As I sit at the high table of the High Street Starbucks across from the Covered market, I am once again astounded by the success that the Seattle firm has witnessed. Yes, I realize that this is an American establishment, yes I realize that in the effort to immerse myself in my new culture, I should branch out and taste local elements, yes I passed no fewer than 8 local coffee shops (including our dear neighbors, Café Crème, the Rose, and Grande Café) to reach this particular Starbucks, and yes, I am aware that gong to Starbucks seems like Americanization rather than globalization.
So let’s discuss: Of the 8 cafes that were in between here and the Stanford House, 4 are sit-down, restaurant style, where they are sure to frown upon pulling out a laptop and books, 3 have just a handful of tables, obviously to encourage ordering and “shoving on”, and 1 is just not my cup of tea.
A café should be a 3rd home, with seating, and a nice environment, where you feel comfortable to open your books, or simply sit and sip.
But, if you actually think about what Starbucks has done, they are the epitome of globalization. I sit exactly 2 blocks from the location that claims to be the home of the first coffee shop in England circa 1650…. Starbucks has merged a very European concept, tea and coffee, and Americanized it, created a new menu, and then returned the concept to the home of the concept. Does it get more revolutionary than that? ah, but we are the colonies, and we do like revolution from time to time.
It’s all about the grand, the grandness, and the grande.
Big thoughts, big ideas, big times.
The tea is brewing,
ej
P.S. Although, for the record, I was shocked when asked if I wanted small, medium or large Earl Grey tea. Grande, people, It’s all about the grande.
Starbucks
High Street
April 24
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