Starbucks Achieves Critical Mass
Posted by deCadmus on 01 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Coffee
Apparently Howard Schultz is in a buying mood. Close on the heels of Starbucks’ buyout of Coffee Equipment Company, maker of the Clover single-cup coffee brewer, the Seattle coffee giant announced its next step in coffee roasting technology and its next acquisition, also a Pacific Northwest technology venture: the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant in Ranier, Oregon.
“This baby’s hot,” says Schultz with characteristic zeal, “and it’s going to help us differentiate Starbucks from everyone else that is attempting to be in the coffee business.” Howard Schultz paces the length of the counter at the Starbucks coffee house at Seattle’s Starbucks Support Center. Clearly, he’s catching his stride.
“We’re talking zero carbon footprint, roasts coffee quicker than one of our espresso pours, and –wow!– can it spread that great coffee aroma!”
Howard pauses; he looks momentarily soulful. “We want to have the courage to do the things that support our core purpose, our reason for being. This is all about our core.”
“And besides,” adds Schultz, “who else has a nuke?”
Coffee Notes From All Over
Posted by deCadmus on 13 Jul 2007 | Tagged as: Coffee
In which the proprietor dumps a bunch of coffee-related stuff into a single post. Enjoy.
- Cuppa Joe to Go, Hold the Cup — In Edmonton, the DaCapo Caffe won’t give you a paper cup for your takeout coffee. Co-owner Antonio Bilotta, 31, says he’s tired of the waste.
“I’m a cyclist and spend a lot of time in the river valley, and I see a lot of paper cups there,” he said from his university-area cafe. The last time he was at a bus stop, he glanced at the garbage can and found it full of coffee cups. He decided he wasn’t going to add to the problem. “I’m putting my foot down and that’s the way it’s going to be.” - Circle the Wagons! — As Starbucks sets its sights on rapidly expanding its presence in St. Louis, area coffee shop owners are banding together to fight back.
“We’re the neighbors” is how Craig Schubert, owner of the 1st Cup kiosk close to Chrysler’s plants in Fenton, summarizes the sales pitch. It’s based on the idea that “St. Louisans love to support the home team,” said Ben Murphy, managing partner at Applegate’s Deli & Market.
Bloggle’s advice to the home team: it’s all about the coffee.
- Cuppa Joe, Hold the Carbon? — Starbucks has been calculating its carbon footprint, with an eye toward going on something of a diet.
In its shop in downtown San Mateo, Calif., for instance, baristas serve up about 40,000 cups of coffee drinks every month. Just based on utility bills alone, that means Starbucks is serving up about 4,900 pounds of carbon with its drinks–or about two ounces per cup.
I wonder… does that include a paper cup?
