3 Reasons I Love Starbucks on 1431 and Parmer

First, a disclaimer. I drink a lot of coffee. And a lot of the coffee I drink is from Starbucks.

That's not to say I don't support other local coffee shops - I do. But when I started my career in technology sales and marketing, I had to travel a lot for work. Finding a consistent, good cup of coffee in an unknown city was much easier if I just looked for the green and black sign. So, I got used to the coffee, and although I don't travel now, I still visit a local Starbucks a few times a week.

Of all the Starbucks in and around Cedar Park, I prefer the one at 1431 and Parmer for 3 reasons:

1. Great Product - One of my favorite drinks is a hazelnut Frapuccino. I've tried other stores on 183, 1431, Parmer, and throughout the area, and many of them don't use enough flavoring, or add too much. Or, they don't get the right amount of ice to last me more than a few minutes in the Texas heat. But these guys and gals get it right every time. Seriously. One of their baristas will ask how my drink is as I'm on my way out an my response is always "Great!"
   
   
2. Great people - Every time I walk in the door at this Starbucks, someone greets me right away. All of the employees are fast, friendly, and fully committed to getting every drink right. I couldn't ask for more.
   
   
3. Team spirit - Although Starbucks is a worldwide brand, the company gives individual stores some leeway about how to personalize things to fit into their community. Some stores do a poor job, while others take advantage of this opportunity - from community bulletin boards to events and contests, favorite customers, and other activities.
   
   When I happened to walk in for coffee today, employees were wearing bright red Vista Ridge High School t-shirts. Manager Cynthia Ott told me they'd been trying to buy, borrow, or somehow get a hold of team t-shirts for the last 2 years, and finally got some recently. "We want to support our community," said Ott. "We're really excited." And they'll be wearing them on game days throughout the season.

Clearly, Ott has set the tone for the store. Her team members joke with her while they work, and she's right there behind the bar. She may make your drink or work the register, but she sets a very clear example for her staff and expects her employees to follow. She'll greet you when you arrive, thank you when you leave, and if a barista shows up on game day without sporting the local team's t-shirt, she'll give 'em hell for the rest of the day.

BTW: If you haven't been to Starbucks lately, they have two promotions you may want to take advantage of: Purchase and register a Starbucks Rewards card and you get a free syrup for flavored drinks or a free refill of brewed coffee, plus 2 hours of free Wi-Fi Internet access. And, between now and September 2, if you purchase a frozen drink, you can bring your receipt (called a "Treat Receipt") back after 2 PM and get another frozen drink for $2.

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Do you have another favorite spot in Cedar Park -- a place that offers exceptional food, top-notch service, or something else worth noting? Share it with us in the comments below, or email us at cedarparklife(at)yahoo.com.