Yeah, what Starbucks really needs is to create sub-brands to make it less monolithic and more adaptable to different kinds of markets where more nuanced branding strategies can give it a more targeted identity. This has worked very well with Scion/Toyota/Lexus and Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic.

What's the difference between a manual and an automatic espresso machine?

(not a coffee affectionato)

automatic espresso machines


Those do make me sad. These machines brew a decent cup of espresso. But brewing espresso is a real craft, from choosing the beans to grinding to just the right consistency to packing to extracting. It's a bit sad to me that so many young baristas who work at the Barnes and Noble and such cafes where they use these machines will never master it.