This Week In Coffee Beans: Starbucks Traitor?

I admit it: I'm a fan of our local Starbucks.

I like the new long family-style table. And just this morning, with a line out the door, the courteous and conscientious staff took my order while I was still at least 10 people away from the counter.

They are nice and cool people, Starbuckaristas, and so organized—in fact—that I was wondering how many were actually unemployed recent MBA grads? (nah, they're probably English PhDs and would-be something-cool-or-others looking for some health insurance and a steady paycheck). I almost didn't mind shelling out $4.73 for my grande vanilla latte. Though, Jesus, that is a LOT of money for a cup of coffee.

The coffee at Sweet Melissa's is also good but they take two hours to wait on you, though they are also nice. Not so nice at CT Muffin; well mostly that one dude, who is a bit crotchety and hard of hearing. Too hip by half at Tea Lounge, though I did think that group singalong to the Hair soundtrack was a nice touch.

After taste-testing all the coffee in a five-block radius (which is as far as I go), my vote still goes marginally to Starbucks. That closure/re-training thing last year actually did do the trick, apparently. 

My 6th grader has also done an exhaustive comparative study of hot chocolate and, after pooh-poohing his seemingly unreasonable refusal to just get the goddamn hot chocolate at CT muffin for once so we could drink al fresco with the pooch, I tried both. He was really right. The Starbucks hot cocoa was demonstrably better.

So, I was surprised when I was at Cocoa Bar the other night for my oh-so-cool evening of BR-ALLER scrabble and saw my Starbucks latte-ista/coffeemaker (what is the title again?) standing next to me. 

"Wait a sec, aren't you my Starbucks girl?"

"Shhhhh, yes but I like the coffee better here."

So, I know we *just* did a best coffee in Park Slope post, but not everyone can get their asses to Gorilla. Can we do a tier two round-up of the best beverages, best atmosphere of the various coffee houses that are not Gorilla? (or Cafe Grumpy)?

Comments

[Allison]

If I wasn't married, I'd want to have the babies of the barista at Cafe 474, so I could have a herd of kids who could make me a perfect cup of coffee whenever I wanted.