Pity the poor barista. Starbucks is experimenting with using a machine to make espresso drinks.
Through its Seattle's Best Coffee label, Starbucks has teamed up with Coinstar Inc. to put automated, self-serve espresso kiosks in grocery stores in eight states.
The machines grind their own beans and crank out lattes, mochas, chai teas, hot chocolates and drip coffees.
There are currently 86 of the machines installed in Albertsons stores and other groceries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland and Tennessee, the company said. The machines take credit and debit cards, cash and coins.
The idea is to "bring coffee to places where you wouldn't or couldn't put a full-service espresso bar," said Tom Ehlers, general manager and vice president of Seattle's Best Coffee.
The introduction of the machines coincides with a downturn in Starbucks' business as $4 gas has consumers thinking twice about discretionary spending. Besides coffee bars, such casual dining establishments as Chili's and Cheesecake Factory are threatened by the downturn in spending, analysts say.
Fast-food chains have been taking up some of the slack by introducing new "value meals."
'Slutty' logo
And if that's not enough to give Starbucks a first-tier caffeine headache, a self-proclaimed Christian group is taking issue with the Starbucks logo.
The group, called The Resistance, says the logo has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute. The group added Starbucks should call itself Slutbucks.
The company says the image is based on a 16th century Norse design of a mermaid with two tails. The logo is a revised version of the design that hung above the chains first store which opened in Seattle in 1971.
The image is appearing on some of its cups as a promotion and will continue to be used for several weeks.
Starbucks founder Howard Schultz has in the past described the logo as bare-breasted and Rubenesque, adding it was supposed to be as seductive as the coffee itself.
