Starbucks...
As a defender of the old style cafes of buenos aires, the other day I decided to go to Starbucks´s to taste their products, but I couldn't : about 60 people were standing in line waiting outside in the cold to buy their coffee. It made me wanna cry.
Almost everybody in the line were teenagers wearing expensive clothes but with an extreme lack of taste/personality/style and sad couples in their 20´s but who already act like their 50 yo parents. People who would normally go to eat at Mc Donald's, Burger king or Aroma- for a romantic dinner-.
I was really shocked by this sight. Why is it so cool to go to Starbucks? Why were they whiling to wait for an hour to but an expensive-but-not-so-good coffee? Since when teenagers from BA enjoy coffee?
So my advice is: if you are missing Starbucks, you better buy a plane ticket, flight back to your country and have it there; you´ll be saving a lot of time an effort.
41 comments:
Por que todos queremos hacer Americanos!
queremos hacer americanos? Yo siria en todo caso que queremos ser americanos. Vos que sos?
I can understand your sadness and disappointment.
The day that the traditional "cafe de la esquina" is almost extinct they will realize their mistake.
And I agree, starbucks coffe is the worst, tastes burnt and it's another form of fast food.
I hope people in Argentina realizes this before it's too late.
qué tristeza!...
'Starbucks closing 600 stores in the US' Tuesday July 1, 6:57 pm ET
Once again Diva's blog exerts it's global power for good.
Estela, I hope that day never happens!!!
Ire, viste, un horror
Anonymous, wow! that´s surprising, maybe you should open an argentinian "cafe de la esquina". Thanks for your comments
dunkin donuts is the best....;)
WEll, they left the country in 2001, but maybe they´ll come back
Actually Starbucks is struggling over here and has been for a while. Now all of us Yankies (or pretend ones like me)haven't got any money the expensive coffee drinks have gone the same way as the large SUVs.
So once again, you're at the front of a trend. Going to Starbucks isn't trendy anymore.
Mind you, I still can't see Americans drinking out of one of those little pots with a metal straw that you tried to get me to do...
I´m glad to hear that it´s becoming a trend.
Hey, who are you? I´ve tried to make yankies drink mate several times but a pretended yakee?mmmmm help me!
If you don't like Starbucks, fine. Don't go. I'm sure the owners won't cry for that... But could you please stop bitching about it? Because it will take you nowhere believe me... No matter how much you hate starbucks, at the end of the day it will still be here. Besides, we don't need you to tell us what is good and what is bad. Keep in mind that everyone has their own preferences and nobody has a monopoly on 'good taste'. So, instead of being so judgemental about Starbucks and those who like it, why not start by looking at yourself? Your self-righteousness is making you look bad you know...
Dear Anonymous, July 2, 8:00 pm,
You're very funny. Isn't a blog where people talk about their preferences? and isn't the bitch tours blog the blog where people bitch? and do you really think Diva doesn't know that everyone has different preferences? That was a very condescending comment. It's not as though someone forced you to come here and read. While Diva takes your advice and starts looking inward at herself, maybe you should start looking somewhere else for your reading pleasure.All
All4Bitching!
Yes, people here talk about their preferences... And that's ok really. However, I think insulting others just because their preferences differ from yours is condescending in itself... And rationalizing that behavior is even worse... This is why I believe that instead of telling me to go read somewhere else, you should do some inward looking as well.
Saludos ;-)
Hmmm, I think I see a problem in posting comment as anonymous on this blog. Other anonymous' (what is the plural?) come on and start sounding off on behalf of the Starbucks Corporation. Freedom of speech is restricted on caffiene based drinks?
Actually the concept that Starbucks is always going to be here might not be right.
1. The stock is about 40% of its level 2 years ago
2. They've managed to p*** off their old customers by introducing new less strong coffee (it's called Pike's Peak) which has driven a lot of business away
3. They now have competition from a lot of other brands like McDonalds who realized that if people were dumb enough to pay $4 for a coffee they wanted a piece of the action
I don't think anyone else on here has a problem with Diva going on about whether she likes Starbucks or not. We don't even mind when she starts sounding off about Yankees. We probably do mind when she doesn't post stuff because then ourlife is missing something.
Mind you - if she ever starts picking on the British, that'll be different!
(the pretended yankee)
I want to see her pick on the British.
anonymous,
I'm the one who wrote the 'anonymous' posts. Maybe if I put a name on my posts you'll understand them better...
"Other anonymous' (what is the plural?) come on and start sounding off on behalf of the Starbucks Corporation. Freedom of speech is restricted on caffiene based drinks?"
If you read my posts carefully, you would realize I never actually said anything on behalf of the Starbucks Corporation. I did, however, say something in defense of the people who go there. I just think it is simply not fair to insult and patronize people because they like something you don't... Is that so difficult to understand???
"Actually the concept that Starbucks is always going to be here might not be right."
"I don't think anyone else on here has a problem with Diva going on about whether she likes Starbucks or not."
Also, I said that it's useless to bitch because, whether she likes it or not, at the end of the day Starbucks will still be here... And I think nobody can deny this. If Starbucks ever goes I'm sure it won't be because Diva insulted them and their customers... It's pure logic really... Why does this make you so uncomfortable?
Saludos ;-)
Actually I'm not uncomfortable, just pondering how we can get this blog posting to the top of the google response to
'starbucks buenos aires'
You could ask Laura of "Moving to and Living in...Argentina" since for some reason she seems to have that top spot.
Now, what about the British?
What about the British? Well for one we have real men's biscuits. Hob Nobs, Custard Creams, Jaffa cakes.
