SBUX provides free Wi-Fi

To be sure, offering free wi-fi is pretty cool. But damn, is it really THAT newsworthy? Seems like all the SBUX PR folks have to do is burp out a press release and it gets picked up everywhere.

Alfred Peet, 1920-2007

Alfred Peet, coffee revolutionary, passed away at his home in Ashland, Oregon yesterday.

When Alfred Peet opened his shop in Berkeley in April, 1966 he started a coffee revolution. Nobody had ever seen top-quality coffee like this roasted in this unique style in America. The corner of Walnut and Vine quickly became a gathering place for UC Berkeley grads, undergrads, and faculty as well as local intellectuals, radicals, writers, musicians, artisans and any number of the colorful people who still make up Berkeley today.

Thank you, Mr. Peet, for helping me understand just how amazing a cup of coffee can be.

Attention, Kwik-E-Mart Shoppers

From a blogger's perspective, I'm kicking myself for not writing about this earlier, because I found out about this marketing/advertising tactic for The Simpsons movie a week or so before news broke. Oh well. Redemption comes in the form of color digital photos, so here they go. Keep in mind that the Kwik-E-Mart, by nature, is a small store, so if you've done some Googling about this subject already, you're not going to see anything new here. But, indulge me, why don't you:

As you go north on Shoreline Blvd., you can see the exterior of the
Kwik-E-Mart from the street. Yes, I got excited.

Apu --- or, I should say, a life-size cutout of Apu --- greets you as you walk in the door. Please believe I took a picture of me and Apu, but I'm not posting that here! Instead, look at these empty shelves where the Buzz cola and Krusty O's are supposed to be; an indicator of how crazy the buzz has been about these stores (a fresh supply arrives tomorrow, y'all):

The sign apologizing for the lack of merchandise reads, "Please forgive!"

Heh heh. Comic Book Guy's posted up near the men's magazines.

This is why I love fans of The Simpsons: As I was standing in front of the donut case taking photos (and trying to resist the urge of eating them), this guy behind me sniffed and said, "It's not even the right shade of pink." Heh heh. Nerd.

I would have taken more pictures, had I not felt like a complete tool taking pictures inside a 7-Eleven. It was bad enough that I posed for a picture with the Apu cutout. Although, the fact that there were about eight other people doing the same thing made it slightly less painful. But still. I own my nerdiness, but it's not always easy being me, people.

From a professional perspective, whoever came up with this idea should get a fat raise. As you walk through the store, looking for all the Simpsons tie-ins, you can't help but marvel at the attention to detail: Even the screen at the register says "Welcome to the Kwik-E-Mart." I hope this campaign generates the kind of buzz they're looking for, because this is a pretty brilliant idea. My only criticism is that they should have had at least one more in northern California. Like, say, the one down the street from me.

If any of you check it out tomorrow, get me a box of Krusty O's, wouldja?


Oh, and the folks at work should get a kick out of this:



Oh, by the way, there's a blog about the Kwik-E-Marts. My hunch it was started by the folks behind this entire marketing/advertising scheme.

Happiness is a warm gun ... and free espresso for life, possibly?

Paul McCartney just left Capitol Records to sign with SBUX's record label:

Financial and contractual details for the Hear Music deal weren't discussed by Starbucks, beyond the fact that Mr. McCartney's album will be the first released on the label created by Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Records. But the partnership officially marks the end of Mr. McCartney's four-plus-decades relationship with Capitol, a Concord Records spokesman said. Representatives for Mr. McCartney wouldn't comment.

Beatle butterflies
"How could a coffee company sign a Beatle?" asked an awed Mr. Schultz at the meeting, where he admitted to having butterflies in his stomach before meeting Mr. McCartney for the first time two weeks ago in New York. "I was nervous," he told the artist, who appeared at the Seattle event via live video feed from London.

I understand that SBUX CEO Shultz wants to challenge the status quo about what people think a coffee company should be, but seriously. I mean, they're already in the specialty coffee/ready-to-drink/liqueur markets, which okay, fine, I can see the connection. But movies and record labels?

Can you say brand dilution?

But I guess if Richard Branson can do it, SBUX can too.

And as far as Paul McCartney goes? He's gotta pay for that divorce somehow, I guess.


(Photo credit: Humphrey Nemar)

2007 WRBC

What's WRBC, you ask?

Why, it's the Western Regional Barista Competition, as a matter of fact. And that's how I spent this afternoon, watching the final round in which six top baristas from California competed for the title.

Where's Mags?

