According to the table, Starbucks is only more expensive if you order small or medium coffees. If America is the greatest nation on earth (it is), and America runs on Dunkin' (it does), then the pinkos ordering smalls and mediums deserve to get ripped off.
Anne, are you sure about the ‘pinko’ thing? I had you down as one of us color blinders. You have a sense of humour, like people, give away money. You are a leader remember? You have a dog. I am a cat person, suspicious of leaders, but if I have to have one, I choose you. I may disagree at times, but we would keep one another on our toes!🐰
I really only like my own home-brewed coffee. When I go out somewhere or on a road trip, my thermos goes with me. Glad to read that medium roast tastes sour to you - same here!
Cathy right now I am enjoying my fourth Café Bustelo of the day and its true there's no coffee like coffee brewed at home just the way you like it. What's yours?
I buy organic, fair trade coffee so that limits my choices somewhat. Right now I’m drinking Tiny Footprint Nicaragua Segovia Dark Roast. (They tell me I get 50 pounds of Food karma in every pound - can’t beat that deal!)
My number one reason for preferring Starbucks is that I can count on them having a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. In fact, a friend and I went on a road trip from Silicon Valley to Seattle, and we preplanned our rest stops at Starbucks locations. Heavenly. Have a pee, and get an ice grande latte to go.
You're so right, Anne! You just have to imagine traveling (not to Vegas) and gambling, every time you have to pee, about whether you'll find a usable bathroom.
Most of the stores (sadly, not all) have a lowered counter where I can pick up my latte, too.☕
I live in Washington State so Starbucks is everywhere. I didn't even try Dunkin' for the first time until a trip to Massachusetts in 2021. It was... fine? Neither memorably bad nor memorably good. Much like Starbucks lol. Also, I read your list of current pet peeves and thought, "Oh no, Anne would not like me!" because I love cats, purple is my favorite color, and I always remove my shoes before entering someone's home. But I don't love your newsletter any less. 😊
I live in an Australian rural village. We have lovely places for coffee here but definitely no Starbucks or Dunkin’ so I’ve probably skewed your results but I had to contribute.
And I just looked up how big NYC is! It ain’t small. That explains the huge numbers of coffee shops. I do like the look of that outdoor coffee patio. It’s definitely the sort of place I’d like to frequent if I lived there.
Thanks for another fun read. Sending heaps of hugs and caffeinated thoughts. 😃🤗☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Thanks Beth! I did not mention because it was too much of an aside and I did not have the room, but the patio features a giant statue of Jesus carrying what seems to be a baby Jesus. Which is very weird decor for a Dunkin Donuts, especially one that is Bangladeshi-owned. I imagine its vestigial...until recently, Carroll Gardens was a heavily Italian neighborhood.
Beth, of course you can vote. I live in a Middle England town with 34 cafes, coffee bars and tea shops. I go independent, so I voted. I am proud to say I have never been in Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts (I thought that was still their name). We used to be the only town in England which McDonalds quit for lack of customer. Neither would be missed I am sure.🐰
Love it. Yes, one of the big supermarket chains wanted to set up shop in our little village but got run out of town. We’re very happy with our locally owned independent supermarket. Heaps of personal service. And we have a lovely range of cafes and coffee shops, so life is Good.
Not really. This is England, and I drink Black Americano coffee. If I use a national chain it is one called Costa. It tastes okay but is rarely hot. My theory is that they don’t want customers to hang around. If they have a tag it should be ‘Drink up and go!’. Being a flaneur at heart I like a view or a table from which I can see all the other customers, and write of course.🐰
Great that you solved your Dunkin’ dislike. I have no suggestions for most of the other dislikes you mentioned. Regarding Shakespeare, have you seen some plays in person? Better yet, have you been a “groundling” standing close to the stage at the Globe theatre in London? I am a voracious reader but never managed to finish reading any of Shakespeare’s plays. Still dislike them in written form but found they are delightful when performed!
I have attended MANY Shakespeare plays in person, Jill. I used to be able to tolerate them as I enjoyed them with fried chicken and champagne. Then I quit drinking and discovered the fried chicken alone was not enough to compensate for the Shakespeare.
Is it how she says her name? "I'm Krista Tippet." And you can just SEE the self satisfied, almost giggling smile on her imagined perfect baby face? Because yeah, I get that, too.
Haha, I'm not sure I find that part of her hard to listen to, I think it's more that I don't find her questions probing enough or engaging enough. But also I'm a masochist who listens in on people's therapy sessions in Where Should We Begin? with Esther P.
“I gulped the whole cup and got so caffeinated I decided it was a great time to start interviewing strangers”…see, that’s how it starts!!! Good to know that a Dunkin’ midnight brew is the gateway drug to sampling a stranger’s fancy beverage with a whipped topping. Be careful, Anne! Imbibing coffee leads to things like productivity and an aversion to naps. Beware!
