
She leaves to get the manager. I wait.
Manager: “Hello sir, apparently you want us to remake the drink? Is this correct?”
Me: “Yes please. I feel bad for asking, but I would really appreciate it if you could remake the drink without sugar; it’s too sweet for me.”
Manager: “Well, you ordered the drink that way, we made it already… sorry, but we can’t remake it.”
Me (growing impatient): “I understand, but the barista made it with too much sugar. Can you please just remake the drink?”
Manager: “No, sorry, there’s nothing I can do.”
Me: “Ok, I know this isn’t an expensive drink and it won’t take much time to fix this situation… so could you please find it in your heart to remake the drink?!”
Nearby customer listening in: “Just remake the drink for this guy, coffee is cheap!”
Manager (visibly irritated): “No! That’s not our policy! The drink was made and that’s it!”
Me: “Okay. Well, keep the drink … I won’t be back.”
End of interaction.
After that last word, my friends and I gathered our stuff and left the cafe. I vowed to never return to this store. It wouldn’t have taken much time or effort to just remake the drink and keep me happy but because the manager refused to fix the situation, this store just lost 5 future customers; myself and my 4 friends.
Now, let’s move forward to the next week. My same 4 friends and I went to a nearby Starbucks.
Here’s the Starbucks Experience
I ordered an Americano and waited at the barista bar. I received my drink promptly and headed to the condiment station. Ironically and much to my surprise, as I tilted the sugar jar towards my cup, the top of the jar fell off and several tablespoons of sugar rushed into my drink. Obviously, I couldn’t drink this coffee – it was ruined!
I walked back to the barista bar and told the barista what happened:
Me: “Hi, sorry, the sugar jar lid fell off and now there’s way too much sugar in my coffee… can you remake it?”
Barista (sympathetic): “Oh no! That sucks! Yes, of course I’ll remake it! Sorry about that!”
Me: “Thank you!”
End of interaction.
See how simple that was?! I didn’t have to beg or argue – the barista didn’t ask any questions and a new drink was ready for me within 2 minutes. Simple as that.
That’s why I love Starbucks. They put the customer first and always make sure their guests are welcome and satisfied in their store.
Starbucks understands that a happy customer today means a return customer tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and so on.
This simple gesture by the Starbucks barista made my day and gave me the inspiration for this post. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that when you make the customer happy, your business will thrive.
Thank you Starbucks partners! You are all the best customer service representatives any company could ever hope for.
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Whole Bean Coffee Review Part 2: Anniversary Blend
While thinking about which Starbucks coffee to dissect and review for this post, it hit me, it’s Anniversary Blend season! What better coffee to talk about than this delicious blend? The timing couldn’t be better. I love this coffee as it always reminds me of back to school time and the end of summer. However, for me, this year is quite different. It’s the first time in 19 years that I won’t be heading back to school. Now, I’ll be starting a new job in a week and I can’t wait. But enough about me, let’s start talking about Anniversary Blend.
The Coffee
Anniversary Blend was created in 1996 to honour Starbucks’ 25th anniversary and it’s been a late summer/early fall staple in the Starbucks line-up ever since. This post-roast blend comes primarily from the Asia/Pacific region. Most Asia/Pacific coffees like Sumatra and Komodo Dragon are very earthy and spicy. But there’s something more to Anniversary Blend. It extends beyond earthy and spicy flavours, it’s caramelly and buttery; far richer and deeper than Sumatra and/or Komodo Dragon. Also, it’s bolder and has a heavier body than these other two coffees. The caramel and butter flavours come from the blend’s mix of beans from 3 regions and 4 distinctive coffees. Also, it uses aged Indonesian beans (Sumatra), which adds a certain richness to the brew. These beans have been aged for 3 – 5 years and help give Anniversary Blend its distinctive syrupy, full bodied richness. To sum it up, it’s a perfect bold coffee for this time of year.
The Tasting
I walked into my local Starbucks and ordered a tall Anniversary Blend. I’ve tried this blend several times over the past few years and always enjoyed it. But never before have I analyzed the brew and dedicated a blog post to it.
