Tasting the Future of Starbucks Coffee From a New Machine

NYTimes.com

Thursday March 27, 1:38 am ET
By OLIVER SCHWANER-ALBRIGHT

Howard D. Schultz, the chief executive of Starbucks, dropped a bombshell last week at the annual shareholders meeting when he announced that as part of an effort to concentrate on making better coffee, the corporation had bought the Coffee Equipment Company of Seattle, maker of the Clover coffee brewer.

Coffee drinkers were buzzing. Clovers are $11,000 machines that brew one cup at a time and have become essential equipment at some of the country’s top independent cafes. How could the company now be the exclusive property of a giant corporation? In protest, Stumptown Coffee in Portland, Ore., one of Clover’s earliest champions, said it had decided to stop using Clover machines.

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McDonald's names S&D Coffee top supplier

McDonald's USA has named S&D Coffee Inc. its 2007 Supplier of the Year.

Concord-based S&D sells premium roast coffee and iced tea to the fast-food chain.

The award is presented annually to the food, paper or product supplier that makes the most significant contribution to, McDonald's U.S. business results. It recognizes commitment to quality and food safety, innovation and customer service.

S&D has more than 70,000 customers nationally, including several leading restaurant chains.

Source: MSN Money

Starbucks must repay $100 million for gratuities

Starbucks must repay $100 million for gratuities shared with supervisors, a San Diego judge rules.

By Roger Vincent and Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
March 21, 2008

Starbucks got caught with its hand in the tip jar and was ordered Thursday to pay California baristas more than $100 million.

In a San Diego County class-action lawsuit, a judge ordered the coffee giant to pay back tips, with interest, that the company had handed over to shift supervisors. Some baristas could receive more than $10,000, according to their attorney.

The ruling was met with cheers by California baristas. "I'm stoked," said Leekeisha Smith, who makes coffee drinks in the Starbucks at Sunset Boulevard and La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles.

"Wow. I'm just shocked that we'll get that [money] back." Smith, 23, said she found out about the lawsuit from a letter sent to employees.

Starbucks Corp. said it was outraged and vowed to appeal. In a statement, the company said the decision "is not only contrary to law, it is fundamentally unfair and beyond all common sense and reason."

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