Alternatives to Starbucks?
Nov 17, 2016, 7:01 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,247
Nov 17, 2016, 8:04 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,017
Get off my lawn!!! LOL just kidding
I feel that way too
like another poster said, I use my coffee maker and at the office we have free coffee in the pantry so I seldom use SBUX. I used to go a couple of times a day until they priced me out of the market as $2.06 for a tall just isn't worth what I'm getting in return.
I do have the app loaded with some cash for when I am traveling though and their coffee is the same as all the other chains. DD is ok but the difference to me is minimal. Actually DD coffee is too hot for me; I can never drink their coffee until I'm 10 minutes down the road
I'm not sure what chains are around DFW but around here its SBUX, DD, or Peets
Around LAX I'll add Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
So maybe some DFW area FT'ers can direct you to something more local but all in all, get a good coffee maker for home and or work and you should be happy.
I feel that way too
like another poster said, I use my coffee maker and at the office we have free coffee in the pantry so I seldom use SBUX. I used to go a couple of times a day until they priced me out of the market as $2.06 for a tall just isn't worth what I'm getting in return.
I do have the app loaded with some cash for when I am traveling though and their coffee is the same as all the other chains. DD is ok but the difference to me is minimal. Actually DD coffee is too hot for me; I can never drink their coffee until I'm 10 minutes down the road
I'm not sure what chains are around DFW but around here its SBUX, DD, or Peets
Around LAX I'll add Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
So maybe some DFW area FT'ers can direct you to something more local but all in all, get a good coffee maker for home and or work and you should be happy.
Yeah. It's called your kitchen. The folks there always know how you like your coffee, and it can be made so that it's available to you at EXACTLY the same time every day. No lines. If there's a custom order, it's only because you placed it. And it's amazingly cheaper than Starbucks.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
After reading OP response, I wondered if it was possible to return home Inbetween school drop off and work. Otherwise why not bring a thermos of coffee and have other relaxation moment before work?
I'm very happy with my home coffeemaker - mind you I only got one this year after 2 decades of buying coffee at local cafes etc. I'm very late. But I'm thrilled to do it. I'll still buy coffee on holiday.
There is a cost and environmental savings. I own SBUX stock as stock and part of DIA etf. Better financial return.
But let's also remember OP and that the request is for coffee shop alternatives, not a lifestyle alternative :-)
Yum yum
I'm very happy with my home coffeemaker - mind you I only got one this year after 2 decades of buying coffee at local cafes etc. I'm very late. But I'm thrilled to do it. I'll still buy coffee on holiday.
There is a cost and environmental savings. I own SBUX stock as stock and part of DIA etf. Better financial return.
But let's also remember OP and that the request is for coffee shop alternatives, not a lifestyle alternative :-)
Yum yum
FYI...I tried the mobile app this morning with good results; got lucky on the parking lot situation, so the experience was better than the day before.
@dchristiva...you're even more crotchety than I am. I suppose if I asked for a really good place to get a perfectly cooked stead you would direct me to the grill in my backyard.
Nov 17, 2016, 5:55 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,389
Nov 17, 2016, 7:08 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
We just started getting them in the past year or so (that I know of)
The closest one that I know of is down by the air and space museum just south of IAD. But I go by there every so often and stop in
Nov 17, 2016, 7:22 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,409
The Metroplex is a big area, there are quite a few independent places. I am not a Starbucks fan so I look for theses places too.
Saxbys - Allen
Astoria Cafe - Addison
Nerdvana -Frisco
Pearl Cup - Richardson
Cultivar - 3 locations
Biggbys- Allen
And a mighty fine list here.
https://www.yelp.com/list/21-good-in...e-shops-dallas
Saxbys - Allen
Astoria Cafe - Addison
Nerdvana -Frisco
Pearl Cup - Richardson
Cultivar - 3 locations
Biggbys- Allen
And a mighty fine list here.
https://www.yelp.com/list/21-good-in...e-shops-dallas
Nov 17, 2016, 9:00 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,610
Message received: do it your damn self!
FYI...I tried the mobile app this morning with good results; got lucky on the parking lot situation, so the experience was better than the day before.
@dchristiva...you're even more crotchety than I am. I suppose if I asked for a really good place to get a perfectly cooked stead you would direct me to the grill in my backyard.
FYI...I tried the mobile app this morning with good results; got lucky on the parking lot situation, so the experience was better than the day before.
@dchristiva...you're even more crotchety than I am. I suppose if I asked for a really good place to get a perfectly cooked stead you would direct me to the grill in my backyard.
Nov 18, 2016, 9:49 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 205
SBUX mobile app is what I use 90% of the time when I go there. This removes people that know what they want from the ordering queue and makes the occasional unplanned trip not as bad with regards to line length.
Although I am the type of customer that SBUX wants (person that buys some of their high margin food items as well as the convoluted concoctions that tend to be expensive), I rarely go there anymore. This is, in part, due to parking concerns at many of their well-visited stores. I have learned to avoid the double-star days as many of their food items are wiped out and they are busier than normal so drink orders take longer to fill.
Last year, I spent about $600 at SBUX and obtained 7 rewards. This year, I have spent $500 with a little over $41 left on the card currently. I have redeemed 3 rewards and have 637 stars currently so the new system has been beneficial to me numbers-wise. Although absent the star dashes that would not be true.
Peets and Dunkin are OK but they have their limitations just like SBUX. It's more of a personal preference. it depends on location, obviously, but SBUX usually wins in store location volume so that convenience is part of what drives me when I get the urge.
Although I am the type of customer that SBUX wants (person that buys some of their high margin food items as well as the convoluted concoctions that tend to be expensive), I rarely go there anymore. This is, in part, due to parking concerns at many of their well-visited stores. I have learned to avoid the double-star days as many of their food items are wiped out and they are busier than normal so drink orders take longer to fill.
Last year, I spent about $600 at SBUX and obtained 7 rewards. This year, I have spent $500 with a little over $41 left on the card currently. I have redeemed 3 rewards and have 637 stars currently so the new system has been beneficial to me numbers-wise. Although absent the star dashes that would not be true.
Peets and Dunkin are OK but they have their limitations just like SBUX. It's more of a personal preference. it depends on location, obviously, but SBUX usually wins in store location volume so that convenience is part of what drives me when I get the urge.
Nov 18, 2016, 10:11 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
The biggest problem is that Starbucks are everywhere and in some places other nearby options are limited. I haven't tried 7-11 lately, but their stores all seem to have that "7-11 smell" that I'm not fond of. I do like Wawa (Racetrack's not bad either), and I love the 79 cent any size that they do occasionally.
As far as non-convenience store options, I think DD is about the only place that has decent coverage, but even then nowhere near as prevalent as sb.
As others have said, I'll always give a local place or small chain a try if there's one nearby but in some places sb has just saturated the market.
As far as non-convenience store options, I think DD is about the only place that has decent coverage, but even then nowhere near as prevalent as sb.
As others have said, I'll always give a local place or small chain a try if there's one nearby but in some places sb has just saturated the market.