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Starbucks sells $7-a-cup coffee
Los Angeles Times ^ | November 29, 2012 | Tiffany Hsu

Posted on 11/29/2012 7:39:31 AM PST by ConservativeStatement

Coffee aficionados have a difficult decision to make: Spend $7 on a full lunch or on a single cup of Starbucks coffee?

The brew in question: The Seattle giant’s new Costa Rica Finca Palmilera, its most expensive offering ever and also one of its rarest. The coffee is part of the company’s Reserve line and costs $7 for a grande cup.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: coffee; starbucks
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To: veritas2002

This is called Free Enterprise.

If Starbucks did a study and found out that they could sell $7.00 coffee than why shouldn’t they ?

They are not holding anyone at gun point to buy it.

As for going bankrupt, just check the history of the stock, and their plans for the future.Early investors have done VERY well.

What do you have against capitalism?


21 posted on 11/29/2012 8:13:45 AM PST by COUNTrecount (Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't fail .But We Did.)
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To: LibWhacker

I wonder how Starbucks would feel about price controls and rationing of their product? You know, with their support of the great leader and all.


22 posted on 11/29/2012 8:13:45 AM PST by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: ConservativeStatement

Marketing genius.

Hasn’t anyone here ever hear of the Mary Kay effect? The worse the economy becomes, the MORE make-up they sell. When the economy improves, their make-up sales go DOWN.

During hard times, you can’t afford the BIG luxury items (vacations, new car, new clothes/shoes, etc...) But, you can afford to treat yourself with a small item (say, a tube of nice lipstick). Thus, overall Mary Kay sales go up.

This is also the reason high-end beer sales go up. A guy may not be able to afford tickets to the game anymore, but he can afford to treat himself with a high-end beer when watching the game on TV. Thus, sales of high-end beers increase during bad times.

Now look at coffee. How many people who used to drive through for breakfast ($5) and eat lunch out everyday ($7) are now trying to save money by eating cereal for breakfast at home and taking their lunch to work? How many of these people think “I can afford to treat myself one day a week to a gourmet coffee at Starbucks”? Probably lots.

But, how many of those people think “I’m going to get a regular coffee at a drive through today”? Probably not many, because (1) the drive through coffee is no better than what they could make at home, and (2) it costs more than what they make at home.

In other words, selling a high-end expensive coffee is vital for Starbucks to keep its sales volume up. And, the fact that its profit is probably twice as much per cup means they can get by with fewer overall customers. Something they’ll need to do to get by during hard times.


23 posted on 11/29/2012 8:13:56 AM PST by Brookhaven (theconservativehand.com - alt2p.com)
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To: ConservativeStatement

It’s just a specialty coffee, big deal.
There are coffee’s that run around $120 per pound that are supposed to be good, but few buy it.
You can get a 20 oz cup of Christmas blend for $2, choose that.
Oh, The McDonalds coffee ending up in the same place I guess so, pouring it on the street because its not drinkable or peeing it out still ends up in the rivers, seas and clouds.


24 posted on 11/29/2012 8:14:55 AM PST by svcw (Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)
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To: LibWhacker

Right! My only problem is I’m cheap and his shipping is a little high for my likes.... :(
Still I think I’ll have to try some at some point!


25 posted on 11/29/2012 8:16:11 AM PST by SparkyBass
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To: dfwgator

“I don’t think we have time for a hand job Joe...”


26 posted on 11/29/2012 8:17:22 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Brookhaven

There’s a theory that the best thing to happen to “Classic Coke” was “New Coke.” It showed the popularity of the temporarily discontinued flavor.


27 posted on 11/29/2012 8:18:34 AM PST by ConservativeStatement (Having an abortion is "progressive"?)
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To: ConservativeStatement
There’s a theory that the best thing to happen to “Classic Coke” was “New Coke.” It showed the popularity of the temporarily discontinued flavor.

Wasn't that also how they changed the formula to substitute corn syrup for sugar in the original formula.....People were just so happy to have back "Classic Coke" without even caring that sugar was replaced with corn syrup.

