And yet every Starbucks I went to in Seattle, Tacoma and elsewhere was always packed, with seats often hard to find. I lived there for 10 years so it wasn't just a fluke. And it's not garbage. Perhaps not high-end, but hardly percolated swill in a Greek-style paper cup from the deli.
there are many, many small , independent coffee shops in Tel Aviv and they’re cheaper and have more personality than Starbucks.that’s part of the reason. Israeli coffee shops have more character than a sterile cookie- cutter chain.
Both are correct. They also ruined the coffee overall! Also, when it comes to starbucks, in Arab countries they're mainly in tourist areas, and for some reason the tourists go there, in Israel the tourists go to the local coffee shop.
I could personally care less if the entire corporation of Starbucks disappeared. Way overpriced. Over hyped. Rude baristas, or whatever they call themselves. I haven't set foot inside a Starbucks in years.
In 2019, I was at Bellevue, WA hotel. They had a Starbucks in the lobby. I do not care for Starbucks coffee as it always is bitter to me. I ordered some just as it was convenient. It was delicious. Went the next few days and it was great. Came back home. Bitter as usual.
Hmm, the Israeli coffee culture is pretty much the same as most of Europe. It is America that has a fixation on putting a ton of cream, sugar and goofy flavors in low grade water downed coffee
Starbucks drip coffee is pretty strong and you don't have to put anything in it if you don't want to. I do agree though that their specialty drinks, which is where they make most of their profits, have gotten way out of hand. I almost never get those, just a drip or espresso machiato. And, if Israeli coffee culture is pretty much the same as most of Europe, why has Starbucks succeeded there but not in Israel? Surely there are differences. One thing that is different about Israeli coffee culture from Europe is that Israelis drink Turkish coffee, which is relatively rare in Europe outside of Arab and Muslim enclaves, and, paradoxically, instant coffee, which is barely coffee, is still very popular in Israel. So, the strongest and the weakest coffees are popular in Israel, while Europeans prefer something in-between.
Before Starbucks became a big chain they were drinking bad, sometimes stale, brewed coffee. It was so bad they'd have jokes about the bad coffee in TV shows. It was always about the quantity more than the quality which is probably why Starbucks still had to do big cups of coffee (that is mostly milk with a double shot of espresso). Americans are also used to drinking a lot of milk (way more than other countries) so now it's just warm milk with espresso in it and some sweetener like vanilla or caramel.
@@Ishai1 You're vastly distorting the reality of the matter. There was certain good and even great coffee available in the US well before Starbucks came along--which was the early 70's btw. But yeah, typical coffee back then was mediocre. Anyway, the espresso-based coffee you can get at Starbucks is European-style, steamed milk with as many shots of espresso as you order, otherwise known as a latte. Pretty standard stuff. In Israel it's know as "Kafe Hafuch", or upside-down coffee. No one orders or serves warm milk in these drinks unless the customer asks for it, but otherwise it's always scalding hot. Add-ons like flavored syrups, drizzled chocolate or caramel, etc., are custom, and don't come with standard coffee. This is the case in basically all cafes in the US and not just Starbucks. One can dispute the quality but not how it's made, which is standard. The real difference between coffee in the US and Europe and Israel is that Americans like drip coffee, which is not common in the latter. And yeah, many of us like to put sugar and milk or creamer in it. That's basically what Europeans and Israelis do, unless they order a straight espressor. It's not that unusual although in the US creamer is popular but not elsewhere, where even whole milk is an uncommon add-on.
Starbucks coffee tastes like dishwater and we here in Israel like Italian espresso coffee which is strong, flavourful and aromatic. When Starbucks opened its first store on the top floor of the Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv the queues stretched all around the 1st floor and I waited for over an hour to try a cup - my disappointment was great - it cost 3 times the price of coffee elsewhere and was weaker than water! I next tried their coffee again 6 months later at their Allenby street Tel Aviv branch and once again was disappointed. I never went back again to Starbucks in Israel. Once when on holiday in England I tried Starbucks and met with the same disappointment and ever since then when traveling abroad I stick to cafes that serve Italian brands of coffee
@@GregMoress Lavazza & Segafredo Zanetti espresso are standard throughout Israel, even MacDonalds in Israel uses Lavazza or Segafredo Zanetti (depending on who owns the franchise in a particular area)
Good for Israelis! I'm so disappointed in Starbucks, which has taken out all comfortable seating and really discourages people lingering over coffee. I understand the change in business model, but it does not make me want to go there.
Honestly, Israel is better off without Starbucks, the coffee is awful! Just found your channel, really enjoy your informal, smiley, educated and positive analysis of Israel and Israeli life. Now subscribed. Thank you.
They have a homegrown coffee chain called Aroma. There are some in Canada as well. When you've had a coffee there, why on Earth would you go back to Starbucks?
Wholeheartedly agree. Have been to a couple Aroma Cafes when I visited Israel. Quality of coffee and atmosphere far superior, not even comparable really. On the rare occasion someone asks me to SBs in US to meet up (and I wasn’t able to convince them to meet somewhere else), I bring my own ceramic cup and give the barista explicit instructions.
