Starbucks - Seattle, WA Review

The conversation always goes something like this, "...let's meet at the Starbucks off so and so around 9:00".  You meet, have coffee, or tea, or saddle up to their wi-fi, pay the price, and go merrily upon your way.  The convenience is almost part of the lifestyle at this point.  It's the same worldwide, and it works very, very well.  For friends, for business, for communication, it's just become the way things are. 

Let me say, I have no problem with the atmosphere, or the music sales, or the uber calorie laden pastries,, but I do have a problem with coffee I consider to be below average, and the close to extortion prices for wi-fi.   Why go there you ask...if other facilities offer better coffee with more choices, in many cases better atmosphere, and free wi-fi?  Because of name recognition, the comfort level of legions of coffeeholics with the branding, and others familiarity of location.  Not just in my neck of the woods, but all over the world. 

Starbucks has sold the branding, become part of Americana and our way of life, and my hat is off to them.............BUT........with of the monopoly of owning the crown of caffeinedom, the responsibility of quality should come with the crown. 

I think the coffee tastes burnt.  Not just my opinion, I have heard the comment come to me from over a table at a Starbucks many times.  That smell, that burnt coffee smell, it must smell like victory to them in the morning.  It's burnt, it's bitter, and learn what a proper cappuccino is supposed to taste like for Gawd's sake!!!!!

Charging exorbitantly high prices for wi-fi at a place known for it's ease and connectivity is almost a crime.  Charge a reasonable price no problem, coming up with the maximum amount that human decency will allow.....well, it's just one of the reasons that Starbucks is currently in decline. 

Starbucks executives in Seattle, here's some tips that will probably help you keep up your goal of world domination:

1.)  Don't roast your coffee beans till they look like Mesquite.

2.)  Don't make people take out a line of credit to use your wi-fi.

3.)  Make a pastry to go with your coffee that is less than 1000 calories.

You'll still have me as a customer in any event for all the reasons mentioned above, but it would still be nice to feel good about it.