Mactalk.com.au - Australia's favourite Apple forum, blog and podcast.

bennyling · #21 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryano

How will I survive without a venti double shot espresso frappuchino!

Originally posted in the Hilarious Youtube Thread - full credit to happyfrappy.

griffmiester · #22 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 05:16 PM

I can't believe that there are so many people that are upset that Starbucks is having to close stores.

For an Alternative, try your local Cafe and see what they do.

If you are anywhere near Swinburne Uni in Hawthorn, I'd recommend Alley Tunes.

stefanlod · #23 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong

In Japan they just come across as a milkshake-coffee store now with a couple of comfy chairs and mostly awful ones.

I think finding decent, real coffee in Japan is almost impossible. Last time I returned to Melbourne from Japan, one of the first things I did was go to my favourite coffee shop in Chapel St and order a large double-shot vanilla latte.

As for chain coffee places, I avoid them. I prefer to think that I'm helping out small businesses, not giant multinationals whose main aim is to open as many branches as they can while turning over a profit. But keep a few Starbucks around — some people like their security blanket of familiar coffee when they visit here.

griffmiester · #24 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefanlod

But keep a few Starbucks around — some people like their security blanket of familiar coffee when they visit here.

You mean guys like this.

Mark Malkoff Takes the Starbucks Challenge .:. Watch the Video!

Rasta · #25 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 05:44 PM

This is the best news in a long long time.

I've never tasted so much shit and never seen so many people go nuts over this sugary crap. It's pseudo-fashionable to like Starbucks, but the people you see in there buying their massive cups of watered down milk have no idea what they're drinking.

Any coffee store/cafe' that offers sugary syrup to put in your coffee is clearly not anyone who understand, appreciates or respects coffee.

I'm a coffee snob, I'll admit to that, but the sooner these crap stores bite the dust the better...

Bring on the axe to Gloria Jeans, Coffee Club, Wild Beans etc etc etc...

Thunderstruck · #26 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 06:14 PM

61 out of 85 Aussie Starbucks outlets to close. Coffee may not be best but it's some of the nicest places to hang out.

I never went to Starbucks for the coffee. Chocolate or tea only.

silverdreamer · #27 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverdreamer

I like my Starbucks Hot Chocolate, and the girls& guys in Cavill look after me very well.

The stores they closed in the US where company stores, not franchise operations. As all of the Australian stores, as far as I know, are Franchised, i doubt there will be closures, restructuring is my guess.

Seems I could not have been more wrong!

Like them or not, 61 stores closing out of 84 translates into a lot of lost jobs. My best wishes go to those caught up in this, I am sure more than one of them are members of Mactalk.

GraphicDZNR · #28 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 06:20 PM

As a barista, I want to slap those stupid people out of the way and make my own coffee... COME ON... WHO THE FUCK NEEDS A THERMOMETER IN THEIR MILK JUG... GAHH

Thunderstruck · #29 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 06:21 PM

You'll find out which ones will close in 2 days. Just under 700 lost jobs.

I wonder why Starbucks chose to shut down just US and Australian stores

Quote:

Starbucks' international boss, Howard Schultz, ruled out closing other stores internationally.

kenexx · #30 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennettnz

Outside of America people generally understand coffee to be a beverage of an entirely different nature to the one that americans recognise. This is not because americans are stupid or have bad taste but it's what they are sold on a national scale and have been for decades. My relatives (inlaws) from the states are always confused by the foam on a cappuccino but it's simply very unusual to them. Much like Vegemite tastes like the worst shit in the world to them - we descendants of Mother Britain may well think it's brilliant. Considering the somewhat incredible variety of crap americans spread on their toast it's kind of funny. Each to their own.

Have you seen the amount of foam that Starbucks in the US put in a cappuccino? The cup of coffee you get is mostly foam and about a cm of coffee in the bottom. I always have to tell them not all that foam.

No great loss to Australia imho

Rasta · #31 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraphicDZNR

As a barista, I want to slap those stupid people out of the way and make my own coffee... COME ON... WHO THE FUCK NEEDS A THERMOMETER IN THEIR MILK JUG... GAHH

EXACTLY!!! EXACTLY!!!

It's a friggin' disgrace!!

Phase · #32 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 08:33 PM

I personally love my Starbucks coffee.

I also have my own grinder and beans at home, however I challenge you to find me another coffee store that's open in the Brisbane CBD at 10pm at night.

Because there isn't one.

Gerbils · #33 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewiesno1

My limited experience at tasting some of their coffees infrequently over two years leads me to wonder why they have lasted so long. When Starbucks arrived here in Oz they trumpeted long and loud that they were going to conquer the local market with their "superior" product. I am assuming they are basing this on American tastes which in my and some of my friends experience has been a not very impressive one. If you have ever been to the US and tasted the very average coffee there , you will know what I mean.
I don't think the execs at Starbucks took into account the ethnic background and influence of European cultures on Australia over the last two hundred years especially when it comes to superior coffee making.
I for one, will not miss Starbucks, should they decide to disappear.

Stewie

Hear fucking hear!

kevinnugent · #34 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverdreamer

Seems I could not have been more wrong!

Like them or not, 61 stores closing out of 84 translates into a lot of lost jobs. My best wishes go to those caught up in this, I am sure more than one of them are members of Mactalk.

F*%king Starbucks. I'm upset with them. I recommended my son apply at his local store for a job. Fraking thing will be shut next week.

Looks like only CBD stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will survive. Poor kids.

ryano · #35 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phase

I personally love my Starbucks coffee.

I also have my own grinder and beans at home, however I challenge you to find me another coffee store that's open in the Brisbane CBD at 10pm at night.

Because there isn't one.

Exactly.

I've had dodgy coffees from them before, but you get that anywhere. It was great when I was on holidays to go down to the Starbucks at Mooloolaba and get a coffee later in the evening and the service was always great. Hopefully they stay open.

Goodbye · #36 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 11:48 PM

Wow, I didn't realise times were so bad for Starbucks! 72% of stores closing is a huge amount, especially within a few days

Kuma · #37 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinnugent

F*%king Starbucks. I'm upset with them. I recommended my son apply at his local store for a job. Fraking thing will be shut next week.

Looks like only CBD stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will survive. Poor kids.

I really feel for them...

I wonder if Japan is next.. they have opened around 5 stores in the last year around me....

I love it in Japan.. a great place to teach private students/find private students.

I wonder what the financial condition of those stores are that they are closing them... profitable? unprofitable?

I wonder if somebody could take over the venue and make a nice little cafe out them?

~~**Madone**~~ · #38 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinnugent

F*%king Starbucks. I'm upset with them. I recommended my son apply at his local store for a job. Fraking thing will be shut next week.

Looks like only CBD stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will survive. Poor kids.

Hardly there fault, it's the beginning of a recession, and until people check there spending, and live a life of needs not wants.

oddturtle · #39 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madone

Hardly there fault, it's the beginning of a recession, and until people check there spending, and live a life of needs not wants.

people don't really need coffee though (especially a venti frappachino for $5.40) so Starbucks would probably go broke anyway.

GraphicDZNR · #40 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phase

I personally love my Starbucks coffee.

I also have my own grinder and beans at home, however I challenge you to find me another coffee store that's open in the Brisbane CBD at 10pm at night.

Because there isn't one.

Ahaha... Isn't that why you bought your own grinder and beans?

*keeps grumbling about shit coffee*