Gloria Jeans vs Starbucks

cheeky

Which serves better coffee?  Or are they both considered crap by coffee connoisseurs?  I have heard that Starbucks coffee taste like water :o   What do you think?

One-a-day

Hello At the moment a GJ's Vanilla latte or White choc mocha tastes better than anything I can do with my plunger and flavour syrup. But that should change after i get a machine latter. There's only one starbucks in newcastle and ive only been there once so I cant really pass judgement yet. It all depends on the operator I guess and some GJ's store's up here seem to make a great cup and others are sometimes average.  

mattyj

I've tried both (out of curiostiy) recently ... starbucks knew what a double ristretto was (which to me is promising), but didn't make it very well. GJ's serve all their drinks in plastic cups = more rubbish at the tip, crappy heat retention in those little plastic espresso cups. Both espresso's were thin, and watery. So my answer? they both suck!

Luc

Starbucks is better on the environment but the coffee is pretty weak. GJ's coffee is stronger, but they waste so much on plastic spoons, used to bug me that I could easily use some piece of recycled wood to stir my coffee. Now my preference is for that cafe that just nails the coffee, like Grocery Bar, St Kilda or that one in East St Kilda, something Wall? but so often you'll find yourself in places where cafes just don't give a damn, like Shopping Malls(Where I worked) and hence GJ's is a great option. I used to get a latte with an extra shot,I really needed that caffeine in the morning. So 3 bucks gave me a lot of coffee & a lot of caffeine. But that was just to get me through work. Outside work -Try and find that place near you that just nails it!!

mattyj

if it's caffiene you need, drink coke or a plunger - espresso (depending on the blend of course) has way less caffiene than coke, drip coffee or plunger coffee.

nzroaster

I'm with you matty. Luc, sorry to tell you this but $3 got you a lot of milk and some caffiene.

cheeky

Thanks for your input.   I guess the real connoiseurs don't drink there. BTW, how would you rate their beans (medium to dark roasts, not the flavoured stuff) in comparison to the boutique shops or coffee beans specialists?

FreshCoffee2

There is so much "variety" in the differing techniques employed by all & sundry espresso machine operators that you never really know what "their" coffee (beans) really would taste like if they were brewed in "best practice" manner. And that goes for all cafes, not just GJ & CB. In real terms GJ & CB are "just another cafe". Just because their parent franchise happens to roast their own in some centralised location in another city or wherever, doesnt mean anything in terms of their individual shop outlets. So I dont think you can generalise. Some GJ & CB outlets may do an absolutely magnificent job of brewing their brand coffee, and others may be absolutely woeful...just like any other cafe. With regard to your second question...their beans are like the beans in any other cafe...subject to their age & freshness and the way they've been stored... some GJ & CB outlets may be big turnover sites where the beans are good & fresh (& hopefully well roasted etc), and others may be the pits...with their hoppers full of low turnover stale product. Again subject to the individual store just like any other. I guess anyone that is genuinely interested in their coffee rather than being interested in the "image" of the coffee they want to buy, would seek out the nearest roaster in their locality and check him out in preference to buying beans from cafes such as GJ & CB stores.   regardz, FC.

One-a-day

If you are after kick start in the morning try Jolt cola or go for a red bull or V type of drink

nunu

Or you can buy guarana powder and have caffeinated water if you like.

One-a-day

thats another option and it couldn't taste any worse, at least you could add your own flavour, I cant remember the cans claiming to have or be any flavour other than chemical and vitamin mish mash, I see espresso in a can type drinks are on the rise they usually come in a 185ml size , I got a sample one at the last Darby street coffee fair it was very sweet and full of caffeine and every where you go you see a new brand popping up, always in the cold section. What do the experts think about them ? Coffee Blasphemy?

nzroaster

In terms of the "coffee" soft/energy or milk drinks, they are flavoured soft/energy or milk drinks, not coffee products. I'd imagine they appeal more to soft/energy or milk drink markets not coffee markets. But there must be a market space for them else they wouldnt try it.

admin

As FC says, to a certain degree, it does actually depend on the shop in question; I have had some terrible coffees when testing G.J's but also some good ones; on the other hand I've never had a good coffee at Starbucks. There are a couple of other variables at play here - GJ's at least roasts locally, so there is a reasonably good chance of getting a fresher coffee, whereas to my knowledge Starbucks is roasted in the US (because only they know how to do it right :-/). The other factor that may come into play is that Gloria Jeans has employed a top Australian barista, Corrine Tweedale - who is very good (ex-Australian barista champion 2002?) - to train their local franchisees. Just my two cents' worth, based on ongoing research that we do at Crema. Admin.

Matthew_White

There are a couple of other variables at play here - GJ's at least roasts locally, so there is a reasonably good chance of getting a fresher coffee, whereas to my knowledge Starbucks is roasted in the US (because only they know how to do it right :-/). Admin.

So are they planning on flying yanks over everyday to serve as baristas as well? :P

zazoo

My two bobs worth - Starbucks for sure.  Despite the vastly changeable quality of their coffee and service domestically (more related to attitude of staff, their interest in the product and customer service) I have found offshore that Starbucks holds its own, particularly in south-east Asia.  The staff take pride in the service of customers, handling the coffee and making your desired brew.  There has been many a day during my offshore jaunts that the Starbucks sign has loomed like a beacon on the horizon to get me going in the morning or make it all worthwhile at the end of the night! I've also found that most Starbucks staff offshore are quite open to 'special' requests like making a 'flat white' or you being quite prescriptive about how you want the coffee made.  Oh, and for those of us that don't like drinking a bucket of coffee when in the US, eventhough they're not on the menu Starbucks do have 'short' cups, usually without the logo - you just gotta ask. GJ's - how can you justify charging such a premium price and serve it in take-away cups in very average surrounds??

