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Sometimes the most random, but fun, ideas at the most random times. Yesterday, while at Disneyland (not Starbucks) I thought of a new way to have even more adventures at Starbucks. Along with continuing to share the Adventures at Starbucks that I experience, I will also be reviewing the various Starbucks stores that I visit. Obviously, this will start in Southern California as I visit different Starbucks in my region. However, as time goes by and when I travel, other Starbucks will be included as well!
For reviewing different Starbucks stores, I will be focusing on three criteria. The three main areas I will review are Taste, Experience, and Environment.
Taste
The taste of drinks and foods at Starbucks are a very important part of the Starbucks experience. In general, I order an Americano when I visit most coffee shops. For the reviews, this will most likely be what I order as well. You can’t hide behind fancy ingredients with an Americano. It is simply water and espresso. That sounds very simple but simple is hard! It is surprising how often I’ve had an Americano that doesn’t taste right. Perhaps the shots weren’t pulled right. Perhaps they sat too long. Perhaps it wasn’t fresh? There are many ways to mess up an Americano and a good coffee shop can put out a good Americano. The Americano doesn’t lie.
Foods at Starbucks aren’t something I don’t consume quite as often. However, I will be reviewing some of the foods as well. The flavors, in general, don’t change for the foods. However, some foods are prepared/warmed better than others. There is nothing worse than getting a breakfast sandwich and having it be cold in the middle! However, there are also few things more satisfying than a perfectly warmed pastry with your coffee in the morning.
Experience
The Starbucks experience is one of the reasons I have been a regular at Starbucks for decades. Since before starting Daps Magic in 2004, Starbucks has been a regular place I have frequented. Not all Starbucks stores are equal however. Through the years I have found some fantastic stores with incredible managers and teams. I’ve also found some that have missed the mark. Quite often, the best stores are reflections of the best managers. I will never forget in the mid 2000s seeing the manager dancing around his store to 80s music in his store and singing along as his team danced and sang along, all while making coffee! To date, this is still one of the best Starbucks experiences I’ve ever had and also just one of my favorite memories. The Starbucks experience really comes down to the customer experience and the culture of each individual store.
Environment
The environment of a Starbucks can also impact a Starbucks visit. With as many Starbucks stores around the country and globe, some get better locations and visitors than others. This can greatly impact the Starbucks visit and quite often is out of the individual Starbucks store team’s control. This could include how old a Starbucks building is, the location it is at, the safety of the parking lot, the people who visit, and the actual environmental controls in the visit to name a few. These are the things that impact an experience that really are mainly out of the control of the people who are working at any given store.
The Rating System
For each of these categories, I will continue to use a variation of the rating system I have been reviewing things with on Daps Magic. Each of the three categories will be rated and then the store will get an overall rating based on the average of the three. The ratings can be changed over time. However, this will lead to a separate review that will link back to the previous review (in theory if I remember and find the original review). Stores do change with time and that will be acknowledged for better or for sure!
Mr. Daps Hat Rating Scale
- No Hat – It was not good at all!
- Hat – It was poor
- Hat Nod – It was ok
- Hat Tip – It was good
- Hat’s Off – Loved it!
I hope you enjoy going on this new adventure at Starbucks with me for Adventures at Starbucks Review!
