I’m not an economist, but I have trouble understanding how in the midst of a life-changing economic climate, Starbucks decided to drop some prices (on basic pours) and increase prices on more elaborate drinks. This comes at a time when people are questioning how much they should pay for a cup of coffee. With competition among the brewers an on-going price war, why would they decide to raise prices now? (If you think you’ve escaped the increases or not received the reductions, stay tuned: Pricing varies by location and the new pricing rollout will eventually affect all the stores).
Yes, there are some signs we are moving, OK, crawling out of the demise, but every analyst has said we are not the same in our spending patterns as we were a year ago. If a year ago we had two Starbucks specialty drinks a day, we now are more likely leaning toward the basic drip. That’s funny, they are less costly and now they are the focus of reduced pricing. I feel like I need a quick course in psychology or logic to truly understand the process. They’re lowering prices on lattes and brewed coffees and raising them on Frappuccinos which as far as I can tell require little more than a push of a blender button.
The question to ask is who will buy the drinks? If there are more customers complaining about high costs, and they’re still Starbucks customers, will this strategy flip them over the edge? Of course, it’s hard to know, and it’s easy to second-guess. The concept just seems illogical.
When does a cup of coffee become just a cup of coffee? Starbucks created a coffee experience: A place, a destination with an expansive menu of almost unlimited combinations. We are different now. People seem to linger with their non-fancy brewed coffees.
Obviously, McDonald’s and its McCafe specialty drinks are proof that price matters and people are willing to forgo an experience in favor of affordability.
Get your coffee sleeves ready.
The mushroom varietal list includes many you may never have heard of, varieties you most likely have never seen; I hadn’t, but wow are they terrific. Don’t worry the store can make shopping for specialty foods an experience you’ll remember. There are spices galore, dried fruits, capers, olives, and teas to get you started fantasizing. This is the type of shopping that makes home cooking such a pleasurable experience. I came for the mushrooms; I’ll return for the catalog of possibilities.
Everybody needs a friend; how about a whole business that is based on the premise that we can all live better lives if we know what’s in our products. Welcome to 
A handy pocketsize guide from the 
means less caffeine, not no caffeine. If you’re worried how much you ingest, then go the 
. They’ve been strong contenders in private labeling for years and continue to expand the product line.
Well, it’s probably not a large cup of coffee in most major cities, but $2 will buy you 2 lottery tickets, 2 bagels, 8 munchkins, 2 bottles of water from some street vendors…you get the picture.
