24 July 2007

How to save at Starbucks

I'm a sucker for expensive coffee. I don't know why, but i have this stupid notion that  expensive coffee is better than jolog instant coffee. Because of that stupidity, I'm paying the price, and when I say price - it's real money;  my scrumpy allowance wasted on some insane African coffee.
To tell you the truth, Starbucks coffee sucks. It's not even gourmet coffee. I like the Barako coffee of Batangas better or the Coffee Alamid, if you ever heard of it.
One reason I order coffee there though is that is a quiet place to study. There are other coffee shops out there but sometimes they have sloppy service. Starbucks also has sloppy service but, i guess, quite better.
I'm surprised that the the baristas, whenever I go there, remember me and call me by name. Ah, sorry, close ba tayo? I've always wanted to say that, but I thought they were just doing their job. Ba, parang barkada nalang ah. So, I've made it a point to memorise their names din. So that when I go there the next time, their jaws would drop.
You see, going to Starbucks is more than the coffee. For example: the girls. Starbucks is the best place to go birdwatching. It's a place to find inspiration especially if you want those creative juices to flow.
For those coffee addicts there like me, here are some tips on how to save a bit if your uptight.

How to save money at Starbucks

1. "Ghetto" Latte - This makeshift coffee drink lives up to its name. To make, order one or two shots of espresso in a large cup. Fill the rest with milk from the condiment station. If it's too cold, microwave at home or the office. For a ghetto macchiato, substitute the regular milk for a portion of half 'n' half equal to the amount of espresso.

2. Short Cap
- Some Starbucks sell a "short" cappuccino that isn't listed on the menu, but is only available by request. It's smaller and cheaper than the "tall," which is the smallest on the menu.

3. Black Coffee - Learn to like regular coffee. The expensive drinks at Starbucks are those dressed up with cream and sugar. Acquiring a taste for black coffee won't just save you money, it'll save you fat and calories as well.

4. Free Power - Instead of charging your laptop at home, bring it into Starbucks and charge it up for free.

5. Free News - Discarded sections of the day's newspapers are a staple at Starbucks. Instead of subscribing to a paper that you throw away after reading anyway, share with the Starbucks community.

6. The Hook-up - Starbucks employees get a free pound of coffee every week, which is often up for barter if you have something good to offer. I know a girl who worked at a doctor's office that traded a bag of free drug pens for a pound of Sumatran.

7. Osmosis - Sometimes all you need is a whiff of the coffee scent and the sound of whirring machines to trigger you into waking up in the morning. So walk in, take a deep breath, and drink in the morning energy. Leave as soon as you feel more awake and you've saved yourself the price of a coffee.

savingadvice.com






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