Each finalist had to make four cappuccinos, four espresso shots, and four of what was called the baristas' "signature" drinks, which could contain anything except alcohol.

Those of you who know me know that I'm at once a Food Network junkie and a geek (Exhibit A: My excitement over this film), so I really got into this competition. While the signature drinks allowed the competitors to showcase their creativity, I found myself mesmerized more by each barista's technique, including the way they grind, dose, and tamp their shots. It's amazing to see the different personal styles they used to simultaneously level out the grounds while cleaning off the edges of the portafilters, for example. And I noticed that while some baristas did a straight up-and-down tamp, others added a twist and an upside-down flip before setting the portafilter back in the group. Fucking badass.

I know. I'm not well.

Anyway, it was enough to make me long to return to my barista days.

And then I got over it. I'm a much better spectator than a barista.

I was rooting for Chris Baca from San Francisco's own Ritual Coffee Roasters. The man made me the perfect cappuccino when I visited their coffee shop on Valencia a few months ago. His description of the espresso he used (I hate when I don't take notes) was perfect. He said it was like "being hit over the head with a lime popsicle and falling back onto a pile of jasmine flower petals."

And coffee geeks like us laughed because it was funny, of course, but also because we knew exactly what he was talking about.

Plus, he looks like MCA from the Beastie Boys, which is always---ALWAYS---a plus in my book.



The signature drink segment provided an interesting departure from your traditional beverages. While they were all intriguing, the one that made me wish I was a judge was Eton Tsuno's "Umami," which included miso paste, kumquat curd and caramel (?---did I mention how I hate that I didn't take notes?) mixed with espresso and milk. Crystal Yeaw's is my second choice, only because she incorporated dulce de leche, which is like, the ultimate in super sweet, creamy goodness from Heaven.

All in all, it was a great experience for me as a spectator. It's great to see so many people who take such great pride in their work, and it's wonderful to be able to give them an opportunity to showcase their technique and skills and be recognized for it.



Props to the Top Three:
1st place: Heather Perry, Coffee Klatch, San Dimas, CA
2nd place: Kyle Glanville, Intelligentsia, Los Angeles, CA
3rd place: Chris Baca, Ritual Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, CA

(Photo credit: WRBC)

Sexpresso

It's hard enough keeping our sisters off the pole, but now, this?

In Tukwila, Wash., the baristas at Cowgirls Espresso offer a bit of T&A with your morning latte. And it's not only Cowgirls Espresso, either. In an ever-growing caffeinated marketplace, Washington cafes struggle to differentiate themselves by resorting to the prurient interests of their customer base.

Check out this snippet from Penthouse Forum The Seattle Times:

In a short, sheer, baby-doll negligee and coordinated pink panties, Candice Law is dressed to work at a drive-through espresso stand in Tukwila, and she is working it.

Customers pull their trucks up to the window, where Law greets each with an affectionate nickname, blows kisses, and vamps about as she steams milk for a mocha. "You want whipped cream?" she asks, a sly smile playing on her pierced lip.

The next customer rolls up, and Law throws a long leg onto the window sill, like an indie-rock ballerina at the barre.

"Do you like my leg warmers?" she asks. "Aren't they hot?"

Hot is not the half of it. To stand apart from the hordes of drive-through espresso stands that clutter the Northwest's roadsides, commuter coffee stops such as Tukwila's Cowgirls Espresso are adding bodacious baristas, flirty service and ever more-revealing outfits to the menu.

At Port Orchard's Natté Latté, baristas sport hot-pink hot pants and tight white tank tops. Day-of-the-week theme outfits ranging from racy lingerie to "fetish" ensembles are the dress code at Moka Girls Espresso in Auburn and at several Cowgirls Espresso stands in the area. Bikini tops are the special at Café Lorraine on Highway 9 in Woodinville, and the women of The Sweet Spot in Shoreline pose provocatively in Playmate-style profiles on the stand's Web site.

"In this area, we all know how to make good coffee," said Barbara Record, who opened Bikini Espresso in Renton last month. The trick is to set your business apart, she said, and sex is one sure-fire way to do that.

"It's just, how far do you want to go?" she said.

Barista Candice Law at Cowgirls Espresso in Tukwila says she makes more in tips than she ever did as a waitress at Hooters. (OF COURSE you do! ---me)

I'm no prude, and I'm all for women owning their sexuality, but I can't help but think that this whole thing is just about objectifying women via caffeination. There are so many issues running amok here; the patriarchy (these cafe owners are mostly men), market-supported lecherousness ("there will be no "thong Thursday," as some customers have requested") and homophobia ("If I'm going to pay $4 for a cup of coffee" said one male customer, "I'm not going to get served by a guy") that this whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I mean, why not just consolidate your efforts and serve espresso at the freakin' strip club?

