Starbucks, More Than Coffee

McDonalds, More Than Fries<p>Duh. This is what the franchising is all about - providing consistent branded experience across all outlets. And, yes, one of the prime benefits is that it provides a sense of familiarity regardless of location.<p>(edit) Another take on the title though - Starbucks main problem is that it <i>does</i> in fact try to be more than coffee. I really wish they weren't publicly traded and didn't have the pressure of growing revenues. I was a loyal customer for several years (2 visits per workday, $10 a pop), but then they started venturing in movie promotion (remember the "Spelling bee" bullshit printed all over the cups?), then they decided that Copehangen danishes were less preferable than overpriced ready-made paninis, after that - low-cal mystery-ingredient polymer-based sweets took over a quarter of the pastry space. Then, finally, they dropped Coffee from the name in preparation for being much more than coffee, i.e. booze. It went downhill so rapidly that it was painful to see. It used to be a nice place with an ugly logotype to visit, but now it's just the logotype.

I once lamented the Starbuckization of the world.<p>But then one day wandering around an unfamiliar area in a city in China, desperately needing to go to the bathroom, I could only find bathrooms that were (a) locked; or (b) without toilet paper. Things were about to get really embarrassing, in a foreign city, far from where I was staying.<p>Then, I spotted a Starbucks. It had a clean, unlocked, well-stocked bathroom I could use even before a purchase. It was like an oasis in the desert.<p>Starbucks earned a <i></i>*-ton of brand loyalty from me that day.

"There’s nothing worse than being in a foreign city with a dead phone. It’s almost terrifying at times."<p>OK kid, it wasn't that bad, believe it or not we survived pretty well. Travel used to be an adventure. Part of the adventure was being scared, at least a little bit, sometimes. Kind of an extreme sport.<p>I am old enough to have traveled quite a bit before and after cellphones and have noticed that the magic talisman of a smart phone makes travel dramatically more boring for me. I also spend a lot less time planning, I'll just figure it out onsite with my phone. I miss the daydreaming/planning phase.<p>Phone reliance while traveling has effects far beyond just using the GPS to figure out where you are.<p>I would theorize the lack of fear due to having phones results in the hard core travelers taking even crazier adventures, and a lot of non-hard core travelers doing more travel because the "scary" drops below their personal threshold for "scary".<p>The author's story was really about his magical phone.

This is an embodiment of the American tourist stereotype to an extent that makes it funny — despite, or maybe because of being a very polite attempt to rationalize it.<p>Why leave your country when wherever you go, the first step is to look for it again?<p>There are local coffee shops in every country. In most cases they have a great atmosphere, most of them have wi-fi, most of them will let you charge your phone. All of them have… yes, coffee, often served in local ways — an opportunity to learn something about the culture. They will understand your order, no need to worry about your foreign language skills. Most countries have Starbucks-style coffee shops too these days, blended with a dash of local style.<p>If you go abroad and go to Starbucks, are you any different to those dreadful low-life tourists spending their holidays abroad in their respective country pubs, drinking their home beer like they never left for holidays in the first place?<p>Last time I was abroad and went to Starbucks dragged in by friends I felt like a loser. In part I guess, for having uninspiring friends. It could also be because I overpaid roughly by 250-300%, compared with prices in those lovely local cafes in the area.<p>I appreciate the warm tone of your article, clearly it's coming from a good place. But if you're in a coffee country like Italy and get your coffee at Starbucks, you're dead to me! ;)<p>Apologies for my patronising tone, it was meant to be somewhat warm too…

This could be said for McDonalds, Coke, or any other brand you personally prefer, or are looking for. The most fun, i've found, are youtube videos showing americans living abroad and finding american food in the ethnic food sections [0][1].<p>[0] <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywCX6znxUWQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywCX6znxUWQ</a><p>[1] <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmmZ6q8vjeU" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmmZ6q8vjeU</a>

This is an interesting point of view, and almost exactly the opposite of mine.<p>I also travel a lot and I love it. I travel in order to experience new cultures, people, food and drink. The last thing I want to see when I have traveled half way across the world is something that I see on my own freaking street.<p>The smallest and most remote places in the world seem to have widely available wireless internet access in lots of coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and bus terminals. I'd much rather support the local, little guys when travelling. It's usually cheaper, tastier and you meet many more amazing people inside. You're right in saying that Starbucks is consistent, but for me half the fun of travelling is playing menu roulette and seeing what you end up with.<p>I do understand the occasional need for a "taste of home", a haven of comfort if you will (In my case, hunting for a full English breakfast after days of eating fish and rice). I guess the line between "a recognizable, familiar, and reliable brand" and "overarching corporate crusher of culture" seems a little blurred to me.

This was an interesting read. For a person who's always lived in a city with no or only one or two Starbucks, it's a completely different experience.<p>The first time I visited in Starbucks was when I visited Berkeley last spring. I have to say I care about my coffee a lot, I like to do my own cappuccinos and espresso shots and I love cafeterias where they have excellent coffee and good baristas. Starbucks was such a disappointment. If I pay so much for my coffee I expect to get the best out of it. Sadly I can do better myself, so I don't think I'll visit Starbucks any more.

Pity they make such awful coffee.

I'm far from a diehard patriot but one thing I truly love about 'this american life' is the café sitting culture. On the daily I downright camp out at the many and diverse local cafés in Richmond, VA. As far as I can tell from my travel experience in a number of European countries, the long staying café visits I, and many of my peers enjoy, is somewhat unique to American culture. In some senses I think the 'Starbucks Experience' the OP is after is really the license to safely linger for extended lengths beyond what you'd feel comfortable doing in any other local, non-chain joint.<p>And for what it's worth, you won't catch me in a Starbucks.

If Internet access and a power outlet are what you need, pretty much any café or restaurant in any developed or developing country can take care of your needs these days.

Nothing wrong with this of course, but your life experiences might be richer if you also checked out some local coffee shops once in a while, in the USA as well as overseas.<p>Bonus: many of them have free wifi without requiring those annoying t&#38;cs....

so i dont get it - a 3 paragraph long self-posted article about how the OP likes starbucks cause he likes to charge his battery there is on the front page?!

More than coffee; tax evasion too!