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> The light bulb went off: I knew the answer. They don’t want you to buy a shot of espresso. Espresso is not as profitable as espresso drinks. The only way to p
by scubbo 4y ago
> The light bulb went off: I knew the answer. They don’t want you to buy a shot of espresso. Espresso is not as profitable as espresso drinks. The only way to push espresso drinks with fancy syrups and names is to make sure as a stand alone, the coffee tastes like someone scrapped the burnt bits of toast into your mouth.
Eh. I'm all for assuming the worst intentions of corporations at all times - but a much more reasonable assumption to my mind (which doesn't assume direct malice, but rather an understanding of the desires of their customers) is "they know that the vast majority of their target demographic will be ordering 'mixed drinks' anyway, and so there's no advantage to them in 'roasting properly' when the nuance will be lost anyway"
That is - I believe that the author has the order of causation wrong. I don't believe that Starbucks' decisions lead people into drinking Espresso, but rather than Espresso is a specific drink with a specific consumption environment (at leisure, while seated, probably after or alongside a meal) which has no intersection with the consumption environments of customers who are likely to "drop into" a Starbucks. Imagine ordering an Espresso to-go from a drive-thru window!?
- brailsafe 4y agoI tried to order an espresso to go when I was visiting the states recently, and the person running the place had literally no idea what I was talking about.
- Tagbert 4y agoWhile American McDonalds do serve coffee, they likely don’t serve expresso. Any functional coffee shop in the US will be quite familiar with espresso.
- gruez 4y ago>While American McDonalds do serve coffee, they likely don’t serve expresso. They should. I just checked the online menu and they have americano and various other espresso based drinks, but not espresso specifically. That said if you go in person you should be able to get an espresso buy telling them to make an americano without the water.
- wpm 4y agoI used to start my opening shifts (4AM) with 3 shots straight from the same or similar machines they have now, so it’s 100% possible.
- brailsafe 4y agoIt was one of those roadside places with a giant "Espresso" sign or whatever. I just get regular crap coffee at McD
- seanhunter 4y agoI once asked a barista how to order an espresso to go in Venice (in Italian). He got me to repeat the phrase several times[1], then (to the amusement of everyone) told me "No". He wouldn't give me an espresso to go, he'd give me an espresso I could drink right there at the bar and then go. [1] Un espresso doppio della portata via
- brailsafe 4y agoI guess that is the Italian idea of espresso, at least according to Jordan Schlansky. I rarely get one truly to take away, typically only in a small glass or something to sit with. Kind of a funny interaction you had
- prennert 4y agoItalian espressos are really quite fast. If you are in a hurry and the barista knows you, you can be on your way within 30 sec of entering the bar. Even of you are not a repeat customer you can get out faster than you get served in chain coffee shops anywhere else I have been to. The Italian espresso is small, and is served well-tempered (not too hot) in a well-tempered cup by fast baristas. If you are in a rush, you can drink it in one go straight away. Why would you waste a takeaway cup?