"Starbucks coffee" news and stories

A new year, a new logo. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Starbucks mermaid is now going to fly solo, the company's 40th-anniversary logo shedding the Starbucks Coffee name in favor of a simple supersized trademark sea creature with the wild and wavy hair. Chief Executive Howard Schultz, at a webcast for baristas, said, "Even though we have been and always will be a coffee company and retailer, it's possible we'll have other products with our name on it and no coffee in it," the Journal reports.

Your eggnog jones is about to be satisfied. Tomorrow Starbucks is bringing back their holiday specials, including the Eggnog Latte. Gingerbread Men (and Women) can go for the Gingerbread Latte, and there are Caramel Brulée Latte and Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha, too. The Christmas Blend (regular and Espresso Roast) is also back, with its hints of pumpkin pie and gingerbread, and this year you can try it in an instant with the new VIA Ready Brew version. And from November 18 to 21, you can buy one of the holiday joes and get one free. For a chic kaffeeklatsch, sip your spicy brew from designer Jonathan Adler's new ceramic STARBUCKS (RED) To-Go Cup (above). As with all the STARBUCKS (RED) offerings, part of the proceeds from sales go to the Global Fund, which helps combat AIDS in Africa.

Ch-ch-ch-changes may be coming to a Starbucks near you. Known widely for their rapid expansion in the 1990's -- some would more pointedly describe it as "global domination" -- Starbucks is often viewed as the antithesis to local charm and character. Nevertheless, when Starbucks begins its nationwide store redesigns in late 2010, local relevance will be one of its top priorities, along with the celebration of coffee heritage and an overarching theme of environmental responsibility.

There are currently twelve prototype stores that reflect this "Starbucks Shared Planet" three-pronged mission, and they are all part of a U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Volume Certification pilot program (now that's a latte-guzzling mouthful). In short? While LEED was originally established to enable the green-certification of office buildings -- a time consuming and financially draining measure -- Starbucks has been working to create a system that would enable the certification of retail-store prototypes, so that once audited and approved by the USBGC, they would be able to replicate the certified process at all new or significantly renovated company-owned stores. The other pilot sites are in cities as varied as Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto, Canada; Lisbon, Portugal; and Kyoto, Japan. This falls on the heels of the news that Starbucks recently opened a café concept store that is serving wine and beer and hosting musicians and film viewings. Will all these efforts allow them to shake that image of the evil corporate empire?

Something new is brewing at Burger King's nationwide.

Starting this summer, the flame-broiled fast food restaurant will roll-out Starbucks Corp.'s Seattle's Best Coffee to more than 7,000 U.S. restaurants.

The new pick-me-up offering sends Burger King's own five-year-old coffee brand, BK Joe, into retirement after disappointing sales. John Schaufelberger, senior vice president of Burger King's global product marketing and innovation, told The Associated Press that the cup o' Joe revamp is part of a continued effort to improve its breakfast business -- citing the morning menu as one of their "top strategic priorities."

This recent post about Starbucks - as with most posts about Starbucks - caused the typical coffee cacophony over price and quality. Although I happen to like Starbucks just fine, I certainly appreciate a good homemade cup. Unfortunately, quality espresso machines are pricey and people rarely use them enough to meet their ROI ('Fess up: How many of you have a schmancy DeLonghi at home, but still go to Starbucks every day?). As a veteran barista (of both indie and corporate coffeehouses), I've come up with a stock of supplies to help make gourmet coffee at home.

Espresso drinks:

• Moka pot (like this one from Bialetti): Many Italians still brew their espresso the old-fashioned way -- on the stovetop. The pot steeps espresso grounds in boiling water until the bubbles force the creamy coffee into the top of the Moka. Pour it out, and there's your shot.
  
• Milk Frother (like this one from Aerolatte): This bad boy has a high-speed whisker that whips any kind of milk into foamy shape. (For a cappuccino, use half steamed milk/half foam; for a latte, use mainly steamed milk, with a layer of foam on top).