Ryan J. Allen » Starbucks

Espresso-based Beverages

Ryan J. Allen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:55:53 +0000

The espresso wars have begun. I decided to try out the Tim Hortons latte and the McDonalds latte to compare them to Starbucks. Now, it’s true that I am a loyal Starbucks customer so it is possible there is some bias here, but I did approach each vendor with an open mind.

I’ll start with Tim Hortons. I had their latte one morning. It was sweetened even though I didn’t request it to be. It was also way too sweet. The coffee, unfortunately, had that Tim Hortons smell to it. I didn’t care for it, primarily because it was too sweet.

I decided to give Tim Hortons another shot a couple of days later. This time I was asked if I wanted it sweetened (no). I observed them “make” the beverage. It was done with a Nescafe Milano machine. I didn’t ask anything about the machine. The latte was better, but the coffee still smelled like Tim Hortons and I didn’t care for it.

McDonald’s: I went after lunch. I asked for a decaf latte. They couldn’t do it. So I got a full caf latte. It was not bad, but also not good. I have come to learn that they can make this with either skim or 2% milk. I did not get the impression that the staff knew much about coffee, but I can’t say that I’d call that a revelation.

In general I don’t think I would go back to either Tim Hortons or McDonalds for an espresso based drink. It may be acceptable if I were on a road trip and was in the mood for a latte. I certainly wouldn’t go to sit and meet someone for a coffee there.

Family Filled Weekend

Ryan J. Allen — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:06:53 +0000

I had a family-filled weekend.

Thursday night I made a shrimp pasta, and visited with Will until I almost fell asleep. Friday morning Will and I went to the gym, then Starbucks, then joined Alex, Mom, and Aunt Shelley for lunch at the Golden Rooster. Then a drive with Nana, Shelley, and mom to Toronto.

The four of us stayed with Uncle Steve and Aunt Cynthia Friday night. Mom and I went for a 10 km run on Saturday morning, and Shelley joined us for the first couple of kilometres. We started our drive to Hamilton, picking up Erin on the way, got stuck in traffic, but still made the main event: Robin Hood the musical, starring an incredible cast that included our cousin Michael. The play was excellent; they had a real bunch of talent there.

After the play the group of us headed to the Limeridge Mall, then headed back to Toronto to the Westin Harbour Castle. We had a regular little party going on there, with 7 of us staying across 3 rooms. We all headed to dinner for 12 at Baton Rouge, walking there and back in the beautiful outdoors. Walking by the CN Tower I got the idea of bringing Will back for the CN Tower climb in October.

Back at the hotel some of us went for a swim, and Nana came down to check out the pool and patio. Afterwards we had a romp of a time up in the hotel room, fitting 10 of us together for some beverages and potato chips. After all of that driving and family time I had no problems falling asleep.

Early in the morning I woke up and mom and I went to meet Erin and Stephanie for an 8:30 am run. We did a nice 6 km run around and through the Mount Pleasant cemetery. After the run we headed back to the hotel to prepare for the day (including a stop at Starbucks, plus Starbucks brewed in the hotel room), then checked-out and walked to Fran’s for brunch. Uncle Paul and picked Michael up from his apartment in Oakville and Mr. Keeves also joined us for brunch. I had Fran’s Big Breakfast.

On our way home we all stopped at Steve and Cynthia’s again for a little pool party. Andrea and Wylie joined, with Braydon and Alyson, not to mention Erin, Stephanie, and Mark. It was a nice little visit. It felt weird to leave as early as we did, but we all had to return to Kingston. After dropping Nana and Shelley off, we picked up Will and he joined mom and I for dinner. We made shrimp pasta again, because Will missed out on dinner Thursday night. After this a sleep and then back to Ottawa in the morning for me.

A fun, family-filled weekend. (And I’m in Kingston tonight for a belated Father’s Day dinner, which was excellent spaghetti.)

Starbucks, PlayBook, Flickr, YouTube, White Mocha

Ryan J. Allen — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:21:48 +0000

This morning after church Adam, Kyla, and I went to Starbucks to enjoy a beverage and company. It was a nice day so we sat on the patio. I was showing Adam and Kyla some photos from Will and I’s east coast trip on a PlayBook when, simultaneously, two things happened: 1. Adam saw a photo of Will playing at an open mic night and asked about this; and, 2. a nearby patron noticed that we were sharing memories around a PlayBook. In response to (1), I multi-tasked over to the YouTube app to search for the short clip of Will performing in Charlottetown. This also served to showcase the PlayBook for the crowd of people that had grown in response to (2).

It was weird and hilarious.

It’s also worth mentioning that I had an Iced Grande two-pump white mocha light-ice latte. It was amazing.

Starbucks

Ryan J. Allen — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:03:22 +0000

Here are some bits about Starbucks.

Starbucks has a “Tea Time” promotion going on in Canada this week. From January 7 through to the 19th, from 2-5 pm Starbucks is selling tea lattes for half price. I had an EGTL on Friday afternoon. It was okay. I don’t care for the tea lattes as much as the espresso drinks. I suppose I’m not as much of a tea person. I’m trying to enjoy tea more.