UPDATE 1/30/07: I was hoping Twisty would offer up commentary on this, and she did. Go read.

UPDATE 2/5/07: Just a thought: As a former barista, I just hope these gals wear aprons. OSHA. Just sayin'.

Oh, and P.S., I didn't think I'd get as many blog hits for this post as I've been getting lately. (Big up to Cowgirls Espresso Barista Candice Law for linking to me on her MySpace page, among other folks on the Internets.) Just to clarify my position on this, I don't look down upon the baristas working at these kinds of coffee shops, for it's their choice to do so. I just disagree in general with the premise of using sex to sell a cup of coffee. I've dealt with many a silly customer during many opening shifts past; it was bad enough being stuck at a job that pays a little better than minimum wage; the last thing I want is some horndog early riser schmuck leering at my jubbiles while I make him a cappuccino. Or a nonfat, decaf mocha with no whipped cream. You know what I'm saying.

And I won't hesitate to give a shout out to those baristas that take a certain sense of pride in pulling the perfect shot or steaming their milk to just the right consistency.

And maybe the girls at these places take the same pride in their work. But do their customers appreciate that? Or do they appreciate ... something else?

But maybe I'm comparing apples and oranges here.



Props to Jacob at Smelling the Coffee for the link.

(Photo credit: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times)

Three guesses as to why this is a cool pic

Ron Dellums' inauguration as Oakland's 48th mayor begins Monday at 11 a.m., with his public swearing-in at the Paramount Theatre. Chronicle file photo, 2006, by Liz Mangelsdorf

The inaugural festivities will include your requisite black-tie gala, rhyming young poets, a gay/lesbian dance, and Oakland's version of Hands Across America, except it'll be around Lake Merritt. There's also going to be a Hyphy-Soul Showcase.

No, I'm not kidding.

With 148 homicides in 2006, Dellums has a lot of work to do to show that Oakland is more than that, that it's a diamond in the rough, and that the entire Bay Area --- nay, the nation --- recognizes that Oakland is a city that has a lot of potential for greatness.

I truly believe that.

That's a lot of Frappuccinos.

2,400 in fiscal '07.

Seriously, I don't know how they continue to successfully operationalize this. I want in on their secret.

Because I care.

Eat your walnuts.

Wake up and smell the coffee, Wal-Mart

So Wal-Mart is considering bringing in Fair Trade coffee into its stores. Can you feel the irony?

The Organic Consumers Association posted a notice on the Web about the fair-trade and organic coffee at Sam's Club that urged shoppers to patronize independent cafes and roasters instead. Ronnie Cummins, the group's national director, said the most common complaints about Wal-Mart -- that it runs out small businesses and lowers prices and wages to unsustainable levels -- do not disappear just because the merchandise changes.

Marketing consultant Simon Sinek, who teaches at Columbia University, said labels such as "organic" and "fair trade" may work against Wal-Mart because they are losing resonance with shoppers. "Wal-Mart is the absolute pinnacle of mass market appeal," Sinek said. "If Wal-Mart is selling it, then it's not a big deal."

Here’s an idea: How about paying your employees a living wage and a better health care plan so that they don’t have to rely on government programs to supplement the little you already provide them?

The Starbucks Effect?

If it’s not love, then it’s Starbucks that will bring us together (sorry, Morrissey). At least that’s what Bryant Simon and Jonathan Morris, British historians, seems to think.

According to Morris, coffee culture unites us while enabling us to continue to self-isolate:

Starbucks and other coffee houses, he believes, fill "some kind of deep desire for connection with other people."

But unlike the coffee houses of 18th century London or the bohemian java dens of 1950s New York, "Starbucks makes sure you can be alone when you're out if you really need to be," he said. "You get the feeling you're out in public, but you don't need to talk to anyone."

Simon’s conducting a study of the globalization of 21st-century coffee culture, and has visited more than 300 SBUX locations throughout the world. Through his observations, he believes that SBUX provides a glimpse into “what it means to live and consume in the age of globalization.”

Can it be that the popularity of SBUX transcends the quality of the coffee that they sell?

Simon believes Starbucks succeeds by "selling comfort" in an anonymous, often dislocating world. He says he has lost track of the number of times people have told him that when they traveled to a strange country, "the first thing I did when I got off the plane was go to Starbucks."

