Why Americans are OBSESSED with Starbucks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มี.ค. 2024
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For millions of people, their daily stop at Starbucks is a routine they don’t even question. We're here to figure out how they become the biggest coffee chain in the world and dive into their incredibly clever marketing, devious design, and uncanny ability to make people spend their money,
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For further reading, check out the sources for this video here:
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Script: Jaz Papadopoulos
Editor: Sam Askew
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
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Always a pleasure working together Future Proof! Another fantastic breakdown. Cannot wait to see what you have in stored for your future videos. To those of you interested on staying fully informed with Starbucks and news around the world, check out the link in the description and let us know if you have any questions.
@@ground_news Shut up brand
Why you changed the title?
@@ground_news I subscribed as a result of your sponsorship of FutureProofTV. Pretty convinced it will prove to be one of the best purchases this year. Thanks for what you do.
*The whole ground news is beyond intolerable. You mentioned it at the very beginning, then you mentioned it 3 minutes later and you have a pinned top comment. Yea I get advertising is important but do you have to be annoying about it. Mention it at the beginning or end and that should be the end of it. I definitely have no interest in getting groundbreak account because of this annoying advertising.*
If it has 400 calories and whipped cream, its not a coffee, its a milkshake.
I just don't understand why some people ask "Why do I get fat?" then proceed to drink overpriced, high-in-sugar milkshake branded as coffee
@@creeper6530 I’ve seen people try to go “healthier” with subbing the milks with heavy cream or oatmilk (which as a lot of sugar lol).
Or milk with coffee flavour😂
I don’t drink starbucks but worrying about others’ calorie intake is soooo weird
Which is fine as long as you admit it! I love a frappuccino on occasion, once every few months (usually while visiting family who want to stop there). But I'm under no illusions to what I'm drinking and it's a really bad idea to drink them every day
My gf used to work at starbucks, and the funniest thing she ever told me was that the trashcans with split openings for separating trash and recycling are all thrown out in the same dumpster. But yes, starbucks cares about the environment 😂
ALL recycling is a scam, China used to take it and they no longer do, it ALL goes to the landfill now because recycling isn't profitable .
Of course, anyone that ever worked saw the maintenance guy or gal throw every type of garbage in the same bin. Everyone knows our garbage goes to landfills in Asia. Recycling is a scam, governments don't hide it and still people do it instead of just overthrowing those very governments.
The same thing happened when I worked at Panera haha
To be fair, part of the problem with those split trashcans is that people put the wrong thing in them anyway, thus contaminating what might have been able to be recycled... but yes, I'd agree it is very much window dressing as you suggest.
Yooooo this is brutal (but sadly not surprising)
So basically StarBucks is a candy store, where adults don't have to worry about looking like a child?
You nailed it. They just call their candy 'coffee' and bam, people can indulge without loosing their adult label.
Exactly. Starbucks doesn´t sell coffee, it sells liquid dessert. I´ve only been there once, and only because i needed to pee. And in order to use the restroom i had to order something, so i asked for an espresso. The employee was totally confused. The conversation went something like this:
- I´d like an espresso please
- A what?
- espresso. Small, black coffee.
- Oh, OK. What kind of milk would you like?
- none. I´d like a small, black coffe. No milk, no sugar.
- What kind of syrup? we have cinnamon, chocolate, strawberry,...
- What part about no milk, no sugar did you not understand?
- ehmmm, so, really just a shot of coffee?
- yes, please.
- that will be €1.50.
The coffee itself was fine, but nothing special.
odd, when I ordered a small espresso they simply charged me for and handed me a small espresso.
I was a barista and yes. That's exactly it. Everyone acted like kids and my best days were during a morning rush and seeing people fight in line because they were late for work. God it made my day. Everyday I was hoping for drama. It was the best honestly. If only I recorded what I've witnessed the years I was a barista. Would have a whole comedy show.
The only thing I buy there isn't sweet at all. I really like their green iced tea. Can't find anything similar elsewhere.
As an ex-barista, it's simple. Loads of caffeine + sugar = drug addiction. Just look up how much sugar is in a caramel frappucino and loads of customers got that every morning. You know what's more terrifying? See how people are before they get their drink. How tired, nasty, angry and hostile. It's literally a drug addiction I'm telling you.
I Never thought about it this way. You are so correct.
Thanks for the information
Man, that never occurred to me from that lens. The logic logics.
"man, do you got more of that uhh... good stuff?"
i was addicted to caffeine throughout high school and community college; it is 100% a type of drug addiction. i literally couldn't function without my pick-me-ups.
