Starbucks "Coffee"
Starbucks became popular with an interesting tactic: it’s a place with awful drip coffee, so you’re better off buying a $3 mocha instead. This boosted Starbucks’ profits quickly, and established them as “different” and “new”. The customization of a drink also played to the sensibilities of the crowd, each of the mass longing for distinction.
However, in light of the new economic downturn, Starbucks has realized people will purchase fewer expensive drinks. After all, who wants to celebrate a foreclosure at Starbucks? To stave off the bleeding, Starbucks came out with the Pike Place Roast, named after Pike Place Market, the famous Seattle market in which Starbucks maintains its first store. This new roast is marketed so heavily it just has to be good. Starbucks can’t let people down in the drip coffee arena at this stage, or they’re going to lose every last customer.
Starbucks is so heavily investing in this new product they’re having tasting events around the country. Take a look at their description of the product (emphasis mine):
Brewed to be an all-around great up of coffee, Pike Place Roast is our newest blend. With a smoother finish and subtle flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts, this coffee can be enjoyed fresh all day, every day.
This coffee can be enjoyed every day? I supposed that’s better than spitting out the regular shit they serve. Especially for almost $2.
No, wait, no it’s not. You want to help the economy? Go to a local coffee shop. Keep those college kids employed.