Comments on: Starbucks buys Clover, grinds beans, and dumbs down their espresso machines even further http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/ Rants and Raves on Espresso Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:34:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Makers of the Clover Bought Out By Starbucks http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3949 Makers of the Clover Bought Out By Starbucks Tue, 27 May 2008 03:47:34 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3949 [...] so poorly that no $8,000 brewer is going to fix it. As Greg Sherwin over at TheShot coffee blog very aptly put it: “Who buys a $30,000 sound system to listen to AM talk [...] [...] so poorly that no $8,000 brewer is going to fix it. As Greg Sherwin over at TheShot coffee blog very aptly put it: “Who buys a $30,000 sound system to listen to AM talk [...]

]]> By: TheShot http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3696 TheShot Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:20:51 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3696 FWIW, I don't profess to be a Starbucks expert for the past decade. But the "10 years" figure noted above for when they switched to pre-ground, packaged beans has been cited (correctly or not) in multiple sources, e.g. United Press International: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Business/2008/03/19/starbucks_to_go_back_to_the_future/1002/ <blockquote> The chain moved to pre-ground, packaged beans 10 years ago. "That turned out to be our Achilles' heel," Schultz told the paper. </blockquote> Though perhaps one of my favorite quotes on this news thus far comes from member DU on <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/70078/Starbucks-renewed" rel="nofollow">Metafilter</a>: <blockquote> Not to sound like a snob, but isn't this like worrying that the new patty extrusion process is going to reduce McDonald's high quality burgers? </blockquote> FWIW, I don’t profess to be a Starbucks expert for the past decade. But the “10 years” figure noted above for when they switched to pre-ground, packaged beans has been cited (correctly or not) in multiple sources, e.g. United Press International:

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Business/2008/03/19/starbucks_to_go_back_to_the_future/1002/

The chain moved to pre-ground, packaged beans 10 years ago. “That turned out to be our Achilles’ heel,” Schultz told the paper.

Though perhaps one of my favorite quotes on this news thus far comes from member DU on Metafilter:

Not to sound like a snob, but isn’t this like worrying that the new patty extrusion process is going to reduce McDonald’s high quality burgers?

]]> By: asurroca http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3693 asurroca Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:37:38 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3693 Just saying...Starbucks switched to the shitty pre-ground crap more like 5ish years ago, not 10. I worked there a couple years before they switched, and back then nothing was pre-ground, not even the (ugh) Frappuccino coffee base. The Clover news excites me because (I live in Florida) Starbucks is probably the only way I'll ever get to drink a cup of coffee from one of these machines. Just saying…Starbucks switched to the shitty pre-ground crap more like 5ish years ago, not 10. I worked there a couple years before they switched, and back then nothing was pre-ground, not even the (ugh) Frappuccino coffee base.

The Clover news excites me because (I live in Florida) Starbucks is probably the only way I’ll ever get to drink a cup of coffee from one of these machines.

]]> By: Christian (aka manseekingcoffe) http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3689 Christian (aka manseekingcoffe) Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:07:50 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3689 All I can say is that I'm jealous of those Clover guys. But seriously, puting aside my own jaded, cynical view of things - "this is a sell-out" or "why would you want starbucks on a clover" - it seems to me that the silver lining is that more places might start tuning in to what the clover is about. The clover has wide-spread grass roots usage amongst cafes with top-notch coffees. Hopefully as places start to take on the clover, they'll absorb something about better coffee in the mix. All I can say is that I’m jealous of those Clover guys. But seriously, puting aside my own jaded, cynical view of things - “this is a sell-out” or “why would you want starbucks on a clover” - it seems to me that the silver lining is that more places might start tuning in to what the clover is about. The clover has wide-spread grass roots usage amongst cafes with top-notch coffees. Hopefully as places start to take on the clover, they’ll absorb something about better coffee in the mix.

]]> By: Wayne http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3688 Wayne Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:35:03 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3688 "For many years now, we have been a respectful inheritor of the Italian coffee culture. We have built our business honoring the very things we saw and experienced. And, in some cases, I am humbled to say, we have improved it. All of you deliver a world class experience to our customers — one that I believe Italians would praise." - Howard Schultz You have to ask yourself what kind of person could write such balderdash. Someone who lives in an alternate reality-bubble of the sort that surrounds megalomaniac petty dictators, or someone with a serious lack of integrity -- these two types, alas, are often combined. The source URL is below, if you care to read the whole thing: http://www.coffeetasters.org/newsletter/en/index.php/schultz-starbucks-ceo-italian-baristas-are-very-good-italian-coffee-is-awful/032/ “For many years now, we have been a respectful inheritor of the Italian coffee culture. We have built our business honoring the very things we saw and experienced. And, in some cases, I am humbled to say, we have improved it. All of you deliver a world class experience to our customers — one that I believe Italians would praise.” - Howard Schultz

You have to ask yourself what kind of person could write such balderdash. Someone who lives in an alternate reality-bubble of the sort that surrounds megalomaniac petty dictators, or someone with a serious lack of integrity — these two types, alas, are often combined. The source URL is below, if you care to read the whole thing:

http://www.coffeetasters.org/newsletter/en/index.php/schultz-starbucks-ceo-italian-baristas-are-very-good-italian-coffee-is-awful/032/

]]> By: Rick Turoczy http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3687 Rick Turoczy Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:00:11 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3687 Looking for the bright side here. Not sure that I've found it, but I'm going to say, "At least Schultz is getting back to something he knows: coffee makers." Oh forget it. I don't even believe that. Clover RIP. Looking for the bright side here. Not sure that I’ve found it, but I’m going to say, “At least Schultz is getting back to something he knows: coffee makers.”

Oh forget it. I don’t even believe that.

Clover RIP.

]]> By: Srini http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3685 Srini Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:14:24 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3685 Love the statement Unbelievable Tool..in reference to Shultz. This guy is the jerk of the first magnititude after destroying the Original Starbucks with his cheap expensive imitations. Love the statement Unbelievable Tool..in reference to Shultz.

This guy is the jerk of the first magnititude after destroying the Original Starbucks with his cheap expensive imitations.

]]> By: Eric http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3684 Eric Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:54:07 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3684 <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/19/business/NA-FIN-COM-US-Starbucks-Shareholders.php" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is an article with Howard stating this: "It's an unbelievable tool that will provide us with the highest-quality, consistent shot of espresso that will be second to none." With that kind of statement I'm not going anywhere else but Starbucks now :) I wonder what is going to happen to clover? Here is an article with Howard stating this:

“It’s an unbelievable tool that will provide us with the highest-quality, consistent shot of espresso that will be second to none.”

With that kind of statement I’m not going anywhere else but Starbucks now :)

I wonder what is going to happen to clover?

]]> By: manseekingcoffee http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3683 manseekingcoffee Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:52:45 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/starbucks-buys-clover/#comment-3683 Thunk! (The sound of my jaw dropping to the floor) Thunk! (The sound of my jaw dropping to the floor)

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