Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine - Gizmodo Comments

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Thud — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:56:23 EDT

@ithcy: Wow, Starbucks coffee isn't the only bitter thing around here... Yes, a good coffee maker costs a fair bit. I'll be honest, and say I spend $1500 on mine, along with another $500 for a decent burr grinder (I would note that I purchased them from a small family-owned business). I spend about $12 per pound on good coffee, roasted by a local, single shop small business. My household consumes about 3 lbs every two weeks, or about 625 lbs over the last 8 years. At 16g of coffee per double, that comes to 28 drinks per pound, say 17,500 drinks over the past 8 years. I've owned my machine for eight years. Total hardware investment = $1500+$500, add in another $12 x 625 = $7500, so the cost per shot is about $0.54. Even at a diner you pay more than that, prolly a saving a buck, and I get better coffee.

So, buying an espresso machine and making my coffee at home seems to have saved me about $17,500 over drinking diner swill, no?

And, I certainly believe my money is hard earned. And, I'm guessing both that as a percentage of annual income and in raw dollars I've contributed more to charity that you have in the past couple years.

Your point seems to be that you are entitled to make judgments about how I spend my money because you don't give a hoot about coffee or because your taste buds suck. The irony is that you're posting in a gadget forum... Can you really claim there is no extravagance in your life?

Thud

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

ithcy — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:08:48 EDT

@Siouxperman: But YOU'RE assuming that someone's money is hard-earned. How do you know that, exactly?

Not only that, but you're saying that if you have n dollars and give it all to charity, that's morally equal to having 2n dollars, giving n to charity and spending n on things you don't really need for yourself. I don't agree with that at all.

But the charity thing was really an aside - my point was that spending that much money on a coffee machine for yourself is ridiculously wasteful no matter how rich you are or what you do with the rest of your money. It's COFFEE. I can afford a super expensive espresso machine, and tube amps too, but for some reason I don't feel pressed to live like a Roman emperor.

But hey, that's just like, my opinion, man.

ithcy

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Siouxperman — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:53:23 EDT

@ithcy: is judgmental! Maybe you should listen to yourself and stop obsessing about how others choose to spend their hard earned money.

I agree that a charitable life is the richest life one can live BUT you are assuming that Thud can't own a reliable and expensive espresso machine AND be charitable at the same time. Not a fair judgment. I know that a person can enjoy both!

Siouxperman

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

swag — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:56:28 EDT

"High-performance Italian sports cars" aren't made in Switzerland, don't have automatic transmissions, and aren't designed for repetetive, push-button use by drivers with only a few hours of experience behind the wheel.

But maybe if Starbucks offered a driving school...

swag

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

ithcy — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:23:59 EDT

@Thud: Last I looked, "well-engineered espresso machines" and the attendant equipment cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. It would take the average person years to spend that much on coffee at Starbucks or anywhere else, let alone if they just brewed it at home with a regular old coffee machine. I'm not defending Starbucks here - I can burn my own coffee for much less than they charge for the service.

While I like coffee, I have no need to "quest for the perfect cup" or whatever. Obsessiveness is rarely a desirable character trait. I get along fine with cheap cuban espresso from the grocery store and a $10 stove top espresso maker. (Yes, I have had plenty of coffee from super expensive rigs.)

Instead of spending all that money on an espresso machine for your house, why not give it away to charity and drink crap coffee from the local diner for a year? You think your life will be less rich?

ithcy

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

takeshi — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:47:11 EDT

You can't regain soul or make good espresso with a superauto. At best you can can achieve consistent mediocrity. So much for Starbucks and their efforts "to change".

takeshi

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

infmom — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:15:23 EDT

@FThorn: Oddly enough, I didn't really drink coffee till my kids started working at Starbucks. :)

infmom

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Thud — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:03:10 EDT

@ithcy: As a well-caffeinated guy with a bunch of tube amps in his house, I resemble that remark.

Seriously, its about getting the most for your money. I could frequent Starbucks, drink bad coffee, and pay through the nose for it. Or, I can invest in a well engineered espresso machine and grinder, use my tastebuds to find a good, local roaster, and--on an amortized basis taking into account beans--pay about $0.40 per cuppa joe.

Better coffee, less money. Dismiss me as a coffee-phile, but it doesn't mean the advice is bad.

Thud

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

SeattleTed — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:41:15 EDT

@matt buchanan:
The bummer is for the small local shop near my casa that splurged and got a clover to DIFFERENTIATE themselves from the starbucks only to have the bucks buy the company. The coffee is great however.

