StarbUCKS: A Refusal

StarbUCKS (everywhere)

Just playin’ with the capitalization thing, Seattle-based chain of corporate coffee. You’re okay. Even if your regular drip roast is intolerably strong… Hooray for clover presses, right?

Similarly, the chai is nothing special. Too sugary. (Yes, I realize chai is traditionally served very sweet. My Stash teabags remind me of that fact every time I brew up my own cup at home. Butstill.) I refuse to review it.

Hours:  
Early enough and late enough.
Service:  
Usually nice and friendly...I think the corporate overlords treat their employees quite well, which might explain their cheeriness with having to call a medium a "grande" and make "skinny lattes" for high-maintenance people in business suits at all hours.
Seating:
Not too eclectic or squashy, but well-maintained, clean, and highly functional. Tables and workspaces, as well as armchairs with side-tables.
Eatables:
Sure. Once I got a fruit cup and its contents were squashy and disappointing. I hear their bagels and molasses cookies are vegan, and some Starbucks locations sell overpriced dried fruit packs.
People:
Busy and mostly unpretentious crowds, middleschoolers just starting to experiment with coffee, wired college students, professional lurkers, and suits.
Music:  
Pretentious, coffeeshoppy soundtrack of Billie Holliday and Bon Iver and '90s music, with interesting covers and seasonal (Christmas) music. Gotta love those free iTunes songs of the week.