Starbucks Coffee, Whole Foods

[Ohio Buckeye]

I just watched a special on about American companies and the ceo from Starbucks
was on and also Whole Foods.  I was really impressed by them.  I am not a coffee
drinker and have never been in a Whole Foods (it is an organic food store). 
Are you a Starbuck customer or a Whole Foods customer?  Just wondering.

[livecam]

In my world it is like who isn't a Starbuck's customer?  I don't know anyone who isn't.  Do you know who seems to like Starbuck's the best?  It is the kids believe it or not. 

Come to think of it I think we are Whole Foods customers too.  They are a little expensive but it is a fun place to look around and the free samples from the olive bar aren't bad either. 

[Chicken Little]

I really admire Starbuck's as a company, but I prefer the coffee from Peet's.   

We do the majority of our food shopping at Whole Foods though.  Everything except produce.  We get that from the farmer's market, where it's cheaper and better.  

[Sara]

I am addicted to the Starbucks Passion Iced Tea.     I would shop at a Whole Foods but the closest one is a few hundred miles I think.

[skyedogrocks]

I'm not a big Starbucks fan, I like the frozen drinks and the gingerbread latte's at Christmas.  I am a HUGE Dunkin Donuts fanm LOVE the coffee.  New England and much of the Northeast is DD friendly.  There's something about the coffee that keeps me going back.

Whole Foods is nice.  They have great stuff there.  I'm also a big Trader Joe's fan.  It's not all organic, but a lot of it is very healthy.

[okarol]

I'm not addicted to coffee; I just drink it to keep the headache away.

hehehehe 

I like dark roast coffee, or espresso too. Starbucks is good, but an expensive habit.

I like Trader Joe's whole bean coffees - much more reasonable.

[kitkatz]

I think i have been to a Starbuck's three times in my entire life.  I burp coffee after I drink it and I do not like the way most of it tastes.

I have no idea what a Whole Foods store is. But do you know what a Stater Bros is?

[kelliOR]

Absolutely LOVE Whole Foods!  But boy oh boy, it IS EXPENSIVE!!!!

[jbeany]

Nope, never had a Starbucks.  But then I don't usually drink coffee. 

I checked the web site - the nearest Whole Foods store is a 6 hour drive.  Never mind!

[Wattle]

   We have Starbucks. But I am not a fan. The coffee is soooo sweet. On the occasion that I have had it, I found I was spinning for the rest of the day   

Whole foods store?? We do have organic only food stores, but not any 'chain' stores.

[Chicken Little]

Absolutely LOVE Whole Foods!  But boy oh boy, it IS EXPENSIVE!!!!

The items we regularly buy are the same price at Whole Foods as they are at Safeway.  Organic food is expensive. We shop there because they have all the brands we like in one place. 

Safeway is the only big chain left in my area though and the lack of competition means the prices stay high. 

[livecam]

Here's a vote although off topic for the big boxes.  I buy lots of food at Costco, Sam's Club, and WalMart SuperCenter...they are all within a few miles of each other over here.

[jbeany]

Here's a vote although off topic for the big boxes.  I buy lots of food at Costco, Sam's Club, and WalMart SuperCenter...they are all within a few miles of each other over here.

Same here - not a lot of other choices - We've got Wally World and Glen's - which is Spartan stores.  The closest I get to an organic food store is the little farm stands I pass on the way to dialysis.  They are selling fresh michigan sweet cherries now, though - yum, yum, yum!

[thegrammalady]

starbucks, well yes, every once in a while i think i need to pay $7 for a cup of coffee. but not very often. and whole foods, now they have things you can't get any place else. and a wonderful deli. but i don't go there very often either.

[livecam]

 The closest I get to an organic food store is the little farm stands I pass on the way to dialysis. 

The begining of the Santa Clara valley is just 7 or 8 miles from here.  There are all kinds of farm stands where you can get fresh fruit and vegetables year round.  I usually make it a point to stop by and stock up when we are up that way.  There is nothing like fresh locally grown food.

[Ohio Buckeye]

What is a Stater Bros., Kitkatz?  Never heard of that.
I'd never go to the Walmart here alone for fear of being mugged in the parking lot.
It is dangerous place to be.  Maybe? with some one. And I hate the long lines there.
I think we had a Costco just open in our city.  Haven't ben there yet.
I remember when we used to ride thru the country and a farmhouse would have
a sign out "Eggs for sale" and we'd get the farm eggs.  Never see those signs anymore.
Too bad, they were good eggs.

[Chicken Little]

The begining of the Santa Clara valley is just 7 or 8 miles from here.  There are all kinds of farm stands where you can get fresh fruit and vegetables year round.  I usually make it a point to stop by and stock up when we are up that way.  There is nothing like fresh locally grown food.

Santa Clara valley in Los Angeles? 

We shop at Costco for paper goods, brita filters, cleaning supplies and all those other things (beach chairs, lemonade makers, shop vacs) that we really don't need and don't have space for, but they always come home with us.  I'm not saving any money by going there.   

I've been to WalMart in Orlando, which was jaw dropping big, but we don't have one here.  Our Target is pretty small too.  We have to drive 1-2 hours to get to a SuperTarget, Walmart, Sam's and many of the chain restaurants that you see in most suburbs.  They don't want to pay SF/Bay Area rents, I guess.   

[livecam]

Santa Clara valley in Los Angeles? 

Yes, although there is a Santa Clara next to San Jose in northern California...our little river which is usually nearly empty is the Santa Clara River...starts up in the mountains around Tujunga somewhere and empties into the pacific at Ventura.




EDITED: Fixed Quote Tag Error - Sluff/ Admin

[Hawkeye]

I'm not a starbucks fan at all.  I think their coffee is way overpriced and the coffee I can make at home tastes better.  As for whole foods they are a great store for organic foods.  We have a few organic stores to choose from in our area, but nothing with the selection of whole foods.  You will pay more at whole foods than a regular store for similar products because it is harder to grow, handle, and ship organic product than regular product.  As for costco or sam's club they are great stores if you need a lot of an item because just about everthing is sold in bulk (restaurant style) packages.  It is cheaper to buy in bulk, just harder to store because of the amount.  They always have really good prices on home electronics, DVDs, books, clothes, and other home items too.  Fortunately you don't buy those things in bulk.

[goofynina]

Yessss, i must admit,i am a Starbuckaroo, i am totally hooked on the caramel frappachino's and now, the strawberry and cream one too,  i treat myself maybe once every week or every other week   Now i am curious about the passion tea that Sara mentioned, gonna have to try that one for sure    

I would shop at Whole Foods but i heard it sells stuff that is good for you, blecccch,  

[aharris2]

(alene writing)

There is a chain of supermarkets here (FL) and in a couple of other nearby states called "Publix". I find it a pleasant shopping experience. Best of all is the coffee machine located in the bakery/deli section which fresh brews each cup of coffee and costs $0.50 a cup. It is very good coffee and it appeals to my sense of 'no way I'm spending $3 or more for a cup of coffee especially when I can't even designate it as small, medium, or large!' There's a Publix right by the dialysis unit.

I second the comment on Dunkin Donuts coffee. The rest stops on our driving adventures focus on Dunkin Donuts exits on the interstate.