Starbucks

I am not a huge fan of Starbuck’s solely because of price but this one is a winner because I need not leave my building during the day for a caffeine fix. The staff is courteous and the scones are fresh and delicious. The service is quick except during the usual busy times. And the baristas are super friendly.
Today was a uniquely outstanding experience for me. While picking up my expertly made skinny vanilla late yesterday, I got drink envy as I gazed at an amazing creation that someone else ordered. Not being shy, I expressed my admiration for her drink, carefully maintaining politically correct coffee lingo. She then turned me on to a super secret source of recipes that are unbeknownst to us amateur coffee drinkers. There are several sources, as it turns out, and none are official. So, print out and bring the recipe in. My favorite (based upon this single day experience) is
. but there are others including an app available on iTunes. I had the Twix Frappuccino. I am looking forward to others.
So, the 4 stars is in part due to the cool drink and in part to the enthusiasm with which they made this great for me. If the Ferrero Rocher Frappuccino tomorrow lives up to expectations, I may have to increase it to 5 star. I will also need larger pants and a bigger wallet!

This would be a 4-​star Starbucks (a ****bucks?) except for the biggest issue — the flow. There is an entrance from CityPlace and an entrance from Trumbull, which can cause confusion at busy times. There is about enough room for a person to stand at the counter and maybe have someone walk behind them, so to order your drink, walk to the left to wait for it or pick it up, and then go back to the door can be a bit of a struggle. If this location could be a foot or two deeper, we’d be good, or if there was an exit towards the end of the counter.
The staff doesn’t exactly rush even during busy times, so you may be waiting 15 or 20 minutes for your drink to be prepared… and there isn’t always a rhyme or reason as to the order in which drinks are ready. I’ve been with a large group and everyone gets their drink except for one person, and the next few drinks all belong to later parties.
HOWEVER — I have yet to have any drinks made incorrectly or screwed up in any way, shape, or form. I’d rather have a confusing line and a long wait than have to go back and ask for something to be made differently.

This is a pretty good Starbucks. I’ve always preferred it because it’s relatively clean and in downtown Hartford, a personal favorite area. I will say that if you go between 2 – 4 pm on weekdays, set aside 25 minutes because you’re gonna be waiting a while. I’ve seen a lot of people get their orders confused. They’re also closed on weekends!

Staffs are not friendly. I ordered ice caramel macchiato, and it was just like regular ice coffee. That was waste my money.

Convenient for all the business people in the area; also close to Bushnell Park. It’s not a huge starbucks, but most people do pick up anyway. It can get a bit crowded during peak hours (which seems like almost all the time), but the staff is quick and efficient. They know their drinks and are friendly. I’ve never gotten a bad drink here, be it an americano or an iced latte or tea. Just be ready for a few minutes’ wait for the drink to be finished when there’s a long line.

Crappy service today and cold drink. Asked for hot chocolate, it was luke warm. Asked to have it warmed up amd was given a new drink, extra hot. It was no hotter than the first.
Drinks were not full. In fact, my friends drink was ¾ of the way filled.
Will not return to this location.

Their coffee is good. They are near my work, and can move a line pretty fast in the am.

Get cozy. This Starbucks is small and gets very crowded, especially during the lunch hour. In fact, the very long lines no longer surprise me anymore.
Not to say the staff isn’t efficient. They really do the best they can, given the demand, but it’s not uncommon for them to forget to call your order.
One of only two Starbucks in the Hartford area, they clearly cater towards those commuters who only call Hartford «home» during the workday. This Starbucks closes each weeknight at 6:30pm and isn’t open on the weekend. Bummer.

Located in Downtown Hartford, this Starbucks location provides many business men and women a place where they can get a caffeinated pick me up anytime of the day (myself included). The store is long and narrow and there is limited seating. It seems most of their customers are more of the «in and out» types.
For those who are not within walking distance from this location, parking can be tricky as there is only street parking nearby. You might need to drive around a bit or bring a friend that can run in and grab your drinks.
All that aside — this is a solid Starbucks location and the employees have always been polite and make a mean café Americano. I am sure they deal with all types of customers that come walking through the doors but I have never encountered an employee with the «I can’t be bothered» look.
This downtown location is surprisingly only one of two Starbucks in the City of Hartford. Their hours are odd — not open on weekends — so make sure you check before making your way here.

Busy Starbucks, like Manhattan busy! They do get you through fast. Just make you pay attention to their customer calls outs or you might miss your drink and they are to make it again whilst someone else enjoys your first one.

love love starbucks! this place downtown is convieint when i am on my way to work. but i wish they were open on the weeknds. would love a double choclate chip frapp sometimes on a nice sunday

Great location for a Starbucks in the middle of Downtown. Doesn’t open on Sundays which is a bummer.

Always amazing… a everyday starter!

