I remember the first time I tasted a gingerbread latte. It was the winter of 2000, and Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) had just opened a new outlet a block away from my suburban condo. I hated the suburbs! But I loved those gingerbread lattes, they made me feel like home for the holidays. And let's face it: ginger and spice are delicious. I could eat them year-round.But, alas, in January the gingerbread latte disappeared, preceded by the eggnog latte and closely followed by the peppermint mocha. Every season we await their return, their appearance on the specials board a better harbinger of the season than the weather, or the opening of the "Christmas" display at your local grocery store. And every season we mourn their passing.
While I'm not about to suggest Starbucks move the eggnog latte to its permanent menu, serving it alongside tangerine Frappuccinos this summer, I think the company would receive dividends in customer goodwill and extra sales if it extended the holiday beverage season through at least March. Let's put it this way: I love the peppermint mochas so much I'll go to Starbucks to buy them, even though I like the service and the coffee at my neighborhood alternative indy coffee shop better.
And I still love them in March. Surprisingly enough, my tastes don't change between December 26th and February 15th! And I'm not the only one. According to Starbucks Drinks Simplified, the eggnog latte is so popular "People start asking about it in September, but on average these aren't sold until mid-November sometime."
Another blogger notes his adoration of the eggnog latte, and commenters chime in to say they generally avoid Starbucks, but head there for the eggnog latte each year. Starbucks certainly acknowledges the fervor with which customers look forward to their holiday season, even launching a web site this year, "It's Red Again" (the color of the holiday cups, for those who've never tasted the sweet sweet deliciousness of a gingerbread latte).
Peppermint mochas, gingerbread lattes, and eggnog lattes will all still be delicious in February, and I'll bet Starbucks wouldn't have any spoilage to deal of their flavored syrups -- I think those things last years (sure, eggnog may be a bit harder, but it's not like the company couldn't figure out a workaround). Why cut us off Starbucks? Aren't you supposed to give the customer what she wants?
Peppermint mochas, gingerbread lattes, and eggnog lattes will all still be delicious in February, and I'll bet Starbucks wouldn't have any spoilage to deal of their flavored syrups -- I think those things last years (sure, eggnog may be a bit harder, but it's not like the company couldn't figure out a workaround). Why cut us off Starbucks? Aren't you supposed to give the customer what she wants?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-29-2006 @ 7:40AM
Janet L. Schultheis said...
I am passionate about the Starbuck Holiday
lattes!! I too, cannot await there arrival...
In fact, I'm having a eggnog latte while typing....
Starbucks has it down right!! I recently just
purchased their stock and had heard Jim Cramer
talking about it one night on Mad Money and
decided it's time to go for it... Take note of
Starbucks marketing scheme....they are not only
into the coffee/tea business, but "quick" gifts
as well...not to mention the CD's and books now
too... I see it as a big plus, too with the quick
nutrious sandwiches to go also. Keep up the great
work Starbucks and it would be great to be able to
order those "special" lattes at least through the
latter part of February....get us through WINTER!!!!
11-29-2006 @ 8:07AM
Todd said...
We can make the peppermint mocha year round. The only thing we cannot do is top it with the red sprinkles, they take them away.
:-)
12-04-2006 @ 3:11PM
Deanna said...
God what a lovely idea - taking the Holiday Coffee's to March. That would make my year! I look forward to red-cup season every year and it would be a great gift to get them for 3 extra months.
12-04-2006 @ 9:58PM
Sarah said...
Starbucks strives to give their valued customers what they want, however, each season brings new drinks and special offerings. Would your gingerbread latte be as special if you could get it 5 months of the year? Also, our eggnog lattes are so good because they're made with REAL eggnog, which is supplied by our dairy companies. When eggnog is no longer produced by them, it's no longer available to us to make you a quality beverage. Us baristas can only do what corporate allows us to do!
12-04-2006 @ 6:43PM
Judy said...
I love the "Red Cup" Holiday drinks too. What a great idea extending red cup drinks until at least March. The pumpkin spice latte is also delicious! I really have a hard time deciding which latte to have. The gingerbread and the pumpkin spice were my favorites and when I tried the peppermint mocha it joined my list. Having extra months to enjoy these wonderful brews would be fantastic.
12-06-2006 @ 12:50PM
SbuxGeek said...
Whoa health code... syrup is certainly not good for years when serving to the public.
Sarah is right about eggnog, the dairy companies only make it for a short time. We serve eggnog lattes as soon as it gets delivered, even before it shows up on the menu boards.
Peppermint mochas ARE available YEAR ROUND!!! Of course you won't get the festive red sprinkles and it will be in a white cup... but other than that, the drink is the same.
Alas Gingerbread only shows it's face this time of year. Although your store may still have gingerbread syrup in March so you might still be lucky!
12-11-2006 @ 8:13PM
Anna Panda said...
I would have to quit if I had to steam egg nog all year round. It's bad enough to have to do skim, whole, soy, cider, extra hot, not so hot, half skim, but then when we get the egg nog people (which steaming DEAFENS us and splashes us with gooey porn like liquid) who ALSO have preferences, skim, half-skim, hotter, cooler, more nog, less nog... THAT is SUCH a delight at rush... especially when they bring it back because it was too foamy, not foamy enough.. etc. etc. *Sigh* Can you tell I hate egg nog. I LOVE my customers, though. Thank goodness, it's usually the 'strangers' that want the eggnog ;-)