28 posted on 11/29/2012 8:21:50 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Through Wikipedia, I came across this entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke#New_Coke_after_Coke_Classic

Reversal

Coca-Cola executives announced the return of the original formula on July 10, less than three months after New Coke’s introduction. ABC News’ Peter Jennings interrupted General Hospital to share the news with viewers. On the floor of the U.S. Senate, David Pryor called the reintroduction “a meaningful moment in U.S. history”.[37] The company hotline received 31,600 calls in the two days after the announcement.[13]

The new product continued to be sold and retained the name Coca-Cola (until 1992, when it was officially renamed Coca-Cola II), so the old product was named Coca-Cola Classic, also called Coke Classic, later just Coke and for a short period of time it was referred to by the public as Old Coke. Many who tasted the reintroduced formula were not convinced that the first batches really were the same formula that had supposedly been retired that spring. This was true for some regions because Coca-Cola Classic differed from the original formula in that all bottlers who hadn’t already done so were using high fructose corn syrup instead of cane sugar to sweeten the drink.[41]

“There is a twist to this story which will please every humanist and will probably keep Harvard professors puzzled for years,” said Keough at a press conference. “The simple fact is that all the time and money and skill poured into consumer research on the new Coca-Cola could not measure or reveal the deep and abiding emotional attachment to original Coca-Cola felt by so many people.”

The company gave Gay Mullins the first case of Coke Classic.[21]


29 posted on 11/29/2012 8:25:57 AM PST by ConservativeStatement (Having an abortion is "progressive"?)
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To: Fedupwithit
Anyone know if people are actually buying this 7.00 java?

A coffee house in Columbus, Oh has a $10 cup - Jamacian Blue Mountain. Kona is a $7 cup. (Prices from about 3 years ago) They have an incredible $10,000 coffee machine that uses spring water in a 'coffee press' process.

I tried them both. While very good, it just doesn't stand out that far from their normal brew. Never bought another one.

30 posted on 11/29/2012 8:26:15 AM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

It’d serve them right. I hope they don’t come crying to me when it happens!


31 posted on 11/29/2012 8:27:53 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: ConservativeStatement

$7 is about enough to buy a pound of decent single origin green beans. That’s what I do and roast them myself.


32 posted on 11/29/2012 8:39:42 AM PST by bluetick (If you're going to err, err on the side of liberty.)
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To: ConservativeStatement

That’s nuts!!!

Here in Panama one can buy a good gin martini for about $4.50 or less.


33 posted on 11/29/2012 8:40:11 AM PST by Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
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To: ConservativeStatement

The real story her is that people are PAYING $7 for one cup o coffee. I wish I could sell coffee for $7 a cup.


34 posted on 11/29/2012 8:43:09 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Why is the government more concerned about protecting a microbe on Mars than an unborn baby here?)
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Support Free Republic
FReepathon Day 60.

35 posted on 11/29/2012 8:43:20 AM PST by RedMDer (Please support Toys for Tots this CHRISTmas season.)
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To: fatnotlazy

Yes...”status” symbol....especially to the Government TAKERS with their manicured nails, IPads, and expensive cars. It’s getting to be like WINE....heck, we won’t pay much more than $7 for a bottle of red wine.....a cup of coffee???? OMG...


36 posted on 11/29/2012 8:47:54 AM PST by goodnesswins (R.I.P. Doherty, Smith, Stevens, Woods.)
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To: ConservativeStatement

Gas station coffe is good for me.


37 posted on 11/29/2012 8:48:30 AM PST by Joe Bfstplk
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To: COUNTrecount
Early investors have done VERY well. What do you have against capitalism?

I guess ethics plays no roll whatsoever in your purchase and investment decisions? Homo agenda promoting companies -- it's all good 'cuz it's capitalism. I heard some cocaine distributors have done very well also -- return on investment just out of this world. Go for it.

38 posted on 11/29/2012 8:59:39 AM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: steve86

role


39 posted on 11/29/2012 9:02:30 AM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: ConservativeStatement

I can get a variety of very good coffees from small Central American produces at my local health food store ... for $9 to $11 a POUND.

$7 is a bottle of South African or New Zealand wine, on markdown, with a lot more than a CUP in each one!


40 posted on 11/29/2012 9:07:07 AM PST by Tax-chick (Are you getting ready for the Advent Kitteh?)
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