Gloria Jeans vs Starbucks

Unknown · May 2006

The other thing about these devilish places is that they're often the biggest with the most seating space and in the most convenient locations. The GJs in Newtown, Sydney, is even trying to look like a hippie vego rundown cafe to blend in with its surrounds. Then again, the Starbucks in Chatswood, Sydney, has furniture that should have been replaced YEARS ago... and strangely that's also quite appropriate for the area. I limit myself to caramel lattes at GJs and frappucinos at SBs because I can't take the disappointment of a bad coffee that's so overpriced. :P bleugh

mattyj · May 2006

I had a pie at GJ's at Birken Head Point once. Worst Pie ever.

bean_scene_2day · May 2006

Where I live, the quality of coffee doesn't seem to be important. To be honest, in Launceston, I doubt anyone really know what a good coffee is, or cares. They seem to have taste buds covered in more concrete than a nuclear weapons bunker. It is bloody frustrating. I reckon when it comes to coffee, if it is cheap, buy it, even if the milk is overheated heated so it tastes foul, or the coffee is so over exstracted that you want to puke or worse still, you can still taste the cleaner in the coffee because they stuck it through the machine (at least they clean it) and you just happened to come in after and the silly cow wants to make one last coffee sale. So GJ isn't too bad an option. Must have mainland coffee.

One-a-day · May 2006

I learnt a big lesson about coffee quality yesterday after I forgot if I had made a cup or not. I decided I hadn't after I was distracted by the kids and proceeded to use the same grounds from earlier on twice, after I realized what I was doing I continued any way to see what the result was like and it was tragic bordering on near tasteless filth but the not so funny thing was that in the past I have paid for coffee like this from the odd local cafe or reseraunt. I just have to remember where and avoid them, but I can say GJ'S or McCapitilist clown Cafe have never served me any thing that bad so far.

Cammo · June 2006

I must admit, I have seen Gloria Jeans at Toombul in Brisbane timing their shots before the store opened. I watched in amazement as they stood at their machine and timed shots - about 27 secs - and then cupped and tasted. I must admit I was impressed...

Gonzo · June 2006

if they have to time their shots, they dunno what their doin. G.

mattyj · June 2006

if they're timing shots and tasting before the store opened, it suggests that they're being trained. At least they're tasting the difference between a 15 second shots, a 27 second shot and (hopefully) a 45-50 second shot - that way you get to experience first hand what a underextracted shot, a decent shot, and an overwextracted shot taste like. I'd rather a 27 second shot from someone working with a timer than a 15 second shot from someone who thinks they know what they're doing.

One-a-day · June 2006

if they have to time their shots, they dunno what their doin. G.

A bit of a generalisation ? At least they are interested in their own quality .

Hot_and_Strong · June 2006

Starbucks or gloria jeans? Like asking if you would rather be killed with a gun or a knife. Much of a muchness. The few times i have been in either, coffee has been prepared with zero passion and the only flavour is the caramel syrup I've reluctantly added.

One-a-day · June 2006

I don't get the comparison, Gunned down or slashed if coffee from these places makes you feel this way steer clear of them problem solved ? If you honestly can't taste some form of coffee with your caramel syrup then "grow a pair" and voice your concerns to the person that can give you closure the operator that made it. Constructively critise and things might improve . Take the gun its quicker depending on where your hit

groundforcoffee · July 2006

Wow. i have great coffee at gloria jeans! it's starbucks i have the issue with.

askthecoffeeguy · July 2006

I have never had a good coffee at GJ or at SB. Both use inferior coffee and you can taste it in the end result! ACG

One-a-day · July 2006

Well it sounds like it's time to give up.

Unknown · July 2006

if they have to time their shots, they dunno what their doin. G.

:-/ :-/ :-/ :-/ Elitism will always stand in the way of constructive observation, balanced opinions and good advice, especially from senior members of this forum. I joined this forum hoping to be part of an intelligent and sincere espresso forum, on the most part it has been very informative, howevever how can you(gonzo) not acknowledge, from a proffessional standpoint, that these staff members are attempting to implement some sort of training instruction. Is it not your duty as a senior member of this espresso forum to encourage such practise and to offer alternatives if they do exist, As a junior espresso freak I was hoping for a constructive & supportive "forum" Signing off , Cheers & Goodbye Hedonism,Elitism & Arrogance are for the ignorant.

Gonzo · July 2006

:-/ :-/ :-/ :-/ Elitism will always stand in the way of constructive observation, balanced opinions and good advice,......Hedonism,Elitism & Arrogance are for the ignorant.

Open / keep your shirt on bud. Was the comment directed at you? Grabbing your bat & ball and taking a hike after a bit of name calling on here yourself? Sounds like a bit of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Why don

taz · August 2006

Cant say either impress me very much.

Unknown · October 2006

I love fresh coffee. I hardly have it so when I do I appreciate a nice cup and I've found (I'm no expert but) I love Gloria Jeans coffee. I haven't loved all "fresh" coffee I've bought so yes there is definitely a difference between cups suggesting some is fresher and yes I notice some I've tried tastes bitter too but I've never had a bad Gloria Jeans coffee. If I buy one I usually buy it from Hillsong Church Gloria Jeans in Baulkham Hills Sydney. I've bought GJ's coffee elsewhere and enjoyed every mouthful so there's my unbiased opinion. It must be good. I have had one Starbucks coffee from one cafe I won't mention here (not worth mentioning coz it was only the one near average cup) and I didn't really enjoy it. I made better coffee at home with instant farmland granules so I just went back to where I enjoyed coffee - GJ's. I'm 31 and a single Mum of six and it's important to me that if I'm going out for a coffee I get to enjoy what I get for the $3 odd dollars I spend at the place coz I'm conciously saving where I can most of the time and if I can make something myself, I usually do unless I really want to give myself a small treat.

