• Thursday, October 01st, 2009
Instant coffee brings to mind murky and flavorless Sanka cups of joe to even me, an admitted non-lover of all things coffee. But that hasn’t deterred Starbucks, who has launched their new VIA Ready Brew. The result of years of wild scientists working in outrageous conditions in order to finely grind coffee enough to dissolve in water and still taste like a cup of coffee. It’s instant coffee, and the worldwide chain is confident that most people won’t be able to tell the difference. more…
Starbucks is getting into the breakfast deal game. The coffee conglomerate has long offered sickly sweet pastries, and let’s not forget their forgettable parfaits, for years now. But starting March 3rd for $3.95 you’ll be able pick up a tall latte and oatmeal, a latte with a slice of reduced-fat cinnamon swirl coffee cake, or drip coffee with a breakfast sandwich. 
Even coffee can’t get a break in the new economic climate. I had thought when Obama took the Oath of Office everything would be better, but it looks like Starbucks is still in trouble. Last quarter profits fell nearly 70% — wow, that’s a lot of people not getting overpriced fraps – and the company announced 300 more stores will be closing. 
It’s great when you get definitive confirmation that contributors to a website or magazine you read daily are indeed as geeked out about things as you are. Such was the case when I came across an article on Wired that detailed photographer Dan Winters’ inspired construction of a TIE Fighter out of Starbucks materials. You can just opt to not get that 
There was a time in my professional working life when I came up out of the subway right next to the Starbucks in Union Square. What that means for a coffee drinker running late for work because of train and subway delays is a near daily routine of overpriced beverages. During the summer one of my favorite things to get, and only on Fridays as a treat, is the mocha frappuccino with whipped cream. 
