Barbara -- selling tea and making a good cup of tea is not the same thing. I've been in Starbucks -- they do make a great hot chocolate.

I should specify that I am talking about tea, just regular, caffeinated, add milk (and only whole milk!) tea. No flavoring, no herbs, just good strong tea.

Tries2PakLite, I really wasn't referring to something you said, but to Caroline who said she'd never been in Starbuck's because she doesn't drink coffee.

Barbara -- sorry if that sounded snippy. I tend to take my tea seriously, although I'm not technically a purist. I do use tea bags. I'm so ashamed.

Starbucks is evidently a smart company (and bless them for providing proper bennies for their employees, both part- and full-time). I suspect the only reason they sell drinks to go is because people want to drink their hot bevvy of choice that way. And wasn't Dunkin Donuts using that business model all over the US long before Starbucks moved outside Seattle?

Thanks for the explanation of how to use a cafetiere. Maybe because we like our coffee HOT, and more than one cup, I never quite got why they seem to be the brewing method of choice in England! There doesn't seem to be a good way to keep the cafetiere warm for a second cup...

Hot coffee or tea in take-away cups has been around Britain since the cups were invented.

Many was the day in Scotland (where Elizabeth I is the reigning monarch, BTW) when I and virtually all my travelling pals on the 7:35 Haymarket-Queen Street had cups in our possession of <i>really awful</i> &quot;coffee&quot; or tea from one of the nearby corner shops (so that we'd be ready for the BR excuse of the day, my fave being &quot;British Rail apologise for the late arrival of your train. This was due to its running behind schedule.&quot; ) This was when Starbucks was still one shop in the Pike Place Market and its logo mermaid was still anatomically correct. (She still is, but only at that shop.)

But they do sell a lot of tea too, and some of it is not bad, actually. I should know - my university flatmate was the founder first of Stash Tea (original supplier for Starbucks) and then Tazo (current supplier.)

Gardyloo, I'm with you re Elizabeth 1!!

Starbucks has some lovely iced drinks too, which are very popular here in the warmer parts of the world! If only they didn't come with calories......

You can get insulated cafetieres
Have a look at http://tinyurl.com/fx7g3

BTW, if you go to http://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/
and click on &quot;A cuppa from us&quot;
you can get 10 free teabags, either for hard or soft water.
They reckon that they can tell by your postcode what sort of water you have.
I'm afraid that it's for the UK only

I think I'll stick with my Mr. Coffee and (blushing) Starbucks.

What...no mention by Californians regarding our ubiquitous Cofee Bean and Tea Leaf!! Far better than Starbucks at every turn!
Stu T., L.A.

Yeah...and it does spell coffee with two &quot;f's&quot;..even if I didn't...
Stu T.

Stu, I don't think I've seen them in San Diego. Maybe it's an(other!) LA thing.

Hey Barbara..you're in luck..try one out...

Mission Valley Mall
1640 Camino Del Rio North, Space FC13
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 688-9777
M-Sat 8:30a-9:00p, Sun 8:30a-7:00p

Mission Hills
120 W. Washington, Suite B
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 574-7588
M-F 5a-8p, Sat 6a-9p, Sun 7a-8p

Mission Valley
925 C Camino De La Reina
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 299-5072
M-Th 5a-10p, F 5a-11p, Sat 6a-11p

Carmel Mountain
12070 Carmel Mountain Rd., Ste 296
San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 592-7348
Mon-Th: 6a-9:30p, Fri-Sat: 6a-10p, Sun: 7a-9p

Mira Mesa
9015-B Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 695-0901
M-Th 5:30a-8:30p, F 5:30a-9:30p, Sat 6a-10p, Sun 6:30a-9p Kearney Mesa (drive-thru)

9343 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 505-9909
M-Sat 6a-9p, Sun 7a-8p
Carmel Country Rd. &amp; Del Mar Heights
12730 Carmel Country Rd
San Diego, CA 92130
858.350.9673
M-Su 5:30a - 9p
Also one at Broadway and Fourth, I believe..

Stu T.