None of that girlie Biscotti stuff.
I just can´t feel manly while asking for a Hob Nob, especially after seeing this; besides, we kicked Custard Cream´s butt with Oreos.
Jaffa Cakes are actually cakes so they are out of the running.
**disclaimer**
I actually enjoy Hob Nobs and given the chance would try a Jaffa Cake; but, I will draw the line on Custard Creams and leave those for the kiddies.
Carlos (yeah, right), whether you like it or not, at the end of the day I will still be here.
Anonymous, you are my favorite british, people, this blog is dedicated to this guy, so treat him with respect please!
hugs
Frank, I have no idea of what those cookies are, please, make some and organize a new tasting!!!!
beso
all4bitching, your writing style is amazing, I give you the Bitch tours price to the most promising writer!!!
Looks like you're right Frank - mind you perhaps I haven't eaten one since 1991...
Cake or biscuit?
Under UK law, no VAT is charged on biscuits and cakes — they are "zero rated". Chocolate covered biscuits, however, are subject to VAT at 17.5%. McVities classed its Jaffa Cakes as cakes, but in 1991, this was challenged by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the case ended up before the courts.[6] This may have been because Jaffa Cakes are about the same size and shape as some types of biscuit. A question that the court asked itself was "what criteria should be used to class something as a cake?"
McVities defended its classification of Jaffa Cakes as cakes. In doing so it produced a giant Jaffa Cake to illustrate that its Jaffa Cakes were simply mini cakes.
McVities argued that a distinction between cakes and biscuits is, inter alia, that biscuits would normally be expected to go soft when stale, whereas cakes would normally be expected to go hard. It was demonstrated to the Tribunal that Jaffa Cakes become hard when stale. Other factors taken into account by the Chairman, Mr Potter QC, included: name, ingredients, texture, size, packaging, marketing, presentation, appeal to children, and manufacturing process. Contrary to a commonly held belief, whether something is considered a 'luxury item' is not a test for VAT purposes.
Mr Potter ruled that the Jaffa Cake is a cake. McVities therefore won the case and VAT is not paid on Jaffa Cakes
¿Qué es la objetividad?
hi mate, this is the canadin pharmacy you asked me about: the link
I hope it's just the novelty because the truth is, Starbucks coffee isn't awful, but it's not great either. Any espresso you get in Italy or Argentina is a hundred times better. The reason Americans love Starbucks so much is because: 1. They get can the same coffee drink prepared in precisely the same way each and every time, no matter what city they're in. 2. Until Starbucks, Americans didn't know shit about specialized coffee drinks. But as I see it, neither of these factors apply to Argentinos. So, don't worry. Starbucks might be a virus, but most of the world is already immune.
Hi Jackson, I hope you are right
best
People don't go to Starbucks for the coffee. Americans starve for social interaction and we are slightly awkward in our socializing efforts. Starbucks creates the forum. The idea of a place where we could bond with other human beings attracts us. It is such a novel idea. (Not that the idea has been successful.)
If all my other relationships have failed at least the barista still smiles at me in the morning when I put my money in her tip jar.
I think Starbucks will fail on an international market...unless modern society succeeds in totally alienating us all.
They still have my undying loyalty.
Hi stultus, thanks for your insightful comment. Welcome to Buenos Aires and to my blog.
cheers
me encanta como en la foto lograste retratar al perfecto prototipo de basura recolense haciendo la fila para comprar su starbucks :
el gordito culon con buzo caro ( que encima saca cola ) y la morna de pelo lacio mas largo que sus piernas.
bravo !
Hola!!! Que tal tanto tiempo. Gracias por tu halago. Me encanto la palabra morna. La voy a insertar en mi chip
un beso
I think Starbucks fate will be the same than this other stores who landed in Buenos Aires: dunkin donuts, Subway, Wendy's, Planet Hollywood, Dish, Tower Records,
wow, I didn´t know that so many US companies came and failed in their attempt to conquer Buenos Aires.
thanks for the info!
best
i'm not into starbucks at all, but i have to say that it saved my life in beijing. but in buenos aires, you'd be better off going to the million cafes around the city. much cheaper, better pastries and no cue. unbeatable.
Dan pena sobre todo cuando lo ves desde fuera del pais ....peor dan verguenza agena ,,,,jamas dejaremos de ser tan tercer mundistas.
ajena!!!! me estoy pareciendo!!!
Hey godines, those are fightin´ words there "better pastries". You don´t think they have the best cookies in all of Argentina?
I am just teasing since I know you like those.
Anyway...
Just one more observation to add to all of these numerous comments. Starbuck´s may have been in trouble in the States and they started scaling back; their international segment has been growing.
Additionally, the Buenos Aires location shot up to the top of their best performing stores outside the United States.
This isn´t an attempt to change anyone´s mind. Just throwing a little data into the fray.
And okay, yes, I disagree with the view that Starbuck´s is going to leave Argentina with its tail between its legs. It is just way too early to take that view. I also don´t see any traditional café´s disappearing because of Starbuck´s.
This is a fight between McCafé, The Coffee Store, Cafe Martinez, Bonafide, Havanna Café, Aroma Café, etc. Notice not one of those is what I would consider a traditional coffee place.
Okay, you can go back to Starbuck´s bashing.
there are a few here in Madrid..they have only good thing going for them in my opinion...they are smoke free! I know of only one or two smoke free cafes in Madrid...but Starbucks unfortunately don´t have coffee rather some muck that in the US they would call coffee
come to Buenos Aires, all the cafes are smoke free!
best
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