Starbucks throws down in Texas

[Jim Saborio]

I read on Coffeegeek that Starbucks was sending a barista to the US South Central competition. Assuming their barista has full backing from the company, she could do quite well, right? Maybe she's been secretly training since 2005.

I picture her in a shiny green boxer-like robe surrounded by a huge corporate entourage feeding her frapuccino through a squeeze bottle, monitoring her vitals with a strange Scace prototype, and polishing the glasses for her venti caramel macchiato supreme.

I find it hard to believe that Starbucks would seek out such non-publicity, however.

On the other hand, if this is just someone who is doing this out of their own interest with little support from the company, I can't imagine how difficult it would be.

Where would she train? What beans could she use? I know the judges are supposed to be impartial, but can you imagine approaching the table in a Starbuck's apron? I wouldn't want to do that.

I read her name this morning and wondered if it was just a joke anyway... Ashlind McAshan

[Rich Westerfield]

Not all green aprons are push button monkeys. One of our recent hires turned out to be awesome. He was a shift manager at an SBUX mall location, we met him at the SCAA in Charlotte last year - he paid his own way from Pittsburgh just to watch the comps.

Odds are he'll be competing next year at the MARBCs and maybe even an art throwdown.

Maybe her part of Texas just doesn't offer any other options for working in coffee?

[onocoffee]

If Starbucks takes the USBC seriously, then perhaps we should be worried.

Not for the typical "oh, this is the degredation of our 'sport'" but rather the fact that Starbucks can throw a ton more resources (money, facilities, training) than an Intelligentsia ever could towards winning the USBC/WBC...

[Robert Goble]

If Starbucks takes the USBC seriously, then perhaps we should be worried.

Not for the typical "oh, this is the degredation of our 'sport'" but rather the fact that Starbucks can throw a ton more resources (money, facilities, training) than an Intelligentsia ever could towards winning the USBC/WBC...

I guess that would just leave us with front line retail to further the craft....

[trabant]

Our local chamber of commerce tried to organize a coffee competition a couple years ago, which would include a dozen local cafes including Tullys and Starbucks. According to the Starbucks district manager, they have a policy against competitions. It would seriously not look good for them to lose. Don't know if that was BS or the policy has changed.

That aside, the "Original" Starbucks in Pike Place Market, and the Madison Park Starbucks, where Howard likes to drink his double americanos still use FB70s, so someone somewhere must be clinging on to the passion...

[Jason Haeger]

I read on Coffeegeek that Starbucks was sending a barista to the US South Central competition. Assuming their barista has full backing from the company, she could do quite well, right? Maybe she's been secretly training since 2005.

I picture her in a shiny green boxer-like robe surrounded by a huge corporate entourage feeding her frapuccino through a squeeze bottle, monitoring her vitals with a strange Scace prototype, and polishing the glasses for her venti caramel macchiato supreme.

I find it hard to believe that Starbucks would seek out such non-publicity, however.

On the other hand, if this is just someone who is doing this out of their own interest with little support from the company, I can't imagine how difficult it would be.

Where would she train? What beans could she use? I know the judges are supposed to be impartial, but can you imagine approaching the table in a Starbuck's apron? I wouldn't want to do that.

I read her name this morning and wondered if it was just a joke anyway... Ashlind McAshan

Honestly, in some parts of Texas, Starbucks is the better option. I happen to be in one of those parts, but I've spent the cash for a setup at home, did a ton of reading, worked at a couple of different shops, trained one of them, and so on.

It's hard trying to fund everything on your own, with no commercial equipment to practice on. Let me tell you.

[Jim Schulman]

I picture her in a shiny green boxer-like robe surrounded by a huge corporate entourage feeding her frapuccino through a squeeze bottle, monitoring her vitals with a strange Scace prototype, and polishing the glasses for her venti caramel macchiato supreme.

I find it hard to believe that Starbucks would seek out such non-publicity, however.

She may be doing this on her own.

[James Hoffmann]

A manager from one of the largest chains here in the UK (Caffe Nero) entered a regional competition last year and did ok. No real company support (other than fresher than normally served coffee) and her shots were ok - well put together and brewed, though perhaps not as higher quality ingredients as others used.

I have to say I had a lot of respect for her stepping up like that, especially without the support. I think she placed 5th overall. I hope she is back next year.

[sarahdelilah]

To shed a little light on this (because we discussed it on a USBC Committee conference call this past Monday): Ashlind did in fact get approval from her district manager, but she herself wonders if there will be fall-out from the powers that be. She has said she is willing to lose her job over it though. She is undecided about what beans she is going to use. She hasn't used a manual in 3 years, since Starbucks switched over. But she's been with them for more time than that.

Best of luck to her, I say. I love love love it when baristas show initiative like this.

[onocoffee]

What a shame that she's doing without corporates' support.

I would have liked to see how the USBC would change under the full-force of a Starbucks onslaught.


Ah, one can dream...




But I do have to ask if publicly discussing what may be priviledged information about a competitor is advisable for the USBC Committee?

[sarahdelilah]

Jay,

The information I shared is not top secret. I would not post or discuss anything that would put a competitor in jeopardy. I assumed you knew me well enough to know that.

Sarah

[onocoffee]

While it may not be "top secret," I don't know how comfortable I would feel if a USBC Committee member was discussing details of my (or one of my barista competitors') competition situation on an open, public forum.