Nico

Yep like FC says those beans gotta be fresh. Example, the other day running short on beans, dropped in to the local supermarket as they had the large hoppers on the wall of their deli section full of various Coffex blends. Asked the girl behind the counter how quickly they turned over the beans and got that don't ask me I just work here look. She asked her work mate with the same result. Took a chance and grabbed a couple hundred grams just keep me going, got home and opened the bag and was about to tip into the grinder when I thought, that's funny, not much smell of coffee from the bag. Had a good smell and got nothing, not a hint of coffee aroma at all, they were dry and may as well have been dust. You can guess where they went back to. So remember FC's words and check what your buying.

Lukey

Example, the other day running short on beans, dropped in to the local supermarket as they had the large hoppers on the wall of their deli section full of various Coffex blends.

gees, i've never been that desperate. you sad sad individual

andybud

They are both crap. It amazes me that anyone would go to one of these places for a coffee. They make a mockery of what coffee is all about.

One-a-day

It all depends on your benchmark for acceptable coffee doesn't it . Ever tried sitting in a foxhole (dug by you and your mate)in the middle of Holsworthy range sleep deprived and freezing looking out for the enemy 24/7 and only having ration pack instant coffee to drink out of your aluminium cups canteen with sweetend condensed milk  (the only bonus being you can pour about 500 mills and many sugars into it) Thats just one of many coffee's over the last 13 years part time. So to come out and say they are both crap amuses me unless you can back it up with really knowing what crap is. Posted by: andybud Posted on: Jan 22nd, 2006, 10:49pm They are both crap. It amazes me that anyone would go to one of these places for a coffee. They make a mockery of what coffee is all about.   So master don't leave us all in suspense enlighten us as to what it's all about.

nunu

Making a mockery of coffee is having a cafe with on-site roasting, and having a guy dressed up in clown garb roasting and playing barista.  The place's motto: "Even a clown can do it!" This idea is patent pending, so don't steal it. If found stealing the idea, I'll sick the clown on you.

One-a-day

Are McDonalds going to roast onsite? Will ronald have to wear a hair net.  

andybud

It all depends on your benchmark for acceptable coffee doesn't it . Ever tried sitting in a foxhole (dug by you and your mate)in the middle of Holsworthy range sleep deprived and freezing looking out for the enemy 24/7 and only having ration pack instant coffee to drink out of your aluminium cups canteen with sweetend condensed milk

Unknown

Gentlemen....please! What I think One-A-Day is trying to say is "it's all relative".  

Lukey

I probably would but first let me try and understand what the hell you are going on about!

made sense to me! hang on, we are talking about foxholes arent we?

nunu

Fire in the hole! Cover your vector soldier!

One-a-day

Yes Livetolearn hit it right on the head "its all relative" Imo I think unless you have hit rock bottom and seen whats at the bottom of the barrell ie Army instant,Jarrah instant self foaming cappa's,the elcheapo instant in your work place, your definition of crap doesn't cut it. So the question still remains whats it all about for you master. Cover your arcs people over to you

admin

Of all the coffee chains, is it possible that Michel's Patisserie is better than the others? I've never had a Michel's coffee, but take a look at this (from the online newswires): http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Brazil-coffee-fetches-record-US4975lb/2006/01/12/1136956264038.html

mattyj

it really depends on the store, I've found. In some places, they really care about the coffee being served (Batemans Bay was a standout for me), so the result is great. In other places ... well, they're as bad as GJ's or *$s...

nzroaster

Actually, at the last Roasters Guild retreat in the u.s.a. the Michel's Patisserie blend won cuppers choice award, much to the surprise and dismay of Stumptown roasters(who win everything). Unfortunately we all know that great coffee made poorly is as bad as anything else out there so it really depends on the store. I'm yet to try a goo one in QLD.

kopi-0

I find GJs OK, their makers know pretty much what they're doing and have bought takehome beans from a high-t/o store and they do pretty good there too. But I avoid all their fancy (atificial) flavoured blends. Charbucks... I only buy choco frappes.

Of all the coffee chains, is it possible that Michel's Patisserie is better than the others?

Michel's uses their own blend, house roasted. Usually tastes pretty mild & smooth, not too bad. But the last MP long black I bought.... UGH! Watery, not a touch of crema, overheated. (Tasted worst than MaxwellHouse Instant!!) 1 sip and I binned it. I sneaked a look at their machine and it was dirty, the espresso was shot into a unwarmed unwashed glass before being tipped into my takeaway cup. I'm hoping it was a one off by a girl who had no idea, I will have to speak to the boss lady next time I meet her.

flatwhite

Travelling around a little bit with business I never know where to find a good coffee, and often praise the lord to find a GJ's or starbucks, it may not be great but at least you know what you are getting. The other day I picked up a flat white and a sausage roll at a half decent looking bakery cafe, 5 minutes up the road when I go to take the first sip I burn the shit out of my mouth on one of the worst coffee's I've had in a long time.