You should find a local coffee shop that your town supports. They probably have better stuff.
And they give back more to the community in form of taxes they pay.
And, ironically, the coffee will likely be cheaper.
aand you'll feel good about where your money goes 🤗
And when traveling, ask a local or the staff in your hotel lobby. They probably know the best spots better than google or yelp will... though even google or yelp will likely show some highly rated options nearby that aren't Starbucks or chain doughnut places.
And the alternative brand likely won't be as bitter 😵
Sugar and caffeine, when you wanna be a cartel but not sell anything illegal
You forgot to add fat to the equation.
@@Conval-wi5eh the holy trio
At least it's not tobacco and gambling, I guess.
@@piewithmoustachepwmfr 😂
and crabs in general (see fast food chains)@@Conval-wi5eh
Watching this as a Malaysian, where a lot of my countrypeople are rejecting Starbucks for local café chains partly in solidarity with its anti-war Union, partly out of deep appreciation to their local establishments...I'm feeling the winds of change.
It was the same when I lived in Vietnam. When they first opened, my students wanted to take me there are the end of a course. I was amazed that you had to line up like a fast food restaurant to order. Meanwhile the coffee place across the street that charged half the price did table service. I live right next to a Starbucks in KL and I've never been in. The only time I've ever bought anything from Starbucks was in an airport when it was the only option.
Heck yes! This is amazing to hear. Local is always better.
Well.. As well as Israel because there is no Starbucks Israel, they tried years ago, lost tons of money and left. Nobody cares.
That is only among the Malay Muslim crowd.
@@perrycheong1058 Sadly most Indians and Chinese will never care unless its their own kind, that's how you know how much of humanity they have left.
Was addicted to Starbucks as a teen, got a job there and realized how bad it was and could never justify buying sbux without a discount! I’m so lucky to live in Seattle surrounded by AMAZING independent coffee
I remember when customers starting getting sick because of the raspberry syrup and then people found out it had Red 40 which is made from insects so people literally were having allergic reactions and then Starbucks got rid of the food coloring. But that's only the beginning lol Pumpkin Spice is a whole different level of poison.
Same! Seattle has soooo many awesome small cafes!
Come to Australia, where Starbucks failed dismally...
As a teenager in the 1990s it was normal from my family to visit coffee shops to play cards and chat. Coffee shops were a place to hang out and socialise. And then came Starbucks and they failed, because they did not understand.
Do they have another popular chain there? Or do cities usually just have a bunch of locally owned shops?
Same in Sweden, we drink like three times as much coffee as americans per capita, it should be a golden market for a multinational coffee brand, but they had no chance compared to local coffee shops, that their coffee is kind of shit didn't exactly help either...
@@Kaz7. Western Australia has Dome which is our “big chain” ironically Perth is getting a new Starbucks soon which was recently announced so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes
Unfortunately, they are back and they are gaining traction in Melbourne CBD. Mostly (international) students there, probably not for the coffee but for the third space that those shops offer.
No, we don't do chains@@Kaz7. We're more interested in nuanced coffee flavours, working directly with coffee farmers and roasting coffee locally in small batches.
“Dr Evil, several years ago we invested in a small Seattle-based coffee company.“
I was REALLY hoping they would use that clip, but at least seeing it here in it comments still made me smile, thank you :)
Something interesting: here in South East Asia Starbucks has literally no chance of competing with local roasters and even chains yet it maintains a relatively ok place in the market. As a foreigner it has one benefit: all the staff are trained to speak English, which has been surprisingly helpful on a few occasions. For locals the appeal is entirely based on image: it’s a western chain and therefore part of a fancy rich person aesthetic despite being worse and more expensive than any local options.
I have heard of the "white girl aesthetic" getting popular in China and it's honestly kinda sad
yeah it's exactly the same in greece
It's ridiculous honestly. They sell their coffee only 10-20% cheaper than the states and we literally make 10x less than Americans and yet theyre still thriving here. They also got lots of their beans here, could only imagine their fat profit margins.
sams here in South America 🙄 our local coffee shops are so much better, but people want to act like they're in NY or something lmao
Shout out Asia because I've had Vietnamese coffee, just black and it's incredible how much flavor and caffeine potency there was in just 8 ounces. Once of the best regions I've ever had.