@islandhopper: ya laeser okonomi a handelsjoken (sic) a kobenhavn! Hej Hej

SeattleTed

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

ravedown — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:32:39 EDT

i hope starbucks stock tanks so i can afford to load up on it for cheap- they have cornered the market on coffee and for good reason-mostly consistant coffee no matter where you are (the same coffee i had in seattle was just as flavorful as the cup i had 10 hours later in frankfurt)and since its highly addictive, it will be around and successful for years to come- that is of course if they don't F-it up by trying to appeal to the masses with this new watered down/weak Pikes Place Roast which is basically a dunkin donuts flavor knock off.

ravedown

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Guy-Fawkes — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:11:51 EDT

"They'll be in about 30 percent of US stores by the end of this year, and 75 percent by 2010, but I think with a woodier look to them."

Do we really need an espresso machine with a woody?

Guy-Fawkes

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

don_moron — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:33:12 EDT

swiss (not swedish) quality machine...

probably won't blend :)

don_moron

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

cygnusx8 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:50:40 EDT

Drink Intelligentsia coffee

cygnusx8

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Brentis — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:48:03 EDT

Starbucks sucks... No wonder their stock is cratering - went their two times in past week and thier cappucinos were flavorless and watered down - something hard to do with their burnt-ass beans.

I'm personally going to boycott them.

Here's an idea - Lavazza - open up a competing chain - with taste and quality vs. "starbucks coffee experience" whatever that is.

Brentis

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

islandhopper — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:35:52 EDT

@FThorn: seriously? you only just had coffee for the first time ever?? in 40 years? ummmmm, wow. WHY?

islandhopper

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

berbar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:05:26 EDT

Nice machine. What about getting some NOT over-roasted coffee?

berbar

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

ithcy — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:03:09 EDT

Coffee-philes: almost as funny as audiophiles. Keep it up, guys.

ithcy

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Samifumi — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:52:59 EDT

F Starbucks. The only time I walk into one is to place the Starbuck's gift card I inevitably receive into the employee's tip jar. "Knock yourselves out."

Samifumi

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

cdawson2000 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:39:06 EDT

WOW is it really that serious? [www.budcase.com]

cdawson2000

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Thud — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:34:16 EDT

"Hopefully, this means better coffee" -- not if the stuff going in is Starbx. Ugh. GIGO.

First, find a decent roaster who doesn't burn your beans and knows how to do a proper french or city roast. Then look for a machine. I'll highly recommend my Salvatore semi-auto. Massive brass boiler, full commercial head, an on/off switch and a pump button.

Then you can enjoy coffee that tastes like roasted coffee smells...

Thud

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

strider_mt2k — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:35:46 EDT

@FThorn: Terrible isn't it?

Now get out of the way, I'm empty. ;)

strider_mt2k

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

FThorn — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:38:16 EDT

I just tried coffee for the first time in my 40+ years. It's amazing that anyone can make money, let alone build stores every ten feet, based on the taste of coffee.

FThorn

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

banmojo — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:15:44 EDT

@daftrok: doh! NOT one of their best episodes, but watchable, as always :^) and when Butters gets mad at Eric and *pats* him on the chest in anger, it truly puts to rest the age old question 'bout his sexuality. Poor Butters.

banmojo

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

islandhopper — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:01:56 EDT

@skittlzncombos: here in Copenhagen, I ALREADY pay about $8 for a cup of coffee anywhere (except 7-11, thats only about $4.50, lol).... sigh.... at least it's usually damn good coffee, and I dont miss Starbucks.

The only Starbucks we have is at the airport, and If I want to get my old "favorite starbucks" drink, a Quad Grande toffee nut latte, costs me around $13 here! Seriously

islandhopper

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

SMSDHubbard — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:28:44 EDT

Blech. Starbucks is overroasted superautomatic crap.

SMSDHubbard

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

matt buchanan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:00:26 EDT

@dangj307: Well, they can't fulfill requests to pull short or long with the current stuff.

matt buchanan

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

lianna_g — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:45:42 EDT

Only smarmbucks would attempt to bill an automatic espresso machine as a guarantee of quality. The level of corporately honed ignorance and bullshit underlines its unwavering commitment to mediocrity, one cup at a time.

lianna_g

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

dangj307 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:40:49 EDT

Petes is ok, it's the place to go if you like dark roasts. When I was over at coffegeek.com they affectionately call Starbucks Charbucks and for good reason, they roast the shit out of their beans for consistency.