To my mind, it's one thing if the peanut gallery (myself included) hypothesizes on the details, but a bit of another if someone privy to the information discloses that information without the participation of the competitor or the company they are representing.

You're right, I know you pretty well - and I'm urging caution and restraint when disclosing details concerning the employment of a barista competitor.

[Mark Prince]

Another viewpoint on this.

Today, I was in meetings here in Seattle where one of the participants was someone with a former "deep involvement" with Starbucks. During our lunch break I brought up the green apron entrant in Texas, and said "I wonder if this is a change in corp policy at the 'bucks", and I got schooled a bit on Starbucks vis a vis competitions. Some I already knew from talking with a Starbucks guy in Seattle SCAA 2005, but some was new.

- Starbucks' official corporate policy is "no" to "partners" competing in barista competitions.

- Starbucks has had competitors in both USBC / NABC regional events in the past (one I remembered was the 2003 PNWBC?) and one or two others, back in the day (early 2000s) but in all cases, it was either someone on the way out from Starbucks who said "wtf, I'm going to do it" or someone who did it on the slight-sly, and was on the outs later on.

- The Texas situation is a case of local support not matching greater regional / national knowledge. The person I shared lunch with today said he'd be surprised if the person actually ended up competing, once corp headquarters found out.

- There's been internal memos specifically about competitions, and "disavowing" them (that was the word use) - not publicly, not anything mentioned about comps - more like, pretend they don't exist as far as Starbucks and its customers are concerned. But Starbucks internally knows all about the comps, and people within the company do follow them.

Again, most of the above is second hand stuff, but this fellow had a serious "in" with Starbucks, enough to know the gross sales totals for the Starbucks Barista traditional espresso machine (which caught me by surprised - but I was able to later on confirm it with someone I know at Saeco). including the % of returns. So he seemed to know his stuff.

Me... I'm watching this with keen interest. I hope the woman doesn't lose her job, or I hope she ends up going to a cafe where the art of the barista is more recognized and nurtured because of this. I wish her lots of luck whatever happens.

Mark

[barry]

the gross sales totals for the Starbucks Barista traditional espresso machine (which caught me by surprised - but I was able to later on confirm it with someone I know at Saeco). including the % of returns.

is the defect/return rate still around 50%?

[Mark Prince]

5% in 2005. The original Incanto though was 50%. Go figure - the public couldn't figure out how to use a super auto?

Mark

[Duck]

Many moons ago, I approached my SBUX District Manager about competing in the 2002 MWRBC. I had never heard of such a thing and it sounded awesome! I got permission to go ahead and participate, but unfortunately had to make a trip out of town for a family emergency and ended up not even being able to go at all. They didn't really know what to make of it at the time, but I am not surprised if there are now policies disavowing them altogether.

To some of the points already made, yes, if 'bucks were to enter the fray then they could quickly become a big factor as they could afford any and all training extravagances. If they lost badly though, it could be a PR nightmare for them. Kind of like when Mc Donald's beat them in a taste test.

I hope she does compete though. Regardless of your company affiliation, if you want to expand your horizons and learn more about coffee, then God bless you, sister! I'll be keeping an eye out.

-- Duck

[Jason Haeger]

You're a bit late on that, Mr. Duck.


The rest of Michelle's SCRBC pics

[Duck]

Oh, hey, wow, look at me!

Great. Now I'm "that guy"!

Was there any fallout from that? i.e, is she still employed?

[Sandy]

Geez Duck, get with it, man. Stay with the game.

....call me if you need any industry updates.

[Duck]

Yeah, that's right! You better not answer your phone, 'cuz there's going to be some updating of your medical condition!

Did you know that Short Person Syndrome is also referred to as "Small Dog Syndrome?"

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

[Jason Haeger]

I talked to her a bit, and if I remember correctly, her competing was sanctioned by her STORE manager, and possibly the regional(District) manager.

She didn't seem to mind the idea of working for someone other than Starbucks, but I didn't ask too much about it.

As far as I know, she's still employed.

[ryan brown]

If Starbucks takes the USBC seriously, then perhaps we should be worried.

why? (seriously)

[Jason Haeger]

If Starbucks takes the USBC seriously, then perhaps we should be worried.

why? (seriously)

It's hard to match their potential in terms of funding the effort to win.

Then again, I never had any commercial equipment to practice on before the SCRBC, so I'd think heart has a lot to do with it as well, but even so.

Resources are nice to have.

[Edwin Martinez]

so it's late at night. I normally don't drink more than about 6 oz of coffee a day, and I today I drank more. As I read this thread I got the sense that we (posters on this thread) were talking about someone from another planet who speaks a different language. One thing is for sure, they don't subscribe to any press is good press, it has to be their press.

I'm surprised someone didn't just call her up sooner with a warm welcome. I'm sure she won't bite...

[onocoffee]

If Starbucks takes the USBC seriously, then perhaps we should be worried.

why? (seriously)

Ryan-

I would be interested to see Starbucks jump into the fray that is the USBC. Their resources, as the biggest specialty coffee company in the world, are nearly limitless. Combine that with a talented and passionate competitor and I think it would change the face of the competition.

While the USBC can be fun, let's face it - most of us are podunks. We approach the competitions in a relative ad hoc way with limited resources. Intelligentsia has been seriously putting its' resources behind its' competitors and we've seen the potential this offers. Now, add a company who can afford the best and can afford to finance a competition team and it makes for an interesting twist to the game.