I was in the other day and was told their turnover is starting to rival that of Java Dave's.

What do you mean by "turnover"?

I drove by in the evening once in the last couple weeks and there seemed to be a healthy crowd there.

we as Oklahomans need to support the businesses that we have in this Great State. Or leave them alone.

You sound like someone working for a chamber of commerce where everything is all peachy keen or not mentioned at all. One of the things I find most valuable about message boards is that I'll read first-hand opinions by people with experiences, and taking everything into consideration, I'll make my decision. "Outing" a substandard business is to everyone's advantage except for the guy providing substandard service. What's wrong with that?

You sound like someone working for a chamber of commerce where everything is all peachy keen or not mentioned at all. One of the things I find most valuable about message boards is that I'll read first-hand opinions by people with experiences, and taking everything into consideration, I'll make my decision. "Outing" a substandard business is to everyone's advantage except for the guy providing substandard service. What's wrong with that?
Exactly. Nothing wrong with voicing your opinion about it if you've had bad service. If the business is smart about it, they would take such opinions to heart and look closer at why someone had that experience. I appreciate knowing other's experiences, both good and bad. I'm not too concerned about someone trying to run down a business due to a grudge. You can easily spot those types along with the cheerleaders who work there or own the business.

...coffee slingers is not a democracy, it is a craft and quality driven business....rumours are driven by dinosaur chauffeurs with the obstinate intransigence of thumbscrewed habit enamoured of their employers until the bitter end...

Even though I understood about 10% of what you say, I say Touche'!

What do you mean by "turnover"?

Not the freshly baked apple or cherry kind! I saw a new face and commented. Was told several people left due to "stress" from the owner. I didn't think they employed "several" people to begin with, but o'well.

I hope things are fine. I can't tell you how I am disappointed on a regular basis by Java Dave's (slow service, some unfriendly staff, always new staff, they serve fruit - like apples - with bare unwashed hands, often tables are dirty, and they are stingy with the heat after the morning rush).

#1. I do know what it means to have employees "screw up" a perfectly good business and be the one that has to take the financial hit. Being bad mouthed by people until the business gone and those same people were the ones calling my home wanting to buy some of the things they could not get anywhere else.
I do agree on "Freedom of Speech". However, I don't believe in kicking someone when they are down in a public forum. If you had a bad experience did you tell the owner first? If you did and nothing was down about it they they deserve what they get....This is like an oxymoron as I try to take care of the experience these people had in my store but the person repeatedly bad-mouthed the business until it started stumbling and eventually fell. Go for it but, give the old "turn the other cheek" and see what happens.

Braum's used to be (still is?) notorious for slow drive-through lines. Everybody complained about it and everyone accepted it. Did anyone personally call Drew Braum?

Braum's used to be (still is?) notorious for slow drive-through lines. Everybody complained about it and everyone accepted it. Did anyone personally call Drew Braum?

Braum's seems to get worse IMO on their slow service. I've written and called them numerous times, none of them seem to care. I think Drew Braum is out of touch with reality from public statements and press releases I've read.

Wasn't their response to stop allowing patrons to buy groceries (milk, eggs, etc.) at the drive-thru? Which in my opinion was a terrible decision.

Wasn't their response to stop allowing patrons to buy groceries (milk, eggs, etc.) at the drive-thru? Which in my opinion was a terrible decision.

Yeah, but now they make you wait as they pretty much cook your order after you order and aren't like McDonalds with food ready to go. Almost every time I go to Braums, I have to prepare myself to pay and then wait 15 minutes. Usually they immediately have me pull over and park and they bring my food out, even if I order a basic hamburger and fries.

It's more than being a cooked to order difference though.

I can't recall the last time I did not have a custom order quirk when I was at McD's, Carl's, Sonic, etc.. I do so to help assure as fresh a prep of my meal as I can influence. Even so, every burger place I frequent in the greater metro, even if busy, will still consistently be MUCH faster than a Braum's, even a non-busy Braum's.

I know it can't be true, but at times I'm almost ready to contemplate whether they inject a slo-mo juice into the staff.

I like Braum's food, I even prefer it when I'm in no hurry. But, ONLY when I have time that needs a good killing do I pull in.

Yeah, but now they make you wait as they pretty much cook your order after you order and aren't like McDonalds with food ready to go. Almost every time I go to Braums, I have to prepare myself to pay and then wait 15 minutes. Usually they immediately have me pull over and park and they bring my food out, even if I order a basic hamburger and fries.

Would you rather your food not be fresh? Braum's is nowhere near as busy as McDonald's.


