Starbucks is an internationally known coffee shop that sells a variety of drinks as well as food. But are they really worth all of the recognition they get? I think that they have many good qualities, however there are many counteracting factors to think about when reviewing the overall company.
The variety of items Starbucks has is definitely a big perk when ordering. If you’re feeling like you need a caffeinated pick-me-up, they have over 30 different blends and single-origin premium coffees. (from the Starbucks website). They also have tons of fruity refreshers, teas, and hot cocoa. They have sandwiches for lunch, pastries, cakepops, etc. They also have their collection of different types of protein boxes. Quick ways to get some good nutrients for the day! The Starbucks website has stated that there are over 87,000 different combinations with their drinks! They definitely have added a couple thousand more with their new addition of lavender drinks, and “spicy” drinks. Since there’s so many different add ons, and syrups, you can make a combination of whatever you want. Whatever you have a hankering for, Starbucks will definitely have what you need.
The prices of Starbucks’ items has been a trend for a while now. People have been poking fun, and posting about the prices being way too high. The Starbucks menu on their official website says the average price for a latte in each size of their drinks is $2.95 for a tall, $3.65 for a grande, and $4.15 for a venti. Now these prices don’t seem like extravagant prices for a latte. However, a pinterest user says that the price for a tall pink drink is 4.95! Many other drinks have a high range in prices.
As of my preference for Starbucks items, I have quite a few items on the menu that I really like. My go-to favorite order as of right now is a grande caramel macchiato with extra caramel drizzle. I love the way it’s not too strong, yet isn’t too sweet. I enjoy their hot chocolate as well. It’s good for when you’re cold and need something sweet. If you do like caffeine in a more sweet and sugary way, their frappuccinos are a great pick. My favorite one is the caramel ribbon crunch and the java chip. Now, let’s talk about food. I really like their cake pops. My favorite shifts between the chocolate cake and the birthday cake. Another thing from the bakery is their plain bagel and chocolate croissant. I REALLY like bagels and cream cheese so I can appreciate theirs. The chocolate croissant is definitely not French material, but it’s still one of my favorite items. From their lunch menu, my favorite is the turkey, provolone, and pesto sandwich. I think it’s just very tasty and has a lot of nutrients from the herbs. I used to like their grilled cheese a lot, but it just doesn’t hit the spot for me anymore.
There are constantly videos of absurdly rude customers making scenes inside of their stores. There is a long chain of videos of employees complaining about certain drinks they are always asked to make, or customers that have treated them like dirt. In my experiences, the workers at my local starbucks, and all of the Starbucks’ that I’ve been to, they’ve always been nice. Even when things are getting hectic and busy in their store, their employees always seem to keep their cool and keep up their customer service persona. I think they have valid reasons to make those videos, and complain about their job. I wouldn’t want someone screaming and whining in my face about their pumpkin spice latte being two degrees too hot. They have a right to get upset when people order drinks with a million other instructions that take forever to make, and then get screamed at that it took too long. Overall, I have never run into someone with a bad attitude or just been disrespected at a Starbucks.
Now the remaining question is if Starbucks is better than every other coffee shop out there. I think that with all of these new shops trying to be “cool”, with their baristas wearing a man bun, flannel, and blue light glasses, their prices are way more than starbucks. Some places have you paying for an eight dollar latte. So Starbucks definitely isn’t the most affordable place, but it’s definitely better than some “aesthetic” places. The taste of their items is usually good, sometimes their coffee tastes burnt, or just not too good. There’s definitely smaller places with better consistency in their items. I think that Starbucks is very well known for good reason. Usually their items taste good, and the wait isn’t too long to get your order.