There’s one BIG thing Starbucks could do to improve the experience: free wi-fi. You have to pay for wi-fi in Starbucks using an arcane system; meanwhile wi-fi is free all over the place, in many coffeehouses and even fast-food restaurants these days. I’m not a coffee drinker, but when I’m traveling I frequent coffeeshops with wi-fi and happily buy some tea and scones to enjoy while I’m working on important email. I’m hardly the only person with this profile; charging for wi-fi just makes Starbucks seem cold, as they apparent fear they are becoming.

Have you found a business that has wi-fi at all locations? I have the same problem when I travel, and always end up googling places on-line, but it’s not real convenient. I’d love to just know where wi-fi exists (other than my hotel room).

Jeff: try Panera.

The “Conversation Barista” was an interesting concept. I know an attractive middle-aged used bookstore owner whose shop is always full of old guys clamoring for her attention. As long as they buy stuff fairly regularly, she’s happy to talk to them about their arcane political ideas.

I privately consider her a “conversation hooker” but the system does seem to work for everybody.

CC
who is sipping a skinny Hazelnut latte as we speak.

CC, I checked online at Panera’s site. While there are Paneras around, there are no wi-fi enabled Paneras within 10 miles of my parents’ house in CT, my Grandma’s house in Houston, or my alma mater in NC. Looks like a bust, sorry to say.

Once upon a time Starbucks did offer free wi-fi, and I patronized them. But, sadly, no longer.

Apparently McDonalds has free wi-fi these days. I looked online and nearly all the McDonalds restaurants within 10 miles of the three locations mentioned above DO have free wi-fi. That’s good to know, but honestly it’s hard to see myself hanging out in McDonalds for very long. I never eat fast-food, and I’m a vegetarian so these aren’t the sort of places I’d go to normally anyways.

In order for a conversation barista to work, you need a counter near the barista. Like at a bar. They don’t have those at Starbucks (or many coffee shops). I agree with Jeff; free wifi would be awesome. I’m not a coffee drinker, but free wifi would draw me in. I’d happily buy a cup of tea and a blueberry scone to use it, esp. when traveling.

The good thing about Starbucks not having free wifi is it encourages the smaller chains and local shops TO offer it (as a draw away from Starbucks). Fortunately, there’s a Brewed Awakenings within walking distance of my house, and they have free wifi.

Panera’s wifi is very reliable and fast, but there is only one (again within walking distance of my house) for hundreds of miles. I lucked out.

I didn’t realize Starbucks’ world takeover was slightly receding. I wonder if this means they’ll give the Pacific NW back our two dozen Coffee People’s? CP had free wifi, and I used to go there all the time - until Starbucks bought them out and shut them down.

McDonalds isn’t the only national chain with free wifi.

I just wish they were cleaner. They always seem kind of dirty… like they don’t have time to mop or wipe down tables.

Oh, and I can’t work at Starbucks; the music is too loud. Combined with the noise made by the baristas’ machines, and the customers, I can’t even think. It makes me wonder if they are trying to keep their customers moving out of there by driving them out with loud music. And, I find they are often crowded - nevermind finding an outlet, half the time there are no seats!

All the perils of expanding too fast too quickly and losing the common appeal.