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Dunkin' Donuts One-Ups Starbucks With New Special

YumSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:12:23 -0700

Responding to the economic hardship, breakfast chain Dunkin' Donuts has come out with its version of a recession deal.

Beginning today, small hot and iced lattes will cost only 99 cents from 2 to 5 p.m. The new special, dubbed "America's Latte Break," is the doughnut chain's response to the Starbucks $2 afternoon coffee deal that ended last month. The restaurants will also offer a 99 cent Egg and Cheese Sandwich - all day long - with the purchase of a medium or larger hot coffee. Both specials will run through Nov. 11.

What do you think of "America's Latte Break"? Will it edge out the competition? Will you visit Dunkin' Donuts for afternoon coffee over Starbucks?

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Move Over Latté Artists, The Amazing Latté Printer Has Arrived

YumSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:01:51 -0700

You may have seen beautiful latté art before, but have you ever seen latté art with text? How about cups of joe with intricate patterns and images? If you haven't, then you're in for a treat. Inventor Oleksiy Pikalo has taken an old X-Y flatbed plotter - a machine similar to a printer - and converted it into a latté art machine. With it he can program different images and patterns to display on top of his morning coffee. This image is one he created, and you can see the machine at work - it's really pretty fascinating - when you watch the video. To check it out, just read more.

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A Whole Latte Beautiful Art

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:01:18 -0800

This past weekend, my friends and I found ourselves waiting in line for some tasty coffee. When our orders came up, we each had some cutesy latte art - hearts, leaves, etc. - and it got me wondering about latte art in general. Some baristas really take pride in it and there are many clever designs out there. I recently came across this video that walks you through several different designs, including rabbits and stars. The unknown barista is very inspirational; after watching it, I wanted to give it a try myself!

To check out the video and get inspired, read more.

Latte Art: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:00:28 -0700

As Starbucks's dominance slips, I hope more people will turn to local coffee shops for their daily caffeine fix. The number one thing I love about my neighborhood cafe, Murano, is that the cappuccinos come with a pretty foam heart. In my opinion, the best coffee drinks are made with love, and latte art of any kind demonstrates a true passion for coffee-making. How about you: Do you appreciate latte art?

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Tasting Starbucks Full Leaf Tea Lattes

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:30:29 -0800

Consumers are bouncing back from a harried 2008 with the firm resolve to refocus, rejuvenate, and restore their well-being. Coffee chain Starbucks, in what may be a fortuitous move after a bumpy year, is hoping to capitalize on this trend with its new line of better-for-you tea drinks that include full leaf tea lattes. To see what I thought of the new drinks, keep reading.

View Slideshow ›

Should Coffeehouses Do Something About Drink Loopholes?

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:30:24 -0800

At some Starbucks and other coffeehouses across the country, there are worse things brewing than bitter coffee - namely, nasty disputes over customized coffee drinks.

A recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune points out that customized drinks at Starbucks often cost less than specialty drinks. The customer profiled realized that after years of paying $3.90 plus tax for her skinny Cinnamon Dolce latte, she could make the same drink - for $0.40 less - by requesting a nonfat latte with a shot of cinnamon syrup. When her baristas caught on, they refused to cooperate with her order, charging her the price of the specialty drink instead.

Earlier this year, another drink was at the center of online coffee controversy. The ghetto latte, which is a double-shot of espresso (usually on ice) made into a latte with free milk and cream at the condiment bar, often costs less than half the price of a latte ordered by name.

Starbucks Corporation has responded with mixed answers. In the past, the company has said, "We trust our customers to make the choices that are right for them." Yet when prompted by the Star Tribune, a Starbucks rep stated that customers "should be charged the corresponding premium drink price."

Where do you stand? Should baristas be able to refuse requests for orders such as espresso on ice? Is Starbucks ripping off customers for so-called premium drinks? Or are customers taking advantage of the Starbucks ordering system?