My neighborhood Starbucks. I have been meaning to review this for awhile. As far as Starbucks go, it’s a good one. A bit small. But the service is quick, the staff is courteous, and they always get my order right. And the location is perfect. I take my kids for walks in Bushnell Park a lot, so I’ll grab a coffee or tea on my way, and then sip that to stay warm (especially on these chillier fall days) while they play.
When I heard they were up for a «redesign» as the manager (super nice — name escapes me) told me, I was skeptical at first… especially when she said there was no expansion involved. To my pleasant surprise, while the change didn’t overwhelm me, their utilization of the space did improve — efficiency-​wise and aesthetically, too.
The barista counter remained in the same spot; but because of where they relocated the cream/​sugar stand, as well as the table layout, there are now wider linear blocks of space. Think like an «L» shape. Though it still feels a bit cramped in some areas, I think that’s partly just a Starbucks thing. They want people to sit close and build communities. Seriously :) It’s in the book. They’re quite an environmentally-​minded, humanitarian company in many ways… and the end consumer buying the coffee pays extra for it. I’m ok with that.
Being the downtown Starbucks, it overflows during peak hours: people who live and work downtown all lining up to get their morning java or afternoon pick-​me-​up. If you have the time, pull up one of the bar stools at the window to people watch while you sip. Perfect spot to read or work [free wi-​fi].
Despite the constant flow of traffic, the staff gets props for consistent professionalism and efficiency. A couple weeks ago, I went in for a Chai tea latte, and decided to tack on two bags of ground coffee — which apparently come with a free small coffee. Nice! I had just moved, so the extra caffeine sounded great — especially when it was free. Next the barista asked what I would be making it in (French press, Turkish, espresso, etc) so that it was ground correctly. (I know it’s an option in super-​markets, but never considered it made a difference from just buying it pre-​ground. Apparently it does. Nice touch, Starbucks.) I got my Chai, and then another one of the baristas came over with my coffee (which, being free, wasn’t put in with the original order) so I didn’t have to wait for it.
In that visit, there were probably four different people who worked on my order or served me. That is representative of the service here. Everyone is friendly, smiles, and they know their regulars.
I will withhold that remaining star for when they finally have WEEKEND HOURS for us downtown residents who want to just hang or work at the Starbucks in our own neighborhood. I’d raise a mug to that.
Here’s hopin’!!!

They are convenient to Bushnell Park, but have limited hours in that they are closed on weekends. This is a gripe for many, but not for me, as I know that there are fine locally-​owned establishments in walking distance where I can get as good of a mocha, or better.
In my vast experience with this spot, I can say that the employees are polite to people who are not tools. All day long the workers have to deal with self-​absorbed business types who walk the Earth loaded with a sense of entitlement. The workers are polite, efficient, and ensure that customers’ orders are filled right. If they make a mistake, they are immediately willing to correct it, and are very apologetic when that happens.
Here’s a secret: if you treat people with dignity and respect, most of the time, they are going to return that treatment.
Because this is downtown and people are too lazy to walk a few blocks to other establishments, this Starbucks is often packed. They are well-​staffed and quick, so a line that wraps around the corner will move very quickly.
They have a decent amount of seating, especially considering that most patrons are taking their coffees back to their desks in nearby offices. Because of the constant stream of customers, it never gets very quiet, so it might not be great as an alternative work space.

It’s across the street from my apartment. That’s probably the only reason why I go here. Not a good place to sit and read or work. It might be nice to pick something up and walk around the park if the park was cleaner and more pleasant to walk around in. They are only open weekdays.

Consistently good.
The key to me in any coffee shop is the quality of the coffee and the consistency of it, day in, day out.
This is one of the better ‘Bucks I’ve been to, because of this, plus the staff is always friendly with smiles on their faces.
A good choice for morning or afternoon coffee. Of course, nobody is in Hartford after 5 so I can’t tell you about that…

This is one of only 2 Starbucks in downtown Hartford (the other one is in the Marriott on Columbus blvd).
I prefer Dunkin (at least 5 locations downtown) but I go here often for my afternoon coffee as it is accessible through the lobby of my work building, can’t be anymore convenient than that!
This Starbucks can get very crowded at certain times and I will sometimes opt to cone back later, but the line moves fast, and the newer staff is relatively cheerful given how busy they are.

This Starbucks location really gets a poor review for 3 reasons for me.
Strike 1 — The first strike against this place is that they are a Starbucks. To me this is a huge strike 1, but I don’t hold it against the place. Starbucks coffee just doesn’t taste as good to me. When a co-​worker offers to take you out for coffee, and they are paying, you really don’t have much say.
Strike 2 — Since this is the only Starbucks in walking distance for most people working downtown it can get pretty crowded. How do they only have 1 Starbucks but yet they have 4 Dunkin Donuts downtown? It makes no sense to me.
Strike 3 — Every time I have been into this location they have all been extremely rude. I don’t know if this relates to them always being busy, but with the many times I have been in there, I have yet to find someone friendly.
So why would I go into a coffee place with bad coffee thats over crowded and staffed with rude employees?