Starbucks

This Starbucks location is pretty unique because it is located inside the heart of the University of Hawaii at Manoa specifically inside the Campus Center complex. It is right next to the UHM offices like the student ID office, Jamba Juice, etc. They have really renovated the whole area now to really cater to the student, faculty, and staff community. It is always poppin’ down here. There is almost always a line full of students (mainly students). It is especially busy during the day time pretty much all day. The prices for the drinks and food and everything is pretty much the same as all of the other Starbucks on the island. The payment process is also similar with the Starbucks app in which you can scan and go. The staff and customer service is pretty good. I think they are mostly students themselves as well. There is no table and seating area inside the store but there is a ton outside so technically there are outside table and seating areas. I feel that this Starbucks location is mostly only suited for the UHM community down here. If you don’t have business in neither then I do not think you would be coming here anytime soon.

For being the one and only Starbucks on a college campus, they do decently well with making a good cup of coffee. Don’t plan to come here if you are in a rush though… The line is always extremely long and they do not offer the mobile order pickup at this location. Most of the time it takes me around 20 – 25 mins to stand in line, order, and get my coffee.
The staff are all students, except for the one manager who is always taking orders. My only complaint would be that sometimes the coffee takes 3−4x longer than it should because the staff are talking to their friends at the bar instead.

The worst starbucks ever! Front man is horrible so slow and rude. They gave me a cold spinach wrap, didn’t stir my caramel macchiatto and the last time I ordered a tea from them the man gave me a hard time and an extremely hot tea.

Was super unhappy with my macchiato (a traditional one, not the Starbucks «macchiato»). They offered me a macchiato on them. Great customer service from both the manager and the in store employees. I just really hope they will make a proper one when I go back.

A nice location! While the store itself doesn’t have a huge amount of seating, it’s adjacent to a large seating area within the campus center and it was pretty easy to find an open space there.
The staff were friendly and fast and the food and drinks are the usual (good) Starbucks quality. I often have the Emperor’s Cloud and Mist Tea (similar to the China Green Tips Tazo Tea) and I’m always happy with it.

Super easy way to get your Starbucks fix on campus!
There are a bunch of seating outside if you are looking to enjoy your drink. Or you can always walk around campus and find a place to relax.
The service could be better. They seem a little slower than the other Starbucks round. So that is a point against them.

The iced coffee is watery. The taste is good but, very weak! The lines can be very very long. Overall, the service is good.

I like this Starbucks mainly because of its location. The product quality and pricing are the same as any other Starbucks. The staff at this location is friendly and efficient. This location does get quite busy with students, especially during the morning and lunch hours. But the staff handles its peak times with ease and without much mistake.
Now, I love Starbucks. I would give this place 5 stars if it weren’t for the fact that this particular location DOES NOT REDEEM REWARDS. That is very disappointing. And I am one of the lucky millions who carry the esteemed gold card. I’d like to redeem my free drinks/​food please. But Starbucks in general… i just love. They make the best caffe mocha on the planet. All you bougie San Fran latte-​art people can kiss my mediocre coffee ass. Starbucks is número uno.
Alas…3 stars dude. Give me my damn free drink!

I think it’s about time for an update.
Speed of service had definitely improved since my last review update. The staff is still friendly and helpful. The product quality and pricing are on par with the other starbucks locations.
New outside seating opened up when the construction at the campus center finished. Nice place to hang out and drink coffee if there aren’t too many studying students taking up all the tables.
They still don’t redeem rewards, though. That’s still a drag.
Over all, the place is definitely A-​OK.

I have been to Starbucks locations in 6 countries and over twenty states. I lived in Seattle when the company got going and was regarded as pretty fancy, and have been drinking there ever since. All that being said, this is easily the worst managed Starbucks I have ever been to.
It’s not that they aren’t polite: they are. It’s not that the Baristas are slow; they’re not, they make the drinks quickly.
It’s that this is the worst MANAGED place of any franchise. Every morning there are 20 – 30 people in line, at the same times, very predictably. In most Starbucks, they would staff accordingly. NOT HERE! One slow, lethargic dude on the register, who will periodically leave the reg to do the pastry stuff. They don’t go down the line and take orders to clear the line, they don’t make the wait easier, and often, they will only have 2 people working during peak hours! 2!
I have seen Starbucks in major metro airports with 50 person lines that move waaaay faster than this place. It’s just horrible. If you come for coffee between 7:30 and 8:30am, you will wait 15 – 25 minutes for your coffee! That is not something I can deal with. People here just accept horrible service as if it were inevitable. Whatever. I look at the time I waste in line, thinking that today will be different, and I realize that in the same time I could spend waiting in line here I could walk to the Paradise Palms, get a better mocha, walk back to the line, and I still wouldn’t have gotten my drink.
I guess this place is run by the campus’ industrial caterer Sodexo so it’s not overseen by the normal Operating partner that would ensure service quality met Starbuck standards. But all of you rating this place 4 or 5 stars have some really, really inexplicably low standards for service, or else you buy coffee at like 4 in the afternoon when the line is short. either way, stop it. It doesn’t have to be this way.

