Starbucks Calls Off Decaf--After 12 PM?

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Duh: The decaf is for the afternoon; it help us half-caffers sleeep at night? By the way, I have to wait at least 50% of the time anyway. So you're telling me 98% of the time now? Continual decline @ SB??

Joe (the coffee drinker) of TX 1:54PM January 28, 2009

First...I was employed by $tarbuck$. I have been told by a current barista (Starbuck$-speak for counter help), that decafe is brewed every 30 minutes just as the hi-octane is. During my time, the brewing requirement was every hour. No coffee ever "sits all day".
Second...What a horrible business decision. Bad from so many angles that it is unbelievable. Undoubtedly driven by financial people calculating the hit they are taking cost wise. The phrase "penny wise & pound foolish" aptly fits. The world-class, legendary "$tarbuck$ Experience" receives a huge black eye with this PR goof. Reverting to the old every hour brew policy & brewing in 1/4 batches would help reduce what will be a customer satisfaction nightmare.

of GA 1:52PM January 28, 2009

Waste not Want not.... Waste NOT!

of LA 1:51PM January 28, 2009

Its only four minutes. If someone cares that much about four minutes, go to McDonalds. At least it will be nice and hot and fresh. Plus, all that wasted coffee, its good they made that change.

Roshan of MI 1:51PM January 28, 2009

What...starbucks can't figure out how to serve a freash cup of decafe. They could make a flask that would stay all after noon, but I quess with all the visionaries they have working for them it is difficult to come up with a practical solution. I really don't care if they sell decafe, there is only one good reason to drink coffee...the buzz. I don't drink near beer either!

running in high gear of CA 1:49PM January 28, 2009

OK, I get it, we all need to save some money. I'm thinking this would have been a great idea all along-never brew DECAF before the PM and not in the AM. Unless for some health reason-who wants decaf BEFORE 12pm? If you can not handle coffee- drink tea. And Starbucks, no wonder you are losing money, brewing DECAF in the AM? What Harvard grad approved that business move? Maybe Starbucks can ask for some TARP money to help them out of their non-caff. money slump.

I like REAL coffee of NC 1:49PM January 28, 2009

The reason they sell more decaf in the morning than in the afternoon is probably because they sell more coffee, of all varieties, in the morning than in the afternoon, and that at all times they sell more caffinated coffee than decaf. It stands to reason that their decaf sales drop considerably in the afternoon because their overall sales do.

Kris of CO 1:46PM January 28, 2009

Well at least something is actually fresh there. Still taste burnt. How convenient for people who go there to wait a whole 4 minutes for a crappy cup of coffee. And thats not including the wait in line or the lazy brista that likes to take their time.
Great idea Starbucks!

Martell of OR 1:44PM January 28, 2009

This should allow Starbucks to lower the price on regular coffee and still maintain a profit. Who knew regular coffee drinkers were subsidizing decaf drinkers.

AL of CA 1:40PM January 28, 2009

Huh what. I too thought that people would drink caffinated
coffee in the morning and decaf in the afternoon. I sometimes drink regular coffee but ONLY in the morning. If I want coffee in the afternoon it has to be decaf otherwise I would be up all night. Anyway there are many other places for good coffee (at least in new york). I always thought starbucks was a tad overrated and overpriced.

joe of NY 1:32PM January 28, 2009