I just opened Wikipedia about this, in 2001 starbucks israel opened in six locations on tel aviv that partnered with delek(israeli company mostly known for petroleum), in 2003 they closed the stores in israel due to business reasons
I lived in Israel in 1999-2001. My first day driving to work I stopped at a cafe and asked for coffee. It was a chore to get it to go. It was also Turkish style, grounds in the bottom and all. Very good!
I just wanted to elaborate that in addition to the points that were brought up in the video, Starbucks typically does not accommodate two additional coffee preparation methods that some Israelis prefer: 1) In Finjan, Jezve coffee is also referred to as Turkish coffee. 2) An instant Nescafe locally produced by Strauss-Elite that is popular mostly among senior citizens. Starbucks has not been able to establish itself in the coffee sector in Israel alone. Typically, Starbucks usually has difficulties in foreign markets if it is compelled to adjust to local tastes rather than relying on them to embrace its products as they are.
Israel total population 7 million or so. Doesn't make sense. My city alone has 10 million or so. As the presenter described, Israeli preferences are for espresso further reduces the customer base.
@@agnelomascarenhas8990 Israel is closer to 10 million. I live in the country and see what's on the store shelves and am familiar with the different segments and preferences and how they relate to coffee. While it is true that there is a strong preference towards expresso, but also towards Nescafe and Jezve\Ibrik style coffee. In any case, both are also not part of the Starbucks menu.
Interesting talk. We go to Seville twice a year from England to see our granddaughter, and family. I could be wrong, but I’ve only come across one Starbucks, near to the Cathedral. In Seville, they have a small bar, tapas culture, selling espresso coffee. These places are found everywhere in huge numbers. In our home town, we go to Caffè Nero. We like it there, not Starbucks.
Shalom! Yes I noticed no coffee maker in any appliance store when I was assigned there. What I bought was a moka pot at the basement of Tachana, Bus station, Arcosteel brand. It covered my coffee need for that morning jolt!
There's a couple of other reasons. By the time Starbucks tried to open a franchise in Israel, Aroma was already well established in that market of chain coffee stores, and they offer both an option of a to-go coffee, and a place to sit down and eat decent food in most places. The other reason is that many, many Israelis like Turkish coffee. Especially blue-collar workers but not just them. That kind of coffee is so cheap and easy to make, you'd never buy it in a coffee shop. So it's not something Starbucks could compete with.
I'm no longer fit to travel, but I found the presentation of Israeli cultural differences compared to the US very helpful and interesting. It's clear that Israelis drink a much stronger brew with a sharper bite than is common in the US.
I remember coffee in Israel. we brewed it in a kumkum over the stove in the dorm kitchen. not surprising Starbucks didn't make it with its mass produced brews.
In the UK most people sit in the coffee shop to drink coffee in a real mug too. And Starbucks coffee shops look different to the ones I have seen in California and Las Vegas.
Why would anyone buy Starbucks? The coffee is awful. Starbucks also failed in Australia for the same reason. A few Starbucks outlets have since re-opened, but these are either in tourist areas or areas with a high overseas student population.
STARBUCKS in my town closed thankfully the boycott worked great, Now MCdonalds here is about to go under too. we got list we don't shop at here anymore.
The same reason there are no Starbucks in Australia anymore. They opened in 200 and started closing in 2008. They blamed it on the economic meltdown, but other coffee shops weren't closing. The problem is the product. Australians are used to having the best coffee when they go out! Only the best
Kudos to SB for seeing the coffee culture in the US early on and filling the need... I don't go there very often mostly when I'm traveling and always buy an Americano.
As someone who hangs out at starbucks almost every day and has been going there for about 25 years, Starbucks has horrible coffee 😝 I can't understand why anyone would drink their coffee or get anything at the drive through... the only reason i go there is to work on stuff and hang out with friends; I'm there for the whip cream and the sugar 😋
Maybe similar reasons for why they failed in Sweden, where we also like to take a "fika" and chat over coffee in a cosy spot? They opened something like 17 stores, but now there are only three left... We drink a lot of brewed coffee though, espresso based drinks only became popular in the last decades.
Psalms 52:7 “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
Elite Turkish coffee with cardamom is what I drink because of my mom and her night shifts at Shaare Zedek 🤷♂️ Not a single Starbucks here in Texas carries it 😂
I pray that I will be able to visit Israel before I die. Israel has such an interesting people and culture. They have never forgotten where they came from or their roots which is why they are a strong and successful people. My prayers are for Israel, the IDF, the hostages and of course their families.
I go to Starbucks to buy bags of whole bean coffee (their "Reserve" brand), and then I grind it at home, in the coarsest grind and then I brew it in my cafetière à piston.
Simple answer is that Israel has coffee stands like Cofix. The very best, very inexpensive, coffee in the world. I visited, tried it, and Starbucks CANNOT compete.
