Starbucks Closed? Dunkin' Donuts to the Rescue!

If you thought Blackberry outages were bad, get a load of this: All 7,100 Starbucks will be closed from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time today for a nationwide barista education event.

Yes, barista education event. Starbucks is referring to the training session as a "comprehensive educational curriculum" designed to "renew espresso standards," which sounds like it could be some kind of arcane Ph.D. program.

But I'm pretty sure is a fancy way of saying they will be instructing their 135,000 employees on how to chat you up with appropriate vigor and make sure they don't serve you a macchiato when you ordered a mocha.

Tonight's training session is all part of the grand plan that Howard Schulz has gradually been unrolling in the weeks since he retook the helm at Starbucks, aimed at earning back its erstwhile premium, "experience-based" brand positioning.

Starbucks better hope that tonight's event accomplishes employees "perfecting the art of espresso" in a big way. The Seattle-based chain hasn't said how much the 3.5-hour closure will cost in terms of revenue, but the opposition has no intention of missing its chance to grab the run-off.

"On Tuesday, February 26, Dunkin' Donuts wants to ensure that no coffee lover is denied a delicious espresso-based beverage," begins a not-so-subtle Dunkin' Donuts press release announcing a promotion scheduled to coincide with the Starbucks closures.

From 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. today, Dunkin' Donuts stores — there are more than 5,700 of them — will be serving small espresso-based drinks for 99 cents (prices vary by location, but that's about half price).

As they say, all's fair in love and coffee wars.

by Liz Gunnison