Bangkok's "Starbung" coffee vendor defies multinational

[Bikkii]

@ Baloo22

Why so defensive man? Is drinking a cup of burnt, stale squirell piss at Starbucks really one of your great pleasures here in LOS?

[samran]

The taste cant be worse than starbucks shit awful stuff

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Aparently you've missed the boat with the plethora of coffee parphanalia that can be purchased to make your own brew at home, or the specialist coffee shops which abound in cities which have an established coffee culture (and sell their products generally for a lesser price than Starbucks). So yeah, there are plenty of comparisons around.

So, yep, just becuase I'm not in the coffee making business doesn't mean I don't know it isn't crap.

But, apparently in your book, we all have to be come major international vendors of a product before we can have a view on said product. Try telling a trappist monk his speciality beer is crap given he isn't selling it globally like Budwiser, which is the Starbucks of the beer world.

Edited October 25, 2013 by samran

[newermonkey]

The taste cant be worse than starbucks shit awful stuff

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Yes actually I do "know a lot about coffee" & own a coffee shop and its doing very well thank you and my engineering company is doing a fantastic amount of business I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss" I am wealthy so can do what I want buy what I want.

Yes I do know about coffee we buy the very best Colombian coffee beans directly from the beneficios and we roast and blend the beans in house.

BTW My handle/avatar on TV has nothing to do with anything outside of the forums do you understand that one Mr. Baloo22 the big fat silly bear?

Why do you question someones opinion so verdantly?

"my opinion & I am not the only one on this"

FYI:

Look up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Coffee quality

Kevin Knox, who was in charge of coffee quality at Starbucks from 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog in 2010 how George Howell, coffee veteran and founder of the Cup of Excellence, had been appalled at the dark roasted beans that Starbucks was selling in 1990.^[29][56] Talking to the New York Times in 2008, Howell stated his opinion that the dark roast used by Starbucks does not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead can destroy purported nuances of flavor.^[29] The March 2007 issue of Consumer Reports compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast. The magazine called Starbucks coffee "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".^[57]

Whats your reply Mr Cartoon Bear?

[Bikkii]

I had a funny experience with starbucks many,many years ago when I was in hospital in Oz. For the life of me I could not understand why that crap was the only coffee joint in the place. With a drip hanging out my arm I had no choice. everyday the coffee tasted like crap, but hey have to say it was better than sitting in my bed watching people around me die.

Anyway one day waiting in line to order that vile poison, one of the staff came up to me with a look of excitement on her face as she did all those sad looking people in line resigned to the fact that due to lack of choice, this was it. She told me that day they were gonna try something really new, oh I said, whats that? Today we are going to serve your flat white with espresso and milk. I looked at her bewildered and said and? What have you been doing every other day? We normally use 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk and 1/3 water. So you mean your gonna start making coffee the proper way then like everywhere else I said. She looked confused. Admitibly, it tasted a little better than blended sheeps dung, more along the lines of sour wallaby piss.

[Baloo22]

@ Baloo22

Why so defensive man? Is drinking a cup of burnt, stale squirell piss at Starbucks really one of your great pleasures here in LOS?

I'm not so defensive, man. I hardly go to Starbucks at all. I just feel that if a person likes Starbucks coffee, there is nothing wrong with that at all. And if a person enjoys going to a Starbucks store, there is nothing wrong with that at all. I just don't feel the religious zeal to come on here and insist to people that the coffee that they like and pay for with their own money is "crap", "pond water, "shit awful stuff", "cat piss", ... ad nauseum.

If you want to look at defensive offensive people; look for the people that are using terms like "burnt, stale squirrel piss".

[Baloo22]

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Aparently you've missed the boat with the plethora of coffee parphanalia that can be purchased to make your own brew at home, or the specialist coffee shops which abound in cities which have an established coffee culture (and sell their products generally for a lesser price than Starbucks). So yeah, there are plenty of comparisons around.