@General: It seems you have not fully embraced new media. Blogs and message board are this generation's way of telling the owner what we think. We don't always have time to track down their number or email and send them a personal message. A good owner and or manager will take to heart any constructive criticism they see online.

Not the freshly baked apple or cherry kind! I saw a new face and commented. Was told several people left due to "stress" from the owner. I didn't think they employed "several" people to begin with, but o'well.

I hope things are fine. I can't tell you how I am disappointed on a regular basis by Java Dave's (slow service, some unfriendly staff, always new staff, they serve fruit - like apples - with bare unwashed hands, often tables are dirty, and they are stingy with the heat after the morning rush).

Not to mention their micro-managed parking lot with signs designating "5 minute parking", "30 minute parking", "1 hour parking", etc.

Would you rather your food not be fresh? Braum's is nowhere near as busy as McDonald's.


@General: It seems you have not fully embraced new media. Blogs and message board are this generation's way of telling the owner what we think. We don't always have time to track down their number or email and send them a personal message. A good owner and or manager will take to heart any constructive criticism they see online.

No, I have embraced new media just fine, it's Braum's who hasn't embraced new media. I've griped about it online in blogs, this website and through personal contact aka snail mail and their 1800 number..

Wasn't talking to you.

See the "@General:"??

you guys get after it....you let this thread (the one you used for some time) die and go back on the fifth page. Now, you're re-working the whole thing....I understand the free complaint system and I'm probably too old to understand all that the internet has to offer. But, I'm not too old to try and help a business in the OKC area stay alive.....you guys aren't etither...Remember what I saide, my skin's pretty thick and if you want to pick on me get after it.....But, try and work out the problems at Coffeslingers by going back and if it happens again blast them on this thread again and again...then let the management know to check the thread.....Thanks for being there....

Today (ice and all) I'm going to go down to Coffee Slingers and I'll give an old man's opinion. May be worthless but, I'm going talk to you guys later.

I know I'm holding my breath.

Coffee Slingers has had a solid crowd the last few times I've been there, and unlike some on this board, I've never had a bad experience. I will continue to support this business as it undoubtedly offers the best coffee in town. You simply cannot beat their short water americano.

All right, I'm an old man and like my coffee straight and strong.....There were 17
people at 9:45 this morning and the coffee was made fresh.....I had a hard time though watching a guy (ordered some goofy named coffee) pay 9.65 for a coffee and a muffin. They were very busy and very polite....even to an old guy...would I go back? sure my coffee was $2.00 but it was fresh and strong...
But, 7-11 coffee does the same trick for me ut once again, I'm an old man....

I have buddies that are "coffee snobs", as I like to call them just to give them a hard time. But honestly, they're guys who know coffee much better than I do. But if I were asked to bring out my own coffee snobbery and choose the top two coffee shops in downtown OKC ...

I would say Coffee Slingers ... bar none.

And second ... 1st Edition Cafe & Espresso Bar.

Ground Floor and The Buzz are a joke.

Not sure the Ground Floor is trying to be a coffee shop - it's more a restaurant that serves coffee. As for the Buzz, well, they've got a very loyal following so certainly not everyone sees them as a joke. So, what's their opinion of Java Daves and the now closed Uncommon Grounds?

I have buddies that are "coffee snobs", as I like to call them just to give them a hard time. But honestly, they're guys who know coffee much better than I do. But if I were asked to bring out my own coffee snobbery and choose the top two coffee shops in downtown OKC ...

I would say Coffee Slingers ... bar none.

And second ... 1st Edition Cafe & Espresso Bar.

Ground Floor and The Buzz are a joke.

I'm from Seattle and consider myself pretty knowledgeable on this subject. I've been in countless number of coffee houses across the country and don't think that Coffee Slingers is all that great. My oldest son disagrees as he loves the place.

I do know they've worked hard to become more friendly to their customers, but they still need to learn how to make a decent cappuccino. Had one the other day that was filled to the brim with milk and espresso--no foam in it. A proper cappuccino has aprox 1/3 cup of foam in it, mine barely had any foam. The coffee roast that they use isn't a taste that I particularly care for, but obviously everyone is different about what they like and dislike. Just my opinion of course. Won't be going back anytime soon.

Where do you recommend going for a good cappucino then ......?

Where do you recommend going for a good cappucino then ......?

7-11 French Vanilla Cappucino!

On xmas eve i rode the bus from the norman ou campus and got off on 4th 'n broadway. I walked up broadway and ended up at the coffee slinger shop around 230. there were 5 customers inside (granted xmas ever) and i ordered a drip coffee. they didnt have that. so i paid something like 2.42 for a french press that took 5 minutes to make. which was fine, i was waiting to meet a relative.

its a neat historical area, but i don't see how they pay the labor cost for the hour i was in there (2 employees) with the amount of biz they did (5 customers). let alone their other costs.