I live in a small town too, Adam. One local shop, Cove Coffee, has great coffee and specialty drinks. We have one Starbucks in a grocery store. Not convenient. New local chain 7 Brew's regular coffee is awful. At home I brew Peet's which I order direct. I admire their company ethics and great small batch dark roast coffees.
I hear a lot of good things about Peet's but haven't tried just yet. I think there must be at least 1000 different indy/small-chain options here in NYC. I've got 12 within a few blocks of my apartment plus the Dunkin' and Starbucks....
Peet's! I used to live in Berkeley, a few blocks away from Peet's Coffee, WAY before there were Starbucks. Anywhere. In fact, I remember hearing that Starbucks stole the concept of locally roasted coffee from Peet's. When I moved to New Mexico in 2000, and Starbucks WAS everywhere, I remained loyal to Peet's, buying the beans at a local grocery store. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
We have Wellingtons (who sponsor my Jazz On The Beach radio show), as well the excellent Middle Street Coffee, Hope and Lane, The Pop Up Cafe and Deal Deli. As for afternoon tea and scones, there are a couple of options there too. Come to think of it, Deal isn't such a small town at all...
I completely agree and totally disagree with your characterization of Dunkin Donuts as being unfit for human consumption. Fresh from the oven they’re wholly acceptable. Unfortunately, they’re ushered from the oven around 3 a.m. local time in NYC (the last time I inquired) and taste like cardboard by mid-morning. On the other hand, I just had two chocolate frosted Dunkin Donuts in Vermont, on our way back from picking up a puppy (read all about it on my Substack; the puppy not the donuts — Anne, I apologize for plugging myself on your Substack and will gladly pay you in bespoke donuts or better yet a praline Mille feuille from Laduree), and they reminded me why it’s good to be alive. However Dunkin’, no matter how fresh, can’t compare to the paradisaical delight of a Krispy Kreme donut.
Reading "To ignite and nourish flavorful experiences," summons traumatic ad flashbacks. I can project the entire sequence of meetings that led to that sentence.
Wow, Anne. I was happily reading along, admiring you for being one of the rare people who can consciously decide to change what she loves/hates, when I reached the end of the post, and you asked the profound question: who would I be if I loved everything? People assume that their likes/dislikes define them. But look at it from another point of view: normally, one doesn't want to know anything about what one hates/doesn't like. I experienced this with snakes, spiders, mice, what have you -- I learned as a kid from my parents and others to dispise them, eeeww. But once I dropped this I got to know many cute, fascinating creatures! And I was still the same "me". Sorry to wax philosophical, it just really struck me.
That is very inspiring, Jessica! Maybe I will try this with cockroaches. I don't hate them and I leave them alone when I see the occasional bug scuttling across the room (in NYC they are almost inevitable as you may know) but they still inspire some fear and revulsion.
Laurie—trigger warning! The first couple paragraphs of the letter in the next issue will for sure include a mention of you-know-what! You may want to skip over!! :)
According to the table, Starbucks is only more expensive if you order small or medium coffees. If America is the greatest nation on earth (it is), and America runs on Dunkin' (it does), then the pinkos ordering smalls and mediums deserve to get ripped off.
LOL you are correct on all counts Amran!
Anne, are you sure about the ‘pinko’ thing? I had you down as one of us color blinders. You have a sense of humour, like people, give away money. You are a leader remember? You have a dog. I am a cat person, suspicious of leaders, but if I have to have one, I choose you. I may disagree at times, but we would keep one another on our toes!🐰
I like to congratulate myself for not drinking at Starbucks because of their illegal union-busting tactics.
Except when I'm out somewhere and really need a coffee and there's a Starbucks. Obviously.
So funny Jacob! Comfort and convenience are important values too!
I voted “blood” because there was no “other”.
I really only like my own home-brewed coffee. When I go out somewhere or on a road trip, my thermos goes with me. Glad to read that medium roast tastes sour to you - same here!
Cathy right now I am enjoying my fourth Café Bustelo of the day and its true there's no coffee like coffee brewed at home just the way you like it. What's yours?
I buy organic, fair trade coffee so that limits my choices somewhat. Right now I’m drinking Tiny Footprint Nicaragua Segovia Dark Roast. (They tell me I get 50 pounds of Food karma in every pound - can’t beat that deal!)
*Good Karma, not food karma.
Will check out Cafe Bustelo.
I agree on the thermos strategy. I do the same thing now.
Another strong vote for the thermos home brew of Bustelo.
It feels like a life short cut.
UNLESS - I'm going out for a diner breakfast and can get the 5 refills I'm convinced I deserve.
My number one reason for preferring Starbucks is that I can count on them having a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. In fact, a friend and I went on a road trip from Silicon Valley to Seattle, and we preplanned our rest stops at Starbucks locations. Heavenly. Have a pee, and get an ice grande latte to go.
