I get the feeling that *$ is going through the corporate version of a mid-life crisis. The Clover experiment looks like flinging noodles against the wall to see what sticks. Sadly, it’s probably too late now for them to make any radical changes. I’ve heard they’re closing their shops soon for just a few hours of barista training. These are sure to be small tweaks at best.

I remember a short cappuccino a co-worker bought me the other day (I don’t refuse gifts, even from *$). While it wasn’t quite as ridiculous as their super-sized milkshakes, it was still insipid, as if dispensed from a vending machine. Blue Bottle & its clients have nothing to fear.

Starbucks will go the way of all empires, and their story will serve as a lesson, or so I like to think.

Ciao,
Wayne

Well, good for *$ to recognize that their baseline coffee just isn’t suited for the Clover. Maybe there are a few employees left who still care and know what they are doing (as much as they must be in the minority there these days). Still, it creates a sore-thumb sourcing and supply chain issue for them. (”Where again is that machine that adds the date stamps, Clarence?”) And even a roast date of 1/16/08 makes the coffee weeks old by the 2/8/08 posting.

But a “cappa”?! Ouch - calling it a “cap” sounds lame enough. Last time I was in England, I had to resist the urge to slap any tea drinker who referred to it as a “cuppa”. (Americans have even less of an excuse for speaking in nursery rhymes.)

“Was in Boston Beacon Hill this morning and got inside SB in Charles St for a Cappa. After getting the Cappa (burnt, too much milk…) I noticed something out of place
It took me few second to realize I was watching a real Clover - it is like going to Techno club and the DJ start playing Miles Davis

I asked to try and first got their Kenya which was very drinkable, but on the boring side. Then asked if they got any freshly roasted coffee (the Kenya had no roast date ) and was surprise to learn that they do. This time I got aged Sumatra which was roasted on Jan-16 (of this year !)
Now I’m not a big coffee fan and never got to liking Sumatra coffees, but this was not bad at all. The coffee was nothing like the Clover made coffee I was served in Grumpy nor was it anything near the sweet taste of the Terroir N. Italian espressos I was lucky to get last night, but for SB this is a huge step forward.

I start talking with the PBTC and learned the SB is piloting a fresh-coffee + Clover program, there are two other shops in Boston getting the Clover ( Harvard SQ, and Financial District ). The coffee they use for this was coming in a special 10oz packs all carrying a big sticker of pilot plan ( and a roast date)

When I asked to pay I was told that today is the first Clover day and the coffee is for free. Bottom line - this was the best value for the money I ever got at SB”

-gabi

Note, I usually think that theshot is one of the best resources online when it comes to coffee news. However, when hating on Starbucks, it is best to have one’s facts straight.