A New York woman hates it enough to sue Burger King for 5 million dollars. Yep.  5 million.  Why? Apparently the company sent text messages to her phone encouraging her to try the newest coffee drink offerings at her local BK. Although the five million seems sorta hefty the woman, Elizabeth Espinal, says that they continued to send her text messages even though she repeatedly asked them to stop. She says that BK actually caused her harm with the texts, that they were aggravating AND that she had to pay for them. An example of the harrassing texts is:

Stop by BK for a refreshing Mocha BK Joe Iced Coffee. A perfect mix of rich coffee and chocolate syrup.

Wow. That’s harsh.

I don’t think companies ought to be able to send spam texts but I think that clogging up the courts with even more stupid lawsuits is…well….stupid.

And besides, it could have been worse. It could have been one of the topless coffee shops.

image: sxc

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Imagine getting a coffee pot that talked to you. You get up in the morning place your order with the coffee pot and magically it all happens. Well it is real with the Primula Coffee maker. Yep, girls and boys it is called…The Speak and Brew.

Shhh…it talks to you.

I don’t know. I think you almost have to be a  morning person to deal with this. I am a morning person and I am pretty sure a gabby coffee pot would draw rapid fire some mornings. I haven’t heard the voice, or what the options are…so I can’t tell you… Personally, I think that while  it could be irritating, there is also a lot of potential. I mean who can turn down a coffee maker with a voice like Sean Connery or Barry White that tells you you are looking fine? Ladies, imagine walking into the kitchen and hearing, “Hey baby, I am hot for you.”

See the potential there?

I thought so.

Anyway, it is just under $80.  Definitely worth a look – or a listen. I am just hoping it isn’t like those stuffed animals a decade ago that were programmed to “learn” and take their cues from your conversation. I am not sure I am ready for a coffee pot that develops its own personality.

image:SXC (photoshopped by me)

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Buena Beans brings the coffee from La Violeta, Costa Rica to the American market and uses the profits to improve the local school. It is run by Kate Schneider, a former volunteer teacher in the town.

Kate spent a year living and working in La Violeta. She was impressed by the quality of the coffee and amazed by the history of the town. Coffee had pulled the community out of dire poverty over three generations. Thing is, there are no opportunities outside of small-scale farming for the generation of children growing up now and future generations.

With a few thousand dollars, the community could afford to build a secure space to house computers that it received as a donation. With the infrastructure already in place for an internet connection, the entire community could access the Internet through a free connection provided by the government. All they need is four walls and a roof.

Every purchase you make from Buena Beans is a direct action in support of global educational initiatives, sustainable development, and great coffee. They need to sell a total of 4500 lbs of coffee to meet this need. They have all ready sold a lot of that.  If everyone who reads this bought just one pound that goal would be met.

I am not getting paid for this. I just wanted to let you know that this is going on and you can be a part of it. I reviewed Buena Beans Cafe  la Violeta earlier in the year.

image: sxc

image: Buena Beans

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I had a mocha latte breve, because to me if it doesn’t have cream it just isn’t worth drinking. It was delicious. The last time I was there I felt the espresso was a little watery which made the latte a little flavorless. This time the flavor was rich and full, although it was almost too sweet when you got to the bottom. The barista attempted a design with the steamed cream and it wasn’t bad, although practice is needed if he wants to head to the international competitions.

The decor is awful at this point but I am hoping that it is a matter of moving in. The furniture is in a jumble and there is too much of it.

They have also started serving gelato, and there seemed to be some unique flavors. He asked if I wanted a sample and then forgot to give it to me so I can’t tell you how it tastes. But they advertise the following:

• Red Velvet Cake
• Roasted Almond
• Cafe au Lait
• Pumpkin Cinnamon
• Oreo Cookies and Cream

The gelato is mad fresh in small batches, and is made with ORGANIC sugar and whole milk. SCORE! Now, if only they would get organic coffee!

What I loved:

• Friendly
• Latte was great
• Real cups!
• Gelato sounds interesting
• Organics
• It’s indy

What I didn’t love:

• Decor looked like a storage shed

Scale from 1-5 They get a 3.5 which could end up being a 4.5 if the decor changes significantly. I personally have a very hard time relaxing in a mess.

Should you go? Sure! The prices are good, the coffee is good, and hey, they have gelato!

image:sxc

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Interesting to note that coffee drinkers seem to have healthier livers over all according to the same report.

So, you want to detox? You probably need to just drink more coffee!

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I guess that they figured if people would believe Starbucks Via was as good as fresh brewed they would believe anything.

You can read the story at ABC News. I want to thank @ViewsNews on twitter for tweeting it.

Now, everyone under the age of 45 can leave the blog. The rest of you? We need to chat. This is getting embarrassing, people. We Baby Boomers are the first generation to wear mini skirts into our 60s and I have to say it isn’t flattering. Here is a newsflash…you don’t look 18 anymore and you haven’t for at least 25 years.

