Definitions by Alan Jimenez
Starbucks
A coffee house company known for being the only thing in the world you can say is in every corner without exaggeration.
Starbucks stores are everywhere from the street right accross Starbucks, to a section inside China's holy Forbidden City.
Sure, this might be hilariously annoying, but hey, it's good coffee.
And at the same time, a not-so-bad corporation.
Granted, it used to be a bad corporation a decade ago, worthy of having had its windows smashed during the WTO protests in Seattle, and the ridiculous number of Starbucks-per-acre are a clear remnant of its scare tactics in which some of these coffee houses ran on deficit just so that small local coffee houses were forced to close down.
But this is a thing of the past, and, especially compared to any other corporation, Starbucks has had a change of heart.
Currently, their coffee is delicious, and supports Fair Trade. Maybe only 6% of its coffee comes from Fair Trade from small independent coffee-growing cooperatives, but that six percent is still half of the entire coffee fair trade in America. They pay their employers decently, and while its attempts at promoting a Bohemian-like culture and attitude with its jazzy music and overall ambient is at best mediocre, it's still more culture than the average American bothers to get involved in.
There is one bad thing with Starbucks though: most of its customers. Starbucks sells good coffee, but so do many other local coffee shops. It is only reasonable to buy the best tasting coffee, yet a big number of Starbucks customers go to Starbucks because it's Starbucks! Remember, flavor is very important, but so is buying local.
Starbucks stores are everywhere from the street right accross Starbucks, to a section inside China's holy Forbidden City.
Sure, this might be hilariously annoying, but hey, it's good coffee.
And at the same time, a not-so-bad corporation.
Granted, it used to be a bad corporation a decade ago, worthy of having had its windows smashed during the WTO protests in Seattle, and the ridiculous number of Starbucks-per-acre are a clear remnant of its scare tactics in which some of these coffee houses ran on deficit just so that small local coffee houses were forced to close down.
But this is a thing of the past, and, especially compared to any other corporation, Starbucks has had a change of heart.
Currently, their coffee is delicious, and supports Fair Trade. Maybe only 6% of its coffee comes from Fair Trade from small independent coffee-growing cooperatives, but that six percent is still half of the entire coffee fair trade in America. They pay their employers decently, and while its attempts at promoting a Bohemian-like culture and attitude with its jazzy music and overall ambient is at best mediocre, it's still more culture than the average American bothers to get involved in.
There is one bad thing with Starbucks though: most of its customers. Starbucks sells good coffee, but so do many other local coffee shops. It is only reasonable to buy the best tasting coffee, yet a big number of Starbucks customers go to Starbucks because it's Starbucks! Remember, flavor is very important, but so is buying local.
Trendy kid - Let's get a vente mocha at Starbucks.
Kid that thinks - Q8 makes a better mocha than Starbucks.
Trendy kid - But what social status does Q8 have?
Wannabe rebel kid - Man I hate Starbucks! It's a fucking corporation!
Kid that thinks - I hate greedy corporations as much as the next guy, but you do know Starbucks is very into Fair Trade and even closed all its stores for one day at the expense of millions of dollars just so that they could teach their employers better how to make a good cup of coffee?
Wannabe rebel kid - I did not know that...
*and both become the wiser thereafter*
Kid that thinks - Q8 makes a better mocha than Starbucks.
Trendy kid - But what social status does Q8 have?
Wannabe rebel kid - Man I hate Starbucks! It's a fucking corporation!
Kid that thinks - I hate greedy corporations as much as the next guy, but you do know Starbucks is very into Fair Trade and even closed all its stores for one day at the expense of millions of dollars just so that they could teach their employers better how to make a good cup of coffee?
Wannabe rebel kid - I did not know that...
*and both become the wiser thereafter*
Starbucks by Alan Jimenez March 9, 2008