So, yep, just becuase I'm not in the coffee making business doesn't mean I don't know it isn't crap.

But, apparently in your book, we all have to be come major international vendors of a product before we can have a view on said product. Try telling a trappist monk his speciality beer is crap given he isn't selling it globally like Budwiser, which is the Starbucks of the beer world.

No, did not miss the boat at all! Just don't feel that religious zeal to be on a constant jihad against the coffee that millions of people happen to like and pay for with their own money. And yes, I do believe that the people in the coffee company with over 19,000 stores in 62 countries do know quite a bit more about coffee than you.

By the way, you have your analogy pointing in the wrong direction. It is you that is telling the Trappist monk that his specialty beer is crap simply because it does not suit your taste.

[mca]

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss

You obviously know a lot about cat piss as well mate

[Baloo22]

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Yes actually I do "know a lot about coffee" & own a coffee shop and its doing very well thank you and my engineering company is doing a fantastic amount of business I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss" I am wealthy so can do what I want buy what I want.

Yes I do know about coffee we buy the very best Colombian coffee beans directly from the beneficios and we roast and blend the beans in house.

BTW My handle/avatar on TV has nothing to do with anything outside of the forums do you understand that one Mr. Baloo22 the big fat silly bear?

Why do you question someones opinion so verdantly?

"my opinion & I am not the only one on this"

FYI:

Look up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Coffee quality

Kevin Knox, who was in charge of coffee quality at Starbucks from 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog in 2010 how George Howell, coffee veteran and founder of the Cup of Excellence, had been appalled at the dark roasted beans that Starbucks was selling in 1990.^[29][56] Talking to the New York Times in 2008, Howell stated his opinion that the dark roast used by Starbucks does not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead can destroy purported nuances of flavor.^[29] The March 2007 issue of Consumer Reports compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast. The magazine called Starbucks coffee "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".^[57]

Whats your reply Mr Cartoon Bear?

Well, it's just so thrilling to hear from you Mister "I am wealthy so can do what I want buy what I want" !

You say that you own a coffee shop. Great. Now you just have 18,999+ to go before you can match Starbucks! But of course, you know so so very much more about what everybody's taste in coffee is supposed to be. As opposed to the millions of customers that do like Starbucks coffee.

You may very well like the coffee that you produce. I have never told you that the coffee that YOU LIKE and pay for with your money is "cat piss". You are the one that is, with almost religious fervor, trying to tell other people that the coffee that they like and pay for with their own money is "cat piss".

Here are three of the astute observations the BM Jsixpack made on these type of Starbucks-bashing posts that seem very appropriate here. (I truly do wish I could take credit for them!)

• Starbucks coffee tastes like Starbucks coffee--not what some think coffee should taste like, not that they would know anyway;
• Starbucks isn't just about coffee but about the other products, service, and atmosphere--which many disingenuously ignore;
• Some need to cling to a kind of reverse snobbery for illusory self-affirmation.

[Curt1591]

"I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss"" (And I'll keep trying it, because I'm rich!)

Cat piss aside, Stabucks has simply seemed over roasted to me. But, apparently, most people seem to think coffee needs to be burnt to be good.

[canuckamuck]

Some people here are being too harsh in there assessment of cat piss.

[KonKorat]

I wonder if his coffee is Halal

[Fozfromoz]

Maybe Starbung sell better coffeeStarbucks should be taken to court for selling fake goodsTheir coffee is crap

Maybe some should lift the needle up and place it down on another song, this ones been played to death. Have to wait until something similar happens with beer. Didn't think so many would go on about bloody coffee <deleted>!

[Fozfromoz]

The taste cant be worse than starbucks shit awful stuff

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Clearly by saying you know a lot about coffee, and Starbucks tastes like cats piss, then perhaps you may be a little fibber. Can't say I have drunk cats piss myself, but don't mind the coffee. Not a Hi-So never have been. I am in Singapore now anyway, perhaps the beans are better here and the dregs go to Thailand?