Haha great combo, Teri!
Jokes aside I can imagine what it must mean to have a reliable place to stop.
You're so right, Anne! You just have to imagine traveling (not to Vegas) and gambling, every time you have to pee, about whether you'll find a usable bathroom.
Most of the stores (sadly, not all) have a lowered counter where I can pick up my latte, too.☕
I live in Washington State so Starbucks is everywhere. I didn't even try Dunkin' for the first time until a trip to Massachusetts in 2021. It was... fine? Neither memorably bad nor memorably good. Much like Starbucks lol. Also, I read your list of current pet peeves and thought, "Oh no, Anne would not like me!" because I love cats, purple is my favorite color, and I always remove my shoes before entering someone's home. But I don't love your newsletter any less. 😊
Robin it's so funny judging from the comments I have quite a few purple-loving, cat cradling, shoe-removing readers. Maybe opposites attract?
Well Robin, your comment has got you a follower and, like you, I still love Anne.
Appreciate it, Kevin! And who doesn't love Anne? I certainly can't think of anyone.
I live in an Australian rural village. We have lovely places for coffee here but definitely no Starbucks or Dunkin’ so I’ve probably skewed your results but I had to contribute.
And I just looked up how big NYC is! It ain’t small. That explains the huge numbers of coffee shops. I do like the look of that outdoor coffee patio. It’s definitely the sort of place I’d like to frequent if I lived there.
Thanks for another fun read. Sending heaps of hugs and caffeinated thoughts. 😃🤗☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Thanks Beth! I did not mention because it was too much of an aside and I did not have the room, but the patio features a giant statue of Jesus carrying what seems to be a baby Jesus. Which is very weird decor for a Dunkin Donuts, especially one that is Bangladeshi-owned. I imagine its vestigial...until recently, Carroll Gardens was a heavily Italian neighborhood.
Definitely sounds like an Italian remnant to me. Intriguing. 😏
Beth, of course you can vote. I live in a Middle England town with 34 cafes, coffee bars and tea shops. I go independent, so I voted. I am proud to say I have never been in Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts (I thought that was still their name). We used to be the only town in England which McDonalds quit for lack of customer. Neither would be missed I am sure.🐰
Love it. Yes, one of the big supermarket chains wanted to set up shop in our little village but got run out of town. We’re very happy with our locally owned independent supermarket. Heaps of personal service. And we have a lovely range of cafes and coffee shops, so life is Good.
Fellow Aussie here & I also voted.
akaKevin I am truly in AWE that you've never been to a Starbucks OR DD. That takes some doing!
Not really. This is England, and I drink Black Americano coffee. If I use a national chain it is one called Costa. It tastes okay but is rarely hot. My theory is that they don’t want customers to hang around. If they have a tag it should be ‘Drink up and go!’. Being a flaneur at heart I like a view or a table from which I can see all the other customers, and write of course.🐰
Great that you solved your Dunkin’ dislike. I have no suggestions for most of the other dislikes you mentioned. Regarding Shakespeare, have you seen some plays in person? Better yet, have you been a “groundling” standing close to the stage at the Globe theatre in London? I am a voracious reader but never managed to finish reading any of Shakespeare’s plays. Still dislike them in written form but found they are delightful when performed!
I have attended MANY Shakespeare plays in person, Jill. I used to be able to tolerate them as I enjoyed them with fried chicken and champagne. Then I quit drinking and discovered the fried chicken alone was not enough to compensate for the Shakespeare.
Perhaps the Globe theater is the answer!
AND we share almost all of the same pet peeves ♥️
It would at least give you an excuse for a trip to London!
Is it how she says her name? "I'm Krista Tippet." And you can just SEE the self satisfied, almost giggling smile on her imagined perfect baby face? Because yeah, I get that, too.
LOL
And to be honest, it is also partly jealousy, Justin! I want to be the bonkers version of KT!
Honestly, mission accomplished.
LOL
Haha, I'm not sure I find that part of her hard to listen to, I think it's more that I don't find her questions probing enough or engaging enough. But also I'm a masochist who listens in on people's therapy sessions in Where Should We Begin? with Esther P.
I'll have to check that out, Grace!
where was the "I only drink fancy imported English tea bags" option on the poll?! 😉 🫖
Amelia, it seems as though a number of readers have decided to believe that by “blood” I meant “tea.” This strikes me as fair.
That's how I read it.
“I gulped the whole cup and got so caffeinated I decided it was a great time to start interviewing strangers”…see, that’s how it starts!!! Good to know that a Dunkin’ midnight brew is the gateway drug to sampling a stranger’s fancy beverage with a whipped topping. Be careful, Anne! Imbibing coffee leads to things like productivity and an aversion to naps. Beware!
