I’ve written some pretty mean things about Starbucks. I hate their coffee and I think they know that. Yet, they still keep inviting me to their events and I still keep going. They may believe that any press is good press but there’s no guarantee that I will write about it at all. ( I often go to press events and never report on it. Some of them are complete snoozers.) Maybe they think they’ll convince me one day, or that the guilt from all the schwag and free lunches will turn me? In the words of Borat, “Is Not.” (read it like iz snot) Personally, I keep going to these events because I do always learn something, however small it is. I meet other writers and bloggers (which I love), and I got a free lunch at Craftbar.
This Luncheon started with a brief intro and story of how VIA, Starbucks instant coffee, came about. I think they want us to call it “ready brew” and not instant coffee, but it’s instant coffee. They have a patent pending microground technology that supposedly makes their Columbia “ready brew” taste exactly like the Pike Place Roast (freshly brewed). I’m not scientific enough to know if that’s just marketing fluff but I will tell you that I hate the Columbia VIA as much as I hate Park Place Roast (that one time I tried it).
I don’t remember well enough what Starbucks coffee tastes like to know if it’s the same but you can try it for yourself. From October 2nd to October 5th, you can go to any Starbucks in the US and take the Starbucks VIA Taste Challenge. All participants will get a certificate for a free 12oz brewed coffee and a coupon for $1 off of a 3 or 12-pack of VIA.
Starbucks is releasing two flavors of VIA. I’ve already mentioned that the Columbia tastes terrible to me, acidic as always, but they have an Italian Roast that is tolerable. I’d accept it if I was on a plane. I’d take it over Sanka. But, I’m not ready to go buy it yet, and I’m probably not even going to drink the packets they gave me.
By the way, if anyone wants this Starbucks schwag, leave a comment telling me you want it. You have to be willing to pick it up in NYC because I’m not willing to mail it. If there’s more than 1 person, I’ll do one of the random number generator things. I don’t know what they think anyone would do with this score pad though. That’s a lot of paper. I guess you can have a taste challenge party. =/
On to more fun things. Lunch at Craftbar was really good. We started with a very fresh salad of mixed greens with refreshing shallot vinaigrette. The “fried” chicken isn’t actually fried so it wasn’t quite as crispy but it was so juicy and flavorful. The warm chocolate brownie was pretty average but hey, it was a free lunch.
I had a great time chatting with the ladies sitting at my table:
Courtney Adams of Uptown Comfort
Ingrid Abramovitch of Artisan Books
Maris Callahan of In Good Taste
Sarah Caron of Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Sarah LeTrent of AOL Living: Food
So, Starbucks, you got me to write a post about VIA (no coercing, they didn’t even ask if I was going to post about it), but it was only semi-positive. I do have to stay honest, but it seems you can understand that, so I hope you’ll keep inviting me to your events. Cheers!
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I’ve never LOVED Starbucks, they’re just ok. But out here they’re everywhere and usually consistent. So, I know what I like there and get it often. But there are several small roasters out here that I love, the sleepy monk, in Cannon Beach,OR is great, and their owner used to own Victor’s Coffee in Redmond,WA , which is still good, and roast their own beans, but…the new owner is a real jerk. And Victrola Coffee Roasters are decent as well, Cafe D’Arte is also good. We do NEED coffee here, the sun doesn’t shine enough to make us happy with out caffeine.
Kelley, the end of your comment made me laugh so hard because we noticed that people in California were so happy compared to here in NY, and we thought it was because of the sun. I need my coffee too!
Oooh no. Are the packets of coffee that bad, heh? Sometimes convenience just isn’t worth it.
Starbucks is kinda expensive in our place for a coffee. I just do not know why people keeps coming back to starbucks! hmmp. i do not like there coffee as well.
Carolyn, the Columbia one is really bad to me, but the Italian Roast is acceptable as a last resort, if you can’t get fresh coffee.
Lutonpinoyrecipe, Starbucks is really expensive. I don’t know how all these people can afford it daily??
Craftbar sounds more enticing than the VIA… 🙂
Being French, it’s always been difficult to accept the Starbuck kind of coffee so it does not make a difference to me : I don’t like them.
Free coffee?! I’ll take it!
Gotta get me to a SBUX, although I don’t really like their coffee. I’ve been getting their tea lattes when I’m there at all, but I appreciate free stuff.
Danny, if no one else wants it by Sunday at 3, it’s yours.
Christina, I’ve never tried their tea latte. Maybe I’ll give it a shot next time.