Comments on: In Conversation: Bryant Simon, author of Everything But the Coffee, Learning About America From Starbucks

By: Mike Miller

Mike Miller — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:43:26 +0000

Great interview! Small typo: “back check” should probably be “fact check”.

By: ALN

ALN — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:33:12 +0000

Great interview Melody. It’s very interesting to hear that he loves coffee and all that goes along with it, but isn’t super picky about what kind. Thanks for this interesting blog!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:56:25 +0000

I love coffee too, and often don’t know the flavor I am drinking… odd.. I know. It was interesting how he mentioned that he thinks SB is a bit of a sham with the “props” – never thought of it like that.

Tweeted your contest for you!!!

By: CABarista

CABarista — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:50:33 +0000

*to simply be

By: CABarista

CABarista — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:49:40 +0000

great interview
It’s pretty obvious to me that he wasn’t really interested in presenting a balanced , well researched view, but went out looking for the answer he already had written down (I don’t know if that came out clearly!). Starting out with where you want to go never leads to balance or truth in your subject matter, only your own biased opinion.
As to authenticity, while not every single starbucks employee world wide is 100% sold out to this, I think as a company they do a stellar job.
After working for this company in particular my expectations for service elsewhere are high and I realize over and over how lacking this type of service is in general:
The willingness to go the extra mile, so simply be pleasant (go figure), to treat you like you are important and so on and so on.
Wow, sorry! I shouldn’t post this late, I get rambley

By: @CoffeePedaler

@CoffeePedaler — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:10:38 +0000

Great interview! I really want to read this book, for now, I’ve got a stack of coffee books ahead of it, but then it will probably take that long to get it from the library.

If I would have known you two were having so much fun, I might have interrupted your talk @ 15th

By: akarisame

akarisame — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:02:34 +0000

OMG My store is all about for here cups. I have never experienced a store like it in 8 years… seriously it’s standing room only and i swear i could have a dedicated cup washer. Customers get mad when they are all in the sanitizer!

By: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:19:47 +0000

Great job, Melody. I’m glad that you asked really hard questions, like the drive-thru section was the best. Personally, I thought the book was horrible. I am glad that you cross-examined his ass, like you did.
OUTSTANDING!

By: Caleb @ Save the Cups

Caleb @ Save the Cups — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:39:26 +0000

Bryant:

Good to see you getting the word out about your book. Can’t wait to read!

Cheers.

By: CD

CD — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:42:09 +0000

That’s so funny about not reading after law school. I experienced the exact same thing!

One of my favorite post-law school reads is The Little Prince (also a children’s book).