[rametindallas]

The taste cant be worse than starbucks shit awful stuff

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

So, you admit you drink cat piss? No accounting for tastes, I guess. Someone bought a cup of SB for me a few years ago and, while I wasn't favorably impressed, I didn't think 'cat piss?' when I drank it. Just to satisfy my curiosity, what kind of cat piss were reminiscing about when you tried Starbucks' coffee?

[rametindallas]

@ Baloo22

Why so defensive man? Is drinking a cup of burnt, stale squirell piss at Starbucks really one of your great pleasures here in LOS?

Wow! newermonkey drinks cat piss and you drink burnt, stale, squirrel piss. No wonder your taste buds are confused when you drink Starbucks. It seems more people like coffee than either cat piss or squirrel piss or there would be shops where one could buy those exotic beverages. Personally, I would drink ditch water before I would drink piss of any kind. Oh well, to each his own.

[rametindallas]

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Yes actually I do "know a lot about coffee" & own a coffee shop and its doing very well thank you and my engineering company is doing a fantastic amount of business I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss" I am wealthy so can do what I want buy what I want.

Yes I do know about coffee we buy the very best Colombian coffee beans directly from the beneficios and we roast and blend the beans in house.

BTW My handle/avatar on TV has nothing to do with anything outside of the forums do you understand that one Mr. Baloo22 the big fat silly bear?

Why do you question someones opinion so verdantly?

"my opinion & I am not the only one on this"

FYI:

Look up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Coffee quality

Kevin Knox, who was in charge of coffee quality at Starbucks from 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog in 2010 how George Howell, coffee veteran and founder of the Cup of Excellence, had been appalled at the dark roasted beans that Starbucks was selling in 1990.^[29][56] Talking to the New York Times in 2008, Howell stated his opinion that the dark roast used by Starbucks does not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead can destroy purported nuances of flavor.^[29] The March 2007 issue of Consumer Reports compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast. The magazine called Starbucks coffee "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".^[57]

Whats your reply Mr Cartoon Bear?

"I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss""

You really enjoy your cat piss don't you? If I drank someone's coffee and it made me think of cat piss, I wouldn't try it a second time and here you are saying you have tried Starbucks' cat piss flavored coffee many times and then you have the audacity to tell me you know what good coffee is supposed to taste like? Anyone who repeatedly drinks something they describe as cat piss has no credibility with me.

[rametindallas]

I had a funny experience with starbucks many,many years ago when I was in hospital in Oz. For the life of me I could not understand why that crap was the only coffee joint in the place. With a drip hanging out my arm I had no choice. everyday the coffee tasted like crap, but hey have to say it was better than sitting in my bed watching people around me die.

Anyway one day waiting in line to order that vile poison, one of the staff came up to me with a look of excitement on her face as she did all those sad looking people in line resigned to the fact that due to lack of choice, this was it. She told me that day they were gonna try something really new, oh I said, whats that? Today we are going to serve your flat white with espresso and milk. I looked at her bewildered and said and? What have you been doing every other day? We normally use 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk and 1/3 water. So you mean your gonna start making coffee the proper way then like everywhere else I said. She looked confused. Admitibly, it tasted a little better than blended sheeps dung, more along the lines of sour wallaby piss.

Whoa, dude, you're grossing me out. First you tell me you drink, or have drank burnt, stale squirrel piss and now you tell me you've tasted/eaten blended sheep's dung and know what sour wallaby piss (as opposed to non-sour) tastes like? No wonder your posts are trashing the taste of Starbucks' coffee. I don't want to judge, but I don't know anyone who's ever admitted to even tasting any of those three things. TMI, dude.

[mca]

Reading some of the posts here Ive got a mental image of every Starbucks containing a small menagerie in the back room with an assortment of terrified animals in cages being milked for their piss. Somebody should inform the ALF to firebomb the place!

[baboon]

I can assure you all that Starbucks tastes nothing like cat piss. Thank you.