It makes me sad to think that Millennials and younger missed out on the fundamentally weird and awesome café culture that had thrived for decades before Starbucks came along and crushed it under their corporate boot. From the Beatnik hangouts of the 50's, through the hippy and free love 60's and 70's, the punk/grunge/"alternative" second hand sofa hangouts of the 80's and 90's. Each café was this unique little hub for the freaks and geeks and pseudo literati. I met my wife at a café that was a combination used bookstore, chess club, and philosophy argument nexus that hosted the local writers guild and hosted after hours poetry slam boozecan lockins a couple times a month.
As businesses, these places were always passion projects and only marginally profitable. But they were all the more awesome for it.
Every high school had one in walking distance and it's been my dream to open one myself. I tell my daughter about the one I practically lived in during the 90s.
But you're right, you need money to keep it afloat, and I remember a few of us sharing a coffee because we didn't have any money. It's definitely a passion protect, and I don't have that cash flow. 😔
You're joking 😭the way I would be at those 24/7 if they still existed widely (I live in a small town)
@@MushTush No joke. Those were the days. Cigarettes inside, weed out back. Sunday around noon you'd wake up from whatever couch you'd passed out on and do the "walk of shame" still in your clubbing outfit to straighten yourself out with a latte (in a ceramic bowl, like a civilized savage), and with luck there would be some yuppy larvae kid hanging around you could hustle $20 off at a "friendly" game of chess to cover a dime bag and a samosa to get you through the rest of the day.
Not to crush your nostalgia, but this places still exists, you just don't frequent them because you are too old. Also I'm starting to be too old for that too, but htey still exist.@@johnbaker867
Cafe culture...? In the US? Where was that? Not only did Starbucks make coffee drinkable and led Americans away from instant and percolators, they also introduced a cafe culture in the US, a "third place" at a somewhere where you could get coffee and food.
I bought a second hand espresso machine for $450 five years ago, I've spent $400 on repairs, and about $1000 on beans and another $1000 on milk. I drink a cup a day or more and my wife almost as much. That's 3650 coffees (or more honestly) maybe a bit more on sugar/electricity etc, but that still puts me at between 80c and $1 per coffee.
Buy yourself a coffee machine.
I bought one Italian style cafitiere for about 15Eur. I put it on the stove. It costs me about 3Eur for a big pack of ground Columbian which lasts me a good couple of weeks. If I'm out and about, I make some and put it in a steel flask. I can make it as strong or as weak as I like and at the end of the day, I'm drinking it. And I'm happy.
It'd be like $15,000 spent if it was just black coffee lol imma bout to buy an espresso machine now.
Investing in an espresso machine has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I drink 2 coffees a day, everyday. It has pretty much paid for itself and more.
But what if we don't have space?
@15_heidune72 you don't need a big barista cafe grade machine, you can start with like a breville bambino and a good grinder
Edit: and nice quality and fresh coffee beans, that's the most important ingredient.
In Puerto Rico, coffee culture admires the art of quality local coffee. The state also protects local growers.
I always buy locally grown and toasted coffee. I prefer to go to local shops that sell local coffee. It still hasn't stopped Starbucks from appearing in tourist areas, but they have been kept at bay because of Puerto Rican coffee culture.
Yes, I am glad we do have a strong coffee culture over there. I buy Cafe Oro directly from Puerto Rico and that is what I consume at home.
Same thing in Costa Rica. I think the first Starbucks appeared in 2015? But they can be found in so many more places now, especially wherever there are tourists. I wish tourists would "dare" to step away from what they know and support local coffee shops....
So true. I hope it stays that way.
In Australia, Starbucks only has a presence in major cities where there's a lot of tourists and foreign students. The Italian immigrants who built the railroads (as cheap labour, massive exploitation issue) brought their coffee culture which has stayed here ever since.
I've been brewing my own (fair trade) coffee and I'll never go back
As an avid coffee drinker, I still don't understand why is Starbucks so popular. I once asked a coworker why did she liked their coffee for take out when the local brands are cheaper and she just replied that "it was good coffee". Like, dude, my man at the local coffee grinder sells Turk coffee with beans that I can see and smell before he even grinds them, all the while costing even less than a regular capuccino. In the end I gave up and realised that it is like the people that buy Apple trash or wear trashy "expensive" clothing.
You and I are both mutants -- we are immune to advertising. That's why we don't get it.
I don’t even disagree with you two, but the elitism is so gross I think it canceled out whatever good yall got from avoiding Starbucks lmao
@@arianghorbani1305
>muh elitism
Dude, you can go to wherever you want to drink sock tea coffee for whatever reason. But the real elitists are said people that genuinly prefer to live in their suburbia bubble.
People in the real world with real needs don't need to feel better for themselves for going to a more expensive pseudo-posh cafeteria.
