Starbucks — Restaurant in Albuquerque

I hate what the corporate coffeeshops have done to the little local coffee houses of yesteryear. I was an employee for years and years at Blue Dragon, as well as a few long closed coffee houses in other US cities.

These near forgotten sanctuaries provided a "third home" and most very sincerely subscribed to a philosophy of lifting up the community, the smaller group, and the common people. They gave you a place to rest, relax, enjoy people, and enjoy time slipping away slowly. I made real lasting friendships at coffee houses, the first girl I finger blasted is someone I met at a coffee house, the first time I got a public handy was over the pants and under the table at a coffee house. I didnt climax (but that wasnt the fault of the coffee house).

Those are experiences that a place like Starbucks can not duplicate. They are a thoughtless and heartless machine designed to move people in and out and take their money during the liminal space between coming and going - they are not a destination but merely a bridge.

That being said, the people that work here are super nice and friendly. They are efficient and hard working. These giant corporations have slowly seduced America into thinking peace and relaxation are for hippies and communists. However,the coffee isn't bad and I can get in and out...

Most of the baristas are very nice and friendly, others seem to have been having off days when I went in a couple of times but overall a clean and friendly store. The only thing is that most of their baristas need to work on their drink making. Their drinks are not consistent with other stores around them and usually only one barista seems to know how to make a good drink, as an ex-Starbucks barista I do actually know what I'm talking about. I would stick to coffee or maybe iced coffee unless the tall barista with glasses is on bar, otherwise you will not get the full Starbucks experience. :/ My usual is an iced doppio espresso with a splash of cream. The other baristas either give me "dead" shots or pour the shots over the ice. This is a no no on many levels. Dead shots have lost their crema or the natural sweetness of shot, and when you pour shot directly on to the ice it gets shocked both leading to bitter dirt tasting shots. You pour the shots immediately hit them with some cream to preserve the flavor and then ice it up to cool it down. These days it seems as if Starbucks is more concerned about having bodies to pump out drinks to handle a rush instead of properly training their baristas on the simple mechanics and chemistry of...

I'm sitting at this location with green tea. Coffee and a muffin for my companion. And we're miffed.

It seemed to take an act of God to get someone to give me some sugar for the tea. The lady at the pickup station, who had very long black hair and screaming red lipstick DID NOT offer to help me. She used one word answers as she addressed me and never made eye contact. She was haughty, annoyed and downright rude.

This is a costly place to get some tea and coffee. One would at least expect, no, DEMAND, some basic human kindness and courtesy. Even the nicest, coolest restaurant is spoiled by this kind of entitled aloofness.

Save your money. Get your coffee and tea for less just about anywhere else. Perhaps the people at other restaurants understand the basic ethos of customer service. That the customer is the reason you're in business. We're here to get what we pay for. We're not here to be looked down upon just because we ask for a bit of sugar for the tea. Who needs a snotty entitled...