[canuckamuck]

Strabucks coffee is made for use in the coffee milkshakes which are so rich and sweet that proper coffee just gets lost in there. So they use burnt bitter beans that have a better chance of giving the milkshake a hint of coffee taste. Drink Starbucks black and you will never be back.

[newermonkey]

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Yes actually I do "know a lot about coffee" & own a coffee shop and its doing very well thank you and my engineering company is doing a fantastic amount of business I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss" I am wealthy so can do what I want buy what I want.

Yes I do know about coffee we buy the very best Colombian coffee beans directly from the beneficios and we roast and blend the beans in house.

BTW My handle/avatar on TV has nothing to do with anything outside of the forums do you understand that one Mr. Baloo22 the big fat silly bear?

Why do you question someones opinion so verdantly?

"my opinion & I am not the only one on this"

FYI:

Look up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Coffee quality

Kevin Knox, who was in charge of coffee quality at Starbucks from 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog in 2010 how George Howell, coffee veteran and founder of the Cup of Excellence, had been appalled at the dark roasted beans that Starbucks was selling in 1990.^[29][56] Talking to the New York Times in 2008, Howell stated his opinion that the dark roast used by Starbucks does not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead can destroy purported nuances of flavor.^[29] The March 2007 issue of Consumer Reports compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast. The magazine called Starbucks coffee "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".^[57]

Whats your reply Mr Cartoon Bear?

"I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss""

You really enjoy your cat piss don't you? If I drank someone's coffee and it made me think of cat piss, I wouldn't try it a second time and here you are saying you have tried Starbucks' cat piss flavored coffee many times and then you have the audacity to tell me you know what good coffee is supposed to taste like? Anyone who repeatedly drinks something they describe as cat piss has no credibility with me.

Because it has such a good customer base, I thought it may have been just a bad day for Starbucks when I tried it so trying again because I presumed I might be wrong. Tried it in different towns and countries, because I thought I may be wrong. But no my conclusion is:

Starbucks coffee seems to be made from cheap under ripe beans that are over roasted, this I feel produces a coffee with a bad after taste (I don't mean after you have finished the cup I am referring to the taste in the mouth after every mouthful)

I have not tasted actual cats piss as this is just an expression in the English language.

Have you ever smelt a "tom cat" laying down his scent? well that smell is a pungent and slightly bitter smell that translates to the taste.

A smell is often the same or very similar to the taste. It is to me certainly.

Thai people say Durian smells bad but tastes good but to me the smell is exactly the same as the taste.

I cant imagine you have not heard of the expressions "Cats Piss" Squirrel Piss" all derogatory terms given (often bad beer) to an unsavory and lingering bad bitter or musky after tasting drink?

I can only presume you are not English and have not heard of these terms being used, so I would recommend you look this up (do some research) before slagging me with your "on the defense" comments.

[newermonkey]

The taste cant be worse than starbucks shit awful stuff

So many similar silly Posts on this Thread.

Starbucks is a Multi-BILLION Dollar Company, serving hundreds of thousands of Coffees a DAY, worldwide - they are obviously doing a LOT right.

However on Threads like this dozens of know-it-all TEFLERS and other hand-to-mouth denizens of Thailand suddenly spring out of the bushes and explain / complain that Starbucks is selling a rubbish Product and of course - by implication - THEY could do better.

(Pun intended!)

Patrick

I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss, That's my honest opinion, I can only guess why its all so popular? probably because its so overpriced & wannabe Hi-so's think its posh, I guess?

Clearly by saying you know a lot about coffee, and Starbucks tastes like cats piss, then perhaps you may be a little fibber. Can't say I have drunk cats piss myself, but don't mind the coffee. Not a Hi-So never have been. I am in Singapore now anyway, perhaps the beans are better here and the dregs go to Thailand?

