Starbucks “push button coffee”.

[Packard]

Starbucks switched from drip coffee makers to a new Clover system that only requires that they push a button to make a cup of coffee.

It is supposed to be a new brewing method that combines automation with French press coffee.

It results in a brew that I find undrinkable.  It is heavy with silt, and is extremely bitter at the rear of the tongue. 

Starbucks will make individual pour-over coffee.  But if they are busy, they multi-task this operation and it can take 10 -15 minutes to brew when that happens.  Which means that the coffee has cooled 10 to 15 minutes before I get it. 

I like my coffee piping hot.

Starbucks obligingly provides electric outlets everywhere.  I got an old fashioned immersion heater and I can re-heat my coffee to piping-hot levels.  It does seem like it is asking too much from a customer to have them resort to re-heating the coffee. 

The immersion heater will get the coffee hot in about 1 minute if it has really cooled down.  The caveat with the immersion heaters is that you absolutely must unplug before removing the heater from the liquid.  Failing to do that will trash the heater.

They do now make mugs with re-chargeable batteries and a heating element enclosed in the mug.  About $100.00.  It sounds convenient.  But how long would it take to bring the tepid coffee to piping-hot levels?  Various models have a 90 minute to 120 minute heat time.  Has anyone tried this?

Ember was apparently the first to introduce the battery operated heated mugs..  At their site it is $149.00; a little cheaper on Amazon.com.
https://ember.com/products/ember-mug-2?variant=43396721901753

Versus the immersion heater I paid $12.00 + tax for the top rated one on Amazon.com.

 

[six-point socket II]

Why do you keep giving Starbucks your business if they clearly disappoint you on so many levels?

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[squall_line]

My wife and I each have/had an Ember mug.  My wife's 10 oz mug died after less than a year; it won't hold a charge.  Ember considers the non-replaceable, non-serviceable batteries to be "consumables" and they are not covered by warranty.  We got it for her so that she could have hot coffee for longer than 10 minutes in the morning when our toddler would invariably distract her from being able to drink it while it was still warm.

My 14 oz model is still going strong after only 9 months or so, but I only use it for about 30 minutes each morning.  My wife has switched to an insulated mug with a handle.

Ember coffee mugs are not designed to heat a cool liquid; they're designed to allow a hot beverage to cool to a set temperature and then hold it there.

If you get an Ember mug to re-heat tepid coffee, I predict you will be almost as disappointed in the results as you are in the Clover coffee.

 

[ghhsolutions]

Life is too short to be drinking "coffee" from these chains.

 

[mcfal12]

I'm so glad I never developed a liking for coffee. My colleagues are constantly looking for it throughout each day and spending hundreds of dollars each month on it.

 

[woodferret]

I think I spend $25/month on coffee.  The premium is 'being seen' drinking expensive coffee.  Starbucks did have nice cheap coffee when they were HQ controlled instead of franchised.

 

[Packard]

I'm so glad I never developed a liking for coffee. My colleagues are constantly looking for it throughout each day and spending hundreds of dollars each month on it.

Similarly, a girlfriend of mine tried to talk me into trying caviar.  I steadfastly refused to taste it. 

She finally asked me why I would not taste it.  The truth:  I was afraid I would like it.  And like it too much.  And grow broke because it can cost as much as $9,000.00 per tin.
https://store.houseofcaviarandfinef...?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&Size=35 oz (1000%20g)&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArfauBhApEiwAeoB7qDhBuKtp1VKmNsedEmxxW69_-E8HJzkZLD1866mCofZAt4W63d2t6RoC0-kQAvD_BwE

And even the “everyday” stuff is ungodly expensive. ($50.00 - $75.00 per ounce/per 28 grams).

 

[luvmytoolz]

Here in OZ and especially Melb we have a massive coffee culture, and because of the yearly local, national and world comps, there's tremendous competition between pretty much all the regular cafe's to produce an outstanding coffee that's a little unique.

Any half decent cafe here would be absolutely horrified at the thought of customers having to reheat their coffee, not to mention they'd look at you like you need to be committed when you trot your heating element out and ask for a power point!

Even our servo's have expensive coffee machines installed to bring the level up, as people just won't accept a bad coffee.

Even if it was cheaper to run and install, you'd be hard pressed to find a cafe here that would install a "one button" coffee machine, as that would be seen as something akin to the old Macca's drive thru coffee, it was brown and warm but didn't resemble anything approaching a decent coffee.

