Do you think coffee from places like Starbucks justifies the high price?

[purplepoppy]

When someone comes to my house we offer them a coffee, it's only costing us a few pennies per cup after all. If you go to most small independent coffee shops you might pay a couple of pounds at most. But go to one of the big chains and it costs a fortune and to be honest to me I'm not tasting a big difference in quality.

So do you think big coffee shop chain coffee is worth the extra money?

[MrOracle]

Most people who go to "coffee" shops aren't buying coffee, they're buying coffee-flavored desserts. Those cost more. Plus, they're supporting businesses that in many cases are occupying extremely expensive commercial space, even if there's another identical shop half a block away. I remember when Starbucks bought out another chain, an in San Francisco, there were literally multiple Starbucks within half a block, despite the hideously high commercial rents. They've since shut down some of those locations, but even now, it's rare to have to walk more than a block and a half anywhere in downtown SF. Can you imagine having a rent of $15-20,000/month for a coffee shop? With several competing stores - including several of the same brand - within 2 blocks in any direction? It's insane.

People could buy "good" coffee and brew it in their offices - but this really isn't about coffee - it's about the coffee-flavored desserts that most people have grown accustomed to - and those are as much as $7-8 each.

[t-8900]

Starbucks as much as I hate the brand for it's politics and practices makes some decent all around blends. I like Tully's French Roast K cups for everyday drinking. Green mountain is a good budget brand for k cups too. I used to not think much of k cups but I have! I admit they offer a perfect amount of bean and are very convenient. I don't think the Starbucks mark ups make them worth it, however bagged or boxed you don't pay nearly as much. Keep in mind minimum wage is really jacked up now, plus employees benefits and cost to maintain facilities and ship supplies. When people celebrate minimum wage increases just remember that's going to translate to everything you as a consumer buy. Minimum vwag increases are nothing to celebrate as it devalues the currency as well and the only ones who benefit care people at entry level work that can do better for themselves if they all and a collective independent negotiated wages or sought out better work. They only benefit very, very short term as they will soon be eating the difference in price hikes too as they leave their Starbucks jobs to go shop at Walmart at night to supplement the wages of those workers.

[SaoirseS]

For regular brew coffee, Starbucks is the worst place for me to go. Their brew coffee is just bitter and nasty, not even worth a few pennies. I like the occasional specialty fufu drink, like a peppermint moccha or vanilla bean frappucino once in a while. It's overpriced but it's a nice treat.
But any gas/petrol station in the area has far better coffee than Starbucks, for a whole lot less.

[lilyanony1]

Starbucks is a franchise. They claim to pride themselves on being fair trade representatives and that goes hand In hand with training and paying their staff well.
But the reality isn't actually true.
If I liked coffee I'd do it at home!
A quarter of the price and I can have as many as I like!

[ohshee]

I'll see you just smart that's all I mean there are different grades of coffee but nothing worth that price I can spend $40 a day easy at Starbucks and that's just not worth it to me grind my own coffee at home and actually have a better espresso or latte and I'm not paying an armored ball for it but that's the same with any business there's times where I'll go bid on a job and and I'll see another contractor there and I know he's betting on the job and I know his prices so I'll raise my prices up 25% because there's some people that just like paying that extra amount of money because they feel as if they're getting a better job and they would be with this guy but yeah the way we as humans think it's almost like we don't

[jennifer_bloom]

If your talking economics, it’s not a good financial investment but on the other hand, most people do not have specialized coffee makers at home that can allow them the Starbucks taste for less than $1.00. I have a latte maker and so does my cousin and close friend and it does not compare to their taste. I would buy it, either as a mood booster before a stressful event at school, or as an excuse to socialize with friends when we were too lazy to clean our houses before inviting people over.

[Lliam]

Absolutely not. I don't patronize those kinds of establishments. The coffee doesn't taste any better just because you order it in Italian. I'd rather drink mini-mart coffee.

I make the best coffee at home. I order 5 lb bags of ground, dark roast, robusto from a company called Cafe Justo. I sometimes add a bit of cold, whole milk and hot coco mix that I get from a company named Equal Exchange. My coffee couldn't be better quality.

