View Poll Results: After UA replaced Starbucks, what's your opinion of the replacement coffee?
It's much better than Starbucks.
5
4.07%
It's somewhat better than Starbucks.
3
2.44%
It's about the same as Starbucks.
4
3.25%
It's somewhat poorer than Starbucks.
10
8.13%
It's much worse than Starbucks.
101
82.11%
Voters: 123. You may not vote on this poll
Starbucks coffee no longer served on UA as of 1-July-2011 [updated]
Jun 28, 2011, 4:28 pm
#46
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Jun 28, 2011, 5:57 pm
#47
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Now that would be sweet if it happened (and would make goalie-dad very happy as he was the one who developed the current coffee flavor for Dunks when he was VP of R&D back in the mid-70's)
Jun 28, 2011, 6:17 pm
#48
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I will miss the Starbucks- it was certainly a differentiation for PMUA.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jun 28, 2011 at 6:46 pm Reason: response to deleted quote
Jun 28, 2011, 7:25 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
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Just one more example...Merger of equals? What a crock! 
Jun 29, 2011, 5:13 am
#50
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Seattle
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Posts: 638
Im actually surprised by this decision as I would have thought starbucks having their logo emblazoned on the UA cups was great advertising especially since when you get off the plane this is what usually greets you at most US airports. As far as plane coffee goes I much preferred the stronger UA brew over the watery rancid CO stuff.
Jun 29, 2011, 5:17 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2005
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And here in the bay area Peet's lovers have about the same affection for that merger as most on FT seem to have for the UA/CO merger...
The irony is about 30+ years ago Mr. Peet went to Seattle to show a small start up coffee roaster how to to do it. Not sure how much Mr. Peet was paid in consulting fees, but it sure came around and bit him in the rear about 20 years later when there was a Starbucks seemingly on every corner in the bay area.
The irony is about 30+ years ago Mr. Peet went to Seattle to show a small start up coffee roaster how to to do it. Not sure how much Mr. Peet was paid in consulting fees, but it sure came around and bit him in the rear about 20 years later when there was a Starbucks seemingly on every corner in the bay area.
Jun 29, 2011, 6:44 am
#52
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
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However, on the liquor front UA got rid of Glenlivet and using CO catering has brought back Glenlivet for most int'l flights. Hopefully it'll be expanded for domestic flights again. That's a change I like.
Changing from quality Starbucks to Houston's Worst Coffee isn't the end of the world
Boarding all elites together isn't the end of the world
Getting rid of fresh veggies and other RCC offerings isn't the end of the world
Getting rid of quality blankets and all pillows isn't the end of the world
Diminishing 1K benefits isn't the end of the world
Losing a famous livery isn't the end of the world
Add it all up and it starts to make for a worse flight / airline / loyalty experience though
Boarding all elites together isn't the end of the world
Getting rid of fresh veggies and other RCC offerings isn't the end of the world
Getting rid of quality blankets and all pillows isn't the end of the world
Diminishing 1K benefits isn't the end of the world
Losing a famous livery isn't the end of the world
Add it all up and it starts to make for a worse flight / airline / loyalty experience though
Jun 29, 2011, 2:20 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,865
As a coffee snob I find Starbucks barely tolerable anyway, so this news doesn't upset me too much. The post about a possible Starbucks buyout of Peet's does upset me though, since I always found Peet's to be the only *really* tolerable coffee of the big chains.
Somebody said it's impossible to brew decent coffee in a plane anyway -- why is this? Is it to do with the air pressure lowering the boiling temperature of the water? Can't somebody build a pressurized coffee brewing apparatus?
Somebody said it's impossible to brew decent coffee in a plane anyway -- why is this? Is it to do with the air pressure lowering the boiling temperature of the water? Can't somebody build a pressurized coffee brewing apparatus?
Jun 29, 2011, 6:33 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: San Diego
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Would expect to see Starbucks have another aviation partner (or partners) very soon now that their exclusive deal with UA has come to an end.
Likely candidates include Alaska and Jet Blue. Maybe even Delta who recently moved to Seattle's Best which is a Starbucks owned company.
Likely candidates include Alaska and Jet Blue. Maybe even Delta who recently moved to Seattle's Best which is a Starbucks owned company.
Jun 29, 2011, 7:27 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 571
As a coffee snob I find Starbucks barely tolerable anyway, so this news doesn't upset me too much. The post about a possible Starbucks buyout of Peet's does upset me though, since I always found Peet's to be the only *really* tolerable coffee of the big chains.
Somebody said it's impossible to brew decent coffee in a plane anyway -- why is this? Is it to do with the air pressure lowering the boiling temperature of the water? Can't somebody build a pressurized coffee brewing apparatus?
Somebody said it's impossible to brew decent coffee in a plane anyway -- why is this? Is it to do with the air pressure lowering the boiling temperature of the water? Can't somebody build a pressurized coffee brewing apparatus?
I would assume that it’s possible to meet those criteria, just expensive and possibly unsafe. Given that any coffee served on a plane is going to be old, stale and poorly roasted anyways, the temperature and extraction time aren’t what’s holding it back.
Jun 29, 2011, 8:29 pm
#56
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 219
I don’t know if it’s impossible but coffee is supposed to be brewed at 195F at a proper ration about about 17ml:1g ground coffee with about a 2:30 minute extraction time. I always assumed the reason coffee is brewed at such low temperatures on a plane (and, well, everywhere) is because of cost with the added concern of safety on an aircraft.
I would assume that it’s possible to meet those criteria, just expensive and possibly unsafe. Given that any coffee served on a plane is going to be old, stale and poorly roasted anyways, the temperature and extraction time aren’t what’s holding it back.
I would assume that it’s possible to meet those criteria, just expensive and possibly unsafe. Given that any coffee served on a plane is going to be old, stale and poorly roasted anyways, the temperature and extraction time aren’t what’s holding it back.
Jun 30, 2011, 7:46 am
#57
Join Date: Sep 2009
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They can spec any quality of coffee they want
from this industrial roaster. The question is where their quality/cost point will be. I don't think brand matters. It is bean, roast and freshness and it looks like this supplier does have some high end coffees.
Jul 1, 2011, 5:14 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 316
I remember the small bags of Starbucks that they would pass out in F and C from time to time as a promotion. They handed out some instant stuff that is still around somewhere.
Starbucks is not necessarily great coffee and is replaceable as long as they do not go too cheap.
Starbucks is not necessarily great coffee and is replaceable as long as they do not go too cheap.
Jul 3, 2011, 1:50 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
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Those who find "charbucks" "barely tolerable" will look back fondly on the Starbucks days after you get a good taste of what is to come.
Jul 3, 2011, 1:58 pm
#60
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, Kailua-Kona, Cairns
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Posts: 740
And here in the bay area Peet's lovers have about the same affection for that merger as most on FT seem to have for the UA/CO merger...
The irony is about 30+ years ago Mr. Peet went to Seattle to show a small start up coffee roaster how to to do it. Not sure how much Mr. Peet was paid in consulting fees, but it sure came around and bit him in the rear about 20 years later when there was a Starbucks seemingly on every corner in the bay area.
The irony is about 30+ years ago Mr. Peet went to Seattle to show a small start up coffee roaster how to to do it. Not sure how much Mr. Peet was paid in consulting fees, but it sure came around and bit him in the rear about 20 years later when there was a Starbucks seemingly on every corner in the bay area.