Deal with it. Coffee may make you energetic, it may make you more alert but the crows feet aren’t going anywhere, and that is o.k. I am tired if being part of the generation that never grew up. Peter Pan isn’t real and neither is everlasting youth. Be hot in your own skin at the age you are.

Tight abs are fleeting but coolness? That is forever.

image:sxc

Post from: Kettle and Cup

What I liked:

• First of all it is situated in the lobby of the library. I love that as you know. I think it is brilliant.
• The decor is great.
• Seating is comfortable.
• They serve a variety of luncheon and snack items that seem unique.
• The coffee is good. Not perfect. Not great. But as good or better than Starbucks.
• The barista is helpful and friendly.
• Nice selection of drinks.
• You can bring your own cup and they will keep it for you. I LOVE that idea.

What I didn’t like:

• No ceramic cups available unless you have your own.
• Non-dairy creamer displayed on counter, I think you can probably get half and half but you would need to ask.
• Too hard to find. There is no way to really know it is there unless you are going to the library.

I got a caramel macchiato and Marc got something called a John Wayne. He had no choice in the matter, I ordered it for him. :/ It was good. I can’t remember what was in it though. The most unique item I saw was a Dr. Pepper Chocolate Chip cookie, which I will try to replicate on Baking Delights soon. Anyway, I am going to do a real review tomorrow..If you are in the Duncanville, De Soto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster area (Texas) you should give this a try!

image:Marye Audet

Post from: Kettle and Cup

First of all, can you steal WIFI? I mean, the coffee shop that offers it for customers is paying for it regardless, as far as I know. They don’t pay per customer. At what point should a person be considered to be stealing WIFI?

At the Panera where we live you can sit in there all day refilling your coffee and using the WIFI. I haven’t never done that but I could just move down there and use it as an office if I wanted to. It seems to me that it would be really unfair but they advertise unlimited coffee refills and free WIFI, so…technically I could.

The woman in the article was a regular customer but hadn’t bought anything that day. She says she ducked in to check something…the store manager says she was there over an hour before he approached her ab0ut purchasing something. Should the police really have been called or was that a waste of taxpayer’s time and money?

What if she sat in the parking lot and pulled WIFI from there? Would it still be stealing?

Some issues of modern times have caused questions that are hard to answer. I mean, fifty years ago you went in a coffee shop, grabbed coffee and pie, ate it and then went on about your day. It was called a break.

Today, with laptops and WIFI we can literally work round the clock. Breaks are working breaks. I would know this because I have taken my laptop to the dinner table when I was trying to meet deadlines.

Anyway, I don’t want to rabbit trail on that. I am just wondering if it was the right thing for the manager to do (calling the police) or if it was just one of those issues he should have asked her to leave and let it go.  Maybe refused to serve her in the future if he felt that strongly about it?

What do you think?

image:sxc

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Starbucks has announced that it will raise the prices on some popular drinks like Macchiatos and Fraps and lower the prices on coffee and some latte to continue to try to compete in the new economy driven coffee wars with the likes of McDonalds, Sonic, Panera, and others. You can read the whole article at the NY Times.

For a lot of people this is where the rubber will meet the road. I figure three things will happen:

• Customers will try other coffee drinks that are less expensive and decide they are close enough.
• Customers will try other coffee drinks and decide they would rather pay the extra.
• Customers will stick with Starbucks and just drink less.

Or …maybe some of them will start making frappuccinos at home. The thing that I think is funny is that there is always a segment of the population that will think because the Starbucks is more expensive it is going to taste better, which is not necessarily true.

Here’s the deal: People’s tastes are different. Some people drink Maxwell House or Folgers and are completely happy with it. Some of them have tried Starbucks and Peets and Green Mountain and honestly prefer the Maxwell House. Somewhere on the way to the caffeine jitters coffee drinkers turned into snobs and decided that if you don’t like the right coffee you have no taste.

I love me some good coffee. I am also a foodie and I am particular about the tastes I like. Ice Cream? Homemade or Breyers. Despite my almost imperceptible Texas drawl I cannot stand Blue Bell. Ick. The chemicals stomp aross my tastebuds like they were wearing muck boots. Does that mean that everyone that likes Blue Bell has no taste?

Well yeah, it kind of does….

No, of course not. It means that I like what I like.

Whatever Starbucks does, whether it raises or lowers prices? You should be true to what you like. Don’t buy it because it is the cool thing to buy, or because you think it will make you look more sophisticated and knowledgeable – drink it because you like it…and only for that reason.

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To tell you the truth, I did not EVEN feel one shred of pity. My boss does not provide me with free coffee.  She expects me to work long hours, take only two days off for surgery, and buy my own coffee. My boss is a pain.

Did I mention that I am self employed?

Anyway...Community Coffee read the plight of these undercaffeinated workers and their hearts were moved to pity. …

You know… seriously..do you think people who work at Community Coffee get free coffee?

So Community Coffee is donating coffee to these workers for one year. Hopefully by then the city can get its finances straightened out and pitch in for the coffee.

I just thought that was a nice thing for them to do. You can read the article at Philly.com

image:MaryeAudet

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