The local branches from where I live do the same thing but cheaper. There are coffee grinders were you only buy grinded or whole coffee, while there are also more posh places that may have similar prices but at least they do compete in terms of quality since branding alone won't cut it. Falling for mediocrity just isn't my cup of joey.
Not everyone actually likes coffee, a lot of people just want a sugary drink with more caffeine than soda and seems less teenage gamer than energy drinks.
Coffee on its own is bitter af.
@@ancalymeNo shit sherlock, that is why charged drinks and several kinds of tea exist. Although I would still abstain from sugary stuff altogether, let alone one that has a lot of fat in it.
Starbucks is very much looked down upon here in Germany. It's a place for tourists and expats. I literally don't know a single person who goes there, yet the stores are still bussing with activity.
It's also not as available. I live in the Northwest and the closest Starbucks is an hour away and in another country.
In germany there also are quite many nice cafes.
Same in Italy, Starbucks are for tourists that don’t actually want to experience anything authentic 😂
German coffee and cake has probably the same amount of calories as a Frappuccino but it's a relaxed afternoon ritual on the weekend and not something we want to do really quick before work. Luckily we have unions in this country so we don't have to work a second job at a fast food chain on the weekends.
They tried to open a store in Adelaide, where we already have a well developed local coffee culture. It shut down after 3 months due to lack of traffic. Noone wanted it 😂
God bless Australia!
Ngl, I kind of love to hear it 😂 go Australia!!
Here is one American who genuinely doesn't "get" Starbucks. It's been shocking to watch how successful they have been offering factory-quality baked goods and poorly roasted coffee.
I guess there's no real competition? I can say with certainty that in my area, even the factory-quality breakfast items are better than local options. Trust me, I looked. Unless I want Denny's style bacon and eggs (I'll gladly leave that to the home kitchen thank you), it's Starbucks or my stove.
@@jacobp.2024 that's depressing. I can get better coffee at McDonalds, and better baked goods at any number of local bakeries. We do have quite the collection of Starbucks state / country / city mugs though. They do a good job with those.
@@ahwhite1398 I do have a shipley's, and I think ONE or TWO local bakeries downtown, but they're.. 20-30 minutes away, off my commute. Like they're awesome, I do get cakes and stuff from there!..
I do like the breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks over McDonalds because the McDonalds ones are INCREDIBLY GREASY, I mean unbelievably greasy. don't know if that's a local franchise issue or what. Either way, it usually means if I'm going to drive for 20-30 minutes.. I might as well cook for 20-30 minutes, and then I ask myself, 'why don't I just go Starbucks and grab something?'
It is depressing, but it's easy to make cold brew at home and I do that too. I really wish I lived closer to local options but the housing market is *something* and having a nice home means having some distance from nice things.
I don't get it either. I'm not much of a coffee person, but Starbucks is barely coffee anyways. I never went into a Starbucks for the purpose of buying anything and only one time my Starbucks addicted friend dragged me in there saying she'd buy me whatever I wanted just to TRY it. I got the strawberry refresher. It was so disgustingly sweet (and I have a strong sweet tooth). I felt obligated to drink it because she paid $8 for it, but after getting 1/3 through it I had to tell her that I couldn't finish it.
The students in my uni statistics class were asked who had the Starbucks app and out of 20 students I was the ONLY ONE who didn't have it or didn't consume Starbucks. I really don't understand the appeal of it. That being said I'm from New England and I can't stand Dunkin Donuts either, so I guess it's just a me problem.
@@NinjaKittkatt Nono, that's typical. Their drinks are straight sugar, liquid dessert. People get used to sugary drinks over time if they have them often, but if you have diet drinks or a lot of water, it becomes totally unpalatable.
As a barista, this job is so devoid of life. Yes, every aspect of the store is controlled by "standards". Everything, from the shelves to the ingredients behind the bar are all in a specific place that corporate approved of. We are not allowed to decorate or have any personal touches to the store. Some stores don't even have a seating area anymore. They just want you to buy as much as often as possible.
