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Starbucks fights back with a $1 cuppa

Starbucks just won round three from McDonalds by landing a right uppercut on McD's jaw with a $1 cup of coffee, undercutting McD's price.


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  1. Yea, but do you have to ask for a corto?

    1 Reply
    1. But you can still go to a Nordstrom Cafe and get a coffee for only a quarter still and I believe it is still made by Starbuck's, but is the Nordstrom Blend, which I much prefer over Starbuck's house blend.

      5 Replies
      1. re: justagthing

        Yeah, but when I get anywhere near a Nordstrom, that 25 cent cup of coffee is somehow, some way, going to mysteriously turn into a $100 pair of shoes. They REALLY should do something about that. :-)

        1. re: Suzy Q

          That or a $300 handbag. Oh and btw...the food in the cafe is not so bad either. I like many of their salads. Nice pick me up for after you spend what you should have used to pay your rent/mortgage.

          1. re: justagthing

            and depending on where you live, don't forget the parking fees..or the ticket if you park on the street & lose track of time.

            btw, i'm impressed that you guys can get away with spending just $100 on shoes or $300 on a bag. i have ridiculously expensive taste...AND the inability to buy just one pair - or bag - at a time.

            have any of you ever tried the pound cakes they sell in the nordstrom cafes? i know the woman who makes them, but i've never been able to try them myself because of the gluten issue. i'd be curious to hear reviews from some hounds. [feel free to be honest, i don't know her that well, and i promise i won't tell ;)]

            1. re: goodhealthgourmet

              I have tried some of the flavors/varieties. The one I remember best is seasonal, pumpkin. It was very tasty w/lots of pumpkin flavor. I hate when a pound cake is flavorless. Does she bake for ALL of the cafe's? I figured they did regional buying in regards to fresh baked goods?

              1. re: justagthing

                i'm pretty sure she supplies all the cafes in the western region, and she just struck a deal with a huge bakery to increase her production, so i think they'll be going national with her cakes. she's supposed to be on oprah as well once the new bakery & her website are ready to handle increased demand, so i figured the cakes had to be pretty damn good!

      2. Once you start selling on price, you get stuck selling on price. So much for "image". Starbucks had a nice run and did much for the coffee world, but it looks to be winding down.

        4 Replies
        1. re: Panini Guy

          It's just a cup of coffee, and agree, Starbuck$ turned it from a commodity to a boutique item, and plenty of suckers swallowed it, but in the end, it's just a cup of coffee, and not a very good one either.

          Updated: The Mrs. informs me Starbuck$ is selling ersatz bagels for $3.00 a pop. There is a sucker born every minute.

          1. re: ChinoWayne

            What the heck is an ersatz bagel?

            Jfood ordered a butter bagel once at SB. They handed him an uncut bagel, a napkin, a plastic knife and some LOL butter tabs. After jfood stopped laughing he told La Barista "No Thanks".

            Jfood still orders a "Large Coffee" when he travels and needs a cup of Joe and 20% of the time La Barista does not understand the order (OMG). Jfood refuses to use the ventee/biggee/coffee lingo. This old dog will not be dragged into the 21st century on his cup of coffee order.

            1. re: jfood

              Jfood, I had the same question re: the bagel!

              I've never used the grande/venti/whatever monikers before, and they generally seem to figure out what I want. I just feel too stupid saying that I want a "venti" this or "grande" that. Gimme S M and L, people!

          2. re: Panini Guy

            I thought the same thing at first, but as I think more about it, it makes a lot of sense. They sell the smaller size for a bit less. Coupled with their advertising campaign about the 90 calorie tall skinny latte, they might be able to get more people in the door because there are, in fact, smaller and less expensive and less caloric options. Of course, once you get people in the door, the larger and more expensive items are likely to look attractive to a great many of them. I don't think their milk drinks are going to be sold on price any time soon, but then I'm wrong a lot.

          3. this is wierd because the "short" was one of the originals, plus it's always been an off menu option, at least as recently as a couple years ago.

            2 Replies
            1. re: kindofabigdeal

              Yep. It's what they use for their kid-sized cider and hot chocolate -- I always get the short size because . . . being short and small, I can't finish anything bigger!

              1. re: kindofabigdeal

                You can always order a short. They just don't bother to tell you!

              2. I'm so glad an independently owned (Cuban) coffee house opened up near my home. I don't have to bother with Starsuck$ anymore. Not only are the coffee offerings superior to Starsuck$ they're a little bit cheaper and much more authentic. As far as Starsuck$ $1 'cuppa'...well that's just a 'hook' as far as I'm concerned. They'll probably start jacking up the price of (an)other item(s) to make up for it.