November 2008

Starbucks sued for age discrimination

A 56-year-old Maine woman is suing Starbucks for discrimination, claiming her several applications to work as a barista were turned down due to her age. The plaintiff is asking for over $300,000 from the coffee giant. Unless a settlement is reached, the case will go to court in February. According to the woman's lawyer, the manager of the store who refused to hire her lied about why she wasn't hired and failed to hire any new employee over 30 during the period the plaintiff applied. For their own part, Starbucks claims that she wasn't hired for other reasons, including her unpleasant behavior and error-filled application. My guess would be that this woman was not hired simply because she isn't a good candidate (after all, Starbucks baristas are usually so pleasant!), and the lawsuit has no basis. I'm guessing the vast majority of starbucks applicants are under 30, which could probably help explain why that particular store only hired from that demographic. But what do you think?

The war on Green Mountain coffee

As I'm sure most of you west-coast coffee drinkers have heard, Seattle-based Tully's coffee has sold its wholesale and distribution business to Vermont-based Green Mountain coffee Roasters. This does not affect the chain's retail businesses, which will be under the same ownership and management. However, as a Seattle resident and a lover of Tully's coffee, I have a few bones to pick with this development... I went to college in New Hampshire; all of our cafeterias but one brewed Green Mountain, and no matter where I was on campus I would treck to that one cafeteria because Green Mountain is like drinking hot water flavored with used paper coffee filters. Brewed Green Mountain has far more in common with instant coffee (I was going to say with bad instant coffee, but that would be redundant) than with the deep, rich flavor of Tully's drip (sorry to be a coffee snob, but I am a Seattle-ite!). New Englanders don't mind bad coffee; they all drink Dunkin Donuts, after all.

Starbucks election day give-away

Blogworks.org has estimated the cost of Starbucks election day offer of a free tall drip coffee to anyone who voted at $170,000; undoubtably, a small price to pay for the coffee giant. However, this estimate assumes only those who typically drink drip took advantage of this offer, which I beg to disagree with; though usually a latte girl myself, I would definitely have taken advantage of the offer if I hadn't voted absentee (hmm, maybe they would have given me one anyway. I should have looked into it!). Also considering the grim economic times, I'm sure many who can't kick their Starbucks habit have cut out the more expensive drinks in favor of drip anyway, so the estimate of habitual drip drinkers is probably too low. And wonder if Obama got his free coffee?

Welcome

caffeine addicts unite! Welcome to the blog all about anything and everything coffee-related. Whether you drink your coffee straight or loaded with cream and sugar, whether you think Starbucks is the promised land or the dark side, whether you prefer highest-quality Italian espresso or simply a good old cup of Folger's, this is the place for you! check back often! The Latte Report is a brand-new Klat Talk site