coffeesnob318 | The week in coffee...

Hope sent me (IM-ed me? whatever) an article that, once again, leads me to conclude that Starbucks is the Evil Empire.

Last week, Starbucks loaned $1 million to the Calvert Foundation to support small coffee farmers, thinking that such a pitiful gesture (compared to what they could do if they just bought from those farmers in the first place) will win the support of fair trade advocates. When the CEO of Dean's Beans pointed out that this was hardly a huge step in the direction of social responsibility, reiterating the challenge to become fair trade certified that many fair trade coffee companies *cough*EqualExchange*cough* have issued to Starbucks, a spokesperson from Starbucks replied, "The certification is limited to small-scale farmer cooperatives and does not include many of the farmers who produce Starbucks coffee." So....the problem with their buying practices is that there's a problem with their buying practices? Just another example that leads me to conclude that Starbucks wants the reputation of being an organization with fair business practices without having to take on all that pesky responsibility of actually being an organization with fair business practices.

Posers.

So I dissed them royally in my sample sales speech today. One of my students is a barista at Starbucks. She had no idea that they don't really support fair trade. Surprise, surprise. Corporate brainwashing at its finest. But she's going to go in today and brew only the fair trade blend. Heh, heh.

Secret message to

chicklet73 - something tasty your way comes...eventually. I'm just waiting on a shipment.

Busy weekend. Not much sleep. That means more caffeine, right?

My sister had a chocolate party at her house on Saturday. Chocolate covered strawberries, a chocolate brownie covered in cream cheese, pineapples, strawberries, bananas, almonds, and - oh yes - more chocolate. I'm still on a sugar high.

*jumps around a bit*

Today, I couldn't go to the bank because they had half of University Drive blocked off. Someone was holding hostages in a Wells Fargo across the street from where I bank. Yes...I think my banking can wait a day. I hope everyone got out all right. I think I might send my banking staff flowers to thank them for all they do.