"frap" news and stories

So, I've gotta hand it to Starbucks. Its new site, My Starbucks Idea, is actually...well, a good idea. You sign up and simply type in a suggestion that you think the coffee chain should adopt, and post it to the site. You can also view others' advice, and vote on ones you think are worthwhile.

Then - and this is the kicker - someone from the corporation actually reads the ideas and even puts some of them into practice. Several of the ideas on the site are currently "under review," like the suggestions for implementing frequent buyer punch cards, or for implementing free Wifi access in every store (obviously, many city locations already have WiFi service).

I'm also surprised at the quality of the suggestions. Though I'd imagine that the site is highly monitored to eliminate the crazies (or, for that matter, Starbucks haters), many of the responses are actually decent and well thought-out. And some, on the other hand, are flat-out hilarious: one poster calls Starbucks' music "pseudo-intellectual," "over-produced" and "noisy garbage," while another requests that the music in his local store be turned down, so that when he's "making a business call, it doesn't sound like I'm calling from a public place." Um...isn't that what your home and office are for?

Hmm...so I guess suggesting "STOP EXPANDING YOUR CHAIN!" would probably get flagged, huh? Just a thought.

Starbucks has a few new drinks in the works for this summer. Actually, the company is always testing new drinks in different parts of the country. Some are limited release - like macchiatos flavored with maple in the Northeast U.S. and coconut mocha in Hawaii - and others are destined, if successful, to be part of a much larger rollout. Creme Brulee and Blackberry Green Tea flavors, supposedly, will be released at the end of spring, and Starbucks is experimenting with soy-based Frappuccinos for non-dairy drinkers. The Green Tea Frappuccino is said to have blackberry puree or syrup, similar to the one added to the Strawberries and Cream frappuccino, added to the base, and the drink will be topped with a blackberry drizzle.