Starbucks

Don’t look for a Starbucks sign, it’s the Signature Café inside Safeway. To find the Safeway entrance in the shopping center, look for the big silver horse.
I usually don’t go to non-​company-​owned Starbucks stores, because the service isn’t as consistent as at the «real» Starbucks. The two baristas at this Starbucks-​in-​a-​Safeway were really on the ball. They helped the small queue with friendliness and efficiency.
My experience here was in stark contrast to that at the Peets across the parking lot. (See my check-​in the for details, if desired.)

Starbucks Inside Safeway — Kill Two Birds With One Stone
SITREP
This is one of those «mini-Starbucks-stations-located-in-the-grocery”-type and so this will be a short review:
PROS
* I actually can get a Mocha Frappuccino before I engage in my leisurely stroll of shopping here;
* If I want to take a break, there is free WiFi here (but honestly that is Safeway’s WiFi, not Starbucks — so neither Pro/​Con, really, but neutral)
CONS
* Obviously very limited in it’s food offerings and equipment in this kiosk space (for ex., no Clover machine, and no lunch items)
* On top of that, it doesn’t offer you redemption of your Starbucks rewards if you have them on your gold registered Starbucks cards.
By way of comparison, for me the only Starbucks less desirable than this one is the kiosk in Terminal A of Sacramento Airport. And this runs about on par with the Starbucks in the Sacramento Convention Center.
THE LOWDOWN
A decent stop. That’s it for the Safeway Starbucks. I wouldn’t want to *post* by this coffee stand.

I have been coming to this Starbucks for quite some time. I love the friendly service. They always have my order brewing as soon as they see me walk through the door! I always drive the extra mile, just to get my cup of coffee on point. You rock!

I only come to this location when I’m desperate. This is a kiosk location. The drinks that are made are just ok. The customer service seems to be lacking. The Latina barista not only took a long time to make my drink, she did not let me know it was ready. There was not even a line. I will not return to this location.

This Starbucks is not nearly as busy as any other one in the area, but they are amazingly slow! Keep in mind, there’s frequently only one employee manning the whole kiosk… The employees here are slow and generally appear to hate their job. They take forever to come to the register to take your order and then forever to make your drink. It almost takes away from the convenience of doing grocery shopping at Safeway and getting coffee.

Not a particularly accessible or attractive Starbucks, with it’s lack of parking and sterile outdoor patio, but then again Starbucks isn’t about much more than quick, pricey coffee. Walking in you’ll find a lot of people at any hour. The line moves quickly and the baristas have always been chipper, even taking a moment to chat it up when they aren’t swamped with orders. I especially like it here because it is conveniently located on the edge of a residential neighborhood that seems to take pride in walking or biking and leaving the cars at home. For that reason I feel I can forgive the accessibility issue.

What can you say about a Starbucks inside Safeway? Convenience is priceless, though I’ve noticed the prices here are slightly higher than regular Starbucks, but if you swipe your Safeway card you can earn free coffee. I don’t think I’ve ever seen less enthusiastic employees than at this kiosk location.