My grief with Starbucks gravitates towards its excess—it’s ubiquity. While some may argue that Starbucks presents many employment opportunities, they have defaced the value of independent coffeehouses and more importantly, bullied them out by roughing up competition (as if the independent coffee shop had a chance). I admit that Starbucks has decent coffee and an awesome, very thought-out marketed design scheme. I mean, they have to right? They have over 6,000 stores in the US and they upkeep their store interiors with consistently attractive design, much unlike Wal-Mart and McDonald’s. So kudos to the atmospheric package. So now what seems to make it or break it for me to visit Starbucks as a local is the baristas. In Milpitas I will drive 2 miles away to hang out at a Starbucks for a couple of hours than to cross the street from my parents’ house.
I decided to live on a more practical budget. I mean face it, I am a college student. Do I really need a $3.65 cup of caffeinated beverage to kick-start my day, everyday? Even a buck-fifty is tons more reasonable to spend. Still, the amount they charge does not level out with the quality of their goods. I seriously enjoy my cups of coffee from 7-11 and several gas stations than I do with Starbucks. I find myself paying $1.50 for a simple cup of coffee to pay my dues for loitering for hours at Starbucks. Essentially I am paying for the experience. $3.65 for a “grande” iced white mocha is not worth its price, especially when I’m just in and out—maybe if I chilled there for 5 hours.