 

[woodferret]

I'm so glad I never developed a liking for coffee. My colleagues are constantly looking for it throughout each day and spending hundreds of dollars each month on it.

Similarly, a girlfriend of mine tried to talk me into trying caviar.  I steadfastly refused to taste it. 

She finally asked me why I would not taste it.  The truth:  I was afraid I would like it.  And like it too much.  And grow broke because it can cost as much as $9,000.00 per tin.
https://store.houseofcaviarandfinef...?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&Size=35 oz (1000%20g)&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArfauBhApEiwAeoB7qDhBuKtp1VKmNsedEmxxW69_-E8HJzkZLD1866mCofZAt4W63d2t6RoC0-kQAvD_BwE

And even the “everyday” stuff is ungodly expensive. ($50.00 - $75.00 per ounce/per 28 grams).

If you ever get addicted, just sub Ikura (salmon roe).  No one is going to judge... well... they will.  But then you can just pull the "I'm Cultured, eating Japanese" card.  There's like 6 different types of roe with descending cost.  I actually prefer the smaller ones.

But if it's the act of eating rare things, then caviar holds no sub.

 

[Packard]

McDonald’s (next door) now serves a decent cup of coffee for less money than Starbucks.  But my morning crew of buddies still go to Starbucks. 

Barnes & Noble gets my afternoon business.  They don’t open until 10:00 a.m., so no morning business.  It is one of the bargain places to get coffee if you are a member of their “club”. 

Panera Bread has a decent cup of coffee.  But at $1.00 more than any of the competition, it seems to be a waste. 

A grande coffee at Barnes & Noble (they brew Starbucks coffees) is just $2.57 if you are a club member.  The environment is generally good, but …

There is a cafe customer, probably homeless, whose personal hygiene is highly suspect.  At various times I can smell him as soon as I enter the store and well before getting to the cafe. 

Apparently he has occasional access to a shower and laundry because every few weeks he is almost fragrance-free.  But when he is at his worst, it can be horrible.  Management is reluctant to kick him out and he is often there almost an entire day. 

Management’s humanity is admirable, but at the expense of other cafe customers.

Full disclosure:  I have a particularly keen sense of smell.  My sister once suggested I apply to the DEA as a drug sniffer dog.

But even those with normal sense of smell would have to be offended by the odor.

Note:  My first cup of coffee cost $0.05 in a diner.  A couple of months later it shot up 100% to $0.10 per cup. (Circa 1965).

 

[Packard]

I'm so glad I never developed a liking for coffee. My colleagues are constantly looking for it throughout each day and spending hundreds of dollars each month on it.

Similarly, a girlfriend of mine tried to talk me into trying caviar.  I steadfastly refused to taste it. 

She finally asked me why I would not taste it.  The truth:  I was afraid I would like it.  And like it too much.  And grow broke because it can cost as much as $9,000.00 per tin.
https://store.houseofcaviarandfinef...?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&Size=35 oz (1000%20g)&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArfauBhApEiwAeoB7qDhBuKtp1VKmNsedEmxxW69_-E8HJzkZLD1866mCofZAt4W63d2t6RoC0-kQAvD_BwE

And even the “everyday” stuff is ungodly expensive. ($50.00 - $75.00 per ounce/per 28 grams).

If you ever get addicted, just sub Ikura (salmon roe).  No one is going to judge... well... they will.  But then you can just pull the "I'm Cultured, eating Japanese" card.  There's like 6 different types of roe with descending cost.  I actually prefer the smaller ones.

But if it's the act of eating rare things, then caviar holds no sub.

Much like caviar, “pigs ears” was a favorite of my dog.  It too was ungodly expensive.  After all each pig had but two ears to donate for the cause. 

I do recommend not giving your dog pigs ears.  They seem to like it too much and there is a risk that they will food-guard the ears.  An even easy going dog can be unmanageable if they guard food.

My German Shepherd dog would allow me to take any food or snack away from him, with the singular exception of pigs ears.  I solved that issue by never buying them again. 

I would have sworn that my dog would not guard food—any food, but the pigs ears proved me wrong.

Mr. Schmidt, a neighbor of mine when I was a child, was a Lufthansa pilot.  He was also one of the first people to import a Rottweiler to the USA.  He trained that dog to achieve every available training title (All the AKC titles—CD, CDX, UD, UDT; all the shutzhund titles—Sh1, Sh2, Sh3, and all the international police title—IPO1, IPO2, and IPO3).

