Comments on: Is the Price of a Starbucks a Rip off?

By: Kerry

Kerry — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:53:29 +0000

I’m a former Starbucks employee and it definitley takes more than just filling up a flask. The starbucks frappuccino cannot be replicated at home unless you have managed to get the specially made bases they use.
Also, milk steamers are expensive but if you only want a filter coffee, then a home made batch does just fine.
I agree that I’ve found espresso I preffer. That doesn’t extend to all their coffee types though. Also, it is so far the only place I’ve found that has a sugar free syrup.

It is also worth noting the amount of loss a Starbucks store will go through a day. If the milk falls below a certain temperature, then it cannot be reheated and must be thrown away. A lot of smaller coffee shops won’t practice this. Also, if a Barista makes a mistake, or the customer is unhappy, or the wrong drink has been taken from the end of the bar then another one must be made.
At the end of the night the food waste (muffins, pastrioes etc cannot be sold the next day) can be very significant. I’ve previously thrown away £60 worth (that isn’t the most, either). It can’t be donated or even taken home by staff due to health and safety (claim attempts if someone was ill).
Staff are allowed as many drinks as they like (within reason obviously) when they are working, including 30 mins before and after their shift. Also 50% off food on their breaks. I think it’s 25% the rest of the time.
Each day there should be 2 coffee tastings carried out by baristas which equals a minimum of 2 cake pairings.
Also, after every hour the coffee in the filters much be thrown away and a new one made in order for it to be kept fresh.
Every day there is a minimum amount of venti cups that must be made into samples and offered out.
They pay higher than minimum wage and are generally good employers, they’ve even won employer of the year awards.
Note that in the uk at least stores are aiming to increase their community involvement and so if you would like to ask for volunteer help or the donation of filter coffee for a fate etc then go and ask.
Their prices don’t vary that much from Costa etc, not when you consider the difference in cup sizes (a lot of places don’t offer 3 sizes) and I’m not sure anywhere offers a size as big as Starbucks’ Venti.
Did you also know that if you bring your cup back and you have had an espresso based drink or a filter coffee you can have a free tall cup of filter coffee?
Anyway, hopefully that’s been a bit of an insight.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:44:47 +0000

What is the actual price of all the Drinks from Starbucks?

By: James

James — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:27:09 +0000

Can I point out that the prices have recently gone up because VAT has returned to its 17.5% rate. A tall latte was £1.99 during the 18 months in which VAT was 15%.

In your ‘breakdown’ of the costs you have quoted 15% for VAT, rather than the 17.5%.

By: tejvan

tejvan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:54:52 +0000

VAT is charged on Coffee if the shop is VAT registered. A cafe has to register for VAT if if has a turnover of more than 75K. So at Starbucks, Costa e.t.c. VAT is applied to coffee.

By: Ron de Mbowa

Ron de Mbowa — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:45:34 +0000

I am not even so sure whether they (Starbucks) pay VAT on all stuff…coz most beverages are Zero-rated for VAT…I know some hot ones incur some VAT but it depends on which…any clarification on this, editor???

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:04:31 +0000

starbucks trying to establish itself of being trendy and cool while ripping off the young people with it’s over-prised coffee. Now they are getting political with their commercials.I would tell young people that they are being ripped off by starbucks.
F-u starbucks you corporate pigs.

By: sajid

sajid — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:16:04 +0000

yessssss yesssssss

By: geoff

geoff — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:21:53 +0000

Check out the coffee at javabean coffee in gloucester road arcade, london – they roast their own beans – fresh, make a big deal that the perfect espresso is fresh aribica beans (whatever they are) and the extraction is always 25 seconds. I tell you what – there coffee is the best I’ve ever tasted – unbelievable

By: Andy Haslam

Andy Haslam — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:55:14 +0000

Anyone who pays £2.50 for a coffee gets what they deserve.
For goodness sake buy a flask and make your own.
Starbucks just pander to lazy people who say they haven’t time to make a flask of coffee but will spend hours on Facebook.
Get a flask and GET A LIFE

By: laura

laura — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:15:23 +0000

Adding my pennyworth to the floor…I agree that Costa coffee tastes better…but you dont have all the options that Starbucks offers. For those of us who want the latte without the calories … I am perfectly content with a tall, skinny latte with sugar free hazelnut syrup extra hot….and I just can’t seem to get that anywhere else. However when it comes to a basic coffee Costa wins hands down every time.

I’ve also just bought one of the Starbucks cards. I get a free first drink and I get all my syrup shots or extra coffee shots free. Keeps the cost down that teeny tiny bit. Just dont get suckered into buying more just because you have a card!