I sat down with the coffee and put my nose deep into the cup. I smelled the coffee like a true coffee master (even though I’m not actually a certified coffee master; I just love coffee). Initially, I smelled spice and earth, which are typical characteristics of an Asia/Pacific coffee. But there was something different to Anniversary Blend. It’s deeper, heavier and more heavenly than most Asia/Pacific beans. The smell was bold, but not overpowering. Simply put, it was delightfully brave.
Next, I sipped the coffee and swirled it around my mouth. It coated my tongue and made my taste buds dance. It was bold and heavy with a syrupy-type texture. At first, I tasted earthiness and then a mild spiciness and then finally, it came with a buttery, caramel finish. Yet, even with all these deep flavours powerfully gripping my taste buds, it was smooth and finished wonderfully. With its nutty, caramelly flavour, it tasted almost like a Latin American coffee. Later I found out that this year’s blend uses beans from Papa New Guinea, which gives it that Latin American feel. But whatever was in the cup, it was simply delicious.
I’m not the only one who enjoys this blend. Here are some opinions from some of the greatest Starbucks fans and partners out there:
Melody - @SbuxMel says: I like Anniversary Blend! It’s so bold though! Very syrupy!
Christopher - @fireflyfield says: At our house, it is a huge hit!
Riki - @RikiYamada says: Anniversary Blend’s got that added spiciness from the aged Sumatra Beans.
Gabrielle - @gabrielleashton says: This year’s Anniversary Blend tastes more like a Latin American coffee than I can ever remember. Part of that is because it is a post-roast blend of 3 regions, 4 coffees, including Papa New Guinea. That is where it gets it’s “nuttiness.” All of my favourite coffees are post-roast blends: Yukon, Christmas Blend, Anniversary… I like them dark and roasty!
Jordan - @jorda_nn says: For what it’s worth, I think AV Blend this year is much less spicey/more syrupy than I can ever remember. #2thumbsup
The Pairing
The perfect pairing for this coffee is anything with oats, maple, cinnamon and/or butter. My favourite way to enjoy this brew is with a cinnamon roll or with a bowl of perfect oatmeal.
So while it’s around, grab a bag and enjoy!
*Much thanks to Gabrielle for information on this blend. And thanks to Melody, Christopher, Riki and Jordan for their insight and opinion.
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Coffee Review Part 3 - Komodo Dragon
This is my third review of a Starbucks whole bean coffee. If I said Komodo Dragon was my favourite coffee, I’d be lying. Typically, I’m not a huge fan of Asia Pacific coffees, but I do like them when paired with the right food. Komodo Dragon is no exception. I don’t love this coffee but I do respect it. It’s bold, heavy and not meant for the weekend coffee drinker. But for a true coffee lover, it is quite remarkable, whether you like it or not.
I’m reviewing this coffee because a friend and co-worker asked me to. Joe, the funny, charismatic and off-the-wall IT guy was never a Starbucks fan. He likes his coffee mild and large. For the most part, Starbucks doesn’t always offer a coffee that fulfills these requirements. In fact, he hasn’t even tried Komodo Dragon! Yet, he loves the name and packaging and thus, asked me to dissect it.
One day, Joe accompanied me on my daily 3 o’clock Starbucks run. He didn’t know what to get. I suggested he try an Americano because of its smooth, sweet quality. He tried it and was hooked. Now, he enjoys the Americano and orders one every day.
Ok, enough of Joe; let’s talk about a cup of Joe. Bad pun but he’ll appreciate it.
The tasting
I tried Komodo Dragon last year for the first time. My dad brought a bag home and we put it straight into our automatic espresso machine. I made a doppio long espresso. First, I swirled it around the cup and examined its rich, chocolaty crema. The way it stained the interior of the cup was quite beautiful. I couldn’t believe how much body it had. I quickly realized that this was no amateur brew. Then, I put my nose into the cup and took a deep sniff. My nose was overpowered by its earthy offering. I smelled earth, peppery spice and a hint of cinnamon. It was as pleasant as it was strong.
Next, I tilted the cup upwards and let Komodo rush into my mouth. I swished it around and picked out all the unique flavours it had to offer. It coated every part of my mouth. I immediately tasted earth. Then, I tasted a hint of cinnamon and then finally spice. The flavour lingered. It was quite intriguing. I prefer sweet, caramelly coffees but I still enjoyed this earthy flavour. I liked it and couldn’t get over how heavy and bold it was. I poured another 2 cups and enjoyed each sip with a bite of a cinnamon cookie. The two flavours were a perfect match. My dad liked it too!
