April 3, 2008

Wireless At Peet's?!

The Menlo Park, California Peet's Coffee and Tea store now has wireless. Officially! You connect to the wireless router named "Peet's." Your browser window will then open to a Peet's sign-in page, asking for a code. You get a code from the register, enter it into the browser, and you get two free hours of wireless.

Wireless at Peet's! I no longer have to buy a Peet's and then go sit outside a Starbucks to use the wireless. Finally!

Do any readers have any news about any other Peet's locations with wireless?

March 27, 2008

Thoughts on tipping

I'm interviewed today in the Lincoln Journal Star about tipping in coffee shops, and STC gets a mention as well.

Previous tip blogging here and here.

March 24, 2008

It might be illegal, but it wasn't stealing

Starbucks' headline-making brand recreation is a bit tarnished today by an adverse court ruling. As decided in California, the company owes baristas about a hundred million dollars in tips that were distributed to shift supervisors and managers. The coverage makes it look like corporate was stealing from their workers. The L. A. Times, for example, leads by saying that "Starbucks got caught with its hand in the tip jar."

The practice might have been illegal under California law, but it wasn't stealing. If baristas (oops, I mean "partners") didn't like the practice they were free to work elsewhere or renegotiate terms. It's also a sensible way to do business: if supervisors spend most of their time doing the work of baristas and cashiers, there's no reason for them not to get tipped out with the other workers. Restaurants with on-the-floor managers who serve tables do exactly the same thing.

Assuming Starbucks' compensation model is effective, this ruling won't change much. It's a one-time bonus for baristas who get to take advantage of a stupid law and a one-time hit for the corporation that's getting nailed by it. It could lead to raises for supervisors to compensate for lost tips and will likely slow down pay increases for non-management positions. It doesn't do much of anything to change incentives, except perhaps to make managers less invested in running fast, friendly stores. This isn't a victory for workers' rights; it's a forced replacement of a business model that was working well to another, possibly less efficient one demanded by court decree.

The Clover rollout

How fast and how far will Starbucks rollout its newly acquired Clovers? Answer: real fast and real far. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports:

Many stores will be getting a Clover, but probably not those with low foot traffic or short hours, Gass said. Very busy stores may get two. About 30 percent of U.S. stores will get Clovers by year-end, Schultz said.

In another article -- does any other newspaper devote so much space to coffee coverage? -- a discouraging sign about the future of Clover sales to indie shops:

[Clover founder Zander Nosler says,] "When I first wrote a business plan, it did have the idea of Starbucks in it. And I was told early on, 'You'd better not write a business plan that has one customer, because you won't raise much money with that.' So we made a plan that involved going out to the world, to everybody."

That's precisely what Schultz didn't want -- so he bought the company.

I can't fault the guys for selling. They got a dream offer, and they certainly deserve it for all their hard work, vision, and ingenuity. But still, looking at all the potential the Clover holds for changing the way people think about coffee, it would be a shame to see Starbucks get it exclusively. Unfortunately, I suspect Starbucks Corp. sees more advantage in keeping Clover brewers to itself and to the few early adopters that already have them. Let's hope I'm wrong...

March 3, 2008

Mac Air Notebook

I'm working in a Starbucks -- instead of Peets because Peet's won't get wireless.

There's a guy in here with a new Mac Air. Oh, that thing is beautiful!

I told him if he charged people a dollar to touch it he could probably pay for it in a week.

February 11, 2008

Starbucks Changing Wireless to ATT

Through the Crave Gadget blog: Starbucks ditches T-Mobile for AT&T,

T-Mobile HotSpot subscribers will continue to have access to Starbucks Wi-Fi thanks to an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile. But the new AT&T plan allows all customers 2 free hours per day, with a $3.99 fee for additional 2-hour chunks of time. Monthly subscriptions will cost $19.99 and will enable access to other AT&T hot-spot locations in addition to Starbucks.

In addition, AT&T broadband customers will be able to surf at the more than 7,000 Starbucks locations in the U.S. for free.

From ComputerWorld:

The deal is a boost to many Wi-Fi users, who will get two hours of free Wi-Fi service in-store per day if they have an active Starbucks Card or already are one of 12 million users who subscribe to AT&T broadband, Starbucks and AT&T said.
The Starbucks press release:

Continue reading "Starbucks Changing Wireless to ATT" »

January 28, 2008

Does Caffeine Boost Blood Sugar?

A new study raises question about caffeine's effect on blood sugar levels.

Caffeine ups blood sugar level in diabetics: study - Yahoo! News,

Giving caffeine to a small group of people with type 2 diabetes caused their levels of the blood sugar glucose to rise through the day, especially after meals, researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, found.

"Caffeine appears to disrupt glucose metabolism in a way that could be harmful to people with type-2 diabetes," James Lane, a Duke medical psychologist who led the study, said in a telephone interview.

