[mobilemidget]

The flavour might not be crazy, as you write about the rubs and breakfasts. But paying 10 dollars for a coffee, is crazy in my opinion.

[crazygringo]

You're paying for the slab of pork and the ability to start the most fun conversation in any room you're in for the following week, when you get everyone to share what they think it would taste like and then you give the big reveal of what it was actually like!

It's just good harmless fun. I'd totally pay for that.

Only once, obviously.

[relbeek2]

its not the coffee you are buying, its the experience.

[LunaSea]

It's Starbucks, there's no experience

[boyter]

In China it is/was.

Its very expensive for the average Chinese person and is considered fairly fancy or upscale. At least it was when I lived there.

Same rule applies to Pizza Hut.

[relbeek2]

You've clearly never gone to a Starbucks Roastery before. Its a night and day difference between the standard cafe and a roastery.

[delroth]

It's Starbucks Reserve, so yes, you're absolutely paying for the experience.

[brailsafe]

It's Starbucks Reserve, there's still no experience and the coffee still sucks.

[okr]

Compared to what?

[brailsafe]

I can't think of a time I've been to a Starbucks Reserve location and felt that the difference amounted to more than slightly bougier interior decorating. Same as any other Starbucks otherwise, and generally the coffee isn't better

Their roastery in Seattle is quite different though and worth visiting since they do have good coffee, interesting merch, interesting architecture, etc.

[bobthepanda]

kitsch is an experience. "good" is in the eye of the beholder.

[hulitu]

I see Microsoft's marketing got exported. /s