This thread is funny.

Here are my thoughts:

Braum's: dirty stores, slow service, food (especially hamburgers) not as good as it once was.

Coffee Slingers: very good coffee, perfunctory, sometimes even mildly hostile, service.

The Buzz: the only walkable option in the CBD, completely inconsistent, though nice, service (is coffee even ready by 9 a.m.?), coffee average.

Java Dave's: mediocre coffee, slow service, fictional drive-thru concept.

The lesson here: Don't stray too far from Red Cup. It's an ugly world out there.

It's an ugly world inside you mean.The ugly outside world gets it from somewhere.

Works by James Drought (http://www.drought.com/works.htm)

Works by James Drought (http://www.drought.com/works.htm)

What does any of that have to do with the subject on this thread?

read The Secret ...This author also wrote The Gypsy Moths. Probably America's best author
in my opinion. Blacklisted and dead unknown to most.

the first chapter of this book that I mentioned has a lot to do with this thread

the first chapter of this book that I mentioned has a lot to do with this thread

Whatever.

This thread is funny.

Here are my thoughts:


...Coffee Slingers: very good coffee, perfunctory, sometimes even mildly hostile, service.

....Java Dave's: mediocre coffee, slow service, fictional drive-thru concept.



I stop by 'Slingers in the morning for a great americano, and occasionally whole beans to go. Personally, I've always found their service people to be quite polite and helpful. As for Java Dave's - mediocre is being kind.

This thread is funny.

Here are my thoughts:

Braum's: dirty stores, slow service, food (especially hamburgers) not as good as it once was.

(snip)



AMEN!!!!

I'm not sure what's getting into Braum's, but they are not in touch with their retail outlets. I stopped visiting the location at SW 89th and Penn for *precisely* that reason. The store looked dirty.

I think it may be a matter of consistency, because the Braum's at SW 119th and Western (well, a little north of there) is pretty nice, and the burgers are consistently good.

The odd thing is that Braum's ownership is freakish about quality and process control at its dairy facility, and I can't fathom why they wouldn't be just as particular about the appearance and cleanliness of their retail stores. I'd like to blame it on franchises, but the stores are all company owned, which makes it all the more puzzling!

I'm delighted to support Braum's as an Oklahoma company and because they make really good, growth-hormone-free milk, but they'd better start paying attention to their stores...

I was pleased to pass by Coffee Slingers on Saturday morning while out riding my bike and there was quite the crowd inside. I'd guess at least a dozen people.

I've finally given up on Java Dave's. Everytime I go in there the staff has completely turned over. I'm told he pays around $7/hr. Obviously they do not see the value in paying a decent wage to attract/keep decent help. So many employers don't see how much it costs them to continually retrain new employees just to have them leave.

As for Braum's, don't really know why they are mentioned in a thread on coffee places. I've found them to be tolerable. Definitely a big improvement over many years ago when they started going the way of Dairy Queen.

The one by us employees mostly older adults and I think that makes a big difference.

I just had a terrible experience at a Braum's location. I did not receive the order I paid for, called them when I got home, and then I was told the manager was "too busy" to talk to me about making up for the wrong order. I'm totally done with Braum's. The only reason I went there in the first place was because my wife requested I do so.

Some things you are saying don't quite add up...


They do have a good product, but their marketing is very poorly done.

Here, you state that Coffee Slingers does in fact have a good product.


I do know they've worked hard to become more friendly to their customers, but they still need to learn how to make a decent cappuccino. Had one the other day that was filled to the brim with milk and espresso--no foam in it. A proper cappuccino has aprox 1/3 cup of foam in it, mine barely had any foam.

Here, you attack their product. And not very well.The cappuccino is not a drink of thirds.

The SCAA defines a cappuccino as "a coffee and milk beverage that should produce a harmonious balance of rich, sweet milk and espresso. The cappuccino is prepared with one (1) single shot of espresso, textured milk and approximately 1 centimeter of foam depth (assessed vertically). A traditional cappuccino is a five- to six-ounce beverage (150 to 180ml)."

The foam depth of a cappuccino (in the above defined sense) only comes after the milk has sit and has started to separate. When you drink the cappuccino, you should be feeling thick, velvety sweet milk sweep over the tongue, not hard dry flavourless foam.


I'm from Seattle and consider myself pretty knowledgeable on this subject.