The coffee itself
Just like many Indonesian grown coffee beans, Komodo Dragon has a distinctive, earthy and spicy full-bodied flavour. It has a relatively low acidity level, which makes it easy to digest for those who can’t stomach highly acidic, lighter coffees from Latin America. Komodo Dragon gets its distinctive flavour from the rich, volcanic soils of Indonesia. Also, it thrives under Indonesia’s hot, humid climate and high elevation.
If you’re looking for a coffee that can stand up for itself and hold its own against flavourful foods, give Komodo Dragon a try. Enjoy it with any cinnamon flavoured treat or any spicy, savoury meal.
It may not be your favourite coffee, but you’ll respect it, just like you’d respect the deadly lizard it shares a name with.
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Passion Profile: Starbucks Melody
I started this blog to convey my passion for Starbucks. However, I’m certainly not the only one with a deep passion for this great company. My inspiration and the person who I can give much praise to, with regards to Starbucks blogging, is Melody, but you probably know her as Starbucks Melody.
Simply put, she is the embodiment of Starbucks Passion. She writes at least two blog posts a week about Starbucks and each are unique, informative and extremely entertaining. If you haven’t read her blog posts, then you’re missing out. I strongly suggest you check out her blog and subscribe, via email updates or RSS feeds, to her impressive blog – StarbucksMelody.com. You should follow her on twitter as well, if you aren’t already - @sbuxmel.
With that being said, this post is a personal profile of this great Starbucks advocate and fan. I caught up with Mel and asked her a few questions. Each question and answer is meant to convey her passion for Starbucks and give you an inside look into what fuels her dedication to blogging and the Starbucks brand.
If you have any other questions, for Mel or myself, just ask them! Your comments are always much appreciated.
Let’s get started:
1. Me - What is your favourite Starbucks drink?
Mel - I honestly keep changing what I drink. “Variety is the spice of life” describes my Starbucks drinking habits. Right now I am hooked on black tea with orange mango juice, but I love the Chai lattes, and I drink a lot of coffee from the Clover, or drip-brewed coffee.
2. Me - What is your favourite Starbucks store? why?
Mel - Each Starbucks store has its own personality. It’s hard to compare. There are a few downtown Seattle stores that really shine. I love the Columbia Center Starbucks (store 101). The partners are amazing and never get tired about hearing my blog. They are amazing. That store is located close to the court system so they see a lot of me. Other great stores include 1912 Pike Place, the 1st & Pike Store, and although I rarely get to this store: 4th & Seneca impresses me.
3. Me - Why did you start the Starbucks Melody blog?
Mel - I had a number of reasons which were all part of my agenda for starting a blog. I genuinely wanted to create a community of Starbucks enthusiasts in the comments. Yes, I realize that there are many Starbucks blogs, but I still felt like I had something to add to the online world of Starbucks. I also needed an outlet for my thoughts, experiences, and stories about Starbucks: I felt a compulsion to express myself. I really made the decision that I would blog, even if nobody came and read what I was writing. I also believed that the site could offer constructive insight to make Starbucks better. Being a corporate cheerleader alone is not a healthy thing to do. Criticism from the perspective of “Let’s work together to make Starbucks better” is absolutely a useful tool.
4. Me - Have you ever considered working for Starbucks? (in a store or at the corporate level)
Mel - I honestly think that I could be a valuable part of Starbucks but at this point I would lose my independence from them if I worked for them. My journalistic independence is part of what maintains the credibility to my blog, so working for them is out of the question. And in addition, if you consider it from the perspective of Starbucks, I am much more valuable to them as a “customer”.
5. Me - What’s the best thing about being a Starbucks blogger?
Mel - It’s a double-edged sword. I enjoy every single small thing that Starbucks does, such as media invites to taste coffee or I especially LOVED going to the Roy Street media preview night. I am hoping that Starbucks will extend me an invitation to the preview event for Olive Way. Once in a while it’s quite uncomfortable having a spot light on me.