Gardyloo, I come very very late to the tea game, and alternate between Stash and Tazo. Your flatmate has done well, hasn't s/he?

Stu, wow! I'll look for the Carmel Mountain one tomorrow. Thanks for the list.

&quot;British Rail apologise for the late arrival of your train. This was due to its running behind schedule.&quot;

Gardyloo, this spring spouse and I sat in the Lisbon airport and listened as one by one, airlines (including our own British Airways flight) apologized for delayed departure times, which were explained as being due to &quot;the delay in the arrival of the incoming plane.&quot;

We got a great chuckle when, come boarding time at last, we were able to confirm our suspicions: that the aforesaid 'incoming plane' was the same one on which we were going to depart, and to all appearances with the same crew....

(Sorry for detour. We return now to our regularly scheduled programming: &quot;Afternoon tea....&quot;

Well, at least you got at an excuse, however lame. When the trains from Maidenhead are late, the canned announcement is always. &quot;We apologise for the late arrival.&quot; And that's it. Equipment failure? Leaves on track? Train disrupting fight between the ASBOs? 300 pound drunk falling down unconscious and keeping the pax doors from closing for several minutes? (my husband witnessed that one on a ride from Paddington) Who knows? They ain't sayin nuthin' about nobody.

Well that's something. I'm getting fed up with all the announcements on the tube: we never used to need to be told to use all the doors, move down the train, carry water, let alone that a good service is operating (what else do they think they're paid for?). It seems to be never-ending now, and at busy stations, with attendants on the platforms, you can sometimes have them talking to you on the platform loudspeakers and the station-wide system relaying the usual routine stuff, often intercut with the station supervisor shoving in their two-pennoth. I'm thinking of starting a Society for the Halting of Unnecessary Transport Undertaking Pronouncements (or SHUTUP - geddit?).

No wonder I need a cup of tea when I get where I'm going.

Anybody remember the tune for this little ditty?

I like a nice cup of tea in the morning
For to start the day you see
And at half-past eleven
Well my idea of Heaven
is a nice cup of tea
I like a nice cup of tea with my dinner
And a nice cup of tea with my tea
And when it's time for bed
There's alot to be said
For a nice cup of tea

A.P. Herbert, Home &amp; Beauty

Mm, I remember it being used in a TV advert - by the Tea Council, maybe ? around the 70s ? Followed by a voice saying &quot;Gow orn ! 'ave a cappa tea !&quot; (attempt to portray cockney accent - I think it was)

Must have been around the same time they had an ad featuring a young groovy group being asked if they wanted coffee in a posh ?French restaurant, all deciding they'd &quot;love a cup of tea !&quot;, waiter snootily says &quot;Tea ? Non !&quot;, blokey says &quot;right, all back to mine then !&quot;

They don't make them like that any more !

From the 1930s - for those who remember Jack Buchanan:

Every nation in creation has its favourite drink
France is famous for its wine, it's beer in Germany
Turkey has its coffee and they serve it blacker than ink
Russians go for vodka and England loves its tea

Oh, the factories may be roaring
With a boom-a-lacka, zoom-a-lacka, wee
But there isn't any roar when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

Oh, a lawyer in the courtroom
In the middle of an alimony plea
Has to stop and help 'em pour when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

It's a very good English custom
Though the weather be cold or hot
When you need a little pick-up, you'll find a little tea cup
Will always hit the spot

You remember Cleopatra
Had a date to meet Mark Anthony at three
When he came an hour late she said &quot;You'll have to wait&quot;
For everything stops for tea

Oh, they may be playing football
And the crowd is yelling &quot;Kill the referee!&quot;
But no matter what the score, when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

Oh, the golfer may be golfing
And is just about to make a hole-in-three
But it always gets them sore when the clock yells &quot;four!&quot;
Everything stops for tea

It's a very good English custom
And a stimulant for the brain
When you feel a little weary, a cup'll make you cheery
And it's cheaper than champagne

Now I know just why Franz Schubert
Didn't finish his unfinished symphony
He might have written more but the clock struck four
And everything stops for tea