They're the coffee of last resort for me. I don't know about any place that uses fixed machines. How do they adjust for the perfect shot? 18-24 seconds depends on each batch, grind, etc.

dangj307

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

radikaled — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:29:11 EDT

@Metkis: I love Pulp Fiction!

radikaled

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

matt buchanan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:26:55 EDT

@ludwigk: No. Clover machine is for regular coffee, was an independent outfit Starbucks purchased. This is made by the company that makes their current espresso machines. Just a new model.

matt buchanan

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

ludwigk — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:45 EDT

Is this a development resulting from their acquisition of Clover?

ludwigk

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

poisonfist — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:10:26 EDT

@redman042:
I whole heartedly agree with you about Sydney. Every single coffee place I went made lattes that were good as the best you can get here in the states. Come to think of it, the food was too. The average quality of food there is equal to higher end restaurants in the states.

poisonfist

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

bobdobbs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:54:34 EDT

@redman042: Peet's is great if you like burnt coffee.

bobdobbs

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

ithcy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:46:52 EDT

Inappropriate Pulp Fiction quote is inappropriate

ithcy

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Metkis — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:30:20 EDT

I don't need you to tell me how fucking good my coffee is, okay? I'm the one who buys it, I know how good it is. When Bonnie goes shopping, she buys shit. Me, I buy the gourmet expensive stuff because when I drink it, I want to taste it. But you know what's on my mind right now? It ain't the coffee in my kitchen, it's the dead n***** in my garage.

Metkis

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

frozenguy14 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:29:09 EDT

So im a Starbucks Barista and over the past quarter Howard Schultz has come back in as CEO, as most of you probably know. He is changing a lot with the company. We're getting rid of the breakfast sandwiches by September or so. The new Pike Place Roast is going to be a consistent coffee in all of our stores, brewed all day every day. We're always changing our pastries, but we recently added a few. The next big things will be this new machine, iTunes in the stores which was announced last winter, and more recently they've started putting AT&T wifi in some of the stores on the west coast and from what i here we're all supposed to get it soon.

frozenguy14

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

redman042 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:28:35 EDT

I hope this will help them, but they'd better combine this with some serious retraining for their baristas, because their coffee and espresso drinks leave a lot to be desired right now. I only go there in a pinch. A much better local chain in California is Pete's, if you can find one. But Starbucks has a LONG way to go to match the lattes I've had in Sydney or Seattle, or here at home on my Gaggia espresso machine.

redman042

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

n00bie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:27:26 EDT

in the good ol' days when baristas had the manual espresso machines, where you had to grind the beans, measure, stamp them just perfectly and time them perfectly ... it was tedious. During Christmas rushes, it was HELL. But they were an artform, like bartendering to get the perfect shot and the corporation took that away from us. Yeah, it's easier, but the perfect shot from an experienced barista tastes 100x better than the regular shot from the automated machine. There's no finesse, no perfection, no elitism that us (ex) baristas enjoy so much. Face it, working at Second Cup just doesn't sound as cool as Starbucks.

n00bie

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

skittlzncombos — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:04:18 EDT

@Darkest Daze: I try to buy the cheap stuff, so only 5.50.....

skittlzncombos

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

bobdobbs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:03:06 EDT

@OMG! Ponies!: yeah, I've got a Livia 90 and matching grinder that work fine. They don't look as cool as that, though.

bobdobbs

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

Darkest Daze — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:02:11 EDT

@skittlzncombos:
You mean to tell me that your local Starbucks are charging less than $8 for their their mediocre coffee?

You guys are behind the times.

Darkest Daze

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:59:35 EDT

@bobdobbs: If you have a good one already, just move on. High-end home espresso machines should never need to be replaced - at least without any degree of regularity. In 15 years, I've only ever owned two. The first one lasted 10 years.

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

DirtySocks — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:55:29 EDT

Bah. Burr grinder + Funnel + Unbleached cone filter = the best drip coffee. Espresso is for confused middle class folks who still watch re-runs of 'Friends'.

DirtySocks

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

skittlzncombos — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:43:02 EDT

And to cover costs, will I now have to pay 8 dollars for my less-than-stellar cup-o-joe?

skittlzncombos

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

daftrok — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:35:23 EDT

Well boy howdy, that's one fancy bean crushing contraption, and all shiny like too.

daftrok

Starbucks' New "High Performance" Mastrena Espresso Machine

bobdobbs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:13:21 EDT

Screw 30% of their "stores"; I want it in 100% of my kitchens!

bobdobbs