Starbucks is too slow at slowing the pace
Each time I walk into the local Starbucks I feel like I'm at a glorified McDonald's. The atmosphere is blah, the selection is standard and the service is lightning fast. The baristas at Starbucks multi-task and are working on 3 or 4 drinks at one time. Conversely, each time I visit Mocha Moment the atmosphere is warming and creative, the selection is alway fresh and the service is great. It takes a few minutes longer for my latte but the flavor is so much better than Starbucks and I actually get to know my barista.
Starbucks recently announced they are going to be more efficient…by slowing the process down. Amid customer complains that Starbucks has lost the art of coffee making, corporate is telling stores to slow down and stop making multiple drinks at the same time. They are to focus on the task at hand, not multi-task.
Starbucks baristas are up in arms. I suppose if I were on the front lines I would too. Will the Janesville Starbucks crowd wait an extra 30 seconds for their drink? I don't think the normal Janesville customer will mind. Will the Starbucks customers waiting in line in Chicago or New York wait an extra 30 seconds? That's why Starbucks employees are up in arms.
The coffee giant set out to rule the coffee world…and succeeded. Now, they are too big. Honestly, I don't expect a great cup of coffee or specialty drink at Starbucks. I never have. For the price I rarely visit. On the flip side, I don't expect a great cup of coffee or specialty drink at Mocha Moments either. I don't expect it but I'm assured of it each time because they take their time and get to know their customer base. I doubt the family business does time studies on multi-tasking coffee orders. The do what they do best -- service the customer.
Best of all, I know the fair price they charge will stay in our community and they continue to donate a portion of their earnings to local charities. Will I wait 30 seconds for that? Shoot, I'll wait 5 minutes.
Sorry Starbucks. You may be the biggest but you're far from the best. Even with your time studies and your strong stock price the local coffee shops have maintained a nice, quiet niche. A niche that might get a bit larger once impatient Starbucks customers walk out and give another place a shot.
Steve Knox was born, raised and landed back in Janesville. He encourages you to participate as he writes on Janesville and beyond as this Generation X guy supports his Janesville mission, global vision. Steve is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Oct 14, 2010 at 2:24 p.m.
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Steve,
You can always hope that a Peet's coffee opens in Janesville.
Oct 14, 2010 at 1:49 p.m.
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I guess that depends on where you're from. For those of us who have lived in Seattle, Starbucks is a local business. They are just a business that grew, which is every business owners hope. I do think they appeal more to a big city though. Janesville seems more like the slow paced local coffee shop kinda town. To each his own though. I must add every morning there are 7+ cars in the drive-thru line shortly after 7am. They must be doing something right.
Oct 14, 2010 at 1:23 p.m.
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good post rock_co.
never have, never will step foot in a starbux.
Oct 14, 2010 at 12:25 p.m.
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Support your locally owned businesses. As a buiness owner, I'm in the process of being pushed out of business by the big chains with the big dollars. It funny when customers who shop the big chains come ask for donations from us to support their charities, when they won't shop with us. Or better yet, when we hire their kids, but they STILL shop the chains stores. Their kids will be out of work soon. Try a local restaraunt, shop a local shop, go to your hometown lumberyard....keep the money in your community.
Oct 14, 2010 at 9:52 a.m.
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How about simply go to the coffee house of your choice and not criticize the others? No one makes any of us do business with a particular coffee house against our will!
Remember, all of them employ local people in a dismal employment environment, so how about let folks just make their own choices?
Oct 14, 2010 at 12:27 a.m.
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Java Joys is better than Mocha Moments. Mocha Moments was my absolute favorite, until I tried Java Joys. Both are far better than Starbucks.
Oct 13, 2010 at 10:40 p.m.
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I not a coffee or grammar snob, but it is "espresso" not "expresso" :)
Oct 13, 2010 at 10:36 p.m.
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Star Bucks doesn't even have the pitcher in the refrigerator. They use a powdered mix for the frappuccinos. I can sit in Mocha Moment for a while and read or use free WIFI and get TWO real caramel frappuccinos for the price of Star Bucks' one fake one. Including the tip. Mocha Moment MAKES the caramel in my frapp. They pull REAL shots of espresso for my frapp. They throw in some ice.. that's it. WAY less calories than S.B. as well. The whipped cream that goes on my Mocha Moment frap is ALSO MADE AT Mocha Moment. Not from a can. Mouse.. why are there greasy cooking fumes at your grocery store?? What store is that??
Oct 13, 2010 at 8:41 p.m.
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Steve,
I've seen none that can compare to Mocha Moment! Starbucks isn't as bad as those other coffee shops around town that keep their pre-made expresso (if that is what it really is...looks more like cold watered down coffee) in a pitcher in the refrigerator.
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