Because it has such a good customer base, I thought it may have been just a bad day for Starbucks when I tried it so trying again because I presumed I might be wrong. Tried it in different towns and countries, because I thought I may be wrong. But no my conclusion is:

Starbucks coffee seems to be made from cheap under ripe beans that are over roasted, this I feel produces a coffee with a bad after taste (I don't mean after you have finished the cup I am referring to the taste in the mouth after every mouthful)

I have not tasted actual cats piss as this is just an expression in the English language.

Have you ever smelt a "tom cat" laying down his scent? well that smell is a pungent and slightly bitter smell that translates to the taste.

A smell is often the same or very similar to the taste. It is to me certainly.

Thai people say Durian smells bad but tastes good but to me the smell is exactly the same as the taste.

I cant imagine you have not heard of the expressions "Cats Piss" Squirrel Piss" all derogatory terms given (often bad beer) to an unsavory and lingering bad bitter or musky after tasting drink?

I can only presume you are not English and have not heard of these terms being used, so I would recommend you look this up (do some research) before slagging me with your "on the defense" comments.

[newermonkey]

It may seem that way but pray tell, do you know of any multinational company that will allow someone to use a counterfeit copy of their corporate logo like that if they could help it? And it's not as if they didn't give the fella a chance to remove the logo with no penalties. This guy is just stubborn and now is going to get sued for it. I have no pity for this person. He had a chance to get out of this situation without any problem but decided to fight a battle he just can't win.

Starbucks needs to take a look at themselves. This guy is hardly stealing their market at the moment. They [ starbucks ] are actling like the playground bully.

I agree with what you're saying but it is just one store isn't it ? Why would starbucks bother with it ? If he opened up a chain then sure but this just seems like overkill to me.

The little old guy does not even have a store he has a motorcycle cart, Starbucks you are pathetic making an example of this old guy.

[IMA_FARANG]

Starbucks is making a PR mistake here.

--------------------

No, not really.

They are getting hours of free publicity out of it.

In the end they probably will "compromise" and "be kind" to StarBung.

That will get in the news too.

It's all free publicity for Starbucks.

[Guest]

Free publicity - but a lot of it is negative. My personal opinion is that they are petty minded money grabbing ***** . This man's cart could never, ever, be mistaken for having any link to Starbucks, and having tried his coffee its a lot better and a lot cheaper. Starbucks need a hard kick up the rear.

[rametindallas]

Free publicity - but a lot of it is negative. My personal opinion is that they are petty minded money grabbing ***** . This man's cart could never, ever, be mistaken for having any link to Starbucks, and having tried his coffee its a lot better and a lot cheaper. Starbucks need a hard kick up the rear.

Starbucks' customer base could not care less about this case or what happens to Mr. Bung; they probably like that Starbucks is going after this pretender that is bringing down the reputation of their hi-so coffee chain. People who hated Starbucks or other corporate haters will not go less often because they already don't go. Keep wishing for something bad on people and Karma may sneak up and bite you on the butt. I'm glad you bought some of Mr. Bung's coffee; he can use the profit he made off you to pay Starbucks damages for copying their trademark. From a distance, Mr. Bung's logo can easily be confused because it is the same shape, color, word spacing, lettering, and has a picture in the middle. For Thai or Chinese people, who don't use Roman characters in their alphabet, the lettering on the sign looks close enough to be confusing. Some may think it is a new 'mobile' Starbucks that is being licensed out. You say the man's cart could never, ever be mistaken for having any link to Starbucks but you just wait and see when the court finds against Mr. Bung. I want all the people who supported him in this, and the others who told him he was right and should fight, to 'pass the hat' and help him pay the fine so he can stay out of jail. Hitler Chicken was not as close to KFC's branding as Mr. Bung's logo is to Starbucks'. BTW he only recently changed the mermaid to a more masculine figure that still has two tails. Mr. Bung probably never had an original idea in his life and wants to leech off he good name and reputation of Starbucks. If Starbucks doesn't have a good name and reputation, why are so many trying to copy it? If the coffee is so bad, why is it the World's largest seller? Too bad so many posters think with their emotions instead of their brains.

