Starbucks with Joe Saunders

"Starbucks with Joe Saunders" is Episode 20 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Starbucks with Joe Saunders" was released on September 24, 2015.

## Synopsis

The ‘boys evaluate the most powerful, most influential coffee chain in the world with the aid of *Comedy Bang! Bang!* and Emmys writer Joe Saunders — and play a special home baked edition of Snack or Wack.

## Nick's intro

On September 22, 1994, David Crane and Marta Kauffman's sitcom *Friends* premiered on NBC. The multi-cam show, originally titled *Insomnia Cafe*, featured six West Village 20-somethings and had as its primary setting, a fictional Manhattan coffeehouse named Central Perk, predicting and perhaps amplifying the caffeinated culture that took root with Generation X and continued with Millennials.

The main cause, and beneficiary, of the "hot brown" craze?

A Seattle-based coffee-roasting chain founded by college classmates Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker in 1971, and sold to current CEO Howard Schultz in 1987. Schultz aggressively expanded the business, purchasing rivals and bullying out local competitors to become as ubiquitous as any chain in American life.

When *Friends* aired its pilot in '94, Schultz' coffeehouse had 425 locations. Ten seasons later, when C, J, M, Ross, R, and P took their final bows, there were 8,569 locations. Today, there are over 22,000 stores worldwide, and with 190,000 employees, its workforce is larger than the population of Little Rock, Arkansas. It has become the most influential eatery of the past two decades, even forcing the once-invincible McDonald's to add the McCafe.

This week's *Doughboys* is trenta-sized because we're talking Starbucks.

## Fork rating

* Pumpkin Spice Latte with Whip (Tall)
* Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino (Tall)
* Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher (Tall)
* Venti Pike Place
* Bacon, Egg & Gouda Ciabatta
* Salted Caramel Square
 Mike Mitchell
* Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino
* Chicken Santa Fe Panini
* Chocolate Croissant
 Joe Saunders
* Iced Tea
* Bacon, Egg & Gouda Ciabatta

The Doughboys also share their coffee preferences: Nick and Mitch take it black, but Joe likes it with French Vanilla Cream.

Mitch says the highlight of his meal (not yet **Spoonman's Bite of the Night**) was the Chocolate Croissant.

A year and a half later, Nick drops his score to 3 forks during his review of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

## Snack or Wack

In Snack or Wack, the Doughboys have a snack and decide if it is good or bad.

For this episode, they have Joe Saunder's Banana Quick Bread, the recipe for which he got from marthastewart.com.

It was, of course, delicious. (A few years later, Joe would start The Bread Cast.)

 Mike Mitchell
 Joe Saunders

## The Feedbag

For one thing, Mexican-type chains seem to be getting increasingly popular to the point where there's a Chipotle in my middle-of-nowhere hometown. Also as an American who lives in the UK, Indian food is absolutely omnipresent here and it's really your best bet for a quick and satisfying meal for vegetarian and omnivores alike.
Could you imagine something more leftfield like this becoming popular in America or do you think a more traditional item will challenge the burgers dominance?

 Mike Mitchell
 Joe Saunders

## Restaurants

 Waffle House | Atlanta, GA
 Village Bakery

## Related Episodes

* 66. Doughlympics: Coffee Division
* 106. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (score revision)
* 130. Dick's Drive-In (Wiger Challenge)
* 160. Norms (Drank or Stank)
* 194. Mouth of the Border: Semifinal One (Breaking Chews)
* 210. Starbucks Reserve
* 20. Starbucks
* mini. Doughlympics Opening Ceremonies
* AD. After Dough with Joe episodes 1, 2, 3
* DD4. Chicken Fight: Fat Chance Kitchen 4
* 100. Nugget Power Hour
* DD45. Star Wars Fantasy Auction
* DD. Doughlympic Winter Games
* DD. May-Ow: Pepe, Fiona, and Meryl
* 225. The Varsity
* THON21. Doughathon 2021
* DD. The D'ohboys
* DD. BOWL: Bread Dead Redemption
* BC1. Zucchini Spice Bread
* BC2. White Bread
* BC3. Buttermilk Biscuits
* BC4. Holiday Special
* BC5. Pumpernickel Bread
* BC6. Dinner Rolls
* BC7. Cornbread
* BC8.