However, this is only one study, and it has dirrerent results from previous studies. So don't take this as the final answer.
The new findings seem to run counter to previous research regarding diabetes and caffeine. Earlier studies indicated that people who drank coffee had a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, and those who drank the most coffee had the lowest risk.

The researchers used new technology -- a tiny glucose monitor embedded under the abdominal skin -- to monitor the glucose levels continuously in 10 people, average age 63.

On days when the participants were given four tablets containing caffeine equivalent to four cups of coffee, their average daily sugar levels rose 8 percent compared to days when the same people were given four placebo tablets, the researchers reported in the journal Diabetes Care.

"What we are really showing here is that when people with type-2 diabetes who are regular coffee drinkers drink coffee, it produces an elevation in their glucose throughout the day above what it is if they don't have caffeine," Lane said.

"This suggests that people with diabetes might want to avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages so that this exaggeration doesn't occur. They may find that it's easier for them to keep their glucose down if they avoid caffeine."

So it could mean that it helps keep you from getting diabetes but after you get diabetes it elevates the sugar level...

January 15, 2008

Song Stuck In Head

My wife told me that she has "Haven't Got Time For The Pain" stuck in her head. So now it is stuck in MY head. Thanks, Dear.

Can you think of a worse song to have stuck in your head? Pleave a comment.

December 23, 2007

Happy Holidays

Espresso left us this year, but now she has all the muffins she could want.

Buddy still has to suffer indignities...

Happy Holidays from the Johnsons!

I'm Getting A Little Bit Better

I'm getting a little bit better at making my first morning coffee. This morning I didn't put the beans straight into the press pot without grinding them. And I didn't put ground coffee into the grinder! And I didn't pour the water into the grinder - or into the bag of beans.

All of these I have done. But I am getting better.

THIS morning I measured and poured the beans into the grinder. Or I should say ONto the grinder. I didn't take the top off first.

All of which are better than this, another occasional morning ritual:


December 14, 2007

Gift ideas for coffee and cocktail lovers

Stuff I've enjoyed this year...

PUG! Muddler -- Your friend probably doesn't need a muddler this big, but damn, it's cool. Also good for beating down that unruly house guest who's had a few too many mojitos.

Eva Solo brewer -- Brews like a French press, but with style. This is what I use every day at my "desktop coffee shop" now that I'm in a think tank instead of working as a barista. The advantages over a traditional press are the modern design, insulating jacket, and drip-free pour spout. It's questionable whether these marginal improvements are worth the hefty price tag, but it's a great coffee maker.

Continue reading "Gift ideas for coffee and cocktail lovers" »

December 11, 2007

Brits and Coffee?

My wife is British, and if you know Brits you know that means there is a LOT of tea-drinking going on. So this surprised me ... until I read it: Brits love their coffee ... research

It's a banner day for coffee news at the Beeb. Java-related research dominates the list of most-emailed stories at BBC News.

Coming in at No. 1 is a report that "Coffee 'protects female memory." Three spots later, we learn that "Coffee 'boosts female sex drive."

... Scientists reported in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behaviour that caffeine made female rats randy during an experiment in which the rodents were dosed with the stimulant before mating. ...

OH! They LOVE their coffee...

December 5, 2007

Smelling The Coffee Featured in Nerd of the Week

Watch for it:

November 28, 2007

Assorted coffee links

The Economist takes a peek at the Clover coffee brewer

Sova Espresso and Wine opens in Washington, DC

Starbucks anti-trust suit moving forward

Starbucks opens farmer support center in Ethiopia

November 27, 2007

Oh No! Christmas Music!

Oh no. I just parked myself in a Starbucks to work for a while. I forgot that it's Christmas music time. Oh no. Oh no. And I already bought my half-caf Americano (extra roomy). Oh no.

Param-pa-pum-pum.

I try to avoid Starbucks this time of year. Sure it's nice to stop in,but Christmas music all the time... The poor baristas, having to listen to this all day. Why don't they form a union?

Peet's WHY oh WHY can't you get wireless?

November 12, 2007

Peet's New Roastery

From Peet's:

Located in Alameda, CA, just six miles from our home office in Emeryville, CA, the opening of our new roastery facility marks an important milestone for Peet's, as we meet the growing demand for our coffees and teas.

The unique specifications of the building, equipment, and layout were all custom-designed by Peet's to support our distinctive approach to hand-roasting coffee, to order, in small batches and delivering it fresh within 24 hours of roasting.

In addition, our new roasting facility is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified featuring recycled materials, water-efficient landscaping and plumbing, low-energy lighting and heating, and will use "green" electrical power.

We invite you to learn more by viewing the new online tour of our artisan roastery: view tour

Here it is: Peet's Coffee & Tea - Artisan Roastery Tour