I Don’t Go to Starbucks for Dunkin Donuts/7-11/McDonalds Coffee

SEATTLE; April 7, 2008
The Proof is in the Cup: Starbucks Launches Historic New Pike Place Roast. Company Reinvents Brewed Coffee Category and Hosts Nation’s Largest Coast-to-Coast Coffee Tasting.

SEATTLE; May 1, 2008
Nation’s Coffee Tasting Complete, Customers Choose to Dump Pike Place Roast: Original Beans are Back, Starbucks Brings Back its Unique Mix of 100% Sumatran Beans, Breakfast and House Blend, Verona, and Other Favorites to Deliver the Smooth, Delicious Flavor that Starbucks Customers Missed During the Coast-to-Coast Coffee Boycott.


In order to compete with the "world's largest coffee and baked goods chain," Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks rolled out Pike Place Roast. It took ten cents off, took two slots of old favorites to brew PPR, and are now trying to convert DD/7-11/McDonalds customers to marginal, flavorless coffee, while angering customers who can’t live without their daily joe of good aromatic coffee. If I wanted Dunkin Donuts/7-11/McDonalds coffee, I would go to Dunkin Donuts/7-11/McDonalds. Bring back real coffee and get ride of Pike, the Nation has proclaimed! While you are at it, lets add a few more to the brew list.

The Nation Agrees, Dump the Pike! The following comments about PPR have been suggested:

“Where do you pick up a decent cup of coffee to take to the office with you anymore?”
“I think the "New Coke" analogy is a good one - I predict Pike Place Roast will be in marketing textbooks very soon.”
“Can we replace Pikes Place Roast with Christmas Blend? If we can have year-round CB, I would be willing to pay the extra ten cents that PPR is saving the company.”
“PPR has replaced my second and third choice of good coffee, help Mr. Schulz, Now!”
“An "everyday" brew? I want a selection of good brew not a trifling blend.”
“I guess, I'll be buying bagged coffee and brewing at home soon.”
“So this is the only blend they are offering now? I thought it was just being added to the mix, but they would have it daily?” Pete’s, where is your closest store?”
“My biggest problem with SBUX is that for a giant coffee shop I think it's ridiculous that they only have one or two options at a time. Our local coffee shop would normally offer four or five different types of coffee at a time. Heck, our 7-11 has a bigger variety every morning.”
“I understand that most of their business is their "fancy" espresso drinks. It would just be nice to see them a little more focused on coffee.”
“Considering that 7-11 will be buying the cheapest coffee they can get, they can afford to brew it, dump it, brew it dump it, or let it go bad and serve it.”
“Starbucks comes out with this weak, flavorless HOT DISHWATER as their only choice - two days of drinking this swill has got me looking for a new coffee stand.”
“Starbucks might not like this, but it kind of reminds me of Dunkin' Donuts' house coffee.”

Future Presidential Candidate Speech, April 29, 2008, The Nation has spoken:

"More coffee choices! Dump the “everyday” coffee. Consider concentrating on just coffee, and remember that we have choices in this big and beautiful world. We should remember that this is an historic moment. We, the people, in order to form a more perfect union, two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a coffee shop that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America's improbable experiment in democracy. “Dump the tea into the ocean!” they announced publicly.

In an effort to change the way we drink in the morning, they dumped the tea in the harbor in favor of a more perfect roast, a wonderfully balanced, sharp, bright liveliness that lets you know that you can sit in front of that computer monitor for the next eight hours kind of beverage. Farmers and scholars, statesmen and patriots, traveled across a vast ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia coffee convention in 1787. Go ahead! Indulge yourself with a nice cup of joe and a small wedge of dark chocolate or a lemon square. You will live longer and enjoy your time on this earth more.

Vindication for the everyday brew is here! Sandwiches, merchandise, and music production are a side note to a real cup of sensational textures, fullness and consistency created on the tongue. "Bring me acidity, bring me body, bring me varietals, or bring me death!" a famous figure bellowed for all to hear. Great coffee was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this campaign, to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free and more prosperous America. I choose real flavor, a blend of robust beans, I choose choice in a beverage to wake me up in the morning, I choose to run for Coffee Club President because I am the most qualified coffee drinker in the workplace. The people have spoken, the Nation has listened, dump the swill overboard, and bring me a tasty treat.”