Coffee Thoughts
Last weekend the CEO of Starbucks was on 60 Minutes. Correspondent Leslie Stall asked about the anti-Starbucks protesters we see on TV from time to time, who seem to be upset that Starbucks is putting local mom & pop coffee purveyors out of business.
I think these protesters should find a better target for their anger, such as getting us out of Iraq. Starbucks doesn;t have the ability to destroy any business that sells coffee drinks that are actually worth the $2-4 it charges for them.
You want proof? There are lots of coffee places in the greater Seattle area that are not Starbucks, and almost all of them serve great coffee and espresso drinks. They have to in this market. I like the idea of having a variety of coffee outlets, so when I'm in Seattle, I seldom go to Starbucks, except when people give me Starbucks cards.
But when I travel outside the Seattle area, getting a good espresso drink can be a crap shoot. Even in places that you'd think would be great espresso towns like Vancouver, BC or San Francisco, you might get stuck with bitter latte made with over-extracted beans and over-heated milk. Sure there are great coffee places outside of Seattle. The Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company in Los Gatos California comes to mind. Their lattes are better than Starbucks, and they always have a huge line. But if you're traveling in Canada, don't be fooled by the tasteful decor and comfy sofas at Blenz. I've been to a few of these during my visits to BC, and the worst latte I ever got in Seattle was much better than the swill they serve at Blenz.
Because Starbucks tries to have a consistent product throughout the chain, you'll get a predictably good drink from them where ever you are. You have to give them credit for that. If those protesters are worried about their local espresso hangouts, all they need to do is insist that they make better coffee.
I think these protesters should find a better target for their anger, such as getting us out of Iraq. Starbucks doesn;t have the ability to destroy any business that sells coffee drinks that are actually worth the $2-4 it charges for them.
You want proof? There are lots of coffee places in the greater Seattle area that are not Starbucks, and almost all of them serve great coffee and espresso drinks. They have to in this market. I like the idea of having a variety of coffee outlets, so when I'm in Seattle, I seldom go to Starbucks, except when people give me Starbucks cards.
But when I travel outside the Seattle area, getting a good espresso drink can be a crap shoot. Even in places that you'd think would be great espresso towns like Vancouver, BC or San Francisco, you might get stuck with bitter latte made with over-extracted beans and over-heated milk. Sure there are great coffee places outside of Seattle. The Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company in Los Gatos California comes to mind. Their lattes are better than Starbucks, and they always have a huge line. But if you're traveling in Canada, don't be fooled by the tasteful decor and comfy sofas at Blenz. I've been to a few of these during my visits to BC, and the worst latte I ever got in Seattle was much better than the swill they serve at Blenz.
Because Starbucks tries to have a consistent product throughout the chain, you'll get a predictably good drink from them where ever you are. You have to give them credit for that. If those protesters are worried about their local espresso hangouts, all they need to do is insist that they make better coffee.
posted by Dancar | 7:53 AM
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