Previous tip blogging here and here.

The practice might have been illegal under California law, but it wasn't stealing. If baristas (oops, I mean "partners") didn't like the practice they were free to work elsewhere or renegotiate terms. It's also a sensible way to do business: if supervisors spend most of their time doing the work of baristas and cashiers, there's no reason for them not to get tipped out with the other workers. Restaurants with on-the-floor managers who serve tables do exactly the same thing.

Assuming Starbucks' compensation model is effective, this ruling won't change much. It's a one-time bonus for baristas who get to take advantage of a stupid law and a one-time hit for the corporation that's getting nailed by it. It could lead to raises for supervisors to compensate for lost tips and will likely slow down pay increases for non-management positions. It doesn't do much of anything to change incentives, except perhaps to make managers less invested in running fast, friendly stores. This isn't a victory for workers' rights; it's a forced replacement of a business model that was working well to another, possibly less efficient one demanded by court decree.

Many stores will be getting a Clover, but probably not those with low foot traffic or short hours, Gass said. Very busy stores may get two. About 30 percent of U.S. stores will get Clovers by year-end, Schultz said.

In another article -- does any other newspaper devote so much space to coffee coverage? -- a discouraging sign about the future of Clover sales to indie shops:

[Clover founder Zander Nosler says,] "When I first wrote a business plan, it did have the idea of Starbucks in it. And I was told early on, 'You'd better not write a business plan that has one customer, because you won't raise much money with that.' So we made a plan that involved going out to the world, to everybody."

That's precisely what Schultz didn't want -- so he bought the company.

I can't fault the guys for selling. They got a dream offer, and they certainly deserve it for all their hard work, vision, and ingenuity. But still, looking at all the potential the Clover holds for changing the way people think about coffee, it would be a shame to see Starbucks get it exclusively. Unfortunately, I suspect Starbucks Corp. sees more advantage in keeping Clover brewers to itself and to the few early adopters that already have them. Let's hope I'm wrong...

T-Mobile HotSpot subscribers will continue to have access to Starbucks Wi-Fi thanks to an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile. But the new AT&T plan allows all customers 2 free hours per day, with a $3.99 fee for additional 2-hour chunks of time. Monthly subscriptions will cost $19.99 and will enable access to other AT&T hot-spot locations in addition to Starbucks.

In addition, AT&T broadband customers will be able to surf at the more than 7,000 Starbucks locations in the U.S. for free.

The deal is a boost to many Wi-Fi users, who will get two hours of free Wi-Fi service in-store per day if they have an active Starbucks Card or already are one of 12 million users who subscribe to AT&T broadband, Starbucks and AT&T said.

“People want to stay connected to their world 24/7, and Wi-Fi hot spots, broadband and wireless make that mobility possible,” said Rick Welday, AT&T chief marketing officer, Consumer. “Laptops and smartphones give us the online mobility we crave, and now millions of AT&T and Starbucks customers will get Internet access free from the comfort of their neighborhood Starbucks.”

“This is what our customers have been waiting for — free Starbucks-quality Wi-Fi,” said Chris Bruzzo, chief technology officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Through our new partnership with AT&T, we also welcome their millions of current customers who can now come in and enjoy free Wi-Fi as part of their daily Starbucks Experience.”

As an added benefit for the more than 100,000 Starbucks partners in the U.S., all Starbucks partners will receive free AT&T Wi-Fi accounts allowing them to use the network in Starbucks company-operated locations offering Wi-Fi access.

“Our new relationship with AT&T gives us the opportunity to expand and enhance the range of digital entertainment experiences for our customers as well as our partners, including the continued rollout of the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks,” said Ken Lombard, president, Starbucks Entertainment.

In addition to the free Wi-Fi access for qualifying AT&T customers and any Starbucks Card holder, customers will be able to purchase tiered access to the AT&T Wi-Fi network at Starbucks at attractive price points. For a two-hour period, customers will pay just $3.99 per session. Monthly membership will also be available for $19.99 per month, and will include access to any of AT&T’s 70,000 hot spots in 89 countries around the world.

AT&T business customers who subscribe to remote access services can also enjoy unlimited, flat-rate access plans at any Starbucks location offering Wi-Fi service or at other AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots.

Additionally, AT&T is providing Starbucks an enterprise-class network with increased bandwidth and redundancy. AT&T’s underlying network technologies will enable
a wide range of business applications and help Starbucks stores operate more efficiently.