And where did you drink your coffee? The most respected shops (Vivace, Zoka, Victrola, Stumptown, etc.) would NOT serve a cappuccino hotter than Slingers would. Heck, a few of those shops might say that the 145-150 mark that Slingers shoots for (which is what the barista told me my drink was served at) is a little on the warm side. Milk drinks can't be served as hot as drip coffee. Why? Because milk burns that hot. You can take it down 30 degrees from there and avoid the scalded milk, sure, but then you get less texture and less sweetness.

I don't make Slingers a daily trip, it's too far out of my way. However, every time I have gone I have had coffee that is better than anywhere else in the OKC metro area. Sometimes, I've had to deal with a person behind the counter who needed a few more hours of sleep, and sometimes I've had to wait for what seemed like eternity as the poor gent behind the counter was assaulted with a large group order and had nobody else working with him, but the end result is that what is in the cup works.

Until someone else comes to town who can rock the 'spro like Slingers does, they don't need to have any concerns of going anywhere. And even if someone does do coffee as well as them, and amps up Customer Service to the next level, from what I've heard Melody is going to start roasting in house sometime this year which will make it a lot harder for anyone else to move in.

I've been here several hours today. To say it is rocking is an understatement. The baristas haven't had much downtime.

Students, downtown dwellers, creative folks, families, moms with strollers, bikers. It's pretty well been non-stop since I got here about three hours ago. In fact, when I did arrive, I couldn't even find a parking spot on either side of Broadway so had to park at a local business (closed on weekends, of course).

great to hear!!!

Not a big coffee drinker, but rode my bike down there last week (slingers). Enjoyed the atmosphere and the coffee was perfect temp for my taste. The employees were not very friendly however. I tried striking up conversation to no avail.

I haven't been in Coffee Slingers very much, but what turned me off was their wifi policy. I was in there on a Sunday and was having a latte and wanted to look up a building address for an event I was going to later that evening. I asked for the password and was told that there's no wifi on Sunday and no exceptions. All I wanted was to get the address of a building off their site and couldn't do it so I left. On the way out I saw the list of all the policies with their wifi and got turned off. Sundays are supposedly "community day" but there wasn't much community in there to begin with. I ended up driving over to Red Cup. They were closed but I could still get their wifi sitting in my car. That kind of attitude just bugged for some reason for the rest of the day. My solution is to just not go there anymore and find a place where I can use my laptop no matter what day of the week it is.

The library has no such policy and you don't even have to buy a latte.Bring a corn syrup and caffiene seltzer and slum on the internet all day. I do.

I haven't been in Coffee Slingers very much, but what turned me off was their wifi policy. I was in there on a Sunday and was having a latte and wanted to look up a building address for an event I was going to later that evening. I asked for the password and was told that there's no wifi on Sunday and no exceptions. All I wanted was to get the address of a building off their site and couldn't do it so I left. On the way out I saw the list of all the policies with their wifi and got turned off. Sundays are supposedly "community day" but there wasn't much community in there to begin with. I ended up driving over to Red Cup. They were closed but I could still get their wifi sitting in my car. That kind of attitude just bugged for some reason for the rest of the day. My solution is to just not go there anymore and find a place where I can use my laptop no matter what day of the week it is.

wow..a list of policies concerning wifi. I frequent a lot of coffee shops, but haven't been to Coffee Slingers. I probably won't visit either.

I haven't been in Coffee Slingers very much, but what turned me off was their wifi policy. I was in there on a Sunday and was having a latte and wanted to look up a building address for an event I was going to later that evening. I asked for the password and was told that there's no wifi on Sunday and no exceptions. All I wanted was to get the address of a building off their site and couldn't do it so I left. On the way out I saw the list of all the policies with their wifi and got turned off. Sundays are supposedly "community day" but there wasn't much community in there to begin with. I ended up driving over to Red Cup. They were closed but I could still get their wifi sitting in my car. That kind of attitude just bugged for some reason for the rest of the day. My solution is to just not go there anymore and find a place where I can use my laptop no matter what day of the week it is.

I can certainly see how that would be an annoyance, but I would be grateful they offer free wifi at all. Most places do not. I rather like the concept of community day. It helps people get unplugged, and actually strike up a conversation with one another, not a bad concept in today's day and age.

As for their staff, while it is true Melody is not the most "hiya, darn glad to meet ya" kind of person, I think in Oklahoma we are extremely spoiled because we are so used to everybody being like this. When someone happens to be either a bit more introverted, or not as outwardly enthusiastic, we take that as being rude. Go to other cities and I assure you what we have here is rare.

I find her to be just fine. Not a chatty Cathy, by any means, but where in the "rule book" does it say she has to be? She is focused on putting out a superior product, and does that very, very well. One thing I will say, rarely do I go in there that she and her staff are not working their tails off.

