Any Starbuck's(coffee) Addicts?

[snapdragen]

I can't take Starbucks hipper than thou attitude.
Why do they make ordering a cup of coffee so complicated?
and why do they need to know my name?
I always make something up. I think I was Frank Zappa last time I was there.

I try my best to p!ss off the Sbux baristas by never using their cutesy names. They are stupid.

I was just thinking the other day - why do I give them my name so readily? Next time I'm gonna be Trixie.

//Peets asks for names too --- I shall be Francesca there.

[Laterider21958]

Have never experienced Starbucks coffee (live in the country), but love the smell of coffee beans. Unfortunately, I am a coffee novice (don't go out much) and don't know what to ask for when I do go out. Often I am disappointed. Isn't it amazing that you can make a coffee, using identical ingredients and proportions, and one day it tastes fantastic, the other mediocre - why?

[bmccasland]

My favorite is a local, independant - Cafe Luna, where the owner has water dishes out for your dog. Starbucks has made a point of opening shops across the street from local shops when they first came to town, but New Orleanians are very loyal to local and this out-compete-the-local idea bounced. Several Starbucks have not reopened post-Katrina. There's a BIG stink right now about them trying to open a shop on Jackson Square in the French Quarter in an empty restaurant space. We'd rather have another restaurant. If you want coffee, go down the square to Cafe' du Monde for a cafe au lait and beignets.

So at Cafe Luna, I'll have a non-fat latte, BIG, please.