Starbucks Not-So-Perfect Oatmeal
I admit Starbucks is not the first place I will stop for a cup of coffee in the morning. However, if I am running late, a Grande House Blend, black, works well. And so was the case this morning. A bit sluggish and hesitant getting ready to deal with 1100 middle schoolers after a week off, I hit the road at 6:05AM. Drive-thru included, my target was be in my office by 6:30AM .
“Grande House Blend, black. please. And, um…. ooh! One ‘perfect oatmeal’ please with fruit and nuts. Thanks!”
A cold and rainy 38 degrees, the sensational picture of oatmeal served as the perfect pick me up. Now, having worked in advertising in a former life, I understand marketing and food styling. Nonetheless, I would expect something somewhat similar to what is advertised. Nope. I opened the cardboard container to see the warm yumminess and saw cloudy water with oatmeal floaties. My difficulty in filtering facial expressions apparently came across because the drive-thru girl responds, “Wait a couple of minutes and the water will be absorbed. It’s instant.”
What? Instant? Seriously? Okay, I am inclined to understand that a chain store would not make their oatmeal fresh each and every morning. But can they at least fake it, even a little? For $3.50, I will go the grocery store and buy a box next time. Sometimes, stores need remember that less is more. Starbucks = coffee. Quaker Oats = instant oatmeal.