The story of Melusina, the Logo of that company is creepy. The fact that Melusina turned into a serpent every Shabbat, was enough for me not to spend my money over there. Shalom
I'm one of those people that went to the first branch of starbucks when it just opened to see what was all the fuss was about and never came back again because starbucks coffee suck, just like everyone else.
Starbucks is mostly espresso based and in the US it was a big change when Peet's and Starbucks came around. Before that they were selling coffee on quantity for both home use and in diners (with free refills). In Israel they already had that all over the place, so there was no point in going to Starbucks instead of your regular coffee shop. When entering markets that already had that coffee culture they were judged on their taste, and well, it's not that great. Most people still get Lattes or Capuchinos at Starbucks (which is also the regular orders in Israel, קפה הפוך). If you look at the prices for espresso machines, the simple ones from DeLonghi or Philips, cost a lot more in the US than they do in Israel. It's still not that popular for at home coffee, which gives chains like Starbucks that big market. People love overpaying for average coffee in the US. Personally I stopped going to Starbucks years ago, bought a machine for home (after I got one for my mom in a visit to Israel and realized it's better) Starbucks isn't the first time this has happened in Israel. Many years ago Wendy's made the move to Israel back when they had Burger Ranch and McDavid. They didn't last long. Israelis like the burgers they had. It took a few more years and the much bigger brand McDonalds to finally get an American chain in Israel and even then they had to adjust their menus to compete in Israel (it was the first country they did that for, until that point it was about bringing the US menu to other countries)
Starbucks failed in Australia for similar reasons, their coffee is not up to local standards. Australia has a take away coffee culture, but it is based on espresso. Starbucks did try to serve espresso based coffees but their beans just tasted bland so they failed.
also more than half of coffee consumers drink turkish/arabic/greek coffee which is all together different than western coffee. it's also purer, less processed and healthier!
In my country Peru. We farm alot of organic coffee. My parents farm coffee & thanks to Starbucks and other chains the price got better. It is alot of work farming coffee so I am glad for the coffee chains. The farmers can get at least some earnings. We don't have time for sitting in coffee shops 😂😂that is for the rich people so I am glad for the countries that can afford.
The same thing happened here in Australia - there was already a strong coffee culture, influenced by an influx of Italian and Greek immigrants after WW2. In fact, a Greek friend lamented the trend towards takeaway coffee a few years back for the same reasons you mention - the social aspect of coffee drinking. Starbucks has reentered the market here, but (from what I have been told) is concentrating more on places where tourists from the US tend to gather.
Here is the funny part. Starbucks was founded and is owned by a Jew. The same for Dunkin Donuts. Bill Rosenberg started the first Dunkin Donuts in Quincy Ma.
Someone told me Israel doesn’t have Starbucks because they operate in Lebanon so Israelis were boycotting it. Idk if that’s true (Starbucks first opened in Beirut in 1997)
My wife and I are making Aliya in 3 weeks. I love the dark roast coffees of Starbucks; Italian and French roast and hope that I can find the equivalent in Jerusalem where we will live, especially the whole beans to grind and brew at home. But I don't like the culture of Starbucks in the States, the hipster baristas are off-putting to me.
You will have absolutely no problem finding quality, robust, dark roast coffee in Israel. Just don't expect drip brew, as it's just not a thing, unless you make it at home. Interestingly, while there are no Starbucks cafes in Israel, you can readily buy it in stores. I saw bags of Pike Place at a local Carefour in Givatayim a couple of years ago.
@@HabaneroTi Thank you Habanero. I love my coffee in the morning, and my cocktail with my wife at dusk. Thanks for the reassurance that my days will begin well.
I never imagined that espresso and cafes were Jewish culture and not European, but then again, I worship a Jewish guy that spoke Greek and was murdered for performing miracles on Saturday.
Wow, what a cool video! Im an American Christian who's also a Starbucks employee! So, learning about Jewish culture and coffee together in one video was a wonderful treat. 😊 Just my POV: ive always known that Starbucks likely just does not do well in other countries. They hit a very specific American taste profile as you mentioned. As overpriced and burnt tasting as it is, I've honestly found that here in America at least my coffee profile has become very picky -- as such, its hard for me to drift away from Starbucks here. I'm a huge sweet tooth, and Starbucks excels in that category of flavored coffee. However, the coffee itself? Yeah, mostly misses. The Christmas blend and dark roasts are pretty good if prepared specifically (I love pour overs best). Besides that i really just dont like our beans...(My team and I theorize they make the coffee taste burnt on purpose so you'll add flavors 😅. From our taste tests we've found that the roasts are really best for 'pairing' -- aka combo tastes with food and flavors.) I would LOVE to try abroad coffee though, I'm sure its amazing. I would love to go to Israel someday so I'll keep the coffee shops in mind if I ever go. Thanks for the video! Shalom!