askthecoffeeguy · October 2006

I think that there is little doubt that some of the big operators are ahead of many of the smaller concerns in terms of quality control, especially once you get out of the city metro areas. And both Gj and SBs have been responsible for putting espresso based coffees on the map, in Australia, in a way that we have not seen before. As far as this topic goes, I am reminded of my days working as a sommelier in restaurants, when someone would say to me: "What's a good wine?" To which I would more often than not reply: "What do you enjoy drinking?" The implication being that, whatever makes you happy, can only be a good thing, and that no amount of dissecting, or overanalysing, of a product, can take away that enjoyment. So yes, whilst there may be a lot of discussion about the finer points of latte art (or whatever) on this forum, at the end of the day, if you keep doing what you enjoy, and constantly questioning what it is that you do or don't like about a certain product, then standards and appreciation can only improve over time, anyway. Its easy to forget that we all have to start somewhere, and that some of the franchises are making a lot better coffee than what I can get locally (although not better than what I can make for myself at home - but that's another story. So do what you love, and drink what you enjoy, and to hell with all the rest, I say! ACG

Unknown · October 2006

well put - drink what you like and to heaven with you... Amen

coffee_head · October 2006

Both companies make absolute rubbish coffee. It doesn't even taste like real coffee. Chemical crap.

One-a-day · October 2006

Nice constructive criticism, any way what does real coffee taste like? nescafe,maxwell house ? bottled or canned? what chemicals ?

Unknown · October 2006

what chemicals coffee head? How do you know this? I dont want to drink chemicals.. :o

taz · December 2006

I agree. They have a very chemical taste to them. I hadnt been to one of those places for a while and you could taste the difference. But then again the beans would have to be mass produced so it wouldnt be surprising.

askthecoffeeguy · December 2006

I think its more to do with how the beans are roasted for an America market. If you're going to drink a bucket-chino, then you've gotta roast the crap out of the beans, so that the resulting concoction has a suggestion of coffee taste to it. That and inexperience on the machine, combined with the excessive use of chemical cleaning solutions, can lead to a poor 'chemical' flavour...

nzroaster · December 2006

First off, everyone here is right, well...almost everyone. 1) The coffee you like best is the best coffee for you. However, we cannot say that these two companies are better or worse than other franchises or independants because we are talking about a franchise on a whole. Some stores will produce a better quality coffee than others, with the same coffee, machine, training, operational manual, ets. We also cannot compare companies to all independant or boutique style cafes. If anyone is saying that they prefer a coffee from one of these chains, to a coffee from a well renowned cafe (email me I'll pass you personal reccomendations around the country), then you have to question what criteria you are basing that preference on. If you are drinking anything bigger that 8oz of coffee, any flavours, or whatever trendy drink has made it to the marketing department, than I have every faith that these franchises do make a better cup. However, if you are dinking any traditional coffees where the coffee flavour is priority and you appreciate flavour over everything, than I could seriously open your tastebuds with a push in the right direction. 2) Franchises do not chemically or otherwise treat their beans. As much as it can taste like they do, I assure you its not the case. Often coffee (franchise or elsewhere) can have a metalic/chemical taste. This is the result of the combination of poor extraction and stale beans. As the beans are often packaged to avoid going rancid (not preserve freshness, but not let them progress past staleness) they quickly deteriorate once opened. The rancid taste would be obvious but generally these places have poor training about dose/distribution, undersized baskets for generously long pours, and unskilled barista, so the resulting rancid taste is underextracted to a mildly mettalic/chemical taste. 3) Most people will never be offended (unless you are a coffee snob, which you should be) at franchise stores. Why? Because the franchise philosophy is consistent mediocracy. Just like Maccas, KFC, or any other franchise. Don't argue it, it is true. These places roast their beans to be as unoffensive as possible when made badly. Often using mild roasts, controlling aging, and clever blending, the franchise heads can control how much the cup can be stuffed up. It is fact, that the closer you get to perfection, the harder it gets, the more skill is required, and every little mistake makes a dramatic difference. So I welcome criticism of these places, but do it rationally and logically to avoid discredit to your cause.

taz · January 2007

2) Franchises do not chemically or otherwise treat their beans.

Can you guarantee that these franchises who would have to produce masses at once are GMO free.

So I welcome criticism of these places, but do it rationally and logically to avoid discredit to your cause.

How can you discredit a cause when the coffee in these places are rank. I dont roast beans, I dont make coffee or sell it, but I know the difference between good coffee and rubbish coffee. Gloria Jeans, Starbucks and Hudsons just spit out typical American style coffee.

One-a-day · January 2007

Rank , thats a bit rough. I prefer the stuff I make at home but when Iam at the local supermegaplex I prefer gloria jeans and its nearly always good, you don't seem to realise good and bad can be done any where at any time by any one. Whats with all the GMO hype if its not going to make that 6th finger or second head grow, bring it on if you can make a product be it wheat or coffee produce more or be pest resistant with out chemicals where's the harm in that. I like the glow in the dark mice the boffins made a while back can't wait till they hit the pet stores.

askthecoffeeguy · January 2007

Now if you want to know what rattles my chain, what about the incursion of the Queensland orientated "Coffee Club" into Victorian waters? What's going on their? Is our coffee so bad in Melbourne that we need some testosterone filled gung-ho Queenslanders to come and sort us out? Any ideas there? P

askthecoffeeguy · January 2007

opps apologise for the above typo! guess I somewhat gung-ho myself on the keyboard! P

nzroaster · January 2007

Taz, not discrediting your cause, I agree with what you say about the taste of their coffee. But critisize wisely else others have grounds to discredit your means. ATCG, How do you think I feel when there is a coffee club on every corner here.

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