He always walked his dog on a leash.  I asked him why he didn’t walk him off-leash.  After all he was really well-trained.

He said, “Packard, there is only one thing you ever know for sure about a dog.”

I asked, “What?

He replied, “That he is a dog.”

Every dog I ever had did at least one thing that I would have guaranteed that he would never do.  So the only thing you ever know for sure about a dog is he is a dog.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Yeti containers are insanely better than any other insulated or "double-wall (but with no vacuum)" container. It's crazy how long it can keep a drink so hot. I've had non-Yeti double-wall containers and they honestly don't compare so I'm certain there's no vacuum between the walls.

If you're wanting a basic coffee at Starbucks, get the Americano; it will at least be freshly brewed espresso with boiling water.

 

[Chainring]

I do enjoy my 20oz Yeti tumbler with the mag slider lid, especially since it's in the Festool~ish green. I admit, I did purchase it just for that color.

Now, if you want something that keeps coffee hot even better than the Yeti, look at Zojirushi. I can pour coffee straight from the pot and 4+ hours later it's still a mouth burner. It's almost too good.
https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B00GY0REZO

 

[guybo]

sounds  like sips happens at starbucks  [wink]

 

[Cheese]

My sister once suggested I apply to the DEA as a drug sniffer dog.

Would that even be allowed if you don't have a tail...which I assume you don't?

 

[PaulMarcel]

Now, if you want something that keeps coffee hot even better than the Yeti, look at Zojirushi. I can pour coffee straight from the pot and 4+ hours later it's still a mouth burner. It's almost too good.

Oh, very nice. A Japanese guy I worked with ages ago would bring tea in a Zojirushi and it would be steamy hot when he wanted it at lunch. Never thought to look for those. Thought admittedly the Amazon ones are too small: I use 20oz and 32oz Yetis

 

[woodferret]

Oh, very nice. A Japanese guy I worked with ages ago would bring tea in a Zojirushi and it would be steamy hot when he wanted it at lunch. Never thought to look for those. Thought admittedly the Amazon ones are too small: I use 20oz and 32oz Yetis

Ask and ye shall receive.  (20oz and 30oz Zojirushi listed)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=Zojirushi+mug&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

You should be able to order direct from Amazon JP (at least it ships to Canada)

 

[Packard]

Yeti containers are insanely better than any other insulated or "double-wall (but with no vacuum)" container. It's crazy how long it can keep a drink so hot. I've had non-Yeti double-wall containers and they honestly don't compare so I'm certain there's no vacuum between the walls.

If you're wanting a basic coffee at Starbucks, get the Americano; it will at least be freshly brewed espresso with boiling water.

The early versions lost their vacuum fairly quickly.  It was new tech, the soldered seal.  Less expensive to do than the welded seal.

Stanley mugs have come under fire for that seal (it contains lead) which is silly as the beverages never come in contact with the slip joint.

The way the vacuum is achieved is that the double wall construction is first made, but a small vent hole remains.  Then the mug is heated up, and while it is hot, the small vent hole is welded closed.  After cooling down the mug becomes a vacuum.  The weld is ground smooth and polished.

The Yeti uses a soldered fit between the top and bottom pieces. No grinding or polishing is required. 

Of all the vacuum mugs, the old glass thermoses have the highest level of vacuum.  The The glass is molded and sealed as part of the molding process and at temperatures above 1600 F.  The stainless mugs are heated to just a few hundred degrees.  So they never achieve that level of vacuum. 

Of course, once you shatter the glass, the vacuum disappears (and so does your beverage).

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Our house goes through 5# of coffee in about 18 days. I started roasting beans as a hobby but I'm taking a rest from it because in the cold weather if I roast in the house it smells it up even using a range hood and it doesn't really save you too much money. Maybe I should just roast small specialty beans because I like roasting but not 5# at a time (takes about 1-1/2 hours). I even bought instrumentation and use software to optimize the brewing process.

 

[Chainring]

Oh, very nice. A Japanese guy I worked with ages ago would bring tea in a Zojirushi and it would be steamy hot when he wanted it at lunch. Never thought to look for those. Thought admittedly the Amazon ones are too small: I use 20oz and 32oz Yetis

Ask and ye shall receive.  (20oz and 30oz Zojirushi listed)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=Zojirushi+mug&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

You should be able to order direct from Amazon JP (at least it ships to Canada)

Just be sure to get one with their "Slick Steel" interior, which is polished stainless. They have other options with a non-stick and while it does tend to be decent, it will wear.