Over the past year I have watched a community grow within the comments to my blog and that part of being a blogger is extremely emotionally rewarding. I’m thankful.
6. Me - Is there anything you dislike about Starbucks? if so, how would you change it if you were a Starbucks executive?
Mel - It’s a big company. A billion dollar corporation. It seems to have problems associated with any corporation that size: Many of the messages flowing in the direction of corporation to customer are somewhat canned, PR type messages. That was evidenced by my experience at the 2010 Shareholders’ Meeting. Reading press materials, blog entries, and having conversations that sound like they’ve been massaged through 20 meetings is far less than inspiring. John Moore of Brand Autopsy always always nails this concept. If you read his e-book Tough Love you can see that he absolutely can articulate what I am trying to say far better than I can. He did a blog article on “mini” at Starbucks and that too sums up what I am trying to say - here is the link: http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/brandautopsy/2010/06/pathetic_starbucks_poster.html
And if I were a Starbucks executive, I would put back up the whole bean menu boards, at least for those stores designated as “Reserve” stores.
7. Me - Do you get any recognition, by Starbucks Corporate, for your work on the blog?
Mel - I passionately cherish the wonderful things that Starbucks has done for me that were “media” type events because I have the blog: Specifically, I am referring to (1) the Jamaica Mountain Blue coffee tasting event at 1st & Pike, (2) the invite to the Galapagos Island Roasting Event, (3) the Roy Street Media Preview event, (4) the DM in Sacramento who let me put on a green apron and make my own Clover, and the opportunity to go shopping at the partner store in the headquarters. All of those things happened, I think, because of the blog. The Roasting Event and partner store shopping were all one trip to Starbucks. So you can see in the course of about 13 months of blogging there have been 4 media events.
I have a wish list of things that I would like to see Starbucks do for me, but it’s just that: A wish list only. I’m not holding my breath. I would love to attend in any Olive Way media event; I’d love to have another Howard autograph to frame; and I would love to have a tour of either the Kent Roasting Plant or the Seattle Pilot Plant to talk about roasting on the blog. But in the end, I just happily accept what comes my way. I really can’t _expect_ those things.
8. Me - If you could sum up Starbucks in 3 words, what would they be?
Mel - Three words: Love. Coffee. People.
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Blog Action Day 2010 - Ethos Water Fund
I’ve already discussed the Ethos Water Fund but in light of October 15’s Blog Action Day, I am refeaturing my Ethos Water post from a few months back. Hope you enjoy!
And if you want to learn more about the Blog Action Day campaign, go to their site here.
Ethos Water Fund - a great CSR initiative
One of the main reasons for starting this blog, starbuckspassion, was to express my appreciation for Starbucks’ great CSR work. Starbucks cares for community, environment and people and I felt it was necessary to highlight some of their promising initiatives. My 3-part CSR series touched on several of their initiatives and examined their CSR mandate. (scroll through my older posts to find the 3-part CSR series.)
With that being said, in this post I want to highlight one of my favourite CSR initiatives Starbucks partakes in; the Ethos Water Fund. Starbucks.com says: “Ethos® Water was created to help raise awareness about this terrible crisis and provide children with access to clean water. Every time you buy a bottle of Ethos® Water, you contribute 5 cents to the Ethos® Water Fund, part of the Starbucks Foundation.” (In Canada, Starbucks donates 10 cents to the Ethos Water Fund. )
Even though 5 cents (10 cents in Canada) seems like small numbers, when millions of bottles are sold, the amount of money raised is staggering. Since its inception in 2005, Starbucks has donated over $6 million to the fund and helped more than 420,000 people around the world. With that many people being helped, the Ethos Water Fund proves to be a valuable component in Starbucks’ CSR campaign.
The world water crisis is one of the largest health concerns in the world. More than 1 billion people lack clean drinking water and over 2.6 billion people lack access to sanitation services. Ethoswater.com says that this crisis affects children most. Almost 4,500 children die every day from the lack of safe drinking water. Children need clean water to help fight diseases and without access to safe drinking water, millions of children will die every year until the crisis is resolved. Whether it be climate, geography or poor sanitation systems, billions of people lack access to safe drinking water. The Ethos Water Fund is dedicated to resolving this crisis.
