Head to Starbucks for Free Coffee

Image:Morguefile

Starting today at nine a.m. Pacific time (noon Eastern), Starbucks will be introducing its new roast, Pikes Place.

The new coffee is named after the location of the first store that Starbucks opened in 1971, and will be the first Starbucks coffee advertise being ethically traded and sourced.

This is touted as being an “everyday” blend.  Interesting. I didn’ t know that the other swill I have been drinking was for special occasions only. Apparently it is being introduced to compete with McDonalds new coffee campaign.

Now, I am going to head over there today and check it out..and I will let you know what I think..but here is my immediate thought.

Isn’t Starbucks trying to compete with McDonalds the equivalent of Neiman Marcus trying to compete with Wal-mart? I mean, what is the point?  Is McDonalds coffee actually so good that people would go there for a business  meeting and leave Starbucks en masse? Starbucks carries sandwiches but I am pretty sure that noone who is in the throes of  a Big Mac attack is going to head to Starbucks.

An everyday coffee….we’ll see.