In my effort to Buy Blue, I just bought a Starbucks coffee

[NewJeffCT]

Normally, I go to Red Dunkin Donuts because I find their coffee milder and my past experience with Starbucks is that it tastes like battery acid... But, it's been bugging my conscious that I'm buying a red coffee every day & supporting Republicans.

So, I decided to give Starbucks one more try. I got their "light" roast coffee today, and loaded it up with a, um, liberal amount of sugar and some half & half, and it's pretty good.

Unless I'm hit with major diarrhea or something similar this afternoon, I'm going to be going there more often from now on for my mid-morning coffee. So, maybe $9.50 a week has been changed from lining red pockets to blue pockets.

[ALago1]

1. Starbucks is blue? Didn't know that.

I had heard some stories of them using unfair labor practices in their bean production, but nothing really definitive.

By the way, I love Dunkin Donuts coffee as well. But Starbucks has a much greater variety of beverages.

[NewJeffCT]

2. Starbucks offers health benefits & tuition reimbursement...

And, other good benefits to their employees - even part timers. Dunkin Donuts say that those things are up to the individual franchises, which is a cop-out. In Connecticut, Wal-Mart is the biggest burden in terms of cost to taxpayers for medical expenses, and DD is #2.

[Patiod]

3. What about indies - maybe a good middle ground

Don't like Dunkin Donuts b/c the owners around hear don't speak English and won't let you fix your own -- they insist on dumping a TON of milk & sugar in there themselves. And Starbucks tastes burnt.

Found a little locally-owned place where the coffeeguy just brings me my order without asking. And it's incredible coffee. My priority goes
- buy local family-owned (even if they are Repukes - I don't care)
- buy blue chain-owned

You may not have that option, though.

Thanks for reminding us to buy blue -- I've changed my hotel chain from marriott to hyatt and hilton for that reason alone.

[SharonRB]

4. I find it too strong, but if I get a decaf latte I love it!

[cassandra uprising]

5. ct still has mom & pop cafe's

ooh please jeff go find them and buy your coffee there!

i'm not familiar with east of the river, but there is klekolo in middletown and mazzicato's in hartford. there's also willoby's in new haven. those are some of my fav's.

if anything, buy organic. coffee is the second highest traded commodity next to oil and buying organic is more than good for the environment, organic farms are committed to developing local economies and directly effects the quality of life of the folks who grow the beans.

happy sipping!

[NewJeffCT]

6. I'm in downtown Hartford during the day

My choices are Dunkin Donuts & Starbucks.

[cassandra uprising]

17. franklin ave

where mozzicato's is located is but a five/ten minute drive from downtown.

[NewJeffCT]

18. it takes me almost 15 minutes to walk to my car

I can't justify leaving work at 10:00am each morning, walking to my car & driving to Franklin Avenue & back.

Starbucks & Dunkin Donuts are like 3 minute walks for me.

[cassandra uprising]

21. bummer

it's too bad cosi on pratt street closed. you should still check out mozzicato's (and buy organic for coffee drinking at home)

[NewJeffCT]

23. organic coffee?

I usually just buy the cheap stuff for home, like Folger's or Maxwell House. I'm not that picky - just never liked Starbucks until I tested their "light" blend today, with heavy sugar & half & half.

Unfortunately, I don't get down to Franklin Ave too often. I think the last time was when my wife & I took my parents out for dinner one night there maybe 2 or 3 years ago.

[WindRavenX]

7. DD is red?? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!!! x(

[Left Is Write]

8. I go to Starbucks often.

I love Starbucks lattes. I don't care for their mochas, and the regular drip coffee often tastes overroasted or overly strong.

But the lattes are awesome.

The best coffee on the planet, regular brewed or espresso drinks, is Caribou.

How I desperately wish Caribou would come out west. I had my first Caribou from the first store shortly after it opened, and I've been hooked ever since.

[SuperWonk]

9. DD...

is the best, and they aren't red!

[Left Is Write]

10. No Dunkin Donuts here either.

But I still say Caribou is the best. ;)

[NewJeffCT]

22. see my response to Will Pitt below, DD is red

At least according to 'choose the blue'.

[Beware the Beast Man]

12. As far as franchise coffee bars are concerned,

Caribou is the best. Their Turtle Mocha is the shizznit.

The only problem I have with the "Starbucks is blue" argument is that if I recall, Starbucks' parent company is Altria, which you may know better as Philip Morris (big tobacco, ugh).

on edit- I stand corrected. Altria only distributes the Starbucks brand name for store-bought products.

[Left Is Write]

13. Starbucks is owned by Philip Morris?

I did not know that.

When we go on our annual road trip home in the summer, we always get a Caribou at the first available opportunity. That used to be in St. Cloud, Minnesota, but I hear from Smiley Boy that Fargo has finally gotten a Caribou and we can get our fix much sooner. ;)

At Christmas time this past year, we received several bags of coffee beans from D's parents, my parents, and my siblings.

[Beware the Beast Man]

14. I was wrong about Starbuck's. I edited my post.

Philip Morris only licenses the name for store-bought products.

But I highly recommend the Turtle Mocha next time you go to Caribou :)

[Willy Lee]

25. Thanks for clarifying that whole "franchise" bit-

there are oodles of INDEPENDENT coffee roasters and cafes out there that beat ANY FRANCHISE, hands down.

[WilliamPitt]

11. What's the evidence that DD is Red?

Not doubting you. Just wondering.

[NewJeffCT]

16. Damn! I knew somebody would want evidence

I'll have to do some research, but I recall somebody posting somewhere on DU last year that DD Corporate was 100% red.

Edited to add:
According to this website, they gave 12% to Dems, 88% to Republics.

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php

[Aristus]

15. I buy from a local franchised small coffee business every day.

Do any of my fellow Washingtonians know if Bigfoot Java is red or blue?

Anyway, the coffee girls there are pretty and very friendly. So I like shopping there.


Please be a blue business, oh please, oh please, oh please!

:donut::beer:

[NewJeffCT]

27. I wouldn't mind buying local...

But, I'm talking about my mid-morning coffee where my options are 1 Starbucks & 3 Dunkin Donuts.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

19. Get a mocha latte...

It's much smoother, and the milk really creams out the bitter coffee flavor...or do what I do. Go for the Tea. My favorite right now is the Shaken Black Ice Tea Lemonade. Or try a light Mocha Frappaccino...Those things are FREAKING AWESOME.
Duckie

[mondo joe]

20. Here in Seattle I prefer a "micro roaster" but Starbucks is fine

I'm very interested in quality foood and drink, but I'm pretty astonished at the fuss people make over coffee.

I prefer an independent roaster - Lighthouse is great and I like Cafe Vita as well. But Starbucks does just fine.

It's just coffee - not ground glass.

[Willy Lee]

26. When I worked on the hill there I loved Vita.

I'd walk 15 minutes each way for a cappa there. Damn, they were good!

[Wapsie B]

24. Starbuck's is blue according to this.

http://www.opensecrets.org/softmoney/softcomp1.asp?txtName=starbucks

At least in 2000 anyway.