Yes! But I am sure you are aware of the "coffee nap" phenomenon, Ms. Rebecca! It is an excellent mid-day revival strategy!
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/coffee-nap
Oh! That's what I've been doing without realizing!
LOVE a coffee nap!!!
Thankfully I live in a small town where good independent coffee shops outnumber the only two chain stores - Starbucks and Costa.
I live in a small town too, Adam. One local shop, Cove Coffee, has great coffee and specialty drinks. We have one Starbucks in a grocery store. Not convenient. New local chain 7 Brew's regular coffee is awful. At home I brew Peet's which I order direct. I admire their company ethics and great small batch dark roast coffees.
I hear a lot of good things about Peet's but haven't tried just yet. I think there must be at least 1000 different indy/small-chain options here in NYC. I've got 12 within a few blocks of my apartment plus the Dunkin' and Starbucks....
Peet's! I used to live in Berkeley, a few blocks away from Peet's Coffee, WAY before there were Starbucks. Anywhere. In fact, I remember hearing that Starbucks stole the concept of locally roasted coffee from Peet's. When I moved to New Mexico in 2000, and Starbucks WAS everywhere, I remained loyal to Peet's, buying the beans at a local grocery store. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Jessica! I just looked it up. Peet's launched in 1966, Starbucks in 1971. So Peet's is indeed the OG. But they're both older than you'd think!
I had no idea! I moved to Berkeley in 1978 or so, there were two Peet's shops then. I thought they had JUST started!
I tried Peet's in an airport somewhere and was underwhelmed.
I had that in CA. I prefer my tiny town, even with the limited choices.
We have Wellingtons (who sponsor my Jazz On The Beach radio show), as well the excellent Middle Street Coffee, Hope and Lane, The Pop Up Cafe and Deal Deli. As for afternoon tea and scones, there are a couple of options there too. Come to think of it, Deal isn't such a small town at all...
I completely agree and totally disagree with your characterization of Dunkin Donuts as being unfit for human consumption. Fresh from the oven they’re wholly acceptable. Unfortunately, they’re ushered from the oven around 3 a.m. local time in NYC (the last time I inquired) and taste like cardboard by mid-morning. On the other hand, I just had two chocolate frosted Dunkin Donuts in Vermont, on our way back from picking up a puppy (read all about it on my Substack; the puppy not the donuts — Anne, I apologize for plugging myself on your Substack and will gladly pay you in bespoke donuts or better yet a praline Mille feuille from Laduree), and they reminded me why it’s good to be alive. However Dunkin’, no matter how fresh, can’t compare to the paradisaical delight of a Krispy Kreme donut.
Ralph! Remember when Krispy Kreme was the thing? What happened?
Looking forward to reading about your new puppy!
I too have a love of Krispy Kreme though I hate the fact that it’s now part of Trump’s empire. Besides, I gave up sugar—one day at a time!
Anita, what is the KK/Trump tie-in? I just googled but can't find. So curious!
I'd like to know, as well. Not that I have darkened the doors of a KK lately, but if there is indeed a DJT connection I'll never, ever go there again.
Reading "To ignite and nourish flavorful experiences," summons traumatic ad flashbacks. I can project the entire sequence of meetings that led to that sentence.
LOL Glad you survived, Mr. Dayle.
I had to choose the “I only drink blood” option because there wasn’t a tea option and, for a Brit, that is a disaster!
It is very funny how many people are choosing the fifth option, Helen and then explaining in the comments that by "blood" they mean "tea." Haha!
I'm pleased to see blood receive such a positive response. Tells me I'm in esteemed illuminati company
LOL it is surprising and delightful for sure, Brian.
Wow, Anne. I was happily reading along, admiring you for being one of the rare people who can consciously decide to change what she loves/hates, when I reached the end of the post, and you asked the profound question: who would I be if I loved everything? People assume that their likes/dislikes define them. But look at it from another point of view: normally, one doesn't want to know anything about what one hates/doesn't like. I experienced this with snakes, spiders, mice, what have you -- I learned as a kid from my parents and others to dispise them, eeeww. But once I dropped this I got to know many cute, fascinating creatures! And I was still the same "me". Sorry to wax philosophical, it just really struck me.
That is very inspiring, Jessica! Maybe I will try this with cockroaches. I don't hate them and I leave them alone when I see the occasional bug scuttling across the room (in NYC they are almost inevitable as you may know) but they still inspire some fear and revulsion.
I sent you an email, Anne -- quite long, sorry...
I'm begging you...no. more. cockroaches. ICK!
Oh no Laurie! I'm sorry!
Laurie—trigger warning! The first couple paragraphs of the letter in the next issue will for sure include a mention of you-know-what! You may want to skip over!! :)
LOL LOL I don't know if I can skip over anything you write! But I surely do appreciate the trigger warning!