"There's a deep sense of unpredictability in the modern world, and what Starbucks provides a lot of people is predictability," he said.

And with predictability comes more marketability, and with more marketability comes the inevitable entry into pop culture.

Starbucks's chairman, Howard Schultz, told shareholders at their annual meeting Feb. 8 that the company is focusing on "the Starbucks effect" — that is, putting a bigger emphasis on music sales, movie marketing and other non-coffee products.

From a corporate perspective, does the “academia effect” mean that you’ve “arrived” as a company?

In terms of their study, I think it’d be better if these historians looked at café culture as a whole, rather than focus on one brand. But then again, I can see that they probably want to limit to one brand, precisely because it is so pervasive.

And what does this say about our society as a whole if one of the places by which we derive a sense of community from is a huge coffee chain? And what does it say about our society that this one brand has become so inextricably a part of our lives? (Well, for some of us, anyway.) This brand is even the subject of an upcoming movie starring Tom Hanks, for Jah's sake.

It’s certainly easier to focus on SBUX because they’re everywhere – but how about focusing on selling a quality product rather than getting a larger share of my wallet?

BlaKsploitation

For those of you who aren't in the know, Coke came out with a new "carbonated fusion beverage," called Coca Cola BlaK.

I have a bottle of it sitting on my desk, and I'm afraid to taste it. How can this taste good?

Think Coke plus coffee flavor, that froths when you pour it. I'm sure it does NOT equal "crazy delicious."

The website cracks me up with its two music tracks: One jazzed-out smooth, and one pseudo drum-n-bass.

The better to inspire your mind and refresh your mood, yo.

Coffee perks

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I could take one for the team and start up again:

Now a cup of coffee could also hold the key to boosting a woman's sex drive, a study suggests.

Scientists say caffeine lifts the female libido by stimulating parts of the brain that govern arousal.

Not that I'm saying I need any help in this arena or anything, but I'm always up for trying the latest afro-dizzyack.

I wanna rock and roll all night, and drink coffee every day!

KISS fans rejoice!

The aging rock band is set to open the KISS Coffeehouse this spring in Myrtle Beach.

Don't expect the same old laid-back coffee place.

Envision servers donning the trademark KISS face paint for special occasions and KISS classics blaring as a machine whips up the trademark KISS Frozen Rockuccino or a French KISS Vanilla.

"This concept is a little different," said Brian Galvin, a KISS fan for 31 years who developed the coffeehouse idea. "It's a stimulating environment to drink a stimulating beverage."

I wonder if applicants will be screened for tongue length and ability to spit blood. [Right? Gene Simmons used to do that, right?]

Oh geez:

Myrtle Beach offers the perfect stage for a KISS Coffeehouse, Galvin said, because of its appeal to the "Middle America" market, the segment likely to "Rock and Roll All Nite."

Yeah, this'll last.

Props to Ted for the link.

Scalito Blend

Supreme Court Justice Nominee Samuel “Scalito Lite” Alito has a coffee blend named after him at some 125-year-old roastery in The Jerz.

[T.M. Ward Coffee Co.] sells a popular coffee called Alito Bold Justice, made and named for the federal judge, who has been a regular customer at the store near the federal courthouse since 1987.

The brew was concocted for Alito five years ago as a birthday present. But sales of the coffee have taken off since President Bush tapped the New Jersey native in November to fill a seat on the nation's highest court.

Calls and e-mails have come in from all over the country, including Texas (a red state) and California (a blue state). Alito bought 44 pounds of the blend — at $7.95 per pound — before Christmas, [Sales Clerk Vera] Barbosa said.

It’s a blend of Indo-Pacific coffees and some dark roasts. I don't know what the coffee origins of Ward's Italian and espresso roasts, but I would wager to say that they're probably from Latin America. And now that we have documentation that shows Scalito's views that skew conservative, I gotta ask: What does this special blend say about him? Mellow, earthy, and smooth yet ... burnt?

Lawrence Herrmann, a former U.S. attorney in Connecticut and self-described liberal Democrat, said the Alito blend is telling.

"It's a pretty strong roast, but he's a pretty strong guy. He has strong principles," said Herrmann, 70, who stopped by for a cup of Alito last week. "I think having a strong blend of coffee named for him is better than an herbal tea with hibiscus."

Herbal teas aren't really "teas," per se. They're what's called "tisanes," but that's a whole other blog entry. What if Scalito was a tea drinker instead? What would that say about him? Hmm...