I’m Sicilian, we are the same as the Israelis and it’s our culture to sit and sip our coffee, besides, we drink real coffee and not the horse pizz that Starbucks dishes up in a portable bucket. It’s not the size, it’s the quality. Unfortunately North of Italy has Starbucks but probably for all the tourists that are too arrogant to appreciate other cultures (they know who they are)
To be fair, back in the early days, Starbucks was all about introducing Americans to a "real" coffee culture, similar to what other nations have. They sold whole beans and moved to pulling espresso shots and selling italian-style coffee. But as they grew, they adapted to their market, morphing into a successful milkshake-vending giant corporation that occasionally sells coffee. And a bank. With their prepaid card system, they've become an unregulated bank. They're financially successful by making their target clients happy, putting the "bucks" into "Starbucks " but leaving their first true love.
When I immigrated to Israel in 1990 I've been told a the beduin proverb Do you have to be strong as a love And sweet as a kiss The coffee must be dark as a moonless night in the desert And bitter as a marriage
From Starbucks country here… Oregon! I don’t quite buy the videos explanations. Our Starbucks has mostly espresso drinks, and you can sit down there and talk. However it’s all paper cups and the espresso isn’t that good really. Kind of burnt flavor. Not good enough for straight shot! Better can be had elsewhere for about the same price.
One possible solution for those who MUST HAVE brewed coffee, a Keurig coffee maker. Actually, in North America, McDonald's coffee tastes better than Starbucks.
The only time I have Starbucks is a bottle of cold coffee from the store or gas station. The hot coffee at Starbucks tastes burnt, and I don’t care for sweet drinks, either.
No Starbucks in Israel?--makes me want to move there!!!
I would never move on a stolen land
@@myrtillesm3532 It's not stolen. The history of Israel in the land we know as Israel dates back over 3,200 years, lol
@@myrtillesm3532 That’s it, you’ve already said the damn stupid phrase of the day. Are you happy now?
But, but, they don't have "Ben and Jerry's" either.
@@myrtillesm3532 I assume you live in North America?
As we said in Seattle "friends don't let friends drink Starbucks". IT'S GARBAGE.
If that’s the case why is every Starbucks in the Seattle Tacoma area jam packed every morning
It's like how people who live in 'Vegas never go to The Strip, I guess. Leave that crap for the tourists. lol
And yet every Starbucks I went to in Seattle, Tacoma and elsewhere was always packed, with seats often hard to find. I lived there for 10 years so it wasn't just a fluke. And it's not garbage. Perhaps not high-end, but hardly percolated swill in a Greek-style paper cup from the deli.
Your Seattle is Garbage and your Politicians...it's not the Coffee!😅
@@dennisnelson7777 I don't live there anymore.... it's not MY anything. LOL
I like the Israeli culture of sitting and chatting over coffee. I love everything about Israël❤️
Yes!
You can do that Anywhere!...That's not Unique to Israel...duh!
@@Israelin5I heard Israelis add up cardamom to their coffee!
Me too.
there are many, many small , independent coffee shops in Tel Aviv and they’re cheaper and have more personality than Starbucks.that’s part of the reason. Israeli coffee shops have more character than a sterile cookie- cutter chain.
🎉❤❤Corrct, we don't need that fake in Israel
Amen and Amen!
Tel avaiv ain't cheaper 😂😂
Its most expensive hipster city
I love local small shops!
@@Israelin5 yes indeed! Way better!
עם ישראל חי וקיים לנצח נצחים!!!!
We were in Israel a couple of years ago and it was the best coffee we had ever tasted
Love that!
Starbucks is overrated
It's also over priced.
Both are correct. They also ruined the coffee overall!
Also, when it comes to starbucks, in Arab countries they're mainly in tourist areas, and for some reason the tourists go there, in Israel the tourists go to the local coffee shop.
This is true!
I so agree
Just advertisement. The over~advertise themselves.
I dislike Starbucks. I do not purchase there.
Starbucks is crap and overpriced!
100% True!
I call it Starcraps. 😂😂😂
then why do we have apple?
@@saagisharon8595 An Apple a day keeps Starbucks away!
yep
Im so glad there is no Starbucks there
Hahahahahahahahahaha
I'm so Glad you're not here!😂
So Glad you're not here! 😂
Because Israeli coffee and Baked goods are 1000% better than Starbucks 😂😂😂👍🏻❤️
I could personally care less if the entire corporation of Starbucks disappeared. Way overpriced. Over hyped. Rude baristas, or whatever they call themselves. I haven't set foot inside a Starbucks in years.
Only thing I like from Starbucks is those cookie straws, and I only get them occasionally
I cannot live without coffee, and I stay away from over-priced sh*tty coffee from SB.
In 2019, I was at Bellevue, WA hotel. They had a Starbucks in the lobby. I do not care for Starbucks coffee as it always is bitter to me. I ordered some just as it was convenient. It was delicious. Went the next few days and it was great. Came back home. Bitter as usual.
Israel has many great coffee shops of its own
Same in Melbourne, Australia …Starbucks didn’t get off the ground.