Sounds like hell there to work for. There's a whole American culture that is infiltrating our workplaces over here in the UK like the standards Starbucks use-which are ruining jobs, when managers think it's a good idea to start "standardising" everything. It makes jobs harder to do, makes people unemployed, the quality of work goes down because it is so de-motivating, and it affects customer enjoyment and the mental health of staff. It is insidious like a disease, and so why anyone would want that to be applied over here or anywhere in our workplaces is beyond me, sometimes it isn't better, -or right just because something makes shareholders, and managers more money. They should care about the people they work for that make them that money. A bit of variety and personalisation is fine. It's like we live in a world now where corporations want to make everything the same and take away choice. It sucks the life out of originality and genuinity everywhere. It's happening in film and tv and music. The most money for the least cost of product, forget art and anything a bit different. I won't stand for it and i'll speak up everytime. I don't think that is very English-it is more American to be outspoken, but i'll take that as the only import i want to take part in! :-) ;-) There, -i'll get off my soapbox now i have got that off my chest lol
Yeah they are so depressingly looking. Rarely a local I had seen that is interesting.
Oh in our country the baristas have more freedom
They don't do well in countries where good "speciality" (ie espresso based) coffee has been widely available long before their arrival. They fell flat on their face in Australia, after boasting that they would soon have half the market.
Starbucks is basically McDonalds for bougies.
Same in Colombia!
In Italy they are in the same boat. There are 2 shops if I remember right, one in Rome and one in Milan, and they middling success
Starbuckets has horrible coffee - as someone who only drinks black coffee, I can assure you that they serve garbage! The only time I use them is when travelling and I am somewhere that “Cold Press” is not available anywhere but there. I actually have to add sugar because it’s otherwise, undrinkable. Locally, I NEVER use the one I can walk to.
Yeah feels like very rarely you'll see anybody ordering a plain ol black coffee at Starbucks and there's a reason for that 👀
Oh it depends! They have like 30 whole bean coffees some are great some are less great.
Starbucks burns their beans intentionally because they don't use single origin coffee and need to burn their beens in order to create a uniform flavour.
Yep, another black coffee drinker and Starbucks is absolute trash.
@Chaoitcme some of starbucks coffees are blends, some are single origin. They have even had a couple that were all from literally one farm.
Do you think Pavlov had the urge to feed his dogs every time he heard a bell ring? 🧐
Hah! If only the dog would think of that! Except, I know my cat. She doesn't need a bell. Just a "mrrow!"
Pavlov didn't innocently ''feed his dog'' when ringing a bell. It was a cruel experiment in laboratory with large number of dogs (kept in small cages, separately) whom all had a tube DRILLED INTO THEIR BONE on lower jaw to collect saliva. During his experiments, Pavlov would place each dog in another cage, this one was called Pavlov's cage, and it meant the dog was suspended for prolonged time in uncomfortable standing position by forcibly hanging from various ropes to prevent him from sitting down, turning around, lying down or even relaxing the head. Needless to say, all experiment dogs were killed to ''study their brains'' after the experiment was concluded (his last victims were killed to be eaten during food shortages, however). The experiment for the unconditional reflex (with the bell) was continued in a new form - when they learned dogs forgot all learnings from almost drowning, they proceeded to cause them new great stress through fear and pain to see how THAT will work as variable. Pavlov and his colleagues performed several sadistic experiments on animals, including dogs. It wasn't just the bell thing, it was just his most renowned work. Which, in fact, was all dog torture for nothing, because ANY dog handler/trainer ALREADY used a conditioning method decades (if not centuries) prior to his experiments. Thus, Pavlov's works weren't revolutionary. The conclusions are indeed interesting, but they could have been done in a scientific manner without animal abuse.
Sadly, almost all experiments are conducted with animal cruelty, that is why there is movement to stop using animals in labs@@alternativedogtraining8667
@@alternativedogtraining8667 they were pretty revolutionary. (but still cruel not disagreeing on that)
regular dog training is conscious, it's teaching a dog do consciously do something on command
pavlovs experiment was seeing if you "train" for unconscious reactions happening upon command.
Example using myself
if my partner asks me to pass me her phone from the other side of the room, Ill pass her her phone because most of the time I get a reward like a hug
this is akin to dog training
I also used to take so much preworkout before going to the gym that I would get the shits right before I went to the gym
now, without preworkout, If I think about going to the gym, I get the shits
I Pavlov dogged myself into diarrhoea when thinking about the gym
its the other way around bro. first you put the food in the bowl, then you ring the bell
it was pretty easy for me to stay away from Starbucks: I like black coffee & grinding my own fair trade beans.
EDiT: Starbucks's Verona Blend is pretty good. They do have some good blends. But I like trying something new each time I buy a bag.
^ you get it.
I buy a brand over here called "Taylors" ground coffee. I use a cafetiere at home. Much nicer. 🙂
Even if you don't like black coffee, if you think about it, buying a good coffee machine is going to be better since it's more costly in the moment sure, but it is going to slowly give your money back and then some over the years since you won't have to go to starbucks for coffee, can brew it yourself into a thermo container or just only drink at home and a cup of coffee brewed by yourself is going to be WAY cheaper than getting it at starbucks.
