new town: starbucks challenge #4
Success! But weird. Barista 2 seems to try to convince me that Cafe Estima is not Fair Trade. This location had a prominent display near the register promoting Fair Trade month and offering bags of their Cafe Estima.
Barista 1: Good morning.
Me: Good morning. Do you have any Fair Trade certified coffee brewing?
Barista 1: Um.
Me [spying the Cafe Estima label]: That's it [pointing], I'll have the Cafe Estima, please.
Barista 1: Okay.
[At this point, for some reason, Barista 2, who is working the espresso machine, joins the conversation.]
Barista 2: That's not Fair Trade. It's like Fair Trade, but it's not the same.
Me: No, it's Fair Trade. [Picking up bag of beans.] See, the label says "Fair Trade Certified."
Barista 2: I understand that, but it's not the same as Fair Trade.
Barista 1: Here's your coffee.
Me: Thanks. [Moving away to add cream to my coffee.]
Barista 1: Barista 2, what are you saying? [Saying something else I cannot hear.]
Barista 2: I understand that. I understand that. But what I'm saying is it's a different blend.
[At this point, I realized Barista 2 thought I was ordering their now discontinued Fair Trade Blend.]
Guy next to me [popping the lid off of what he ordered]: He was so busy talking to you, he forgot to finish my order.
So there you have it. A Starbucks that's actually brewing their Fair Trade offering but trying to convince customers it's not "really" Fair Trade.
technorati tag: starbuckschallenge, starbucks, fairtrade, fairtradecoffee
Comments
Hey
Yeah that is odd...glad you got the FT though...which store was it...what location? Will add you to the feed...
Namaste
CH
Posted by: City Hippy | October 18, 2005 9:44 AM
I don't mention on my blog the name of the city where I currently live (to try to keep my Google radar low), but I'm happy to share the details via email.
Posted by: G Zombie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://ghw.wordherders.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 18, 2005 9:58 PM
I love this continuing saga...will have to look at my SBX next time to see what's going on there. (i've been at various non-SBX semi-fair-trade places lately)
Posted by: Mel | October 19, 2005 9:47 AM
I hate Starbucks coffee, but feel obligated to take the challenge ...
Posted by: Another Damned Medievalist | October 19, 2005 1:36 PM
Speaking of Fair Trade, it's not Starbucks, but the Seattle's Best organic French Roast is also Fair Trade Certified and it's quite good.
Just a word to the wise for when you're in the grocery store.
Posted by: Chuck![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://ghw.wordherders.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 21, 2005 4:59 PM
Chuck -- it is Starbuck's -- Seattle's Best was bought out a couple of years ago.
Posted by: Another Damned Medievalist | October 21, 2005 5:51 PM
I worked at a Starbucks over the summer, and, coincidently, I have a bag of sbux Cafe Estima sitting in my kitchen. The stuff is fair trade, no doubt about that.
Perhaps Barista #2 was refering to the specific coffee that is called "The Fair Trade Blend", which is just a standard blend of fair trade coffees. Cafe Estima is a more specific fair trade blend, from East Africa, I believe. Perhaps that's what caused the confusion.
I've been reading a lot about how bloggers have been going to starbucks and requesting the a cup of brewed fair trade over the counter. I went back to college before this started to catch on so I don't know if it's happening at my location.
Posted by: Austin | October 29, 2005 6:36 PM