Hmm, the Israeli coffee culture is pretty much the same as most of Europe. It is America that has a fixation on putting a ton of cream, sugar and goofy flavors in low grade water downed coffee
When i tell them i want an espresso and an ice water, i have to explain that no, i do not want an americano.
😂
Starbucks drip coffee is pretty strong and you don't have to put anything in it if you don't want to. I do agree though that their specialty drinks, which is where they make most of their profits, have gotten way out of hand. I almost never get those, just a drip or espresso machiato.
And, if Israeli coffee culture is pretty much the same as most of Europe, why has Starbucks succeeded there but not in Israel? Surely there are differences.
One thing that is different about Israeli coffee culture from Europe is that Israelis drink Turkish coffee, which is relatively rare in Europe outside of Arab and Muslim enclaves, and, paradoxically, instant coffee, which is barely coffee, is still very popular in Israel. So, the strongest and the weakest coffees are popular in Israel, while Europeans prefer something in-between.
Before Starbucks became a big chain they were drinking bad, sometimes stale, brewed coffee. It was so bad they'd have jokes about the bad coffee in TV shows. It was always about the quantity more than the quality which is probably why Starbucks still had to do big cups of coffee (that is mostly milk with a double shot of espresso). Americans are also used to drinking a lot of milk (way more than other countries) so now it's just warm milk with espresso in it and some sweetener like vanilla or caramel.
@@Ishai1 You're vastly distorting the reality of the matter. There was certain good and even great coffee available in the US well before Starbucks came along--which was the early 70's btw. But yeah, typical coffee back then was mediocre.
Anyway, the espresso-based coffee you can get at Starbucks is European-style, steamed milk with as many shots of espresso as you order, otherwise known as a latte. Pretty standard stuff. In Israel it's know as "Kafe Hafuch", or upside-down coffee.
No one orders or serves warm milk in these drinks unless the customer asks for it, but otherwise it's always scalding hot. Add-ons like flavored syrups, drizzled chocolate or caramel, etc., are custom, and don't come with standard coffee.
This is the case in basically all cafes in the US and not just Starbucks. One can dispute the quality but not how it's made, which is standard. The real difference between coffee in the US and Europe and Israel is that Americans like drip coffee, which is not common in the latter.
And yeah, many of us like to put sugar and milk or creamer in it. That's basically what Europeans and Israelis do, unless they order a straight espressor. It's not that unusual although in the US creamer is popular but not elsewhere, where even whole milk is an uncommon add-on.
So glad to see Mom & Pop coffee cafes in my area! Really put a dent in SB business. Love it when the little guy makes good!!!!! 🥰
Starbucks coffee tastes like dishwater and we here in Israel like Italian espresso coffee which is strong, flavourful and aromatic. When Starbucks opened its first store on the top floor of the Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv the queues stretched all around the 1st floor and I waited for over an hour to try a cup - my disappointment was great - it cost 3 times the price of coffee elsewhere and was weaker than water! I next tried their coffee again 6 months later at their Allenby street Tel Aviv branch and once again was disappointed. I never went back again to Starbucks in Israel. Once when on holiday in England I tried Starbucks and met with the same disappointment and ever since then when traveling abroad I stick to cafes that serve Italian brands of coffee
An Israeli served me Lavazza at my hotel... Best coffee ever!
@@GregMoress Lavazza & Segafredo Zanetti espresso are standard throughout Israel, even MacDonalds in Israel uses Lavazza or Segafredo Zanetti (depending on who owns the franchise in a particular area)
@@GregMoressI’m in upstate New York and I only drink Lavazza I buy from Rubino’s Italian Deli 😀
@@sputnikone6281that is a very low level coffee as well
הסיבה היחידה שאני נכנסת בחו"ל לסטארבקס היא הוויי-פיי. קונה קפה ועוגה כדי שתהיה לי סיבה להיות שם ובינתיים מטעינה את הטלפון ועושה מה שאני צריכה.
Who needs Starbucks. I never go to Starbucks. I prefer smaller, individual coffee shops. In Israel you find them in every street.
Yes!
Jews love coffee, as do I. I never go to Starbucks either.
Good for Israelis! I'm so disappointed in Starbucks, which has taken out all comfortable seating and really discourages people lingering over coffee. I understand the change in business model, but it does not make me want to go there.
Honestly, Israel is better off without Starbucks, the coffee is awful! Just found your channel, really enjoy your informal, smiley, educated and positive analysis of Israel and Israeli life. Now subscribed. Thank you.
Starbucks is bound to struggle in a country with a robust coffee culture
Having a nice conversation with someone over a cup of coffee in Israel? One for the bucket list! I 🩷 Israel.
The more I learn about Israel the more I love Israel
I'm glad Israel exists.
Starbucks recently tried to come back with bottled cold coffee drinks. They haven't done well at all
So glad the Starbucks notion did not work in Israel. Applaud Israel for its coffee and culture.
They have a homegrown coffee chain called Aroma. There are some in Canada as well. When you've had a coffee there, why on Earth would you go back to Starbucks?
