Technology
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No laptop. No problem.
Posted by Starbucks Insider on 25 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: Prank, Technology, Wifi
Some “improv” pranksters in New York decided that laptops were just to convenient to take into your local Starbucks. They decided to take their full sized desktop PC’s with wifi into Starbucks and setup shop. Seems like the partners didn’t do anything since they were paying customers.
Hopefully this doesn’t become the norm with the new 2 hours of free wi-fi rolling out soon.
Hat tip: Gizmodo
Want an iPod Touch with those beans?
Posted by Starbucks Insider on 04 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: Apple, Howard Schultz, Memo, Promotions, Starbucks Experience, Technology
From the 3rd to the 17th of February all employees at the two stores that sells the most whole bean coffee during that time. This seems like a pretty big promotion if they will be giving away probably 40 or so $250 iPod Touches. I know I’d be working hard as a barista to try to get a free iPod touch.
So will it be annoying, or will they go about it in some unique ways. Corporate sales anyone?
The promotion comes from a “leaked memo” that Howard sent out to all employees earlier today. The entire memo is after the jump
Have you had a “Clover?”
Posted by Starbucks Insider on 28 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Clover, Howard Schultz, Jim Donald, Menu, Starbucks Experience, Technology
I was at the Upper Queen Anne Starbucks in Seattle yesterday and noticed a new seperate group of machines with special branding around them. I asked what one of the machines that I had never seen before was and I was told it was a “Clover,” a coffee press. That it makes a french press cup of coffee in about 40 seconds rather than 4 minutes.
The person I was there with and myself tried two different flavors (Arabian Mocha Sanani and Aged Sumatra) and were very impressed. They measure out the beans, grind the beans, put it into the machine, which has some cool features while it’s pressing the coffee, and then served up delicious roasted coffee. It was pretty close to a french press, and I could definitely see myself ordering it again.
The whole process definitely took a few minutes though, so I think this is something that Howard is a bigger fan of than Jim Donald would have been. It’s getting back to delicious fresh coffee, but the inefficiency of the whole store would be hurt if these were ordered during a rush. It also cost more than $3 for a grande, which seems steep for roasted coffee, but they have to make up for the time it takes and the new machine somehow.
They’re testing them in the Upper Queen Anne Starbucks as well as the one downtown at 6th and Union in Seattle. Have you had a Clover? What were your thoughts? Would you buy it consistently at the price?
Starbucks iPhone ordering mockup
Posted by Starbucks Insider on 11 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Apple, Technology, iPhone
Found these mockups over at Mac Rumors, for what the potential iPhone patented quick ordering could look like. It looks like it would work really well for people who know what they like and don’t like. However, with the notes, and all of the variations people add to their orders it seems like it could be a big disaster if put in the wrong hands. Maybe they should have an online test you have to pass before being able to order this way.