It’s a Starbucks on campus, which is convenient, since I often get gift cards from friends. Drinks are typical of Starbucks anywhere.
Because it’s a part of campus dining (I presume), they’re a little weird with the rewards program. You earn stars for your purchases, but you can’t redeem ANY rewards — no Gold freebies after 12 drinks, and no coupon codes, either. I tend to visit Starbucks when they send those offers, so this location loses a lot of appeal. I’ve largely taken my coffee business elsewhere on campus.
Yes, lines can go out the door, but that’s to be expected between classes. Time your visit while classes are in session, but expect to spend about ten minutes here in the mornings. The place is usually deserted in the afternoon.

Your average Starbucks, Very clean and nice. At peak times there are a ton of people in like and they have those dividers to create a zigzag pattern for the line of coffee goers everyday! (I admit I’m one if them)
The service can be pretty quick and super fast if there’s no line. But if there’s a line and you need to be somewhere soon I suggest not standing in line try the simply go (right across Starbucks next to jambs juice) they are usually line free and offer Starbucks brand coffee.
There’s a few big lounger chairs inside with small tables next to them. And a counter top (bar style) with tall stools you can sit drink your coffee, study, and watch them make tons of different coffees and teas ! Or you can sit at one of the outside tables.
But space is limited inside and when there’s a long line it’s sometimes hard to navigate around bunches of people. and the bunch if people waiting for their order.

This Starbucks is always crowded. Students are always looking to get their caffeine high on. There is, plenty of seating outside, and not just sturdy wooden chairs but comfy cushioned chairs. The restroom is located on the same floor right next to the Starbucks.

Finally a real, legitimate Starbucks instead of the «We Brew Starbucks Coffee» generic version that previously existed next to Jamba Juice…
Very convenient location for students, but I’ve only been able to come here twice, because the line always seems to be so terribly long. =\ I don’t have breaks long enough to waste standing in line just for Starbucks.
In addition, on one of my visits my frappuccinos was super icy. Not like others I’ve had at other locations.
They have definite room for improvement, but this is a *decent* location.

The UH-​Manoa location gets four stars just because it’s so convenient at Campus Center. The service is only «meh» but I have noticed that they’ve improved since they first opened last year. Some of the baristas intuitively know my order already, which is helpful because my order is sooo complex (sweetened iced coffee). I bought a double-​walled, geometric, aluminum cup recently from this location, and I like that they can accommodate electronic payments and Starbucks cards. Because pretty much everyone loves Starbucks, the line is usually long, and there’s only one cash register open (why? I have no idea), so I only go when I have sufficient time to make it to class/​work.

It’s the obligatory Starbucks on campus — necessary to fuel the students and scholars who went to sleep a little too late or didn’t go to sleep at all. They have everything that a full-​size Starbucks has, including Thai! Every now and then, the line backs up and it zig-​zags outside of the store, but the employees keep a reasonable pace so it does move.
I can’t have crazy caffeinated drinks anymore so I stick with my half-​sweetened passion tea lemonade shaken with thai. Sweet, tart, and a hint of cream — yum! The baristas seem really knowledgeable with the recipes because they do make it relatively quickly.
Every now and then, I order a turkey pesto sandwich. When they toast it, they seem to make sure that only the outside is toasted and warm while leaving the inside cold. That doesn’t make me happy. I’ll ask them to make sure the middle of my sandwich is warm next time.
Of course I’ll be returning for their PTL but I’ll have to make sure that it’s not going to be habitual. That would be painful on my wallet!