[matchrestore]

I find I get higher quality coffee from a lot of local places than Starbucks, however the consistency of quality is far superior with Starbucks than from one independent shop to another. If I'm traveling, Starbucks is my go-to because I know what I'm getting from them. In my home city, I'll go to an independent shop more often, but I still will go to a Starbucks if I'm in a hurry and just want a drive through.

[Kaneki05]

No one actually buys normal coffee at those places tho. It's about the Special ones that they cannot access easier without some effort.
And the rare ones who do just buy normal coffee at Starbucks are too rich and dumb to realise the cost of things.

[Carolus]

Yes, the brand comes at a price which doesn’t necessarily reflect in quality. These big chain restaurants have made a name for themselves (some are multinationals) or targeting certain clientele. They are on demand and their supply is lesser, (the rule of demand and supply), which makes their prices go up and irrespective of the high prices, they still on demand making a kill.

[Kaamraj]

I live in India and there are several Starbucks where I live. Going to one is mostly for social proof. I can easily afford but I avoid. Instead I prefer going to the local teashops, you can customize your tea or coffee and you can find yourself involved in any type of conversation. It's considered a political neutral spot where you can hold intelligent discussions about economics, policy, sociology, current events, etc.

[kuladiamond]

I mean they do make special kind of coffees so the cost will be relevant to how much effort goes in to making it, but then again i wouldn't buy my coffee from starbucks since there's a lot of better places available if i want to spend my money on something special

[CoffeeBeanBlack]

Drug foods like caffeine and sugar were considered necessary for the early industrial world. It isn't anymore, it is a luxury item. The high price is based on thr summation of costs to the supplier, it oays for branding, supply chains, farming, marketing, staff. It pays off investors and loans and so on.

[AviatorTom]

I rarely go to Starbucks. When I do, I consider it a treat, and I don't mind paying the high price. Most of the coffee I drink is at home, at pennies per cup. I don't even drink coffee much when we go out to a restaurant... I'll stay with the water, which is free here in the US.

[DarkWinterNights]

I live in the contested caffeine capital in America, almost every street corner has a coffee shop on it and you can still wait 10-15 minutes in line. Every single one of them is better than Starbucks, which is basically steamed milk. When I used to travel for work I’d be stuck going to them and it drove me crazy. Starbucks isn’t justified on the price, but some coffee places are.

[genericname85]

demand justifies the price. so if idiots are willing to pay what you're asking, why ask for less money?

people don't pay the most money for "the best" product. but for the product that makes them feel the best independend of any objective measures of quality.

[Anonymous]

I mean, I suppose us yuppies could forgo the Starbucks and put the $4 in a retirement fund, but what the fuck else do we have to live for besides white mocha? I mean we wake up dive to our jobs, sit in some dreary office all day listening to horse shit. That coffee is the only think worth living for. Oh my God I hate my life.

[Calixar]

No. Starbucks burns their beans. 😂
But a well made specialty drink from some local stand (who are usually cheaper where I live)… once in a while.
Mostly, though, packet of cocoa and my own homemade coffee… there’s a mocha.

[thistle4]

Coffee and alcohol are scams that catch adults who won’t admit they taste terrible because they help adults deal with problems they made themselves and if they admit they taste bad then everyone will think they are babies

[ChrisMaster69]

No not at all.

we put in our own coffee machines at work - Bean to Cup ones with all usual milk stuff

I’ve also got a Sage Bean to Cup at home.

These show just how much mark up there is on their coffees.

[wankiam]

no and infact i boycot both starfucks and costalot and prefer to go to small local independant barristas who pay their taxes and their staff and make better coffee too

[Phoenix-gb]

Nope, I wouldn't mind paying more for stuff if I knew it meant the base line staff were getting a decent wage, but with every company it just goes in the pockets of people who do none of the work.

[OneNineZero]

No it don't
Coffee is coffee quality can be better which I totally get but its not the quality they are charging for
It's the brand
And that's why the price is that high

[DonkeyDan]

Most chain coffee places make hundreds of percent markup on their coffee and in all honesty it's shit, I always try and use independent coffee places, better value and usually much better coffee.