Her two other staff members (female) are both very friendly, and if you are in there at all with any regularity as some are, they will get to not only know you by name, but know your drink and start getting it ready as you are all but walking in the door.

While I have enjoyed the Red Cup on several occasions, what I really enjoy about Slingers is that they bring in a mixed crowd. Plus, I just enjoy the airiness of the place. Red Cup (IMO) is almost for the "I'm alternative and you're not" crowd, a little snobbism in their boho attitudes. Not that it is a BAD thing, but it's just that Slingers brings in folks from different sides of life, whereas Red Cup does not, necessarily. I do love Red Cup's bagel sandwiches, though. Fabulous!

Coffee Slingers is the most pretenious place I've ever been. The staff is snooty, their wifi policy treats their customers like children, and their coffee is terrible.

I haven't been in Coffee Slingers very much, but what turned me off was their wifi policy. I was in there on a Sunday and was having a latte and wanted to look up a building address for an event I was going to later that evening. I asked for the password and was told that there's no wifi on Sunday and no exceptions. All I wanted was to get the address of a building off their site and couldn't do it so I left. On the way out I saw the list of all the policies with their wifi and got turned off. Sundays are supposedly "community day" but there wasn't much community in there to begin with. I ended up driving over to Red Cup. They were closed but I could still get their wifi sitting in my car. That kind of attitude just bugged for some reason for the rest of the day. My solution is to just not go there anymore and find a place where I can use my laptop no matter what day of the week it is.

That's such a stupid policy. Sounds like communism to me. :sofa:

Coffee Slingers is the most pretenious place I've ever been. The staff is snooty, their wifi policy treats their customers like children, and their coffee is terrible.

Totally agree with you.

i've never been to coffee slingers, but i certainly hope they are doing well. i know a lot of our regulars split time between us and them. while we may come from very different perspectives and schools of thought, (from what i hear) we both want to prove to people that locally owned individual concepts can provide a much better product than the chains.

...and their coffee is terrible.

I'm not certain how fresh roasted (served within 7-14 days) beans from an artisan roaster (Barefoot Coffee Roasters) that is ground and prepared on a per-order basis in a press pot could ever be considered "terrible" - something doesn't make sense.


i've never been to coffee slingers, but i certainly hope they are doing well.

I was there again today around 10am, the tables housed another 18 or so customers. Also I know several other people have made comments to staff being aloof, but I've never felt that in my visits - professional and attentive is all I'm after there, they've provided that.

I love this place. Coffee Slingers. Been away awhile, now I am back. The place seems to be doing ok. I think the El salvador is the savior of my day.

I go about once or twice a week because I think the coffee is fantastic, and the sweets they have in the mornings are great too. There is one girl that works in there I don't like but also two that are very friendly and know me (I have become sort of a regular). They always seem to do good business when I'm in there so hopefully they are sticking around for awhile. And for a place with no parking lot if I'm driving it is the easiest place to get in/out of with the street parking on Broadway never full.

I think he does work there. If you do a google search for "Ian Halliday" (his handle backwards) and "coffee" you'll see some comments in response to a blog that he refers to Coffee Slingers and "we" as if he works there.

I felt Sherlock Holmes-y...

Just an observation.

I've got some missing persons for which I could use your services . See if you can find my old comedian buddy, originally from Oklahoma City, Brian Goodhead.

If you find him I'll buy you a coffee and a bagel of your choice at Coffee Slingers.

Can I suggest we change the name of the title of this thread? "Barely hanging on" sounds unfair considering that this thread was created 7 months ago and the place is still open. I don't care for Coffee Slingers, but I feel the thread is almost libel.

I dunno, kinda enjoy the irony of it all, but I'm weird like that.

I also found delightful humor in 03 when a passle of public defenders were assigned new quarters, in a former psych ward, of a state mental hospital building. And, as if that wasn't enough to bring on smiles, the building's moniker is Hope Hall.

A runing gag for a spell was these folks weren't merely dedicated, they were committed.

I've been to Coffee Slingers several times and really like the place. Its had its growing pains but overall they seem to serve their target market well.

I met Melody awhile back at the YMCA (before CS opened). I found her to be quirky, artsy and quite intriguing and pleasant to be around.

I'm not into coffee too much but my wife is. She loves their coffee and I enjoy the atmosphere.

I think it is what is needed downtown and if they can hang-on while more people move to downtown and become a more walking public, then they will do quite well in the future.

Maybe they can expand and add magazines and vinyl to fill the gap created from the closure of Taylor's Newsstand (wishful thinking).

I've found her to be arrogant and extremely rude to myself and others in line.