The new location is especially convenient and a lot more spacious than before because they don’t have to share their space with Jamba Juice. They were quick and friendly.
Note on the Chai Tea Latte: Kind of sweet. Ask for little to no sweetener next time.
Downside #1 of this über popular coffee stop on campus: It’s way too crowded and can’t handle the massive volume of sleep-​deprived, «I just pulled an all nighter… two days in a row!» university students. If you try to go on the half hours, especially in the morning and afternoon hours, be prepared to wait a good 15 minutes or longer! I would try going on the hour if you don’t want to waste time standing in line; that’s when the lines are the shortest. Otherwise, there’s always the coffee place in Paradise Palms! …jk jk if you’re a loyal Starbucks fan.
Downside #2: No Starbucks Rewards scanner for your smartphone. Gotta bring your real plastic card with you if you want that star in your cup!

«You didn’t get Starbucks today!?! Did something happen?»
«No. Just the start of a crappy day.»
I go to Starbucks so often, my friends and co-​workers would notice my nonexistent Starbucks cup than if I chopped off all of my hair. I just love Starbucks coffee that much. I reviewed this location, however, because to me, the workers are the nicest and the coffee here is número uno. On a second note, I have never met a single grumpy Starbucks employee in my life. Maybe I am just lucky to have avoided such an encounter or caffeine does wonders, but I have always been satisfied with their service.
I believe this review will be more appropriate if I critiqued mainly on service because there is no way you haven’t sipped a cup of Starbucks, unless you live under a rock. And if you do, sorry but that sucks. Moving on, the workers at Campus Center are fantastic. They are extremely nice — always greeting us good morning and occasionally drawing cute smiley faces or squirrels on our cups or bagel packages. My sister and I have known some of the employees for quite awhile because they used to be at the Corner Market Café… you know, the place people called the fake Starbucks? These individuals have always been amiable and humorous, and one of the main reasons why I come back.
Bottom line: I really enjoy going to this Starbucks because the people are courteous, service is fantastic, and the coffee is delicious. I am also grateful that they accept meal plans… now we just have to persuade Subway to do the same!

Before I begin to talk about what’s great about this location, I want to preface with what isn’t working about this location.
The first problem is the morning manager. This man is either too tired to do his job or simply just hates the people. Either way, cracking a smile and having friendly service is not something he excels at, nor does he try to pursue. He has no time for courtesy. Regardless if the line is out the door, there should be some common courtesy.
The second problem is the speed of the Baristas. In almost every other Starbucks location i’ve been to, the morning Baristas always ask the next person in line «What can I get started for you?» This speeds service and keeps the line moving. Furthermore, most of the Baristas are overworked or they simply don’t care. Perhaps they need to be replaced with people that care. After all, we are still the valued customers and SHOULD NOT be the cause of their grief.
The third problem is the line itself. The clear sprawl of people needing their 600 calorie frappuccino fix is about as disturbing as the fat girls and guys standing in line. Here is an actual conversation. «Oh my God, I feel so fat!» Then she orders a caramel frappuccino with extra whip cream. The people in line make their drink orders so extraordinarily complicated that it takes forever to make. Look fat-​asses, just eat a subway sandwich. It has the same amount of calories and it will taste better.
So let’s talk about what’s great about this location.
Nothing. You’re better off buying coffee from the four other locations or a different Starbucks.

UH finally gets a legitimate STARBUCKS! Located in campus center — right across from the previous café that carried Starbucks coffee. & good news… it’s open later than 4:30 pm folks!
Monday — Thursday 6am-​10pm
Friday 6am — 10 pm
The inside is a typical Starbucks interior — café trendy. But I’ve got to admit the counter where you receive your drinks is beautiful! Such lovely wood work. The backsplash of the «kitchen/​coffee prep area» is a nice dark brick.
BAD NEWS — not really a place to sit at and do homework, unless you get lucky! As soon as you enter there are 4 leather lounge chairs and 2 regular table chairs to the right against the wall (behind the line). The only other seating is located on the opposite end — there is a bar with 4 bar stools available.
GOOD NEWS– it is more spacious compared to the old café — which had long lines running outside of the joint. By the looks of the layout — I’m hoping it’ll be able to handle more foot traffic.
So I’m guessing it’s more of a place to grab coffee and go — but there is a lot of seating outside in campus center. So not that big of a deal.
It just opened yesterday — we’ll see how it goes during the semester. Review update?! But for my first experience the workers were very friendly! Even let me get coffee past closing time (I didn’t know what the hours were! :/​) & the drink was good. Mixed well — very hot — fresh espresso. I’m excited.
This will save me from a few future coffee runs!