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'Wich of the Week: Pecan Pumpkin Cakewich

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:10 -0700

In Autumn I welcome the arrival of all things pumpkin, whether it's pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, pumpkin chocolate cookies, or pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. So why not pumpkin sandwiches? Inspired by carrot cake with cranberries folded in, this sweet sandwich would make a great dessert or an afternoon snack with cider. Just in time for Halloween, you can make your own pumpkin bread or use a mix from a store like Trader Joe's, which is where I found the apple-cranberry chutney. Get this comfy Fall recipe now.

Can You Speed By Our Drive-Thru Quiz?

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:50:20 -0700

Learning that North Korea got its first-ever fast food restaurant left me pondering our country's fast food culture. While American fast food isn't without its caveats, there is one thing that I can certainly appreciate: the convenience of the drive-thru window! From Starbucks lattes to Kentucky Fried Chicken, commuters on the go can order just about any kind of food imaginable.

Since today is National Drive-Thru Day, I thought I'd grill you on the history of the nation's most convenient food service. Can you speed past my tough questions? There's only one way to find out!

Take the quiz

Next Up at Starbucks: Value Meals

YumSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:00:05 -0800

Feeling the sting from other chains such as McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, a desperate Starbucks announced last week that it will soon be introducing value meals of its own. The chain plans to launch value pairings in all its company-owned US stores on March 3. Although regular prices for food and drink items vary by store location, Starbucks claims the pairings will provide customers with an average savings of as much as $1.20. This strategy is the latest in a slew of tactics - from creating loyalty programs to ceasing brewing of decaf after noon - that the company has tried over the past year to recover from troubling sales numbers. To see the recession-friendly $3.95 breakfast pairings, which were revealed today, read more.

Tall latte and Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal
Tall latte and slice of reduced-fat cinnamon swirl cake
Tall drip coffee and new bacon sandwich with egg and gouda cheese
Tall drip coffee and new ham sandwich with egg and cheddar
Tall drip coffee and classic sausage, egg, and aged cheddar breakfast sandwich
Tall drip coffee and peppered bacon, egg, and aged cheddar breakfast sandwich
Tall drip coffee and Reduced-fat turkey bacon, cholesterol-free egg, and reduced-fat white cheddar breakfast sandwich

Considering the saga behind Starbucks' breakfast sandwiches, I'm interested in trying out the two new breakfast sandwich options come March.

Do you plan to utilize this new value pricing to your benefit? Do you think it will help the coffee chain turn its sales numbers around?

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Taste Test: Starbucks Tazo Tea Infusions

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:00:01 -0800

Despite hard times, coffee chain Starbucks continues to try new tactics. Two weeks ago, I introduced you to the company's tea lattes, its latest beverage to hit counters nationwide. But if lattes aren't your thing, Starbucks is hoping you'll reach for its new Tea Infusions instead, which are available in two flavors: Tazo Berry Chai and Tazo Apple Chai. I had a chance to give these drinks - a nondairy blend of Tazo black chai tea and fruit juice - a try. To find out how they fared, read more.

Tazo Berry Chai: Described as "a blend of aronia berry and blackcurrant juices steamed with black tea and exotic spices," I could taste the cloves and cassis sticks in the chai blended into this beverage. Although the drink had a mellow blackberry taste, each sip had a spicy, peppery ending. It did strike me as very sweet, and I wondered how much sweeter it would taste once lukewarm.

Tazo Apple Chai: Although there were supposedly "sweet spices" steamed into this beverage, PartySugar and I thought it was a dead ringer for spiced apple cider. It was also heavy on the sugar.

If you're in search of a spiced cider with a caffeine kick, or want to enjoy a drink akin to mulled wine without the alcohol, these drinks would be for you. It's hard for me to rationalize forgoing the taste of classic chai tea in exchange for one of these infusions. I found them both to be too sweet. While Starbucks maintains that they can also be served on ice, I wonder whether they would taste even more cloying when enjoyed cold.

Have you tried either of these drinks? What did you think of them?