You have aroma in Canada? wow
Wholeheartedly agree. Have been to a couple Aroma Cafes when I visited Israel. Quality of coffee and atmosphere far superior, not even comparable really. On the rare occasion someone asks me to SBs in US to meet up (and I wasn’t able to convince them to meet somewhere else), I bring my own ceramic cup and give the barista explicit instructions.
I just opened Wikipedia about this, in 2001 starbucks israel opened in six locations on tel aviv that partnered with delek(israeli company mostly known for petroleum), in 2003 they closed the stores in israel due to business reasons
Starbucks sells coffee flavored milkshakes essentially.
I lived in Israel in 1999-2001. My first day driving to work I stopped at a cafe and asked for coffee. It was a chore to get it to go. It was also Turkish style, grounds in the bottom and all. Very good!
Because Israelis are based! Am Israel Jai. Cheers from Spain.
I just wanted to elaborate that in addition to the points that were brought up in the video, Starbucks typically does not accommodate two additional coffee preparation methods that some Israelis prefer: 1) In Finjan, Jezve coffee is also referred to as Turkish coffee. 2) An instant Nescafe locally produced by Strauss-Elite that is popular mostly among senior citizens.
Starbucks has not been able to establish itself in the coffee sector in Israel alone. Typically, Starbucks usually has difficulties in foreign markets if it is compelled to adjust to local tastes rather than relying on them to embrace its products as they are.
Israel total population 7 million or so. Doesn't make sense. My city alone has 10 million or so. As the presenter described, Israeli preferences are for espresso further reduces the customer base.
@@agnelomascarenhas8990 Israel is closer to 10 million. I live in the country and see what's on the store shelves and am familiar with the different segments and preferences and how they relate to coffee. While it is true that there is a strong preference towards expresso, but also towards Nescafe and Jezve\Ibrik style coffee. In any case, both are also not part of the Starbucks menu.
M wife and I went to Israel two years ago and had Aroma coffee. It's so good. I wish I could get it here in the midwestern U.S.
I hear that...
Very insightful! Thanks for posting.
Interesting talk. We go to Seville twice a year from England to see our granddaughter, and family. I could be wrong, but I’ve only come across one Starbucks, near to the Cathedral. In Seville, they have a small bar, tapas culture, selling espresso coffee. These places are found everywhere in huge numbers. In our home town, we go to Caffè Nero. We like it there, not Starbucks.
I loved the coffee in Spain when I visited there.
Thank you. That was interesting. I heard about this but didn’t have the why. You have explained that very well and now I know. Shalom!
Shalom!
In short: We have many local better coffee shops with more character and lower pricing.
Aroma is an amazing coffee shop.
Aroma caffe in my part of Los Angeles, has block long lines every morning, not kidding
Shalom! Yes I noticed no coffee maker in any appliance store when I was assigned there. What I bought was a moka pot at the basement of Tachana, Bus station, Arcosteel brand. It covered my coffee need for that morning jolt!
There is an absence of Starbucks because Israel is the promised land!
They do have Macdonalds though, I have been.
Full brainwashed
❤ISRAEL
Exactly. Me too. 🇮🇱
❤ America!...Who Trump has Protected and will Protect again...Count your blessings...
Israel is the winner here
There's a couple of other reasons. By the time Starbucks tried to open a franchise in Israel, Aroma was already well established in that market of chain coffee stores, and they offer both an option of a to-go coffee, and a place to sit down and eat decent food in most places.
The other reason is that many, many Israelis like Turkish coffee. Especially blue-collar workers but not just them. That kind of coffee is so cheap and easy to make, you'd never buy it in a coffee shop. So it's not something Starbucks could compete with.
I'm no longer fit to travel, but I found the presentation of Israeli cultural differences compared to the US very helpful and interesting. It's clear that Israelis drink a much stronger brew with a sharper bite than is common in the US.
I remember coffee in Israel. we brewed it in a kumkum over the stove in the dorm kitchen. not surprising Starbucks didn't make it with its mass produced brews.
I miss Israeli coffee places.
In the UK most people sit in the coffee shop to drink coffee in a real mug too. And Starbucks coffee shops look different to the ones I have seen in California and Las Vegas.
Also in the UK the drink recipes are very different.
That's a really big topic to discuss in the middle of all going on around Israel!
Why would anyone buy Starbucks? The coffee is awful. Starbucks also failed in Australia for the same reason. A few Starbucks outlets have since re-opened, but these are either in tourist areas or areas with a high overseas student population.
Thank you for taking the time to explain this. Shalom.
STARBUCKS in my town closed thankfully the boycott worked great, Now MCdonalds here is about to go under too. we got list we don't shop at here anymore.
The same reason there are no Starbucks in Australia anymore. They opened in 200 and started closing in 2008. They blamed it on the economic meltdown, but other coffee shops weren't closing. The problem is the product. Australians are used to having the best coffee when they go out! Only the best
Kudos to SB for seeing the coffee culture in the US early on and filling the need... I don't go there very often
mostly when I'm traveling and always buy an Americano.