The Ethos Water Fund currently has 10 projects in several regions across the world. The projects are located in:
Cholusnate, Honduras
Ginchi, Ethiopia
Benishangul Gumuz, Ethiopia
Nairobi, Kenya
Northern Province, Rwanda
Kivu, Congo
Manyara, Tanzania
Sader, Bangladesh
Sumatra, Indonesia
Madhya, India
Ayinapatti, India
Keelakarthigaipatti, India
Starbucks was committed to raising $10 million to the Ethos Water Fund by 2010 but because of the recent economic downturn, that timeline has been extended and Starbucks remains committed to reaching the $10 million goal.
But for Starbucks it’s not just about donating money to help people gain access to clean drinking water, it’s also about educating people on the world water crisis. The Ethos Water bottle label explains the program’s mandate and educates consumers on how they are helping to resolve the world water crisis.
I think this project is one of Starbucks’ most admirable CSR initiatives. Obviously, you can’t rate the CSR initiatives in terms of importance, but the Ethos Water Fund is a project that not only helps people gain access to clean drinking water but also educates consumers on the world water crisis.
So next time you’re in a Starbucks, reach down and grab a bottle of Ethos water and know that you’re doing something good; you’re helping people gain access to clean, safe drinking water.
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A friendly store
Above: Starbucks store at 450 Yonge St. Toronto.
I touch on the whole ‘being an integral part of the community’ aspect of Starbucks’ mandate a lot, but I just can’t stop thinking about some of the really nice things Starbucks does in each community they come in contact with.
I don’t just regurgitate corporate jargon or reiterate Starbucks’ core values; rather, I speak to the positive experiences I’ve had with this influential corporation and why I appreciate the things they stand for.
With that being said, in this post I want to talk about a really sincere encounter I had with the partners and manager in my favourite Starbucks store. The store is located at Yonge and College in downtown Toronto; 450 Yonge St. to be exact. Check out an older post I wrote about this store: My New Third Place.
Every year my office partakes in an extensive United Way campaign that runs throughout October. Our goal this year was to raise $24, 000 for United Way. That’s a lot of money and each year we’ve been able to surpass our yearly target. We will be tallying our total amount of monetary donations next week and as it sits, we are very close to our goal.
But enough of how admirable my organization is – let’s talk about what the 450 Yonge St. store did for us and our campaign.
We kicked off our campaign on October 12 with a launch event that featured our senior executives serving coffee to all employees. Most of the time, the coffee we use for such events is stale, office- brewed, coffee-like sludge of some variety. The sentiment is always good but the coffee often lacks quality. But this year was different. We wanted quality coffee to kick the campaign off with a delicious bang.
Starbucks came to the rescue.
Before the event, I went into the 450 Yonge St. store and spoke with the manager about our campaign. She was all ears and was visibly interested in our United Way campaign. Before even asking if they could possibly provide the coffee, she offered to support our launch with a freshly brewed 100 cup urn of Pike Place roast coffee.
I was amazed and thankfully accepted her offer. My coworkers were enthused and finally, they understood where my passion for Starbucks comes from.
The morning of the campaign launch
I walked into the store at 8 a.m. to grab my morning Americano and the urn of coffee for our event. Before I even asked the barista for the urn, she welcomed me and pointed to the back of the store where the urn was waiting. Not only did they provide the coffee, they provided the table cloth, cups, lids, stir sticks, sugar, sweeteners, milk and cream.
What a nice little package to bring back to the office.
I thanked all the partners and later wrote a nice letter to the store on behalf of my organization. We were all very thankful for what this Starbucks provided. Oh and the coffee was perfect. Everyone had a blast that morning.
What it all means
I’m sure managers and partners are encouraged to donate coffee to such events on a semi-regular basis. But the diligence, passion and generosity displayed by this store was nothing short of breathtaking. They could have just given us the urn and said: “bring it back when you’re done and you’re welcome.” But they did more than that; they proved that Starbucks is indeed an integral part of the community. They provided ‘legendary service.’
Thank you 450 Yonge St. partners. You made our event a huge success and reaffirmed my passion and dedication to the corporation.
