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TOP OF THE HILL 2008
BEST COFFEE 1st — Starbucks 647 Massachusetts St.
3rd — Milton's Coffee Level 1, Kansan Union
Jessica Sain-Baird/KANSAN
Jessica Sain-Baird/KANSAN
BEST POST-PARTY FOOD
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
2nd The Wheel 507 W.14th St.
3rd — Pizza Shuttle
1601 W. 23rd St.
Starbucks tops local shops
BY MICHAEL HOLTZ mholtz@kansan.com
Starbucks Coffee, the internationally recognizable coffee franchise, beat out locally owned coffee shops in this year's Top of the Hill poll for Best Coffee.
Consistency and familiarity are two of the winning characteristics Starbucks, 647 Massachusetts St., has over its locally owned competition, said Josh Walton, a Starbucks employee and Olathe junior.
"Consistency is such a core focus," Walton said. "You order a drink, and it's going to come out the same no matter where you are."
That consistency is exactly what keeps roommates Mallory Jones, Des Moines, Iowa, senior, and Molly Golub, Overland Park senior, coming back.
"We go to Starbucks a couple times a week," Golub said. "My favorite drink is the Caramel Macchiato."
The Caramel Macchiato and the Caramel Frappuccino are two of Starbucks' top sellers, Walton said.
Recently added holiday drinks are also popular this time of year. Specialties include the Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle.
"The variety of options available here are more than other places," Walton said. "Our menu board is huge. I think that we have something for everybody."
Walton said Starbucks has a high standard for the quality of its coffee, a quality that Jones and Golub said they appreciated and enjoyed.
"You never have to worry about bad coffee," Jones said. "You can get a remade coffee if they make it wrong."
Jones and Golub said they enjoyed Starbucks' atmosphere. Tables are available to work on homework, and the soothing melodies of jazz can be heard playing quietly in the background.
"It's a good place to study," Jones said. "They don't play the music too loudly, and it's a nice change from the library. They have lots of plug-ins for your computer, too."
There is also a slight, though well-intended, feature at Starbucks — the shop has no clocks. Walton said the absence of clocks was a purposeful decision, intended to help create a relaxing setting.
Jones and Golub used the customer service was another aspect of Starbucks they found favorable.
"The staff will learn your name," Jones said. "Everyone is friendly and helpful."
Being personable and familiar with customers is a standard that Starbucks employees work hard to establish, Walton said.
"The customer in front of you is always the most important thing," Walton said. "I probably know the majority of people who come in the door each day. We ask for names for the cups, so I know most on a first name basis."
Jones and Golub's said their only complaint was that Starbucks charges for using Wi-Fi. Two hours of Wi-Fi connection costs $3.99.
Jones and Golub said they didn't understand why Starbucks charged for Wi-Fi when most other coffee shops offered it for free.
Starbucks' appeal won't diminish anytime soon, Walton said. He said he was confident Starbucks would remain popular among University students for years to come.
"As long as people don't stop drinking coffee then nothing should change," Walton said. "Starbucks has tried to keep the same attitude and environment that keeps people coming back."
Second and third place awards went to Java Break, 17 E. 7th St., and Milton's Coffee on Level 1 of the Kansas Union.
BY CHRISTY NUTT editor@kansan.com
Patrick Whalen, a Taco Bell employee, has seen his fair share of post-party drama. He described one such occasion when a customer's car actually caught on fire while waiting in a line of idling vehicles for a sack of delicious tacos. Whalen said he immediately jumped through the drive-thru window with a fire extinguisher. It is no surprise with committed employees like Whalen that Taco Bell, 1408 W. 23rd St.,
won first place in Top of the Hill's category of best post-party food.
He said that approximately 75 percent of the late-night customers are students. In addition to Taco Bell, students voted The Wheel, 507 W. 14th St., as the second-best place to get post-party food. Pizza Shuttle, 1601 W.23rd St., came in third place.