Pavlov didn't innocently ''feed his dog'' when ringing a bell. It was a cruel experiment in laboratory with large number of dogs (kept in small cages, separately) whom all had a tube DRILLED INTO THEIR BONE on lower jaw to collect saliva. During his experiments, Pavlov would place each dog in another cage, this one was called Pavlov's cage, and it meant the dog was suspended for prolonged time in uncomfortable standing position by forcibly hanging from various ropes to prevent him from sitting down, turning around, lying down or even relaxing the head. Needless to say, all experiment dogs were killed to ''study their brains'' after the experiment was concluded (his last victims were killed to be eaten during food shortages, however). The experiment for the unconditional reflex (with the bell) was continued in a new form - when they learned dogs forgot all learnings from almost drowning, they proceeded to cause them new great stress through fear and pain to see how THAT will work as variable. Pavlov and his colleagues performed several sadistic experiments on animals, including dogs. It wasn't just the bell thing, it was just his most renowned work. Which, in fact, was all dog torture for nothing, because ANY dog handler/trainer ALREADY used a conditioning method decades (if not centuries) prior to his experiments. Thus, Pavlov's works weren't revolutionary. The conclusions are indeed interesting, but they could have been done in a scientific manner without animal abuse.
People like Pavlov get accolades and pop culture notoriety, then people like Semmelweis get locked in an institution and forgotten about by history.
And then there's how Starbucks is everywhere even when it's not a Starbucks. That whole "we PROUDLY brew Starbucks coffee" sign. It's maddening.
Should ask the person or people who work there or owns the place: "how proud are you of this; no, really, how proud are you?"
@@cadmean-reader Hahaha right?!
@@cadmean-readerthe employees definitely aren’t proud. It’s just a way to make money.
We need more businesses proudly serving local roaster coffees. Starbucks is absolute chemical garbage. People have no clue what they're missing out on.
@@TechOutAdam I live in Eastern Europe and the majority of coffee shops there are still owned by some companies, big, middle or small. I rarely see local self-built coffee shops and coffee there is usually pricey, cause my country doesn't grow coffee and we need to buy coffee beans abroad, with high costs of transporting. So, it's not surprise why Starbucks thrived in my country.
In the first year, my credit card statement sent me aggregated data by store; I freaked out when I spent $1500 in one year at Starbucks. I went and bought an espresso maker for home and started making coffee before I left for work. I go to Starbucks 4-5 times a year, mostly when traveling. Its just way way way too expensive for what it really is.
I agree. -I don't go in anymore, so i have no idea of their prices for years now, -but i assume like £4 a cup? Honestly, the price versus the raw materials, -it would not cost them that much to buy in, and they are making and have made massive profits. Small profits each sale -fair enough, but they are greedy like all the big stores are. We need to stop supporting these massive corporations and go independant instead. Or like you said, and i do-make it at home. Only idiots with too much time on smartphones make Starbucks a lifestyle choice. I mean-come on! Anyone with brain and intelligence doesn't do that.
So many thoughts...
starbucks never really took off in a lot of europe. probably because we already have coffee shops where you can get a coffee for like €1, and you can bring your kids, you can have pastries or some other food, the kids can have a coffee drink that has the coffee cut down with milk(similar to things like lattes and cappuccinos), so while starbucks exist here, our cultures didn't have as much of a necessity as a place to hang out, socialize, drink coffee, have a snack, bring your whole family, because we already had that. and those specialty drinks that are anything other than coffee and milk, i think most people here would just see them as a dessert, meaning parents would also only let their kids get one on rare occasion, not as a regular thing
In the big cities of Europe, like rats, you are never 10ft away from a Starbucks.
@@commoneuropeanstarling and you barely hear the local language there 💀
Never really liked to drink coffee so i rarely go, if i do its usually to accompany someone. I can't imagine planning my day around Starbucks, let alone vacation.
The whole point of a vacation is to experience what you don't have at home, not to take home with you. It's wild how people will go all the way to another country only to drink and eat what we have in the USA. lol
Regarding the “secret menu” drinks, it’s absolutely true. We despise people ordering these since it Completely throws off our flow.
Another thing to consider is that Starbucks emphasizes “customer connections” with their baristas to an extent that they keep track of them via scores from randomized polls. Some managers enforce talking to customers like it’s a law, while some thankfully don’t. It’s all part of the strat to bring people back and hit those good memories with their drink attached. Most coffee shops already have that kind of culture anyways, but its weird when they require it.
