I hate Starbucks
Not only because it's a coporate chain that represents the homogenization of American culture
Not only because its "third place" is really a prefabricated box with ergonomic chairs and a "gourmet panini"
Not only because the unique electric musical taste of the staff has been replaced by the quirky jazz selections that are available on a Starbucks CD if you want to listen at home (whoopdeedoo)
Not only because all they care about is the bottom line of efficiency and profit, and art and culture matter only as long as they boost business.
But because Starbucks has spun off a whirlwind of coffee house chain stores that are all generic, plastic and manufactured.
What I hate is that Starbucks have stolen a phenomenon of coffee house culture of nonconformity, rebellion, and creativity where every cafe was different and independent
What I hate is that stupid automatic cappuccino machine that resides on the counter of the Queen Street Starbucks because sometimes it just gets too busy to handle. Well deal with it! Coffee is an art to be apreciated with. Stop screwing with art goddamit!
Funny enough I stumbled across this website ihatestarbucks.com - While I do find this site quite petty it was interesting to read the negative reactions towards Starbucks and then relise that the site failed to allow for a non biased enviroment for such a reaction. Ah what was I expecting? - an ideal world where we can all agree to disagree. Some people just want to complain. Perhaps that's what I'm doing now. So go ahead and tell me that Starbucks is the best cafe in the world. Just don't take me there.
On a much lighter note. I think perhaps I can come to the conclusion that I'm not quite a connoisseur of coffee but rather an obsessive compulsive when it comes to the "love" that's put behind each pouring of one's cappuccino, flat white, latte etc.
And on that note the best coffee in New Zealand I have found so far can only be found in Brazil on K'rd in Auckland which is supplied by Havanas in Wellington (top end of Cuba). And of course you won't beat the love at Cezanne's Tuesday nights 5:30 -10:30
Try it. It's worth it. Beats Starbucks anyday.
7 Comments:
At 3:27 PM, Tee said…
babe! agree with you totally. can't wait to get home and have a decent coffee (made with love) from my favourite Fidels on Cuba...ahhhhh
1 key learning point from traineeship: asia doesn't do coffee! (vietnamese is ok tho cos it's so fun and I'll give them fantastic teas)
in china with bex atm, yesterday we went to a place called milo coffee...it's logo is funnily enough very similar to starbucks...and the coffee not much better
cuba is calling....
(hmm hey how bout you come down and experience cafe culture welly style when you get on the MC in 2006?!)
PS passing back thru akld for the day on tues 29th june!
At 8:33 AM, Yat Wan said…
Note to self: Have to go to Cezanne one Tuesday night to see what "extra service" you can receive with coffee. ;)
Investigation: whether the smiley waitress will get the order wrong ;)
At 11:52 PM, Camryn said…
I'm a horrific coffee monster... I only like it with chocolate in it. That's my Postsecret to Yingy's blog.
I drink tea mostly anyway... or water.
At 9:55 PM, Peter Ikeda said…
You have so eloquently articulated the reason why I pee on the toilet seat and defecate on the floor whenever I find myself in a starbucks bathroom. Thank you
At 12:33 AM, Skylar Durden said…
I thought that some of you might be interested in my new website. :) Please sign my guestbook and voice you opinion on Starfuckz!
Skylar,
creator of www.starfuckz.com
At 10:40 AM, Anonymous said…
I hate Starbucks
At 8:25 PM, Anonymous said…
HATE is a very harsh and strong word, for a girl with a PINK blog, don't you think?
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