[Baloo22]

The little old guy does not even have a store he has a motorcycle cart, Starbucks you are pathetic making an example of this old guy.

Free publicity - but a lot of it is negative. My personal opinion is that they are petty minded money grabbing ***** . This man's cart could never, ever, be mistaken for having any link to Starbucks, and having tried his coffee its a lot better and a lot cheaper. Starbucks need a hard kick up the rear.

And when the next fourteen coffee carts start sporting the Starbucks logo? Then one coffee shop, then five shops, and then when Starbucks does go into a courtroom it will be "Well, you let all these other people use your logo!" Starbucks does not just have a legal right to protect their property (logo), they have a responsibility to do so. I strongly suspect that the legal and marketing people at the Starbucks company have substantially more expertise in this than you or I do.

How many times does this need to be explained ??? Starbucks has to protect it's company's logo.

BM Rametindallas explained it very well in the other Starbucks thread.

If Starbucks knowingly lets one person violate their trademark, then they have to let anyone violate their trademark. Once the precedent has been set, (that you don't care who uses your trademark) then any large company can come in and do what the small offender did and there would be nothing Starbucks could do about it. You can't have selective enforcement. It is costing Starbucks much more in legal fees and bad publicity that even ten pushcarts like Mr. Bung runs but they have to protect their trademark or lose all rights to it. I don't know why this is so difficult to understand.

Another point would be, why does it make a difference if the thief is small time or big time; you have still been robbed. Let me personalize it for you. Would it make a difference to you and your family if a poor thief with six children to feed robbed your house or a gang of professional thieves robbed your house? You suffer a loss in both cases. With your logic, you would let the poor thief off with no punishment (and even allow him to reoffend) and prosecute the professional gang. What would your family (stockholders), that your are responsible to, say about your generous spirit?

<snip> ...trademark violation is much more damaging to a company to ignore, than copyright violations. Why do you think Starbucks is spending so much money on these two 'little' guys? Why do you think they are willing to accept so much bad publicity. It is because they HAVE to. They have spent millions building their trademark and have stockholders' investments to protect. It would be corporate malfeasance to not protect their trademark.Here's the difference. If copyright violators are not prosecuted, the owner of the copyrighted material is only out money but if trademark violation is not prosecuted (knowingly allowed), the owner of the trademark loses control of the trademark and everyone is legally free to use it. Everyone could then open any coffee shop and legally call it Starbucks and use the exact Starbucks logo. <snip>

[rametindallas]

Those that can do! Those that can't become critics and say "I know a lot about coffee and Starbucks tastes like cat piss...".

Sure. Right. You know a lot about coffee.

That's why that new chain of "New Monkey Coffee Shops" is giving Starbucks so much competition.

Yes actually I do "know a lot about coffee" & own a coffee shop and its doing very well thank you and my engineering company is doing a fantastic amount of business I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss" I am wealthy so can do what I want buy what I want.

Yes I do know about coffee we buy the very best Colombian coffee beans directly from the beneficios and we roast and blend the beans in house.

BTW My handle/avatar on TV has nothing to do with anything outside of the forums do you understand that one Mr. Baloo22 the big fat silly bear?

Why do you question someones opinion so verdantly?

"my opinion & I am not the only one on this"

FYI:

Look up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

Coffee quality

Kevin Knox, who was in charge of coffee quality at Starbucks from 1987 to 1993, recalled on his blog in 2010 how George Howell, coffee veteran and founder of the Cup of Excellence, had been appalled at the dark roasted beans that Starbucks was selling in 1990.^[29][56] Talking to the New York Times in 2008, Howell stated his opinion that the dark roast used by Starbucks does not deepen the flavor of coffee, but instead can destroy purported nuances of flavor.^[29] The March 2007 issue of Consumer Reports compared American fast-food chain coffees and ranked Starbucks behind McDonald's Premium Roast. The magazine called Starbucks coffee "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open".^[57]

Whats your reply Mr Cartoon Bear?

