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Starbucks Fizzio is Clean and Crisp

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Fizzio
Fizzio

Clean and crisp were my first thoughts when sipping on a Starbucks Fizzio Golden Ginger Ale. The Fizzios officially launched today, June 24, with three flavors: Golden Ginger Ale, Spiced Root Beer, and Lemon Ale.

All of these drinks are non-caffeinated and somewhat low in calories (compared to a Frappuccino anyways). Sizes range from a tall to a Trenta, and really, any non-dairy drink can be fizzed. While in operation, the Fizzio machine shakes your drink then you hear the pressure ratcheting up as the fizz is added.

The drink can have different levels of fizz, but I went for the traditional amount of fizz. It’s not a lot of fizz, definitely not flat soda, but much less than a cold bottle of Coke. I’ll try superfizzing my next drink for comparison. Overall, the drink was easy to drink, wasn’t sugary or syrupy, simple, clean, and crisp.

Was Kaneohe Coffee-less This Morning?

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No coffee for you

According to HECO, a major section of Kaneohe was without power this morning mainly affecting commercial businesses like Starbucks. The 24-hour drive-thru rendered worthless, the early-opening-but-can’t-access Starbucks inside Windward Mall unavailable. Still though, the green aprons of the mermaid showed up to work, just to apologize to caffeine-addicts.

Maybe the Windward City location had power and could serve up coffee or a Dirty Oprah.

Image from KITV news.

Feeling Like a Dirty Oprah?

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Oh Oprah!
Oh Oprah!

Sometimes the cravings are insatiable. You have to have it. You need to have it. There’s no contentment or relief until you get some, and of course, we’re talking about getting some Dirty Oprah.

Your neighborhood Starbucks can help relieve your yearning for a Dirty Oprah. Just order one. Hopefully, you’ll get an Oprah Chai with an espresso shot added. If your request is met with a come-hither look, or you get some random concoction then please, keep that to yourself. 🙂

If you’re feeling dirty in extremis, then you need the Dirty Oprah trenta-sized. You assume responsibility for what happens after tapping a trenta Dirty Oprah.

Thanks to the Twitterverse for my education of a Dirty Oprah.


Starbucks Refill Strategy Variation

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Here’s a slight variation of my Starbucks Ala Moana refill strategy. Since Starbucks is now at every major shopping mall on Oahu, you can use the refill strategy at any of these locations. Except for Kahala Mall, pretty much there’s no seating so qualifying refills while in store really has no meaning. You can also extend this strategy by buying a drink from any Starbucks and getting your free refill if you happen to be at one of the malls like buying a drink in Pearl City then going to Windward Mall afterwards. Just sayin’.

Even Birds Are Attracted to Starbucks

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Coffee and caffeine addiction isn’t just for humans. It seems the brown elixir has an avian attraction as well. So much so that Starbucks needed to take counteractive measures.

First off, the once pure black roof of the Starbucks kiosk at Ala Moana isn’t pure black anymore thanks to the birds.

Will the roof get whiter?
Will the roof get whiter?

This is definitely one way to keep the birds away from Starbucks.

Check the spikes
Check the spikes

My Starbucks Ala Moana Strategy

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By now you know Ala Moana has two Starbucks locations in operation, the renovated Macy’s location and the new Center Stage kiosk. Did you know you can get (free) refills at these locations?

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Free refill

First, familiarize yourself with Starbucks’ nuanced refill policy for any drink. Supposedly, refills only qualify while you remain in store. Now how do you do that at an outdoor kiosk or in a location that has no inside seating? Technically, as soon as you pickup your drink, you’re headed out of the store in the Ala Moana locations.

On a recent visit, I purchased a venti iced coffee from the (emptier) Macy’s location. I nursed this for several hours whereupon I was near the kiosk. I asked if I could get a refill and got one, free with my Rewards card or $0.54 otherwise.

So my new strategy while shopping at Ala Moana is to get a tall size drink and go for a free coffee refill later in the day. And not to worry, I will not invoke further abuse of the ghetto latte.

Changes to Starbucks at Ala Moana Macy’s

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Thanks to @yoda808, we got word of the renovation and initial views of the Starbucks inside of Macy’s Ala Moana. I finally made my first visit to this remodeled location and noticed a few other changes.

The Doors Moved

When this location was carved out of Macy’s, the existing glass entries were retained for lots of foot traffic into Liberty House Macy’s. Unfortunately, the location for these entrances didn’t make sense for Starbucks. There were at least two sets of doors “in the middle” and walking through them put you right in the middle of the long queue to order or face to face with a display stand. On either side, you’d be squished by tables of patrons. Not a good placement. After the renovation, this is no longer the case with these doors removed. Now there’s the one set of doors near the Macy’s connection point and the original set leading to the outdoor seating area.

New door placement
New door placement. The boxes are where the doors used to be.

Clark Little Photography

Like the Waikiki Park Shore Hotel location, this Starbucks also features a mural from Clark Little Photography. Very nice but too bad it’s on a wall that’s hard to see.

Mural
Mural
Clark Little photography
Clark Little photography

A Ghetto Latte in Action

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Over the weekend, I witnessed the mythical “ghetto latte” at the new Starbucks kiosk in Ala Moana. What’s a ghetto latte? That’s the unofficial nickname for a bare minimum espresso-based (or even coffee-based) drink. Pay for only two shots of espresso but ask for the drink in a large cup (grande or venti) then fill the rest of the cup with (free) milk from the bar. That’s ghetto as in poor or cheap.

Ghetto latte
Ghetto latte

I couldn’t hear the full order called out, but I did hear the part about a venti cup. Notice the empty space at the top that’s getting filled. Milk or creamer was already added when I took the pic and now a second carafe is about to be drained.

Starbucks Brezza Blend – Bright & Herbal

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Starbucks latest coffee for the upcoming summer is out, and you can get the Brezza Blend in store or ordered online. Here’s how Starbucks describes the Brezza Blend:

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Brezza Blend

Starbucks Brezza Blend is perfect served iced for unhurried, lasting summer days, and it pairs well with lemon, orange, caramel, and golden raisins.

With sweet lemony notes and a brief acidity, this coffee is a good companion for the first warm day of summer.

Since Starbucks was brewing the Brezza, I had to give it a shot. Lemony and acidic? Yep. Pairs well with golden raisins? Sure, why not. A great companion. Um, okay…

Is it only me or does the bright and herbal Brezza Blend remind you of V. Stiviano?

V. Stiviano. Pic from Huff Po.
V. Stiviano. Pic from Huff Po.

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