Starbucks cups to come with a political message

[alp227]

Source: AP

Starbucks is using its coffee cups to jump into the political fray in Washington.

The world's biggest coffee chain is asking employees at cafes in the Washington, D.C., area to scribble the words "Come Together" on cups for drink orders on Thursday and Friday. CEO Howard Schultz says the words are intended as a message to lawmakers about the damage being caused by the divisive negotiations over the "fiscal cliff."

It's the first time employees at Starbucks cafes are being asked to write anything other than customers' names on cups.

While companies generally steer clear of politics to avoid alienating customers, the plea to "Come Together" is a sentiment unlikely to cause controversy. If anything, Starbucks could score points with customers and burnish its image as a socially conscious company.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/starbucks-cups-come-political-message

[MynameisBlarney]

1. Maybe....

Just maybe, they should think about making coffee that doesn't taste burned.

[LeftofObama]

2. A Freakin Men! n/t

[SkyDaddy7]

5. "burned"???

Must be your local branch because I have had Starbucks coffee from numerous locations around the country & not once have I had coffee that tasted "burned".

Just sayin.

[NYC Liberal]

7. Same here. I've been to Starbucks around the US and even in other countries

and never had a coffee with a "burned" taste.

[DakotaLady]

13. Every cup ...

... I've enjoyed over the years has been delicious.

So put me in the column for "no burned taste".

[TroglodyteScholar]

17. They WAY overroast their beans in my experience, regardless of the location...

...but I guess that's what you do when you start with shitty, flavorless beans.

I'll let Higher Ground www.highergroundroasters.com do the roasting, and I'm happy to grind and brew at home. The flavor is waaaaaaaaaaay more appealing than the char that Starbuck's serves.

[MynameisBlarney]

25. People don't call 'em

Charbucks for nuthin.

And I would rather go without, than support that predatory corporation.
They are the Walmart of the coffee world.

Support your local coffee house, fuck starbucks and their shitty coffee.

[LanternWaste]

8. Maybe... just maybe, one has

Maybe... just maybe, one has little to zero to do with the other.

[Skittles]

12. OMG that coffee is NASTY

totally banned from our work coffee club......however, I do like Starbucks "foo foo" drinks when I'm stuck in an airport though

[BainsBane]

15. what's up with that anyway?

Do they leave it in the roaster too long?
I like that they provide all employees with medical insurance and partner benefits, and they have some awesome soy milk, but the coffee needs improvement.

[ZombieHorde]

19. The coffee from my local Starbucks tastes burned too.

The chai is really yummy though.

[AngryOldDem]

23. Been meaning to try their chai.

And I will, as soon as I break my addiction to the Pumpkin Spice, Caramel Brulee, and Gingerbread lattes.

[JI7]

22. i don't drink Coffee, but since they are selling it whether or not it's burned

there isn't much reason to change for them.

[idwiyo]

27. Yes! Nice to know I a not the only one. It is horribly over roasted and has bitter burnt taste.

BTW, it doesn't even matter wich side of Atlantic you are, still taste the same.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. "Come Together"?

Right now?

[jonthebru]

10. over ME!

[upaloopa]

4. Have you been to Seattle? Over 480 Starbucks in the city including the original and they own

Seattle's Finest Coffee too. They must be doing something right in Seattle with their coffee not to mention pot is legal too!

[Fridays Child]

6. "Come Together" implies compromise.

Compromise means seniors and the disabled get screwed. How about if they write "Hands of off Social Security and Medicare" on all of their cups? But, please, let's not stand in the way of Starbucks' image-burnishing operations because underneath even the most socially conscientious marketing campaign is the almighty bottom line.

[ManiacJoe]

9. Save 10 cents each time you bring your own cup.

[jonthebru]

11. A nice sentiment with good intentions;

but the members of the tea party caucus and the other intransigents on the Republican side in congress are stuck on their dogma.

They have more than their pride at stake and their so called "value" system.

I'm betting that the agreement will not be made and some of our lives will be irreparably harmed.

I also feel the average citizen sees the right wing corporatists as the villains here and hopefully will remember that next time there is a ballot to cast.

[JackRiddler]

14. Um, Buck Starfucks?

They have no business taking any political stance if it's not about raising wages and allowing unions - starting at Starbuck's.

Naturally they're promoting a neoliberal message. Come Together... over the corpse of the New Deal.

[BainsBane]

16. They do provide good benefits

Health insurance for all employees and partner benefits. Some stores are unionized, if only as a result of winning lawsuits before the NLRB. I get that their union busting is reprehensible, but most other coffee shops treat their employees far worse.

[limpyhobbler]

18. preposterous

[Ken Burch]

20. A political message? Or an invitation to an orgy?

Starbucks introduces...The Mutual Orgasmacchino!

(...c'mon...you were THINKIN' it...)

[Claybrains]

21. Never been to Starbucks

does it that come with a double shot of bi-partisanship. Sounds delish.

[In_The_Wind]

30. Welcome to DU, Claybrains.

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[Claybrains]

35. Hey, thanks

It's good to see a lot of insightful dialogue on a broad range of subjects here. Unfortunately I am looked upon as a unpatriotic sinner because of some of my left-of-center views, where I live. Yes I live in a redneck state of Georgia. Where they hold their bibles and guns close to their bosom.

[JHB]

24. By itself, it's pablum. But if it prompts more conversations...

...I, for one, won't pass up any opportunities to highlight the Republicans' all-out obstructionism and Soviet-grade lockstep voting in Congress.

[Vietnameravet]

28. Re: burned coffee

In the past Starbucks did have a burned taste and the rumor was it was this way because the founder burned the beans and rather than throw them out he served them as a 'special. distinctive, roasting" ( Like the "special roasting" you get when you forget the bread in the toaster!)

I know exactly what some posters are talking about!

But I have been to Starbucks in the past several years and things have changed..The coffee is very good and no one makes a better cappuccino..!

[MynameisBlarney]

31. I had some about a year ago

It was at meeting, and they had starbucks coffee in the meeting room thingy, and it tasted like the same ol' burned crap I remember.

[Vietnameravet]

33. Maybe they were using left over beans from ten years ago

[MynameisBlarney]

34. Very likely.

It sure as hell tasted like it.

[daa]

29. Elections are decided 51/49 this is just a good way

To piss off half your customers. I drove away from a car wash that had a rmoney sticker.

[roody]

32. They don't have time to write that.