“Delivering networking capabilities to help a world-class company such as Starbucks achieve greater business velocity is what we do,” said Welday. “Our work with Starbucks is collaborative innovation at its finest.”

The availability of AT&T Wi-Fi service at Starbucks will take place on a market-by-market basis with store implementation beginning this spring and completed by the end of the year.

Caffeine ups blood sugar level in diabetics: study - Yahoo! News,

Giving caffeine to a small group of people with type 2 diabetes caused their levels of the blood sugar glucose to rise through the day, especially after meals, researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, found.

"Caffeine appears to disrupt glucose metabolism in a way that could be harmful to people with type-2 diabetes," James Lane, a Duke medical psychologist who led the study, said in a telephone interview.

The new findings seem to run counter to previous research regarding diabetes and caffeine. Earlier studies indicated that people who drank coffee had a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, and those who drank the most coffee had the lowest risk.

The researchers used new technology -- a tiny glucose monitor embedded under the abdominal skin -- to monitor the glucose levels continuously in 10 people, average age 63.

On days when the participants were given four tablets containing caffeine equivalent to four cups of coffee, their average daily sugar levels rose 8 percent compared to days when the same people were given four placebo tablets, the researchers reported in the journal Diabetes Care.

"What we are really showing here is that when people with type-2 diabetes who are regular coffee drinkers drink coffee, it produces an elevation in their glucose throughout the day above what it is if they don't have caffeine," Lane said.

"This suggests that people with diabetes might want to avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages so that this exaggeration doesn't occur. They may find that it's easier for them to keep their glucose down if they avoid caffeine."

Can you think of a worse song to have stuck in your head? Pleave a comment.

All of these I have done. But I am getting better.

THIS morning I measured and poured the beans into the grinder. Or I should say ONto the grinder. I didn't take the top off first.

All of which are better than this, another occasional morning ritual:

PUG! Muddler -- Your friend probably doesn't need a muddler this big, but damn, it's cool. Also good for beating down that unruly house guest who's had a few too many mojitos.

Eva Solo brewer -- Brews like a French press, but with style. This is what I use every day at my "desktop coffee shop" now that I'm in a think tank instead of working as a barista. The advantages over a traditional press are the modern design, insulating jacket, and drip-free pour spout. It's questionable whether these marginal improvements are worth the hefty price tag, but it's a great coffee maker.

Starbucked --The definitive history of the green giant. Author Taylor Clark pulls no punches lamenting Starbucks' fall from serious coffee outfit to purveyor of sugary milk drinks while giving due praise to the company's branding genius and credit for promoting American cafe culture. A fun, informative read in or out of a giant purple plush lounge chair.

Baratza Virtuoso grinder -- Forget overpriced coffee makers that make a crappy brew from pods of pre-ground beans. Give a good burr grinder instead. There are others on the market, but this one has been working wonderfully for me.

The Art of the Bar -- I came across the restaurant Absinthe by chance in San Francisco a few years ago and didn't get a cocktail. Big mistake! This book, written by a couple of the restaurants' bartenders, offers up lush photos, sound advice on crafting drinks, and intriguing recipes. Many of the drinks require obscure ingredients, but anyone who likes to explore will find this a fun book to delve into.

Counter Culture Coffee -- Durham-based Counter Culture is taking over the East Coast with its wonderful single origin coffees. You can't go wrong ordering from them, but this trio of differently processed microlots from Aida Batlle in El Salvador sounds particularly appealing.

Imbibe magazine subscription --The only magazine I read cover to cover as soon as a new issue comes in. Great cocktail recipes and informative articles related to beverages of all kinds.

Zyliss citrus zester -- Having the right tools is everything. I had a channel knife and struggled to get a decent twist with it. After reading the review of this one in Imbibe, I ordered it as a replacement. What an improvement! Cutting long twists should be easy. With this knife, it is.

[Cross-posted at jacobgrier.com.]

It's a banner day for coffee news at the Beeb. Java-related research dominates the list of most-emailed stories at BBC News.

Coming in at No. 1 is a report that "Coffee 'protects female memory." Three spots later, we learn that "Coffee 'boosts female sex drive."

... Scientists reported in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behaviour that caffeine made female rats randy during an experiment in which the rodents were dosed with the stimulant before mating. ...

Starbucks anti-trust suit moving forward

Starbucks opens farmer support center in Ethiopia