Starbuck's had advertised their new flavor, Hot Apple Crisp Macchiato. Enticing to try the new fall flavor on a pretty cold morning, I visited this location. Very disappointing. I learned that their in-store was closed. A sign posted states "Drive Thru Only". Their front door has been moved. Looks like they have been doing some remodeling inside.
I have not been a fan of drive thru's. My experience today reinforced how I feel about drive-thru's. This Starbuck's location is often busy, especially their drive thru. I persisted, however, since it had been a long while since I'd been to this location. I went through the drive thru order line.
When placing my order, I asked for a grande Hot Apple Crisp Macchiato and a bacon, Gouda and egg breakfast sandwich. Got up to the window and paid for my order. Asking about the drive-thru, I was advised that it is drive-thru only on weekdays. The in-store is suppose to be open on the weekends. (They also are not open for mobile orders.) I didn't, however, get a response to whether it was always going to work this way or just temporary.
As I drove off, I sipped on my coffee drink. Bleh!! Tasted like burnt coffee!! I was headed to a morning appointment and didn't have time to go back. I did check the label on my drink. It was labeled as a grande Pike Place, 1/2 cream and 3 Splenda. No wonder it tasted horrible. Not sure whether I had someone else's drink or the order was completely screwed up. I did get the breakfast sandwich I ordered. It was slightly warm, but okay. I grumbled on my way to my appointment about how inconvenient drive thru's are, how orders often are wrong and gripping about how it makes even more inconvenient when there is an issue.
Often times, I would simply not take the extra steps and go back to get the mistake corrected. I did this time, after my appointment. I drove to the location only to see that their drive-thru line was twelve cars deep. So, detoured to get my car filled up and returned ... now eight cars deep. Their drive-thru does a steady business. I kept wondering if someone else maybe received my Hot Apple Crisp Macchiato and I had their Splenda enriched Pike's Place coffee? Chuckled about their tastes buds being in for a shock, too.
Went through the drive-thru line, again. Told the person who was taking the orders about the problem who said they would give me another. Upon reaching the window, the person there said "$5.45" to which I stated that I wasn't paying because they screwed up my order earlier. I handed him the incorrect drink from earlier. After talking with someone inside, he gave me my corrected drink, apologized for the mix-up and graciously gave me a card for a free coffee next trip. I appreciate their gesture, but wonder how often orders get mixed up.
As for that long-awaited Hot Apple Crisp Macchiato ... it tasted like a Carmel Macchiato. While I would have expected some carmel taste, the drink didn't have any hint of apples, brown sugar or spices. Maybe this drink was not made correctly, (since it is new), but it definitely fails to live up to its advertised description. Highly doubtful I will order the drink again.
All the way around, these visits today were majorly disappointing. read more