Gawker: valleywag, coffee

Downtown San Francisco no longer capable of supporting three Starbucks per intersection

Melissa Gira Grant — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:20:00 EDT

Next year's Macworld may be the last chance to make a shamefaced Starbucks run to the mall-kiosk latte dispenser in the Metreon. Why did the Seattle coffee monoculturist give six months' notice of that coffee-bar's closure, and 599 others? Why, to retrain loyalists on other locations within footsteps. We already know that you drink only at establishments where the coffee pickers are unionized, graduate-degreed, and constantly hugged. And so do we. But here's our map of the remaining South of Market Starbucks — and all the Blue Bottle locations — anyway. Only to show to your sleep-addled board members when they visit for a meeting.

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(Photo by Davity Dave)

Starbucks quarterly results spill scalds analysts's laps

Jackson West — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz dampened analyst expectations for the company's performance ahead of its April 30 quarterly earnings anouncement, sending shares tumbling 10.4 percent in after-hours trading. "The current economic environment is the weakest in our company's history," he said to explain why the company is facing the first quarterly profit decline in eight years. The retailer has long traded on being a relatively affordable yuppie status symbol, serving up a dose of psychological salve for four dollars a cup to an American middle class in decline. But it looks like Schultz's stunt to bloster the elite cachet of a brand now as ubiquitously plebeian as your local McDonald's might not be enough to fuel continued growth. (Photo by Peter Kaminski)

What's new at Starbucks: 3 changes

Paul Boutin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:36:02 EST

I'm a reporter, dammit, so after reading about today's all-hands training sessions at all Starbucks stores I walked over to the store at 333 Market in San Francisco's Financial District and asked my barista to explain, step by step, exactly what's new.

1. Richer espresso mix. Starbucks espresso machines have been recalibrated to mix a stronger dose. It's not as powerful as Peet's, but it's more in that direction. My daily triple-shot tastes a lot thicker.
2. Shot glasses. Instead of pouring directly into your cup, all shots are now dispensed into clear glass shot glasses. The barista must visually approve the shot before pouring it into a cup. This not only checks the mix, it prevents stale, crema-free shots from being served after lying around too long.
3. Smaller steamer pitchers. No more giant tub-o-foam, but rather smaller batches of steamed milk and foam more tailored and fresh to each order.

Could I taste the difference? Instantly. (Photo by AP/Ted S. Warren)

Finally, some real coffee in downtown SF

Mary Jane Irwin — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:00:15 EST

The best coffee in the city now has seating. Blue Bottle Coffee, a staple of the Embarcadero Farmer's Market and jaunts through Hayes Valley has finally opened a real coffee shop on a SoMa side street near the Moscone Convention Center. Go drink drip coffee (or sample some java from its $20,000 siphon bar) and be happy.

McDonald's outs Starbucks as fast food chain

Mary Jane Irwin — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:45:03 EST

It would take a lot to pull San Francisco's bloggers out of their default Starbucks habitats, but with a new, cheap line of espresso drinks and its free Wi-Fi, McDonald's may well yet lure poor newsfeed slaves to its golden arches. While the constant aroma of fried food may not be the most appealing work environment, neither is the modern-day Starbucks.

When is the last time an outpost of the latte empire captured Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz's vision of "a 'third place' where people gather between home and work and feel some of the romance of the European cafe." In fact, the ease with which McDonald's has entered the gourmet-coffee arena proves that Schultz's "third place" is little more than a fast-food joint. Unfortunately for the ubiquitous coffee joint, Mickey D's has been in the fast-food game much, much longer.

Meth coffee

bschiff — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:59:41 EST

It may be a bad idea to code on heroin, but caffeine gets a four star review from one programmer. If that's the case, Meth Coffee may be just what the coder ordered. The San Francisco-based company promises its coffee will brighten "house chores and cut boredom like a goddamn razor." It's quite a promise considering it's just a plain bag of coffee with a little guarana thrown in there, but the name alone should sell the stimulant to sleepy programmers.