On a side note - Our North Toronto office also kicked off a United Way campaign that same day. Their local Starbucks provided the refreshments as well. Thank you 2555 Victoria Park Ave. Starbucks.
On another side note – Many thanks to Winter for giving me permission to use his picture of the 450 Yonge St. store.
Check out his website: http://www.starbuckseverywhere.net/
And follow him on twitter: @winterene
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Christmas offerings - The ‘good’ and the ‘lacking’
Up until this point, all of my posts have focused on the ‘good’ aspects of Starbucks - the products, the service, the CSR initiatives and the community. However, to keep my blog authentic and believable, I need to highlight some of the aspects that I don’t find so ‘perfect’ about Starbucks; it’s not all about regurgitating corporate jargon. Therefore, this post will focus on a coffee offering that, I feel, lacks that certain perfection Starbucks is known for. Then, in true Starbucks Passion style, we’ll focus on a coffee that does the brand proud.
The lacking
I’ve always enjoyed specialty coffee season at Starbucks. Casi Cielo and Anniversary Blend mark some of my favourite times in the Starbucks calendar. But, during this Christmas season, I feel the seasonal bold pick – Christmas Blend – is lacking that certain charisma that makes it a memorable brew. Sure, the coffee’s flavour profile is decent but the overall body and richness is lacking.
I tried this year’s Starbucks Christmas Blend last week and sadly, couldn’t even finish the tall cup. Simply put, I disliked it. It lacked punch, weight and sweetness.
First, I smelled it and sure it smelled nice, but I couldn’t pick out its sweet, herbal undertones. It smelled like Sumatra without that spicy punch. Then, I slowly sipped it and swished it around my mouth. I tasted some spiciness and a very little bit of sweetness. Yet, it was not memorable. The flavour didn’t linger and a true sweetness was missing. Starbucks says the coffee has a spicy, herbal sweetness but really, I just tasted spice with a mild herbal finish. Where was the richness? Where was the sweetness? Where was the character?
It left me wanting more. Starbucks says this coffee should be paired with “the holiday’s richest desserts” but I guess that’s because it lacks the quality to be enjoyed alone. The richest, sweetest desserts are about the only things contributing sweetness to this pairing. I hate to say it, but this coffee is lacking.
But, it’s not all bad news for Starbucks’ whole bean Christmas selections.
The Good
After my disappointing experience with Christmas Blend, I decided to buy a bag of Christmas Blend Espresso Roast. I thought, as a truly passionate Starbucks enthusiast, I owe it to the brand to try the espresso selection.
Thank goodness I did.
All I can say is that Christmas Espresso Roast is good. Really good. While its Christmas Blend counterpart falls short of true individual quality, the espresso blend scores a win for Starbucks’ Christmas seasonal selections.
I took the snazzy, purple bag home and immediately poured it into my automatic espresso machine. At first, while pouring the beans into the machine, my nose was treated to a fiesta of rich sweetness. I knew this would be a good brew. Then, I pulled two shots and took a hearty sip. Within a split second I tasted a crisp sweetness; a very delightful and much welcomed initial impression. Then, as I let it sit in my mouth, I felt its weight and body. It was crisp but still had the body to coat my tongue. After swallowing, its dense taste and bold body lingered. I was instantly hooked. This is what Starbucks Christmas is all about.
This espresso roast gave me a magical experience. It is quickly becoming one of my favourite whole bean offerings. I can drink it in the morning, the afternoon and especially after dinner. It’s dense but still refreshing and its sweetness makes the red-bagged Christmas Blend taste like office-brewed coffee.
Starbucks says this coffee should be enjoyed with gingerbread but I’ll take it on its own. It’s good enough to drink all by itself. It needs no introduction and or complement. It’s perfect as is.
I hope Starbucks offers this espresso blend as a weekly bold pick at some point this season. It truly embodies ‘the good’.
I’m not the only one who feels this way about the 2 whole bean Christmas coffees. Here are some insights from some other Starbucks partners and enthusiasts (via twitter):
@Bradkovach: I had some Christmas Via this afternoon. I dislike Christmas Blend, and VIA is similarly dislikeable.
@Bradkovach: Christmas Espr. is surprisingly tame! Low in acid and body=great iced coffee!
