I was annoyed enough to write all of this up. I used to go regularly, and the rewards program was genuinely a good deal, and made it worth going to Starbucks. Now, even if I set aside all of the horrible things they’re doing, I wanted to show just what an absolute shit program this is, and why there is absolutely no use in trying to “gain starbucks status”.
What the fuck are bonus stars. Why do they expire sometimes. And I can get fractions of them? Double star days??? Holy hell I this is the most overly convoluted bonus program I’ve ever seen, my local coffee place gives you a stamp on your stamp card and when you’ve collected 10 you get a free coffee.
Counterpoint: this is airline miles for coffee
Whenever you get convoluted bonus systems, you know you’re being screwed over
Even as an American, I’ve stopped drinking this garbage years ago.
Virtually every Mom and Pop shop tastes better at this point so do yourself a favor and support a local small business instead.
I started brewing mine again. It’s gonna take me more time to go to a drive through or gas station, while costing me money than it actually takes me to make a cup in the morning.
Plus it’s guaranteed to be made how I like it.
I love my Lavazza coffee blend. I grind and brew it as often as I can. However, I have days where I hit the fuckit button at 5am and have to buy coffee somewhere.
Well that’s a whole nother rabbit hole…
Tastes better and is cheaper.
Like unless your coffee drink is a children’s dessert beverage then I really have 0 idea why anyone goes.
I gave up completely and just bought an espresso machine. Sure it’s gigantic and it and the grinder take up a fuck ton of counter space, but turns out making a latte the way I like it wasn’t that hard to learn.
Jealous. I wish I could do that, but I neither have the space nor the money for a good espresso machine. I’m a major fan of Breville btw.
I coveted mine (variations of the LUCCA A53) for about seven years before I could manage the funds. It still feels absurd but I can’t argue with the results.
I’ve noticed the whole system has crashed over the years. I’ve been a ‘loyal’/repeated customer since 2006, (even working there for a year or two after college), at or over 20 years now, and can’t believe how much more spending is required to get a free drink. Hell, they used to have buy-1, get-1 receipts a few times a year, for a full week at a time.
I think this’ll end up being the end of it, for me. I already moved to making TAZO chais in the office, instead of purchasing their chai lattes.
They forced an update that won’t run on my phone.
- can’t run the required version
- old version just tries to update
So I’m almost out anyway.
I like their chai lattes. I can’t get the same taste anywhere else, and if I try to make it it’s a “we have mcdonalds at home” result.
So about twice a year, now, I get a fucking c$6 latte as a treat. I miss 2019 with the many locations - one 80m away in my walkable block - and a really nice barista who made the effort to smile and chat directly. Now I have none of those things and this is like dia de los muertos.
I can’t imagine spending $250 at Starbucks.
i can’t imagine drinking a starbucks burnt ass tasting coffee
The majority of people at Starbucks didn’t drink plain coffee. Starbucks is a milkshake company.
And a hugely overpriced pastry/cookie company.
My wife gets the occasional Starbucks gift card from work of friends, so she saves them up and then me, her, and the kids go there (so it used to be about once every 9-10 months).
Used to be that you could get small coffees, hot chocolates and a little snack for each person for about $30. Now to get that same stuff it’s like $50. Suffice to say, we’re going there even less often now. Which I’m fine with, since I don’t like Starbucks.
