Beatrice O.
Yelp
I came with Jodi to this Starbucks specifically to try the coffee produced by the new Clover brewing system, which has been at this location for a month or so (and isn't available in any other Atlanta Starbucks yet).
GADGET-FETISH VIDEO OF THE NEW MACHINE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRPe7fPBeQk
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
First of all, there's a larger selection of beans for Clover-brewed coffee. The selection tonight (and it does change based on availability of crops) ranged from the simple Anniversary Blend and Christmas Blend ($1.95 for a 12oz tall, $2.15 for a 16oz grande) all the way up to Aged Sulawesi Kalosi ($3.95 for a 12oz tall, $4.15 for a 16oz grande). The depth of bean selection rivals that of Octane's.
HOW IS IT ANY DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR COFFEE?
As noted, Clover-brewed coffee can be a bit more expensive than the stuff brewed by the jugful. And it takes longer to produce than just a pull on the tank spigot; the barista grinds your beans immediately before brewing, and then the machine spends about 90 seconds to turn the ground coffee into a cuppa.
WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?
It depends on what you choose. Decaf Christmas blend was unremarkable, though I wasn't expecting otherwise. Iced Kenya ($2.45 for a 12oz tall, $2.65 for a 16oz grande) was multilayered, with distinct initial, middle, and finishing flavors. It was, as I said at the time, the first Starbucks coffee worth actually tasting on its own. Usually the company relies on gimmicky syrups to create flavor. These beans, brewed like this, have a delicious flavor of their own.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Again, it depends on what you choose. Iced Kenya cost us only 30 cents more than the standard iced coffee of the same size, and was WELL worth the extra expense. The decaf wasn't distinctly different from any other coffee I've had here. If you're accustomed to a latte with syrup-based flavors, and you're trying to make healthier choices, you can spend roughly the same amount of money on a Clover-brewed coffee that has flavor all by itself. Fewer calories, less fat, and better economic support for diversity in coffee varieties -- these are all good things.
NU, WHAT ELSE?
Other Yelpers have noted the foul smell and relatively microscopic size of the parking lot. Even on a cold Sunday evening, both of these issues were in evidence. But if you do find a parking space, you won't spend much time smelling the air outside. And since there's only one Clover machine, which makes only one cup at a time (at about 90 seconds each), you might be waiting a few minutes. But at peak times, there's a barista dedicated to making Clovers, so you'll be enjoying it fairly quickly.
TOO LONG; DIDN'T READ:
Definitely try it, but pick an interesting bean.