Sometimes I wonder if I have to catch a flight to Paris or Vienna in order to find a decent cafe. All I want to do is:

• Get good coffee.
• Sit in peace, possibly for an hour or more.
• Enjoy something like "style".
• Not feel pressured by wage slaves or their managers to buy more,more,more.

Starbucks: I hate them. They blast the music, the baristas half the time behave like they are at a bar, and their regular coffee is horrible. I have even seen baristas throwing things into the sink and slamming things, making yet more noise. Oh, and their claims of being a "social responsibile" company are a complete lie.

Barnes and Noble: The baristas at the B&N cafe area act like gibbering idiots. There is either no music or horrible music. And they act offended if you don't spend $10. They seem to have no comprehension of the fact that they need to earn my money and that no, I am not going to spend $5.50 on a sandwich if the people behind the counter are acting like loud monkeys.

Borders Books: The cafes at Borders are somewhat better than B&N and Starbucks, I have to admit, but their "Seattle's Best" coffee is putrid. You have to buy their espresso beverages.

Dunkin Donuts: Don't get me wrong, I love people from India and Pakistan, but for some reason at D.D.'s, the commitment to sanitation never seems to meet American standards. Indian restaurants are much better.

I swear, at this point if Wawa were to put tables and chairs outside their establishments, I would prefer to go there because they have good, cheap coffee. And, I'm going there anyway for gas.

I give this rant a 7.4

If you are anywhere near Lansdale give Saxby's a try. Granted it is a chain, they are better than Starbucks IMO.

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Stupidest rant ever. Try someplace that's not a chain.

Chestnut Hill, Mugshots and La Columbe in the city all serve great coffee. In Wayne, go to the Griffin on Lancaster Avenue near Wayne avenue. Right around the corner from Teresa's (sp). And right up the street from the Beer Yard, which is right behind Starbuck's on Lancaster Avenue. ;-)

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I knew my parents hated me. My bath toys were a radio and a toaster!-Rodney Dangerfield

Bonte? Local chain, can sit there for hours without being bugged, not too busy, nice atmospheres. Plus, awesome waffles.

Where in the burbs are you? Depending on where you are, I might be able to direct you to a decent spot (especially in the western burbs).

You do realize that the "Seattle's Best" in Borders are owned by Starbucks, and that the Barnes & Noble coffee is-you got it-starbucks.

Wage slaves? Loud Monkeys? Associating Indians with cleaning standards that are not up to America's? What about all of the "DD's" owned by asians, are they up to speck for you?

Meanwhile, you wish to stay in a place for an hour or more soaking up their "style" while spending a whopping $2 dollars. Wow, classy; especially how you act like a "wage slave" by wishing wawa had table and chairs for you since their coffee is a whopping 63 cents cheaper-maybe because they don't have to pay for useles sq. footage for cheapskates who sit around for hours hoping for free entertainment while complaining about music and quick acting employees.

Go to the supermarket, go home, and brew your own so you don't infect the rest of society with your foul disposition.

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Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
DISCLAIMER: Alesis is a South Street business owner
(keep that in mind when reading his or her responses)

You forgot QUIET employees. They make noise when the put stuff in the sink. Must be tough when they grind the beans.

What, the barista doesn't want to hear the truth?
Yes, it's apparent you're one of them. You dirty monkey!



If you can't act civilized behind the counter, you don't deserve higher wages.
I wouldn't show you respect if you acted that way in the street, and standing behind the counter doesn't give you any power.

You are there to serve. Not to be a pain in the ass. Deal with it. It's called employment.