I supported Starbucks for many years even while so many of my contacts told me my support was highly misplaced, and even embarrassing. There are tons of people in the restaurant business who see Starbucks as highly overrated and most certainly over-commercialized.
I was working in Washington, DC when they opened a branch in Georgetown. I went out of my way to purchase their coffee and bring it home to Philadelphia every weekend. All of a sudden, they opened in Philadelphia, and I have been a fan ever since.
Over the years, I graduated to their Sumatra brand that was bold and always great. I must admit that the over-commercialization bothered me, but for Ten dollars and ninety-five cents for a pound of coffee (plus tip), I remained a loyal customer.
Last week I walked into a local Starbucks with twelve dollars in my hand and was informed that the new cost is a staggering thirteen-dollars and ninety-five cents.
That would be a three-dollar price hike that I find totally unacceptable. I walked out without my pound of Sumatra, and I realized at that moment my love and respect for Starbucks was gone - possibly forever.
I hear what they say about the rise in costs of Arabica coffee beans, but I keep going back to the over-commercialization. Starbucks was everywhere including my local Acme and my local Target. They got greedy, and a three-dollar price increase is ridiculous.
Last night I picked-up a 14-Ounce package of French Roast at Trader Joe's ($4.99). It proved to be the best coffee I've ever tasted.
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