"I have tried Starbucks many times and always the same conclusion... "cats piss""

You really enjoy your cat piss don't you? If I drank someone's coffee and it made me think of cat piss, I wouldn't try it a second time and here you are saying you have tried Starbucks' cat piss flavored coffee many times and then you have the audacity to tell me you know what good coffee is supposed to taste like? Anyone who repeatedly drinks something they describe as cat piss has no credibility with me.

Because it has such a good customer base, I thought it may have been just a bad day for Starbucks when I tried it so trying again because I presumed I might be wrong. Tried it in different towns and countries, because I thought I may be wrong. But no my conclusion is:

Starbucks coffee seems to be made from cheap under ripe beans that are over roasted, this I feel produces a coffee with a bad after taste (I don't mean after you have finished the cup I am referring to the taste in the mouth after every mouthful)

I have not tasted actual cats piss as this is just an expression in the English language.

Have you ever smelt a "tom cat" laying down his scent? well that smell is a pungent and slightly bitter smell that translates to the taste.

A smell is often the same or very similar to the taste. It is to me certainly.

Thai people say Durian smells bad but tastes good but to me the smell is exactly the same as the taste.

I cant imagine you have not heard of the expressions "Cats Piss" Squirrel Piss" all derogatory terms given (often bad beer) to an unsavory and lingering bad bitter or musky after tasting drink?

I can only presume you are not English and have not heard of these terms being used, so I would recommend you look this up (do some research) before slagging me with your "on the defense" comments.

The quality of Starbucks coffee:

Ethically Sourced Coffee Goals and Progress http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/sourcing/coffee

Starbucks Quality Assurance http://www.studymode.com/essays/Starbucks-Quality-Assurance-353560.html

Starbucks Puts Quality Over Quantity http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/10/starbucks-puts-quality-over-quantity/64511/

Starbucks Continues Pursuit For Quality Coffee Products http://www.idea-sandbox.com/blog/2010/06/starbucks-continues-pursuit-for-quality-coffee-products/

"Starbucks coffee seems to be made from cheap under ripe beans that are over roasted, this I feel produces a coffee with a bad after taste (I don't mean after you have finished the cup I am referring to the taste in the mouth after every mouthful)"

That statement kind of proves you don't know coffee but it does prove you are a legend in your own mind. Just because you 'feel' something doesn't mean it's true. You will have a hard time, even with the size of the internet, finding a reputable link that equates Starbucks coffee with 'cat piss' or the smell of a Tom cat leaving his mark. You may not like Starbucks coffee, I certainly don't, but you don't need to 'trash' it to make your point. I think the point you've been trying to make is that Starbucks is a bad multinational corporation and therefore evil and undeserving of it legal rights. Calling the taste of Starbucks coffee 'cat piss' is hyperbolic and overkill for any reasonable point you could make. That's why I called you on it. I don't like the taste of Starbucks and their prices are too rich for me but I am a logical, thinking human who tries to keep his emotions out of public discourse. I can look to the future and see what possible damage Mr. Bung can do to Starbucks business. They could lose the rights to their trademark if they don't rigorously defend it and Mr. Bung, if any ignorant person was even a little bit confused by his copy of Starbucks' logo, could cause damage to the brand by any small discrepancy in the way he served his coffee or conducted his business. Sure, he's small but so is the camel's nose sticking under the tent. If you don't shoo him away, you will have a whole camel in your tent. Mr. Bung's cart is what I think you Brits call 'the thin end of he wedge'.

[Prbkk]

Yes, the logo is causing all sorts of confusion....I was in a BTS earlier and saw a Rabbit Card Promo with a logo but wasn't sure if it is Starbucks or Starbung giving rewards. So confusing....

[NomadJoe]

Herman Melville needs to sue Starbucks, posthumously of course.