Comment by ljsocal
1 day ago
Interesting analysis. If you’re into efficient operations, consider making coffee at home/office and either make your own banana bread (easy and far tastier!) or skip it!
1 day ago
Interesting analysis. If you’re into efficient operations, consider making coffee at home/office and either make your own banana bread (easy and far tastier!) or skip it!
and if you're out and about, go to a local coffee shop - hell, even a local chain (even if you're in seattle -- ESPECIALLY if you're in seattle).
I've never understood what is so special about Starbucks. Visited once, the one near the Canary Wharf underground station. I saw it as pretty much an ordinary cafeteria.
Maybe it is the baristas. I sent my girlfriend to order - I usually do - because I avoid interacting with people trying to sell me anything for the same reason I use adblock while surfing and don't own a TV set. If buying coffee is anything like described in this conversation the experience would probably have been a lot more negative. Seeing someone acting as a friend for tips.
On a same trip we ate in KFC - my first and last time. I was like woah - who on earth would actually choose to eat this crap given about any choice... Compared to that the Starbucks coffee was ok, maybe a little bland.
Of course we didn't order any pint sized sugary things Americans seem to prefer because we enjoy being skinny and looking good.
> ESPECIALLY if you're in seattle
Especially especially if you're at Pike Place. It's not even the real original Starbucks location!
heh. i don't think anyone trying to do anything "efficiently" is anywhere near the market.
Starbucks is MUCH more efficient than any local place. I usually prefer going to (some of) the local places for many reasons, but efficiency isn't one of them.
I find fascinating how the efficiency of local coffee shops differs based on country. If you go to a place with good/excellent coffee in e.g. the US or Sweden they typically have the latest and fanciest equipment, and the coffee making seems like a ritual taking forever. In contrast go to a cafe in Italy or Sydney or Melbourne and the baristas pump out coffees and a ridiculous speed all often at a quality better than those artisanal places elsewhere. I think it's mainly a function of the number and type (i.e. demanding a good coffee not Starbucks slop) of customers you serve. It really does not require ridiculous warehouse style efficiency optimisations.
Incidentally in countries like Australia or Italy Starbucks has not made significant inroads apart from some tourist areas.
well, for maximum caffeine efficiency, you have to do things that are not considered socially acceptable in public places. or at least just go to a gas station and buy a 5-hour energy. or trucker speed.