Comments on: Economy's A Bitter Brew For Starbucks

CBS Evening News Exclusively Interviews "The King Of Coffee," Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz

[docpeter1953]

I think I have had two cups of Starbucks coffee. They were both the worst tasting swill for coffee I have EVER had. The coffee tasted bitter and BURNT, really burnt. I didn''t finish either cup. It''s no wonder their customers always ask for the more expensive "flavors". They need all that other cr@p in there to hide the taste of their burnt coffee.

I grew up drinking Lousiana coffee with chickory, cooked in a perculator on a gas stove and have never tasted coffee worse than Starbucks. Starbucks only claim to good taste can be their marketing department.

[mja721]

Starbucks is not good coffee. But it is an excellent vehicle to deliver a huge dose of caffeine. Look at the top coffee sellers -- Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, McDonalds. They also have some of the highest caffeine levels. They''re just pushing a legal drug.

[hennighg]

Reading some of these comments confirms my worst fears. Americans are so acclimated to cheap food that the good stuff tastes bad to them. Quantity over quality. And we wonder why we don''t have much culture here. Heck, a fella can''t even get a good cup of coffee!

[longtree-2009]

starbucks coffee, unless it is sugared or covered with whipped cream, tastes bitter and burnt. for the price one pays, it is not worth it. mcdonald''s premium coffee is much better than starbucks. will give starbucks good ratings on their pastries but their coffee is starsucks.

[shanev137]

The reason Starbucks coffee sucks so bad is because of their beans. The optimum freshness window on roasted beans is less than a week for peak flavor. Not only do they burn their beans, but Starbucks does mass roasting in only a few cities so by the time the beans travel and end up in your cup they''re rancid.

[swagvalance]

King Of Coffee? Dunkin Donuts sells more coffee than Starbucks. Why is CBS handing out fake titles?

[starsucks]

A few things to comment on. First, is there such a thing as responsible capitalism? Health care benefits should be given to citizens by our nation, but thanks shultz. Do people really save money with those savings cards seeing as they have to pay $25 to activate the card, which is good for a year. Some consumers are saving the majority NOT! It''s not practical. Oh, how about providing your consumers with free internet instead of limiting it to two hours per purchase, its a thought. Oh yeah, how much money did Shultz spend on retraining all of the workers on that infamous Tuesday or was it free publicity to false advertise to the consumers that they are purchasing a "new and improved worthy cup of coffee." Think about this, there is a limit to the empire of coffee you can''t build excessive coffee shops our you will crumble like Rome. Is it quality or quantity that you seek or is greed. Lastly, to who ever remarked on not going to starbucks due to the noise and teens thank god you are staying home and we don''t have deal with your complains it is appreciated. Shultz thanks for the HUMANITY OF COFFEE!

[starsucks]

A few things to comment on. First, is there such a thing as responsible capitalism? Health care benefits should be given to citizens by our nation, but thanks shultz. Do people really save money with those savings cards seeing as they have to pay $25 to activate the card, which is good for a year. Some consumers are saving the majority NOT! It''s not practical. Oh, how about providing your consumers with free internet instead of limiting it to two hours per purchase, its a thought. Oh yeah, how much money did Shultz spend on retraining all of the workers on that infamous Tuesday or was it free publicity to false advertise to the consumers that they are purchasing a "new and improved worthy cup of coffee." Think about this, there is a limit to the empire of coffee you can''t build excessive coffee shops our you will crumble like Rome. Is it quality or quantity that you seek or is greed. Lastly, to who ever remarked on not going to starbucks due to the noise and teens thank god you are staying home and we don''t have deal with your complains it is appreciated. Shultz thanks for the HUMANITY OF COFFEE!

[unemployed43]

coffeeinsidr, I guess I am not understanding your post to me. Would you be so kind as to elaborate.

[hotwitch]

The King of Coffee is talking thru his bum hole. The quality of the products has gone way down. The baked goods are stale, the drinks are put together sloppy, not something that goes unnoticed. SB''s, just like many a company that caters to the masses, has gotten quick-and-dirty in it''s product/service. That''s why SB''s been losing market share, long before this downturn in the economy. And Mr Coffee King, no, it ain''t Dunkin Donuts to blame, that''s a totally different experience and a totally different clientele, especially considering the price difference. SB''s is supposed to be a gourmet burger to Dunkin Donuts "Big Mac"