1:32 not to mention that awful pagan icon Starbucks has. What does that logo mean anyway? 🤔
Not to mention the awful pagan icon that the “start of David” is. What does that logo mean anyway?
As someone who hangs out at starbucks almost every day and has been going there for about 25 years, Starbucks has horrible coffee 😝 I can't understand why anyone would drink their coffee or get anything at the drive through... the only reason i go there is to work on stuff and hang out with friends; I'm there for the whip cream and the sugar 😋
Doughnuts don't have a hole. With the hole, they are called doughrings.This is yet something else Americans get wrong.
Maybe similar reasons for why they failed in Sweden, where we also like to take a "fika" and chat over coffee in a cosy spot? They opened something like 17 stores, but now there are only three left... We drink a lot of brewed coffee though, espresso based drinks only became popular in the last decades.
Israeli coffee is the best. No need for Starbucks.
Psalms 52:7 “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
Elite Turkish coffee with cardamom is what I drink because of my mom and her night shifts at Shaare Zedek 🤷♂️
Not a single Starbucks here in Texas carries it 😂
Also my favorite❤💪🏼
Ohoho Cardamom coffee ftw!!! im not kidding!
I pray that I will be able to visit Israel before I die. Israel has such an interesting people and culture. They have never forgotten where they came from or their roots which is why they are a strong and successful people. My prayers are for Israel, the IDF, the hostages and of course their families.
I go to Starbucks to buy bags of whole bean coffee (their "Reserve" brand), and then I grind it at home, in the coarsest grind and then I brew it in my cafetière à piston.
That shows the Israelis are not stupid. They won't pay for crap
Simple answer is that Israel has coffee stands like Cofix. The very best, very inexpensive, coffee in the world. I visited, tried it, and Starbucks CANNOT compete.
Another caveat is the fact that their coffee is awfully expensive for what you get.
Don't call Starbucks shitty water coffee😉
In Jerusalem, my wife asked me to find a Starbucks. I Googled “Starbucks near me,” and got an address in Amman!
The story of Melusina, the Logo of that company is creepy.
The fact that Melusina turned into a serpent every Shabbat, was enough for me not to spend my money over there.
Shalom
What is melusina? I have to look this up.
We in Israel just prefer good coffee, what Starbucks sells, is not coffee, I wouldn't like to give it a name.
I'm one of those people that went to the first branch of starbucks when it just opened to see what was all the fuss was about and never came back again because starbucks coffee suck, just like everyone else.
Starbucks is mostly espresso based and in the US it was a big change when Peet's and Starbucks came around. Before that they were selling coffee on quantity for both home use and in diners (with free refills). In Israel they already had that all over the place, so there was no point in going to Starbucks instead of your regular coffee shop. When entering markets that already had that coffee culture they were judged on their taste, and well, it's not that great.
Most people still get Lattes or Capuchinos at Starbucks (which is also the regular orders in Israel, קפה הפוך).
If you look at the prices for espresso machines, the simple ones from DeLonghi or Philips, cost a lot more in the US than they do in Israel. It's still not that popular for at home coffee, which gives chains like Starbucks that big market. People love overpaying for average coffee in the US.
Personally I stopped going to Starbucks years ago, bought a machine for home (after I got one for my mom in a visit to Israel and realized it's better)
Starbucks isn't the first time this has happened in Israel. Many years ago Wendy's made the move to Israel back when they had Burger Ranch and McDavid. They didn't last long. Israelis like the burgers they had. It took a few more years and the much bigger brand McDonalds to finally get an American chain in Israel and even then they had to adjust their menus to compete in Israel (it was the first country they did that for, until that point it was about bringing the US menu to other countries)
Nice to Hear...
It will make My life easier when I move to Israel..
Starbucks failed in Australia for similar reasons, their coffee is not up to local standards. Australia has a take away coffee culture, but it is based on espresso. Starbucks did try to serve espresso based coffees but their beans just tasted bland so they failed.
also more than half of coffee consumers drink turkish/arabic/greek coffee which is all together different than western coffee. it's also purer, less processed and healthier!
In my country Peru. We farm alot of organic coffee. My parents farm coffee & thanks to Starbucks and other chains the price got better.
It is alot of work farming coffee so I am glad for the coffee chains. The farmers can get at least some earnings.
We don't have time for sitting in coffee shops 😂😂that is for the rich people so I am glad for the countries that can afford.
The same thing happened here in Australia - there was already a strong coffee culture, influenced by an influx of Italian and Greek immigrants after WW2. In fact, a Greek friend lamented the trend towards takeaway coffee a few years back for the same reasons you mention - the social aspect of coffee drinking. Starbucks has reentered the market here, but (from what I have been told) is concentrating more on places where tourists from the US tend to gather.
Nothing like spending $8.00 for a cup of coffee that tastes like the burnt crap from the bottom of the coffee Carafe.
