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01.07.08 by Widge @ 11:54 pm  At long last! You can get a McEspresso to wash down your McRib! I know that's what you've all been waiting for. Well, the Wall Street Journal says it's here. They're going to add baristas to your local McDonald's with espresso machines front and center. And does this put Ronald's crazed white and red stripes up against the green aprons of Starbucks? McDonald's executives say they aren't launching espresso drinks to go after Starbucks, but instead to cater to consumers' growing interest in specialty drinks. And although McDonald's is encroaching on the business that Starbucks invented, analysts say McDonald's may pose more of a threat to Dunkin' Donuts, which has a more similar customer base. Analysts also point out that McDonald's overall beverage expansion, which includes bottled drinks, is as much aimed at taking business from convenience stores and vending machines as it is from specialty cafes. Although they no doubt wouldn't shed a tear over eating some of Starbucks' lunch either, I'm sure. And hey, if they can serve the same sort of coffee drinks for something like half the price of a Starbucks equivalent, would you frequent it? Me, I'm just interested in the super sizing. Categorized as: Coffee
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12.29.07 by Widge @ 1:45 am  These days, since jobs are getting contracted out from the government to private industry, where do you think this job has ended up? Because, you know, I'd like to bid on it. I could do it for really, really cheap. And I've...got some history with the product, you might say. Categorized as: Coffee
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12.27.07 by Widge @ 3:49 am  There's just something about Starbucks, apparently, that makes people want to pull Guinness Book of World Records-level stunts involving the chain. We've got the guy trying to visit every location in existence. We've got the guy who tried the more manageable but still freaking nuts stunt of visiting all the locations in Manhattan in a single day. Now: what's the most expensive drink you can buy at Starbucks? Why? Because you've got a free coupon and you want to get the maximum bang for your buck. Billy over at An Error Occurred While Processing This Directive answered the question by getting a Venti Soy Hazelnut Vanilla Cinnamon White Mocha with Extra White Mocha and Caramel and topped it off with 13 shots of espresso. Read about his adventure here. 13 shots? You are an animal. But I respect the hell out of you, man. Categorized as: Coffee
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12.20.07 by Widge @ 2:36 am  In a fascinating display of information that you had no idea you would ever want to know but now that it's available you're going to crap away ten minutes of your life (at least) playing with the info-tool, Foodio54 has got a Starbucks Saturation Tool that will tell you just how much Starbucks coverage you have in your area. Since I live in the Atlanta area (and commute to Coast City, Iowa for our Needcoffee staff meetings) I see that there's a Starbucks every 1.31 square miles in the 30324 Atlanta zip code and one for every 5079 people. Click here for the full embiggened chart. Charts are fun. Everything looks more impressive on a chart. Just ask Dave Gorman. Granted, flipping through the comments on Starbucks Gossip (which is where we found this), it appears that this appears to count only free-range stores (not inside a Kroger, for example, or a Barnes & Noble) and only goes on the number of people who live in the area, not work in the area as well. So your caffeination may vary. Categorized as: Coffee
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12.09.07 by Widge @ 7:13 pm  Falling asleep while driving is no joke. I know people who have gotten injured and people who have gotten killed because they passed out behind the wheel. And since I never sleep--but have been known to drive--it's a concern for me as well. But what if you simply can't pull off to the side of the road and get some serious shuteye, probably because you've seen too many horror movies that started that way? What's better? A quick nap? Or some coffee? Just like with everything: coffee wins. You can see the full report here in the New York Times, but they basically compared decaf vs. nap vs. real coffee. The results? Categorized as: Coffee
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