[jamesgoldman]

Here there's a Costa and an independent, the Costa is cheaper and doesn't serve something on par with bitter mud

[Razp_Sorbet]

Starbucks especially is not worth the price for standard coffee, the only thing that is maybe worth the price is their fancier drinks but even then they're quite costly

[Redhead999]

Starbucks coffee is awful. You are paying for branding

[EspressoTeen234]

I mean you could buy a whole espresso machine for the price of a yearly college kids starbucks spending and the coffee would be better.

[molonski2]

Starbucks is a complete joke -- the worst coffee and other items , at the highest possible price.. its a disgrace.

[Daviddd5412]

It's the difference between drip coffee and espresso. I don't think Starbucks is that much more expensive than most other places that sell espresso.

[bbear07]

i mean... i can taste the difference and i don't mind spending more for it. I do limit my self to a few times a week tho lol

[Guido]

Overpriced. I am happy with a regular cup of coffee. I don't need that fancy shit and all the calories.

[Slartybartfast]

I buy green coffee beans from a family in central america and roast them myself. My coffee is much better than starbucks

[josephinelcajon]

I drink a cup every few days at home and at least one of those days its only instant coffee. I would never ever pay those prices!

[TheMajesticKing777]

Nope, I just made a coffee just now, it costed me 4 bucks and I can make a shit load of more coffee for those 4 dollars

[bolverk]

No they are not worth the high price they ask.
If I decide I want a coffee while I'm out I will go to a local Cafe/Coffee Shop than one of the big chains, so the money stays in my community.

[Tiptoetamm]

I can't stand Starbuck or Dunkin donuts coffee I make my own at home either iced or hot.

[exitseven]

Nope, but everyone likes to walk around with those Styrofoam cups so everyone thinks they a are cool.

[jshm2]

It's actually all the same coffee bean. The difference is only in the prep.

[amyisme]

I love the Carmel frappuccino from Starbucks McDonald's just dosen't have the same taste

[WhitneySnow]

We buy Starbucks coffee at home and my mom brews it herself

[SurströmmingLover]

No, it's not worth it. You can easily get your caffeine kick elsewhere. I'd go to Starbucks once a year.

[Subarugirl]

Well you can either make your own or pay for the convenience, equipment, and labor that it takes to have it made my someone else.

[bamesjond0069]

Its a luxury idiot people use and then they complain about how they can't afford to live. Muh college debt, minimum wage, cost of gas, can't have/be a stay at home mom etc. Smh.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

I think it's only justifiable if you dine in the cafe and relax at that stress free atmosphere because it's like you're also paying for it. But buying starbucks to go or take out is kinda pointless.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

I only buy starbucks or coffee from cafes if i have to stay there for a few hours and connect to their wifi.

[silkjames]

Coffee is not even good but I do like my hot coco in the winter time lol 🤣!

[Pete671]

They are a total rip-off, only good value is McD imho, down here in Sussex it's about £3.50 for a cup of basically dishwasher effluent,,,

[DaveToo]

Starbucks is a con. Ridiculous money for a drink that costs next to nothing to make.

[douride2]

No coffee is worth what Starbucks charges. I would do without if that was my only choice.

[NYlatefun]

Here in NY it’s not like that, chains are cheaper than small independent coffee shops and chains’ coffee is garbage.

[Wise4myage]

Nothing justifies the higher prices these days. Its all bullshit.

[Creampiekarl420]

Starbucks taste like shit they aren’t even real baristas they’re just hiring rando keurig owners

[princeofromance]

No, I think it is criminal what they charge for Coffee.

[OddBeMe]

Ehh probably but I don’t drink it. I do get higher priced drinks at bars and there’s a difference.

[driven159]

Can't be too high people still wait in long lines to get it

[notwoke]

not justified, and also I don't want to support their extreme left agenda

[altdbob]

NO!
First of all, most of the crap you get at places like Starbucks is not coffee it is overpriced foamy milk!

[dustybiker]

They can only charge what people will pay.

[Anonymous]

People who pay $6+ for a bullshit named snarky hipster trash created coffee are morons.

[blindedd]

no, starbucks' espresso tastes burnt

[Nagatoro]

No, I can get a better coffee at McDonald's for $2

[Waldoe]

Nope, I make BETTER COFFEE at home

[padreflint]

Not at all, but I'm not a fan of their coffee

[YourToy69]

Marketing. Coffee is not that great