Last week Starbucks announced their new logo. It has been very interesting to read the reactions from people. People can be very passionate about brands they identify with. I think the new logo is just fine; it really brings out the Siren (obviously) which is something that I associate with Starbucks but not as closely as it seems the company wants me to.

And finally, this weekend I was at Starbucks three times. Here’s what I got:
1. Saturday morning, after squash: grande 2-pump no-whip extra-hot white chocolate mocha;
2. Saturday afternoon, after (late) lunch: decaf tall 1-pump SFV non-fat caramel macchiato;
3. Sunday afternoon, after church: decaf short 1-pump caramel latte.

Ryan Allen Endorses: Starbucks Corporation

Ryan J. Allen — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 19:26:55 +0000

When I was with Katy in London I would point out the Starbucks that was visible from every entrance to the Tube. When Evan, Matt, Kevin, and I are in Prague we would “Czech In” every morning to Starbucks in Wenceslas Square. Last winter Adam, Eric, and I would enjoy the occasional 7 a.m. Starbucks trip before work. I visited Jill many times at Starbucks, even sharing her excitement in having some of her photos on display there. A photo of Tiffany is on display in the very Starbucks that she so happily works at. Muis, Foran, Gilles, Misha, Gervais, Joel, and I will relieve our minds from the grip of work with the occasional trip to the Starbucks a mere 300 metres walk from the office. My first apartment was right over a Starbucks in Kingston.

Without argument, Starbucks has played a supporting role in my life. It is a place of warmth–literally and figuratively–warmed by coffee, friends, and love. The experience is nearly perfected, and is consistent across cities, countries, and continents. In those areas where Starbucks can improve they welcome ideas from customers and staff from around the world via mystarbucksidea.com.

The moment you walk into a Starbucks the contemporary music fills the air mixed with various conversations and the occasional sound of spray from the milk steamer. The cashiers are consistently welcoming and happy to take your order. Even when your drink has four modifiers the cashiers or expediters are happy to record and call-out your order.

This is the first step to your own hand-crafted beverage, made just the way you want. Behind the bar the magic happens as the barista mixes tea, syrup, espresso, milk, and/or spices to make exactly what you are waiting for. As the time passes you can find a seat, chat with a friend or fellow customer, or catch up on emails via your BlackBerry.

Is there a better moment then the one when the barista calls your drink to announce that it is ready at the bar? In the summer the cool feeling of a frappuccino or iced latte is refreshing; and in the winter, the warmth from a latte is overwhelmingly appreciated. A visit to the condiment station to dress up your drink a little more, or just cap it with a travel lid is the last step before you partake in the exact thing that you crave.

If you are enjoying your beverage “for here” the Starbucks experience continues, with comfortable seating and intimate table settings. You can sit alone and read the daily news, or sit comfortable as a group from 2 to 10. This is universally true, whether you’re in Ottawa, Kingston, Vancouver, Frankfurt, London, Karlsruhe, Munich, Prague, Madrid, or Zurich. Anywhere in the world you are welcome, and feel welcome.

The wonder of Starbucks doesn’t stop at the experience–just ask anyone who works there. Starbucks provides benefits to more of their employees, as well as higher wages when compared to others in the food service industry. The Corporation encourages employees to contribute to the long-term success of the company, and offers a stock purchasing program to provide extra incentive. I have heard people describe working at Starbucks as working with friends, even if you have gone into a store knowing nobody on staff.

And perhaps it is that work atmosphere that creates the welcoming atmosphere for customers. I have no doubt that every little thing contributes to the Starbucks experience which leads me to endorse Starbucks Corporation in its entirety.

Breakfast Blend

Ryan J. Allen — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:01:36 +0000

I’ve traded one bad habit for another.

I love Starbucks. I love the coffee, the consistency, the social-ness. I love a hand-crafted beverage, made to order, just for me. The company takes care of the employees, so you see the same ones. Even if I don’t know their names, I know the faces. I can go to a Starbucks in Kingston and still see a face or two I recognize.

The one downside to Starbucks is that it can be a bit expensive. It has positioned itself in the “affordable luxury” market which means that most people have to give up something to visit regularly. In my case, I would spend the same amount I pay for my motorcycle insurance each month just to visit Starbucks as often as I did. Now that I have a mortgage to pay, and a car payment, I can’t keep this up.

So I have been trying to curb my visits to Starbucks and I have done this by replacing trips with visits to the work coffee machine. I have never been one who needs coffee in the morning to get going, but I’m afraid I’m developing the habit. Sure, now it’s just coffee for the sake of getting up from my desk and drinking something, but tomorrow it may be more.

I usually have a Breakfast Blend coffee in the morning. If I go for a second coffee at lunch I’ll go for a Columbian. If I go for another coffee in the afternoon it’ll be decaf Columbian. I also find that I really enjoy a nice sweet, like chocolate covered almonds, with my coffee.

Cheaper, yes. Better? I don’t know.

Starbucks recalls glass water bottles

Ryan J. Allen — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:33:07 +0000

Dear Customer:

In exchange for our product not lacerating your hands please accept a complimentary beverage of any size.

Starbucks Corp.