Costco Connection

Debate goes on

Does Starbucks roast all the Kirkland Signature™ coffees? I have been buying the Rwanda beans, but there is nothing on the package that mentions Starbucks. However, today in the warehouse I saw a Kirkland Signature medium roast and it does say that the beans have been roasted by Starbucks.

Please clarify. I’m a huge coffee snob, but whatever the answer is, I’ll still buy my beans at Costco!

Tess Wilkins, Costco assistant general merchandise manager, responds: Starbucks is the roaster for the whole-bean coffee labeled Kirkland Signature Roasted by Starbucks. We may stock up to three items (Espresso, House Blend and House Blend Decaf) depending on the location.

For the other Kirkland Signature whole bean products—Colombian, Guatemalan, Rwandan and Sumatran—we have teams working with farmers in these country to source premium coffees at fair prices. These coffees are roasted by the Rogers Family Company and Costco’s own roaster, Costco Wholesale Industries.

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In response to the April Debate, “Is college worth it?

YES. You can lose your job, your home, your car, etc., but no one can ever take away the knowledge and experience you receive from a college education.

Tricia Reynolds
Tulare, California

NO. Traditional four-year colleges are not for everyone. Trade schools and other educational institutions that take someone directly into their field of interest might be more appropriate and could save students thousands of dollars.

Margot Sneed
Makawao, Hawaii

Member comments

Coffee question brewing

I love Costco, I love The Connection. However, the article on the Starbucks/Costco connection [“The big 4-0,” April 2011] has me puzzled.

Linda Daniel
Bastrop, Texas
C. T. Ross
Houston, Texas

DIALOGUEletters Each month get a link via email to the current issue when it is published, plus access to more than five years of back issues. Are you reading

Paycheck alert

I am a small-business owner who has been in business in the same location since 1979. Since I travel a lot, I use Intuit to process my payroll and require my employees to allow direct deposit for their payroll checks.

While the [Consumer Connection, April 2011] deals with job scams, Mr. Horowitz states, “Do not give personal bank account, PayPal account or credit-card numbers to an employer.” This advice is a disservice to both established employers and to potential employees.

This advice applies only to companies that are not firmly established.

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Connection comments from off the network

“If your barber’s only reading material is Costco Connection, I’d say you’ve done pretty well for yourself.” Tweeted by blkum

“Well, clearly I have ‘made it’ to the big time ... recently quoted in the Costco magazine, in ‘Carrot or Stick’ [Canada March/April] ... Tweeted by stephanestaples

“Pretty interesting article about @Starbucks in the new [April] Costco Connection magazine.” Tweeted by TheSocial Trip

“Do you think it’s far fetched that Costco would jump into the wedding business? I am not that surprised— when it comes to throwing a big party I know that Costco is on my list to shop at.” Blogged at bridalgownblog