@Wongster 360: Christmas Blend Espresso gets a big thumbs up from me and every partner I have tasted it with! :D
@WOnet: The Espresso Roast Christmas Blend is AWESOME! Extremely smoooooth… Fantastic drip, press, and shots.
@Cstockett05: I thought it (espresso blend) smelled unlike xmas. But I really found it delicious with a brownie! Tastes a lot better than it smells.
@Cstockett05: Xmas blend and Xmas espresso perfect with peppermint brownie, really amazing!!
As always, I welcome YOUR review and opinions on both these seasonal offerings.
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Canada’s Clover stores
I didn’t really know much about the whole Clover brewing process, let alone the fact that there are only 2 specialty Clover stores in Canada. But, after a quick discussion with my friend and fellow Starbucks enthusiast Melody (@sbuxmel), I learned exactly what a Starbucks Clover store is all about. Click here to see some of Mel’s best posts on the Clover.
Starbucks was already brewing coffee well. Their presses and espresso machines were bringing forth the deepest, truest flavours in their beans. But then in 2007, they developed a new brewing process that truly adds layers of flavour and body to their coffees. They called this new machine the Clover.
I won’t get into the mechanics of the Clover, but I will say that it makes each cup of coffee to order and controls the temperature and timing of each cup so that the flavour is as true and deep as possible. Essentially, it’s like an upside-down French press. Seems simple enough, yet the flavour is nothing but; it produces the most complex cup of coffee you’ve ever had.
With all this being said, I should highlight the point that I never thought I’d get the privilege to visit a Clover store or try a Reserve bean, brewed in a Clover. Why is that you ask? Well, simply put, there are only 2 Clover stores in all of Canada. I knew there was one in Vancouver and one in Toronto. Being from Toronto means I may have had the opportunity to visit the one here, but there are literally a hundred stores in Toronto; what would be the chances of stumbling into the one Clover store?…
Just my luck…
Early last month (November 8th) I had to travel to Vancouver for work. I had never been but heard that it’s one of the most beautiful places in Canada… and the world. So here I was in Vancouver, feeling my way around and visiting some of the most interesting coffee shops in Western Canada. And for the record, Vancouver is incredible. Then, on one fateful night, I stumbled into a Clover store! It was located at 1099 Robson St.
I stood at the counter and everything seemed normal. It was your typical Starbucks with welcoming partners and eager caffeine enthusiasts. But before I ordered my standard grande Americano, I looked over at the barista bar and noticed something different. Could it be? Was that a shiny, state-of-the-art Clover machine?! Yes, it was.
Obviously, having an opportunity like this would only come once in a lifetime. So, I ditched the Americano and ordered one of the Reserve coffees from the menu board - Nicaragua Corcasan. As I waited for the coffee to brew, I examined the Clover. I was in awe. What an incredible machine. The coffee filled the cup and I rushed to a table to try it out.
I was blown away by this cup of coffee. It had a medium intensity but the flavour was incredible. I tasted sweet sugar and chocolate with a citrusy, herbal finish. I could write a thousand words on this coffee, but I’ll save that for a future post.
Suffice to say, I was lucky to stumble into that store and try that coffee. I would never forget that experience.
I left Vancouver and headed back to Toronto the next morning. Sure, work went well but this experience was truly unforgettable.
Then, later that month (November 30th), I had a meeting at our PR agency’s office in upper-downtown Toronto (Yorkville). I showed up early so I could run into a nearby Starbucks and grab some meeting fuel, or coffee.
So I walked into a really nice Starbucks store at Yonge and Bloor - 765 Yonge Street. I walked up to the bar and before ordering an Americano, I noticed a Reserve coffee menu board. No, could it be? Yes! I found another Starbucks Clover store. 2 for 2 in a month.
I never thought I’d visit one Starbucks Clover store in Canada, let alone 2… and in the same month! What a treat to say the least.
I’m rambling a bit now, but let’s just say I ordered a cup of Aged Sulawesi Kalosi. Again, I was blown away. I actually liked this one better than the Nicaragua Corcasan I had in Vancouver. I won’t give anything away now, you’ll just have to wait for a future post on this coffee and other Reserve coffees.
Best month ever? Yes.
If you’ve ever been to a Clover store, tell me about it… the floor is yours!
