Starbucks Splash Stick and Instant Coffee Ideas Come Via Customers

I was all excited to rave about this great little innovative invention that has come to Starbucks. A stir stick that fits in the lid of the to-go cup so you don’t spill your coffee!

How cute!

Then I found out these were actually launched last year. (But this morning was the first time I’d seen one!)

While I think the Splash Sticks are useful, others are hammering on it as just another single-use piece of plastic we will ultimately toss in a landfill.

All I have to say is WOW. Another excellent use of our natural resources. Instead of encouraging people to stop driving around with their goddam coffee, or (still more unthinkable) sitting in the café to drink it, we’re creating a whole new line of useless plastic toys that we’ll find littered in the street along with the already-too-prevalant cups, sleeves, and lids.
[source]

Hmmm .. I still think they’re clever, especially because of the way the Starbucks Splash Stick came into being. It was suggested by the consumers at MyStarbucksIdea.com, a social networking site the coffee maker created to communicate with it’s clients about new ideas.

“Be splash-free. Thanks for your many ideas and comments about providing something for our lids to minimize coffee splashes. As a result of your feedback about spills out of the sip hole, we have been testing splash sticks in limited markets to gauge customer interest … Based on an overwhelmingly positive customer and partner response, we are rolling out splash sticks nationwide this week. Also, to help minimize waste, you can save your splash stick to be cleaned and reused. We hope this helps keep your car and clothes a little cleaner on your rush to work. Enjoy and let us know what you think.”
[MyStarbucksIdea]

The next big idea?

Instant coffee. It’s called Starbucks VIA and started rolling out in gift bags at the Oscars.

The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?

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Tags: insight, review

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at 7:01 am and is filed under drink. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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The splash stick helps coffee drinkers to stir their coffee. What I like on this is the creativity of Starbucks, because in the traditional way when you purchase a coffee they will give you a coffee and a stirrer but Starbucks modified it making you have a great coffee experience.

coffee mugs sets

Awesome!...

Coffee Mug

For your edification, I should sincerely point out that Starbucks recently claimed that the media should "create" news rather than report it. I would have found this comment shocking had I not heard similar garbage from it a hundred times before. It has been said that I find Starbucks's double standards rather minatory. That makes sense to me. I believe it's true. But it really implies that Starbucks loves getting up in front of people and telling them that anyone who dares to eschew execrable obscurantism can expect to suffer hair loss and tooth decay as a result. It then boasts about how it'll overthrow all concepts of beauty and sublimity, of the noble and the good, and instead drag people down into the sphere of its own base nature quicker than you can double-check the spelling of "theoanthropomorphism". It's all part of the media spectacle that is Starbucks. Of course, it soaks it up and wallows in it like a pig in mud. Speaking of pigs and mud, Starbucks parrots whatever ideas are fashionable at the moment. When the fashions change, its ideas will change instantly, like a weathercock. I could be wrong about any or all of this, but at the moment, the above fits what I know of history, people, and current conditions. If anyone sees anything wrong or has some new facts or theories on this, I'd love to hear about them

Nicole

I love my re-usable Starbucks coffee mug. It doesn't spill. Ever. I really don't know why other travel mug makers haven't figured it out. The no-leak status is of utmost importance when I put my empty mug into my backpack - I don't get renegade drips all over my textbooks AND I don't burn my hand when I'm dashing to class (I would not trust said stir stick to hold up against the 20 yard dash).

Candice, why not keep a travel mug in your glovebox instead? I have one for my car that is teeny so it fits under my low dashboard and one for my backpack. If I forget to wash it for a few days I just let it soak with baking soda and "voila" good as new.

I think the no-spill stick is a smart marketing tool, but I hope people don't lose sight of the bigger picture.

Candice

I love the splash stick - in-order to get out of the starbucks near my place - i go through a strip mall - with the BIGGEST speed bumps ever!!! THen i discovered these sticks a few months back - no more messes in the new truck! Love it! The only problem - is they don't automatically give it to you at the drive thru - i have to ask - and if you are inside - its not easily accessible - again i have to ask. but a one time deal? sure if u throw it away - but who's to stop you from giving it a rinse and using it for another week or so. I'd love to keep a bunch in the glovebox - so i always have one if needed.