Omg the dreaded secret menu frappuncinos days still give me nightmares. Especially when 40 teenage girls come in during the summer.. the terror.
@@TechOutAdam I've accrued a few pretty good secret menu abomination stories from the time I spent working at Starbucks. Including one time a gaggle of teenage girls tried to accuse the person who took their order and didn't even touch their drinks of trying to poison them.
also most of the time people who come through drive thru are on the phone already or roll their window up so it's kinda impossible to have customer connections when that happens
We still boycott Starbucks
I live in Shanghai, China. The surrounding areas, Suzhou- Hangzhou, construct many local coffee shops with better-tasting coffee and a friendly atmosphere than Starbucks (Shanghai of course has good portions of local coffee shops). Yet, Starbucks elevated itself to the level of symbolic wealth, consuming SB is relatively expensive and the quality is sub-par (affording Starbucks is a signifier of material wealth). My best friends are owners of local coffee shops. They are dedicated to their coffee-making and put lots of effort in. The people attracted to these local shops are friendly, open to spontaneous conversation, and enjoy coffee. These shops are usually within distance of a metro or easily accessible to the general public. It's honestly bizarre how Starbucks is the only coffee shop in my hometown (Texas). I didn't understand "leisure" or even "third places" until I witnessed and experienced these local shops, I celebrated New Year, and Christmas, learned Film Photography, and shared meals, ideas, and music. One of the most unique scenes I saw was a Coffee Shop Owner taking a smoke break and then playing badminton outside her shop with some of the local kids, taking in the breeze then going back to talk with her regulars in the shop. Bliss?
The bigger they get-the less nice the product as they cut back and cut back and cut back on quality until there is nothing left. Frequent the independent coffee shops instead like you are doing :-) ;-)
Yes it's about showing off. China, Japan, all love to show off with brand names
@@tubetop123Yes, but who is showing off exactly? Young/Old people generally don't "buy in" to Starbucks culture. It's a certain class of people that maintains this idea of the "leisure (wealth) class". Young students territorialize Starbucks because it's one of the few places that have charging stations near tables, and it's also spacious (compared to other coffee shops).
Starbucks was most peoples taste of non shitty coffee. Before Starbucks most people only had folgers with flavor crystals and international foods instant coffee if they wanted to get fancy.
The South Park episode on this (Harbucks) does a really good job of showing this.
But even then Starbucks coffee is GARBAGE
there are two side, one is a sugary mess that's basically a candy (starbuck)and the other is hostilely bitter local brew because purist (normal coffee shop)
Americans have never been known for knowing what good coffee is supposed to taste like. Not then, not now.
Hey, I'm a New Englander, we at least had Dunks. Now I'm not gonna call that good coffee, but it's not Folgers. 🤷♀️😁
The social psychology that Starbucks manipulates, whether on purpose or not is actually genius. Creating a routine, with a culture, AND since there are very vocal haters of Starbucks, they now also have an “us vs them” factor which keep loyal customers even more loyal. The high prices will also essentially gaslight the customers into thinking the drink tastes better than it actually is (since no one likes the feeling of cognitive dissonance), on top of the additive factors of caffeine and sugar. There’s so, so much more to this topic which is mental.
A sort of related funny story. When I was in Japan I was worried that I wouldn't adjust to the food well. So I went to McDonald's on the first day there, I got terrible terrible food poisoning. After that I only ate at local places everywhere we went and was fine for the rest of the trip.
Yes! Asians don’t know how to do western food for the most part. It’s easier and safer to eat local. I mean really, how hard is it to make a good hamburger?
Former SB barista here, there are fun creations baristas will make, but those usually appear close to closing time when we are tired, depressed, and really wanting to go home.
As Canadians, I feel we have the same problem but magnified it a bit with Tim Hortons.
We have adopted it into being Canadian as a result of their brilliant marketing. Sponsoring things like hockey games have cemented them into that whole culture.
Tim Hortons, the Starbucks of the North! 🤣
I once was traveling through the prairies working for a touring band. We stopped at a Tim Hortons in Swift Current. There was a fairly long line and when it was my turn, the cashier just walked away without a word. And no one came to help. I finally gave up and got some gas station coffee elsewhere. I do not get the fascination with Tim Hortons at all.
True! Though at least the price is more fair
I'd like to think my husband introduced them too ice coffee. He's a huge iced dunks fan and we go to Quebec every year to visit his parents. When the Dunkin closed he tried Tim's. For 2 years he tried getting iced and ended up with hot coffee. Now they have iced, and he hates it. 🤣
I consider the maple glazed and double double emblematic of the Canadian diabetes problem. :-/. Giving Americans a run for their money!
