July 5, 2007

2:37 PM

Starbucks and You. 44,000,000 people go to Starbucks each week. I go every day. Why do we go? Why do we pay the premium? Bryant Simon, the historian quoted in the piece on Dunkin' Donuts that Mayor Curley's posted earlier today, offers compelling insights at the Taste3 Conference.
posted by jeremy b (18 comments total)

I don't know which "we" you're talking about, but I can tell you now that "we" don't.
posted by Jimbob at 2:41 PM on July 5, 2007

Why do we go?

Two reasons:

Because "we" don't know what good coffee tastes like, and

because it caters to "our" ridiculous obsession defining ourselves with meaningless disposable consumer products ("i'll have a double tall, half-caf non whip moccachino, please")

posted by psmealey at 2:45 PM on July 5, 2007

Or because we need to use the bathroom.
posted by jeremy b at 2:47 PM on July 5, 2007

My mother is a teacher and her students often give her giftcards from Starbucks. She doesn't drink coffee. That's why I go.
posted by Shakeer at 2:48 PM on July 5, 2007

God, not this again. How long before someone refers to charbuck$?
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:48 PM on July 5, 2007

Professor Bryant Simon overthinking a cup of coffee.
posted by ericb at 2:51 PM on July 5, 2007

Some interesting points. (still watching). For one: "self gift." Totally true. It's a "cheap" self gift.
posted by yeti at 2:52 PM on July 5, 2007

Or because we need to use the bathroom.

I had the most marvelous shit in a London Starbucks. My sources tell me that you can still smell it from Tottenham Court Rd. to Holborn on a hot day nearly two years later.
posted by Mayor Curley at 2:54 PM on July 5, 2007

Simon: "What we drink has meaning. It says something about who we are. And that in many ways consumption is kind of a democratic form. I don't want to push this too far, but we make choices with the money we have and those choices tell us something about who we are."

You are what you drink! You are what you buy! Woo-hoo!
posted by ericb at 2:56 PM on July 5, 2007

sorry, but that video's 18 more minutes than i've ever SPENT in a starbucks
posted by pyramid termite at 2:58 PM on July 5, 2007

"Because "we" don't know what good coffee tastes like"

Oh brother, not that silly arguement again.

I go to Starbucks because our "indie" coffee shops all suck. The stuff I get at Starbucks is better than the free swill we have in the office, and at the very least, it's consistent no matter what location I go to. I can go into our hipster coffee joints and see that they're basically using whatever bulk ingredients they get from Costco, and no matter what I order it won't taste the same as it did the last time I ordered it. And it'll cost the same as a mocha from Starbucks.

Why Starbucks? It's really not any more expensive, it's consistent, and I think it tastes just fine.

(Yes, I've been to europe and have had the coffee that we're all supposed to be holding our standards to. Meh.)
posted by drstein at 2:59 PM on July 5, 2007

Is there a transcript floating around in the tubes somewhere? The best I could find was a summary; "Starbucks has tapped into people's desire to be with other people. It's become a new public space where people can go to be with other people. That's the genius of the place. That's why I resist the demonization of Starbucks. Who else is building these community spaces in America today?"

I drink Starbucks everyday because I like my afternoon walk and Starbucks is the best coffee within walking distance from my office. That said, the only competition they have is Taco Bell and a gas station.

If I want to be in a public space where there are other people I go to a café. A real café, with food, beer, wine, music, colorful local characters, and good coffee.
posted by lekvar at 3:00 PM on July 5, 2007

I don't want to push this too far, but we make choices with the money we have and those choices tell us something about who we are.

Yeah -- there's a lot to learn about those who camped-out for two-days in line to buy an iPhone last week only to later learn that many Apple and AT&T stores still had/have inventory in stock this past weekend and this week.
posted by ericb at 3:00 PM on July 5, 2007

You are what you buy! Woo-hoo!

I'm 6'-4". If I really was a bag of killer, I'd be worth more than I am.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 3:01 PM on July 5, 2007

psmealey: "Because "we" don't know what good coffee tastes like"


Amen to that, brother! I wish the plebeians would learn that true and genuine Caffè is only that which has been picked from Ethiopian Coffea Arabica plants by Ethiopian Virgins, roasted by holy Waka Shamans and prepared by a true Italian Barista Master.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 3:02 PM on July 5, 2007

White Chocolate Frappuccino® blended crème - whip = 610 calories.

You aren't drinking coffee to begin with.
posted by Muddler at 3:03 PM on July 5, 2007

As a former service and food industry employee, I'm always keeping my eye on the customers around me when I head out to buy a drink or a meal - and I've concluded I wouldn't make it a day putting up with Starbucks customers. Shut the fuck up about your stupid fucking latte foam already!

I think my favorite thing about ordering a Starbucks coffee is asking for a "large." I refuse to use Baristaspeak, cuz I swear saying "venti" to ask for the Big Cup is an extra-special form of pompous.
posted by EatTheWeek at 3:04 PM on July 5, 2007

Please enjoy your coffee and every now and then try espresso, just for a good change (at less then $1 a coffee it's a good deal, too)
posted by elpapacito at 3:05 PM on July 5, 2007