RSS… because they can’t steam milk.
Dec 15
Why Starbucks Sucks Comments Off
I’ve always ordered my lattes with nonfat milk, despite the fact that everyday (or sometimes twice or three times a day), I leave Starbucks with my triple grande skinny vanilla latte disappointed by the foaminess of my non-fat milk. I like my latte foam to be similar to the consistency of a squirt of Mens’ Gillette Foamy Shaving Cream, but instead, I’m repeatedly given foam that more resembles bubbly spit. The milk, for some reason, waters down the taste of espresso in my latte as well- making the sugar-free vanilla far too noticeable… and so sweet that it is almost nauseating. All in all, my $4.50 coffee leaves me disappointed every time, no matter which Starbucks I visit.
Well… last week I went to Peet’s. And ordered a non-fat latte. With sugar-free vanilla. And it was amazing.
I’m not going to lie, they’re a little slow. But my coffee was unbelievable. First, they use real espresso machines and have real baristas. Back in my day as a Starbucks barista, we were trained to use manual espresso machines. With a little handle you would have to pull ground espresso from a grinder into a portafilter, and then ever so skillfully tamp the espresso into the portafilter with just enough (but not too much) pressure to pack the coffee in just right- so when the portafilter is put into the machine and the water is turned on, it takes between 18 and 22 seconds for the shot to pour. If the shot pours too fast, the shot will be too weak; too slow- too strong. For the last few years, Starbucks has been using an automatic machine- barista’s just press a button and a shot of espresso pours out. Plain and simple.
My Pete’s baristas also steamed my non-fat milk to perfection. The foam on top of my latte was thick and creamy and smooth- almost like a melted merangue. Starbucks baristas will steam whole half gallons of milk at a time in one large stainless steel pitcher and then divide the milk between the cups in the queue. If there is more milk left than is needed for drinks, the barista will put the milk aside and steam it again when it is needed (milk is only supposed to be re-steamed once- but I don’t believe that everyone sticks to that rule). You know when your latte tastes slightly sour and bit burnt? Yeah- your milk was re-steamed. Peet’s seems to steam their milk on a drink by drink basis… making your milk hot, fresh, and foamy. Yum.
To make a long story short, Starbucks sucks as usual, but especially compared to a coffeeshop that actually MAKES your coffee, instead of just pushing buttons and going through the motions.
