Coffee on the Ave – (4) Starbucks

I’m touring and reviewing the coffeeshops on “the Ave.” Read earlier reviews here.

Starbucks

www.starbucks.com | Map and info

4147 University Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
206.547.3280

Coffee

Starbucks is an contradiction to many coffee lovers. While it revolutionized coffee in the mid-90s by elevating a cheap, under appreciated drink to $3 (and later $4+) status symbol, it’s often looked down upon for being over-roasted, bitter, or just plain over commercialized. That being said, I’ll admit I like it. Their drinks aren’t the best, but their beans are okay. And if you’re looking for availability and consistency, you can’t beat Starbucks.

Why am I reviewing it when it doesn’t match my criteria of offering free wi-fi and considering I’ve never done any work there? Well, because they deserve it. The Starbucks on 42nd and the Ave. is one of the most pleasant Starbucks I’ve been to.

• Beans – Regular Starbucks Espresso blend in their drinks. The best measure of the quality of beans is the cold latté test: if a regular latté gets cold (not iced, but just room-temperature) can you still drink it? Starbucks fails that test… it’s just too bitter. In fact, when I do get a drink at Starbucks other than brewed coffee, I usually splurge for something sweet.
• Milk – Unsure… I’m sure it’s same milk they use in all their other stores.
• Mocha – Sometimes (see above, though I often get a caramel macchiato), though not for the quality of the chocolate. In fact, I always get mine with half the chocolate (or “one and a half pump” for a tall) because it’s too sweet and not the best quality chocolate (I’m spoiled by Trabant).
• Container – Iconic white cup with green mermaid label. Except, of course, for the equally iconic holiday cup: red with white. I don’t think this store offers real cups for in-store beverages, which is a shame.

Why I shop there

I’ll forgo all the usual aspects of a review: price, location, etc. in favor of a simple description of what I like about it. I’ve been to many (dozens? A hundred?) Starbucks all over the country (and in Canada, Mexico, and even Japan). Most are fine: clean, pleasant, and in no way memorable. This Starbucks is unusual in that everyone seems really friendly and as though they like being there. It’s a busy place… typically a handful of people in line and a good mix of students, professionals, and others at the smattering of tables and bar. But the baristas always manage to be genuinely nice: a smile, a hello and an extra question or comment to you beyond what professional courtesy would require. On more than one occasion I’ve heard baristas ask someone if they’d “like their usual?” It’s a welcome experience, especially considering the staff is largely comprised of college students. Perhaps it’s the store management, who realize the Ave. is full of competitors with better coffee, decided to “kill’em with kindness” instead?

There are other benefits at the store, too. Anytime you purchase a pound of beans you get a tall beverage. Starbucks rolled out this benefit to those with registered Starbucks cards, but in my experience it wasn’t universally accepted, or at least not without the purchaser asking for the beverage. At this store, though, the baristas enthusiastically offer you a free drink and remind you that at their store, everyone gets that benefit. Since I burn through a pound every couple weeks, I return to this store to get more beans and my free drink.

Another thing I like at the store is the baristas often seem as knowledgeable as those at fancier coffeehouses. The last time I was there I purchased some Columbian Nariño Supremo and the young guy ringing me up asked if I liked Columbian coffees. I said that I was giving it a shot, but I was wary becuase I prefer their bolder coffees, like Café Verona. He said I would (he was right), and suggested I try Guatemala Antigua, which I did the next time I bought beans and I liked them, too.

There is no credit-card surcharge at Starbucks. I guess that’s one benefit of buying from a huge corporation, right?