Ebony's Pearls

Kitchen after inventory
Originally uploaded by nodigio

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/25/news/companies/starbucks/index.htm?cnn=yes

Granted, it's only for three hours, but they've chosen the after work rush hours. Presumably, it's for training, and do they ever need it! Three hours isn't enough time, but I'll take what they will give. If this means the counter help (baristas or whatever they choose to call them) is faster and more accurate, then I'm all for it. If it also means the Starbucks shops will be cleaner, I'm all for that, too.

I won't be inconvenienced by their shut-down since I stopped going to Starbucks when it took half an hour to get a plain cup of house coffee, black, no sugar. I could walk into any diner or restaurant in town and get a cup of coffee poured in under 5 minutes. But not at Starbucks.

Even Java Dave's - notorious for being slow - is faster than than all of the local Starbucks I went to. And they were cleaner and friendlier and didn't play games with your order or subject you to a 10 minute inquisition just to place your order.

For all ya'll who frequent Starbucks, I hope this makes your ordeal easier.

As for me, I'm going to the Red Cup, or the Red Moon, or Cafe Bella, or Sober Grounds, or the Black Bean, or any of a number of other small local independent coffee shops that have quick, friendly service and clean shops.

For those who need a caffeine fix on your drive home, Dunkin Donuts is offering their small lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos for 99¢ from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. today to make up for Starbucks shut down.