Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Bowing Down at the Starbucks Shrine

Starbucks-bashing seems to be the trend nowadays, but I can't join in. I love their lattes, their baked goods, the friendly service and even the canned jazz. Sure, if there's an independent coffee shop nearby that offers good service, quality and ambiance, I'll go there and support the little guy instead of The Man. But sometimes I'm in an area where I'm unfamiliar with the businesses, and if there is no friendly local to point me in the right direction, coming across a Starbucks is like finding that lighthouse after you've been thrashing around at sea for a while.

Still, there is such a thing as too much. Near my house are three Starbucks, in addition to two Spotted Cows (a wonderful locally owned coffee shop and ice creamery that makes homemade ice cream to die for) and countless drive-through espresso stands. I would support all of them but my body can only ingest so much caffeine before my eyeballs pop out. The amazing thing is that, despite so much competition, all of these places stay pretty busy.

I think of these places whenever I hear my guy Lewis Black spout his tirade against having so many Starbucks in the world. Every time I listen to it I find myself laughing while nodding in agreement. Let me know what YOU think.


1 comment:

Mokihana said...

That's pretty dang funny. Personally, I don't like Starbucks. Hawaiian Beanz in Damascus has spoiled me. Even though I ask for extra hot at Starbucks, it never is. They simply don't make my lattes the way I like. I don't like the "burned" taste of their coffee. Even if I tell them, I want it 170 degrees, it comes out lukewarm. I was forced to go to Starbucks when I last went to the beach (no other coffee shops around). They had no sugar-free raspberry for my mocha. Barely warm. Yuk!

Gimme Hawaiian Beanz anyday. There's a Starbucks in the Safeway across the street, but it will never be competition for my coffee bucks.