Let me be honest: Starbucks intimidates the hell out of me. I've never even set foot in one because, well...I'm just not that cool.
I have no idea what a latte is versus a mocha versus a cappuccino (I had to go to www.dictionary.com just to figure out how to spell that). I know they use some special Starbucks jargon for the sizes -- grande, tall...uh...whatever (what's wrong with small, medium and large?). And, I hear there is some special way to order that involves saying what you want in the correct chronology or endure some 16-year-old "barista's" sighing, eye-rolling and possible tampering with your $5 cup of God-knows-what.
So, I stick to convenience stores and grocery stores where I can get plain old coffee, serve myself and pay 1/4 the price for a cup of joe.
When Country Fair came out with their new coffee flavors. I tried them. Didn't like them. Give me "House Blend" any day.
So, given my hatred of pretentious overpriced coffee and high-brow snotty coffee "blends," I'm not sure what possessed me to try the Hazelnut blend at Giant Eagle a few weeks ago, but I am now completely addicted to it. I made my husband go get me a cup on Mother's Day. I drove out of my way on the way home from work last night so I could stop and get a cup. I'm thinking about stopping there after my board meeting tonight.
The good thing is -- at Giant Eagle (at the Harborcreek one anyway), you can get an extra large (yup, normal sizes) for $1.05 (with tax).
Here's a link to a hysterical Dennis Leary bit about Starbucks and flavored coffee.....WARNING (it's Dennis Leary -- he is offensive by nature...every other word is the f word).