Profits at Starbucks are UP and the CEO got a BIG raise last year.

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Beachnutt]

1. With a 6 day work week

working 8 hrs a day he made roughly $8,800.00 an hour.

[Bettie]

2. We bought a good espresso machine

so I can make my own fancy coffee. Turns out, it costs a lot less and is better.

And it doesn't take long.

And I love my fancy coffee.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. A Tip

In Italy, they DO NOT use a dark roasted bean. The coffee used to make espresso (cafe) there is a fine ground that is about the same color brown as the stuff in a Folger's can. (A bit darker, but not much.)
So, if you want a fancy coffee that is closer to what the Italians drink, don't use the overroasted espresso beans sold in most places here. Use a standard roast Arabic a bean.
If you want it like Cuban bucci, or Turkish kahve, the dark roast is more authentic.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

6. I use light roast or medium roast beans

For expresso. I like it better.

Dont like creamated charcoal shaped like coffee beans.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. That's Why The Italians Don't Use It

Given the high concentration of coffee solids, it's too bitter.
Bucci & kahve have to be consumed HOT! Get down to 120 and it coats the tongue with bitters.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

12. I will use a dark roast and see if its better.

I just dont like my coffee charcoaled. I want to be able to taste the beans.

Very dark roasts I really dont like the taste of it.Maybe with expresso its different.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Don't Misunderstand

The Italians do NOT use a hard roast for espresso!
Most espresso made here does. That's why the coffee is Italy is richer & less bitter.
If you like what you have now, don't go dark roast unless you just want to experiment.
I used dark roast back in 80s. After I started going to Italy for work (been there 40 something times now) I switched to medium roast. Makes better espresso & WAY better cappuccino or latte. (My wife prefers those. I like espresso.)
Finally, when steaming the milk, make sure the steam wand is quite close to the bottom until the milk gets hot.
Then for the last 10 seconds put the wand only about a half inch under the surface. By preheating & diluting the milk, the final foaming creates a richer, more stable foam for the top of the fancy coffee!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

15. Thanks for the foam tips

Im still working at getting the perfect foam.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Coffee Is Pretty Good

But, lots of places have good coffee.
I think their products are overpriced. Honestly, all coffee is ridiculously priced for what it costs to brew a cup. Starbucks is even more so

[I_UndergroundPanther]

7. I used to like starbucks because

They had chairs outside where my friends and extended friends could hang out without being harassed to buy something etc .
No drunks, no loud music to yell over. You could park your ass and draw there,read a book,joke around,play on your laptop..A bookstore nextdoor . It was a neutral socialization place. There were regulars,and new people soon became regulars it was a little community.

Then when starbux started closing stores they killed it and my town has become colder because of it.

There are too few spaces like this in this country.

I had some very good times there.

We need social places that are public ,safe and neutral spaces to hang out. This particular starbux had outdoor tables and indoor tables and chairs tables in the bookstore too which allowed you to bring your coffee and snacks over. It made it a great place to hang out all year.

Not a huge fan of thier coffee,but I loved being there.

[MichMan]

8. People hanging out for hours and sending little $$ ultimately isn't going to keep businesses going.

Too many people want to treat bookstores as libraries and then go home & order from Amazon. Or hangout at coffee shops for hours and buying very little. Eventually it is unsustainable to keep many places open and profitable.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

9. Another reason I hate capitalism

[kacekwl]

10. I agree that having a place to get a coffee chat with folks or goof off on your tablet

is great. On very few occasions my wife and I will visit Starbucks or any coffee shop just to get out of the house. We end up talking about stuff we don't usually get to at home. My experience is most people stay as long as it takes to finish their drink and don't hang around for hours. Sadly a lot of places are downsizing the inside/outside space with little if any seating witch is too bad cause interactions with people is so limited these days.

[Initech]

14. Trickle Down Economics 101: The CEO gets two whole pies, we get what's left of the crumbs.

And the CEO will also take a third and fourth pie when the profits are up.