Here is the funny part. Starbucks was founded and is owned by a Jew. The same for Dunkin Donuts. Bill Rosenberg started the first Dunkin Donuts in Quincy Ma.
3:04 starbucks coffee is also based on espresso, but they prepare the beans differently.
Someone told me Israel doesn’t have Starbucks because they operate in Lebanon so Israelis were boycotting it. Idk if that’s true (Starbucks first opened in Beirut in 1997)
same in croatia, it s turkish input, sitting drinking coffee with friends, neighbours, turkish coffee
My wife and I are making Aliya in 3 weeks.
I love the dark roast coffees of Starbucks; Italian and French roast and hope that I can find the equivalent in Jerusalem where we will live, especially the whole beans to grind and brew at home.
But I don't like the culture of Starbucks in the States, the hipster baristas are off-putting to me.
You will have absolutely no problem finding quality, robust, dark roast coffee in Israel. Just don't expect drip brew, as it's just not a thing, unless you make it at home.
Interestingly, while there are no Starbucks cafes in Israel, you can readily buy it in stores. I saw bags of Pike Place at a local Carefour in Givatayim a couple of years ago.
@@HabaneroTi Thank you Habanero. I love my coffee in the morning, and my cocktail with my wife at dusk. Thanks for the reassurance that my days will begin well.
I never imagined that espresso and cafes were Jewish culture and not European, but then again, I worship a Jewish guy that spoke Greek and was murdered for performing miracles on Saturday.
Thank you. I love being informed. ❤
You are so welcome
Thank you for this video; it was very interesting.
Sitting down is what made Starbucks in US.
Wow, what a cool video!
Im an American Christian who's also a Starbucks employee! So, learning about Jewish culture and coffee together in one video was a wonderful treat. 😊
Just my POV: ive always known that Starbucks likely just does not do well in other countries. They hit a very specific American taste profile as you mentioned. As overpriced and burnt tasting as it is, I've honestly found that here in America at least my coffee profile has become very picky -- as such, its hard for me to drift away from Starbucks here. I'm a huge sweet tooth, and Starbucks excels in that category of flavored coffee. However, the coffee itself? Yeah, mostly misses. The Christmas blend and dark roasts are pretty good if prepared specifically (I love pour overs best). Besides that i really just dont like our beans...(My team and I theorize they make the coffee taste burnt on purpose so you'll add flavors 😅. From our taste tests we've found that the roasts are really best for 'pairing' -- aka combo tastes with food and flavors.)
I would LOVE to try abroad coffee though, I'm sure its amazing. I would love to go to Israel someday so I'll keep the coffee shops in mind if I ever go.
Thanks for the video! Shalom!
If I want sweet coffee I much prefer Dutch Brothers.
Shalom! So lovely to hear your perspective! Come visit Israel!
I’m Sicilian, we are the same as the Israelis and it’s our culture to sit and sip our coffee, besides, we drink real coffee and not the horse pizz that Starbucks dishes up in a portable bucket. It’s not the size, it’s the quality. Unfortunately North of Italy has Starbucks but probably for all the tourists that are too arrogant to appreciate other cultures (they know who they are)
To be fair, back in the early days, Starbucks was all about introducing Americans to a "real" coffee culture, similar to what other nations have. They sold whole beans and moved to pulling espresso shots and selling italian-style coffee. But as they grew, they adapted to their market, morphing into a successful milkshake-vending giant corporation that occasionally sells coffee. And a bank. With their prepaid card system, they've become an unregulated bank. They're financially successful by making their target clients happy, putting the "bucks" into "Starbucks " but leaving their first true love.
When I immigrated to Israel in 1990
I've been told a the beduin proverb
Do you have to be strong as a love
And sweet as a kiss
The coffee must be dark as a moonless night in the desert
And bitter as a marriage
Same reason most of the Starbucks in melbourne had to shut. Because the people dont like the taste of starbucks
From Starbucks country here… Oregon! I don’t quite buy the videos explanations. Our Starbucks has mostly espresso drinks, and you can sit down there and talk. However it’s all paper cups and the espresso isn’t that good really. Kind of burnt flavor. Not good enough for straight shot! Better can be had elsewhere for about the same price.
One possible solution for those who MUST HAVE brewed coffee, a Keurig coffee maker.
Actually, in North America, McDonald's coffee tastes better than Starbucks.
Sono italiano vivo in Australia.starbucks coffe' la pu grande porcheria che o mai bevuto.😢
(0:40) Visiting Israel made me change my taste in coffee. I started drinking it shorter and stronger, no more drip coffee.
The only time I have Starbucks is a bottle of cold coffee from the store or gas station. The hot coffee at Starbucks tastes burnt, and I don’t care for sweet drinks, either.
…Because Israeli’s like good coffee. Aroma is an amazing coffee house there and other little shops here and there. ☕️
As my late grandmother would have said, "Nisht ahzoy gefailach!" Somehow, "B'seddair" doesn't quite capture the nuances.
Because Israelis like real coffee.
There is a very simple answer to that question - Starbucks coffee is terrible!