Starbucks made their entrance into the iPhone app market, with not only one app, but two! I will be reviewing both apps, but first up is simply called “Starbucks” which is primarily a store locator and drink/food information source.
When you’re driving around in an unfamiliar city, and all you want is a warm, comforting latte but you don’t know where the closest – or for that matter any – Starbucks is at, worry no more! With the Starbucks app, you can easily find out!
The app can automatically find your location using the iPhone’s GPS signal, and then displays a Google map with green pins dropped on all the Starbucks locations. The map also tells you if the particular location is open or closed, and with a tap of your finger you can get directions
The store locator will also tell you what services a particular store offers, whether they sell oven-warmed food, if they have a drive-through, wifi Internet, cute baristas, free coffee for a year… Ok perhaps those last two are only in my special preview version.
Another page in the app is the Drink Builder. This wizard lets you create any drink you can think up, hot or cold, and then shows you the correct way to order it so the baristas will understand. Yes, there is a proper way and an improper way – I dated a Starbucks barista years ago and she educated me in everything Starbucks-related. I think that’s also when my addiction began.
Here I have created my typical morning drink. I usually order this on days that end in “y.” What’s sad is that I actually know the wording the app uses is slightly unnecessary, I can omit the “Caffe” word in the drink’s name (actually the baristas prefer if you do), specifying a “Triple Venti Vanilla Breve Latte.”
And here I have created my afternoon drink, which I usually only get on warm days as an after-work cooldown. Unfortunately for this drink, even though I specifically chose “no whip” (the WC with a line through it on the label) the picture still plops a mound of sweetened fat right on top of my drink. Oh, and yes the wording on this drink is shown correct, and yes I actually do say the whole thing – with a straight face.
Actually now that I think about it, I don’t really have to say my drinks, as just about every barista at the two Starbucks I visit regularly have my drinks memorized based on time of day and day of week. Sometimes I mix it up a little to keep them on their toes. And I always tip well – another “tip” I got from my barista-dating.
There’s also a section that lists all the food items available, though not every location gets every selection every morning. There have been a few mornings when my desired Apple Fritter missed the delivery truck and I had to settle for a Creamcheese Danish instead.
Starbucks app also lists every single coffee Starbucks serves and sells, and explains where the beans come from, why they were selected, the flavor you can expect, and what that particular coffee goes well with. I’m trying to do a good thing by showing off the Starbucks(RED) coffee here – though very good, it’s not my favorite.
If you find yourself visiting Starbucks even occasionally, this app would be interesting for you to install. It would allow you to take your time putting together your perfect drink, and then have it all ready by the time you ordered, and you could impress the baristas by asking for a complex drink in the correct order.
If you find yourself visiting more than twice a day, as I have been known to do occasionally (twice a day is one thing, but more than that?!? That’s an addiction!) then this app should be on your iPhone. Even if you don’t use the app because you have every drink memorized, or the employees all know you by name (and your history, and where you work, and what you do on the weekends, and where you’re going on vacation next year, etc) you should still have it because, well, it’s free and why not?!?
Yes, this is an actual drink, that I admit to ordering a time or two. Though not for myself, obviously. And yes, the way it’s worded on the screen-shot is exactly correct – you have to say that entire thing. And usually they stop you half way through, grab a pen and start writing it down (while laughing and other other customers stare wide-eyed). Because there’s no way they could remember it, by the time you get done saying it all.
Next time you’re at a Starbucks, go ahead and ask for this drink, I dare you! But just don’t ask for “Amanda’s Long-Name Drink” (there’s only one Starbucks that will know what that means), order the entire thing!
The first person who does, and gets the receipt printed out that shows the entire drink order, and can prove it to me somehow, will receive $10 Starbucks gift card from me (that *should* reimburse you for the cost of the drink)!
Oh and remember I mentioned that Starbucks had released two apps? Stay tuned for the second app’s review coming up soon (or later, but not too late). Just watch for it…
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