In Praise of McCafe

[chri'stina 190]

It may not be "elitist" but their specialty coffees are almost the same cost as a combo meal at fast food. I love getting one, once in awhile. You aren't going to see people with a lot of money problems buying $4 coffee. I don't even want to spend that much on coffee most of the time. It's a treat if I do. It is not just like going to dunkin donuts for a simple coffee. In our area, that's where the retired men go to sit around drinking coffee. In Starbucks it's a different crowd.

It can be if you're ordering a simple cup of coffee which isn't more expensive at Starbucks than it would be at Dunkin' Donuts. A small cup of brewed coffee will cost you somewhere between 1.50 and 2.00 at either store. Comparing the fancy specialty coffee at Starbucks with a plain cup o' Joe at Dunkin Donuts is - and I'm going to exaggerate a little here - almost like comparing a steak dinner at a staekhouse with the #2 value meal at McD's. Of course the steak dinner is going to be more expensive.

LoL I buy coffee from both places, I know the prices. Yeah it's different in many ways. And I can see why someone might think Starbucks is more for "elitists" even if it's technically not. But if people don't even want to try to understand to see why, then that's weird.

[Tahoma 2,292]

You find this interesting why? It's full of the usual suspects, dodgy premise and supposition. This isn't clever or interseting although the machine itself obviously is no matter what ####### McDonalds stuff it with

Products once reserved for the elite are quickly being made available to the poor guy with the loose change in his pocket.

I think it's very interesting. It's not dodgy, premiseless, or any other vacuous title you attribute to it.

I perhpas should point out that I am not interested in the fate of Starbucks either.

Of course. You're interested in an imaginative world of "equality"-- An "equality" of poverty.

What kind of stupid statement is that? Latte isn't expensive enough in any establishment to be 'reserved' for the elite. Dodgy premise number one.

Oh, and I am not interested in some arbitary notion of 'equality' that implies 'bringing one section of society down to the level of another section of society - there is nothing I have ever posted that supports that supposition.

But a condition that lifts one section of society up to a level of another society is equally uninteresting?

The article is focusing on this seemingly insignificant occurance to illustrate a much broader point: that free competition leads to efficiency, lower costs, and subsequently raises the standards of all members of society--It's not a dodgy premise.

Considering your concern for the poor, I figured this would brighten your Sunday morning.

So...the poor downtrodden masses can now afford to buy a daily fix of caffeine at Mac's instead of a fix every other day at Starbucks. That's deep! Thank goodness for Mac's, because the unwashed masses soon may not even be allowed to enter a Starbucks.

I wonder what revelations Jeffrey Tucker and his buddy, Hans-Hermann Hoppe, come up with next at their Austrian libertarian think tank. Maybe they will tell us why caffeine addiction "raises the standards of all members of society." Or maybe how libertarian free markets don't lead to monopolies.

Your subjective views of caffeine and other sinful consumer desirables are entirely irrelevant. I see it's the same 'ol nihil ad rem posts from you.

The facts: McDonalds has introduced a product which challeges Starbuck's market share. This product is comparable, and costs about 20% less. Starbucks has adjusted prices in an attempt to reclaim market share.

This is a victory of the consumer. Plain and simple.

Where does it say that Starbucks cut their prices as a result of McCafe? Where does it say that Starbucks lost customers to Mac's? Same 'ol BS "proof" from you.

Their price adjustments correalate perfectly to their competition. (Price cuts on lattes and cappuccinos, [where the McDonalds competition is] and raises on speciality drinks [where their market share is relatively secure]). This is a fact.

I don't buy Starbuck's statement about price-adjustments being due to the "recession". They're scared.

But it seems like you are incapable of following logic, and are dependant on being farm-fed your "facts". It couldn't possibly be true, if the mainstream media hasn't reported it to you, right?

You appear more incompetent with each post.

Thank you for confirming that you don't believe the link that your own original posting cites.

Now you are wanting me to believe that you simply "don't buy Starbuck's statement." How is this proof of anything? Apparently, you know more about Starbuck's customers than Starbucks does. Or, perhaps you have an inside connection at Starbucks that you're not telling me about. Or, perhaps you are simply boiling down the complex factors of marketing into "facts" and "proof" which fits your ideology. Which is it?

Nonetheless, Starbuck's price cuts also correlate perfectly with the downturn in the economy. If you choose to believe that Starbucks is reacting to Macs, it is only your opinion. That is a fact.

Isn't it odd that, while you don't believe Starbuck's claim, you swallow Wal-Mart claims...hook, line, and sinker? Is this what passes for "logic" in Matt-world?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

They have different marketing demographics - but Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts aren't that far apart compared to say, a Peets or a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

[almaty 19]

Peets is the bomb..jsut saying

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Peets is the bomb..jsut saying

I like Peets - but they're more high-end than Starbucks, with all the paraphenalia they sell for home coffee brewing.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is the most expensive I've seen. Some of their specialty drinks are over $5 with tax.

[SuperDuper! 230]

You find this interesting why? It's full of the usual suspects, dodgy premise and supposition. This isn't clever or interseting although the machine itself obviously is no matter what ####### McDonalds stuff it with

Products once reserved for the elite are quickly being made available to the poor guy with the loose change in his pocket.

I think it's very interesting. It's not dodgy, premiseless, or any other vacuous title you attribute to it.

I perhpas should point out that I am not interested in the fate of Starbucks either.

Of course. You're interested in an imaginative world of "equality"-- An "equality" of poverty.

It's Just Coffee! Since 5230 B.C.

[Staashi 371]

McDonald's drip coffee is $1.89 for a large. For a venti Starbucks drip coffee it is $1.95. For six cents more, I can go into Starbucks and enjoy free refills (cuz of my registered gift card), a very nice atmosphere with the good tunes and such, and a smell of delicious coffee all day long. At McDonald's, where I do enjoy their drip coffee as well, I have to listen to some employees banter incessantly behind the counter who happen to think they're ghetto fabulous; there is typically a children's play zone and the kids are abandoned by their parents there; and furthermore, I don't really like to enjoy my coffee with the eau de Big Mac wafting through the air.

Just my two err six cents.