March 15, 2006
Take a Starbucks Coffee Break
That's right, the bohemoth purveyor of legal stimulants is celebrating the Ides of March in a slightly less stabbing-someone-in-the-back sort of way...by giving away free coffee. From the press release:
WHAT: Starbucks will host its first-ever Starbucks Coffee Break, inviting customers across the country to enjoy a complimentary cup of freshly brewed coffee. In stores and on street corners, from insulated brewing equipment and giant coffee backpacks, partners (employees) will pour tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee to surprise customers and delight commuters. WHEN: March 15, 2006, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. WHERE: More than 7,500 Starbucks U.S. Company-operated and licensed locations.
So, it's only brewed coffee, and it's only "tall" sizes, and it's only from 10 a.m. to noon today. You got all that? No doubt we don't have to tell you where the nearest Starbucks location is, since you can't throw a rock without hitting one.
(Hat tip: Starbucks Gossip)
|
Advertisement: DCist Continues Below!
Post a comment (Comment Policy)
Cool..I am going to head out to I street right now to get my free cup of joe...thanks for the tip!
just got back from the 13th and Penn Bux. Line is already out the door .. but it moves fast and coffee is hot, free and flowing.
16th and K is moving quickly, was no line a little bit ago.
For the money that we spend at Starbucks - we should get free tall coffees every month! I contemplated not making the trek outside since its so windy but since its Wednesday and I'm dragging a bit - it was definitely worth it.
Hopefully they'll be handing out free Ambien to counteract the other drugs they're pushing. Maybe the Ambien won't taste like overroasted dogdoo like much of their coffee does (just my opinion! sheez.)
Back in the Homeland (seattle) we used to count the places where you could see more than one SBUX location in the same line of sight, or be inside one and see another one. Not as many as you might think, but more than you'd be comfortable with!
Starbucks is the WalMart of coffee. I loathe their practices and their coffee. And their much-praised employee benefits? Don't believe the hype (see www.ihatestarbucks.com for more info) Patronize a locally-owned coffee shop instead.
(Yeah, flame away yuppies who don't care and Starbux corporate apologists. Whatever. )
Man, was at the 18th & H sbux at about 9:45. Missed it by 15 minutes. Yet another reason to catch up with dcist before doing anything in the a.m.
Wait a second, there are locally-owned coffee shops in DC? Where? And don't go selling me on the greatness of Sparky's, I work downtown.
You folks can have it - I'm going to the tavern to crack an egg into a pint.
Swings at 17th and G is pretty great. Their espresso is fairly Euro enough for me. I buy my beans there. Also, the new Juan Valdez on 19th and F is really good. They have good empanada's, too. Sadly, Love Cafe's coffe and especially espresso is BAD. Coffee man on the GWU campus is amazing. His coffee and espresso are so cheap and he is great guy. His cart is outside the Gelman Lib at 21st and H. Starbuck's coffee is gut wrenching but their espresso ain't half bad. Corporate politics aside.
I agree that Starbucks is so expensive that every cup should come with a coupon for a free cup on the next visit. If it tasted worth a damn, then the cost might be justified. Or even if a 'tall' wasn't a small in disguise it might mean more.
The thing that I've never figured out is, if the coffee is so good then why do they insist on turning it into caffinated milkshakes? As it is, I'll take my Gevalia any day of the week over the goop that Starbucks passes as real coffee.
TC
A cup of 16oz (grande) drip coffee at Starbucks cost $1.87 (tax included) in DC. While that is a bit more than a cup of coffee at a smaller place, it's not outrageous.
If you're spending more than $2 for the espresso-based drinks, then that's on you.
I'll have a Starbucks coffee on occasion, but personally prefer flavored coffee beans, so tend to hit up a place serving hazelnut.
Wish we'd had an earlier warning about this !!
I'm no Charbux fan but free coffee is free coffee !!!
HEY DCIST - any advance notification on upcoming freebies for Tax Day April 15 ????
I know that Ben & Jerry's and Baskin-Robbins will have their free cones a weekday in mid-April
Alv,
A $1.87 is outrageous when you think about how rank S-bucks coffee tastes. Personally, I think the only way to make it taste right is to add two shots of expresso to a small/tall cup of the regular drivel. Coffee should have a good flavor, not just taste like burnt water.
TC
TC, then here's my advice to you and others who don't like the way Starbucks brews their drip coffee: Don't drink it.
I know, it's a shocking suggestion.
If you don't count the in-store starbucks (i.e. barnes and nobles), I wouldn't be surprised if Starbucks is outnumbered in DC by Au Bon Pain, especially downtown. And rightly so. It's coffee is actually drinkable by people who actually like the taste of coffee, rather than coffee-flavored milk. Plus, they've got a great food rather than overpriced stale pre-made sandwiches.
I'd be all for supporting local stores, but, at least downtown, the local stores don't exactly focus on coffee. It's normally just an after thought, and it shows.
Does anyone actually drink Starbucks coffee black every day? I'm pretty sure that would kill you.
I recently drove across the country and drank Starbucks throughout the day every day and lived to tell the tale. The roadside bilgewater you used to have to drink in places like Truckee has thankfully gone the way of the dodo bird, largely thanks to Starbucks. Trash it all you want (and believe me I do too most the time - you won't catch me dead in the one a block from my house), but S'bucks has made caffeinating in the boonies a lot better. Plus, those frappucinos aren't too bad with a few shots of navy rum...good to take on planes.
Starbucks' espresso-related drinks taste just fine.
The drip/brew coffee is really horrific tasting, like how I imagine a burnt piece of straw carpet would taste. I do not regret having missed that "offer."
Columbia Heights Coffee on 11th between Park and Monroe is locally owned and both their espresso-related and straight up coffee is pretty excellent. They aren't open very often, unfortunately. (I have to be on my way to work already by the time they open, and they seem to close at 3?) I hope they do booming business during the later morning, otherwise how can they possibly do enough business to stay open?
And the benefit of drinking coffee at Columbia Heights Coffee is that you are only blocks away from having a brick hurled at you!
Umm, I think that's "behemoth" vs. "bohemoth." I only bring it up because just this past weekend my dad corrected me in front of friends on my pronunciation of this very word. So embarrassing. And so now, in turn, I must redirect the shame. Enjoyed the entry, though.
It's a behemoth that's trying to be bohemian.
Go to hell, hippies. Starbucks rocks!