Starbucks is the only coffee shop in my remote area. There are, and never were mom and pop coffee shops. They haven't had other franchises like Tim Horton's and Dunkin' Donuts. This Starbucks is horrible at drinks, so I don't even go there. But it's mostly a flex of being able to be the sort of person that can afford to go to Starbucks and be seen drinking Starbucks in an area with incredible poverty.
If you like coffee, ask for a medium or light roast *pour over* - that is the *only* way to get a “decent” cup.
@@paulas_lens
>This Starbucks is horrible at drinks
Bold of you to assume they will know what to do when you ask for that.
Do you not even have like... a guy with a mobile brewer at some corner that sells 2$ filter coffee? Or a coffee bike? or a kiosk that also has a coffee dispenser?
I went to the Starbucks in my mall when I worked there and they would mess up my order every time. I would ask for a black iced coffee and they kept putting cream in it. I would even order through the app and they either forget about it or mess it up. They literally messed up the most simple order in the world.
@@IanDresarie hey man you do know that some people live in like. small towns with maybe only a restaurant, a cafe, two bars, and a supermarket... right?
When I travel, I like trying out different local coffee shops over Starbucks. Local places' coffees are usually much better. SB is like the McDonald's of coffee. Low-grade convenience beverages. There are much better, local places out there to try. For my daily, I brew my own coffee at home, and purchase beans from a local roaster. I want to support local. SB is a last resort for me.
Couldn't agree more, why would you go to the same old chain you have at home when traveling anyway??
I'd keel over and die iver going for Starbucks fir coffee
McDonald's has better coffee than starbucks too
Starbucks basically acts like apple being the "only" place for whatever.
it's so expensive i don't understand how this is such a regular thing for so many people
Because many have been brainwashed and hooked by Starbucks and never had really great tasting coffee somewhere else and this is the closest they had.
when I lived in the US getting a normal coffee was $2
These people are living above their means
It's a status symbol for many, showing off they can afford such things.
10:45 Doing a handstand in the Starbucks line would still be more productive for everyone than ordering a "secret menu" item.
I don't go to Starbucks anymore. I bought a Breville Barista Express and make my own coffee.
The absolute worst kind of travellers are the ones that travel halfway across the world just to eat, drink and do the same things they do at home
Starbucks goes through more MILK than they do Coffee so this is not a surprise 😉
Have you seen a shot of espresso before mate?
@diiii_mond Yes hense my comment.. lol. Have you?
Name a coffee shop that uses more coffee than milk....?? you can't, sdo your point is mute
@@ScareFestTTV I’ve worked at some independent cafes and currently Starbucks so I’ve seen my fair share of customers that have no idea what they’re ordering. I’m only asking cause you seemed so surprised by something all cafes do.
Lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites are made with mostly milk and lattes are by far the most popular drink. It fits in perfectly with American food culture. Americans are extremely high on sugar and creamy drinks (we have the highest obesity rate for a reason). They’re far less likely to drink a plain black coffee or shot of espresso or learn to properly craft coffee at home.
They’re also less likely to know what an actual Italian macchiato is, or a long black, cortado, etc. All of these drinks have either little to no dairy. You’ll only see places like a kissaten only make coffee. They usually make specialty coffee.
Depends on the region
In my area its normal to just order espresso, "verlängerter"(espresso with same amount of hot water), filter. Ppl maybe wanna have a touch of cream or dash of milk, rarely a full on cafe latte or cappucino
Near me the Dutch Bros coffee is absolutely killing Starbucks.
We have 1 of each in the same center with a Whole Foods separating them and the difference in lines is insane even though it is easier to get in and out of the Starbucks section.
We have a UK company called Costa killing off Starbucks over here-not saying it is any better, but at least it isn't an American company for once. 🙂 Pretty much all-if not All American companies just care about profit over well being, stakeholders and shareholders profits over choice and difference, it is the same in Music, Film, TV. And it has never been as bad in that way, -as it is now.
I had Dutch Bros years ago when I visited Oregon. Loved it. If you are ever in NH, look up Aroma Joe's - they are very similar.
These are all chains. I try to seek out local shops myself, but frankly it’s good to hear Charbux is losing out to ANYONE.
i've had dutch bros only once when i went to san antonio and i think it was the best coffee i've had from a non locally owned coffee shop. there are none in my state but i liked it a lot
"You're a dog."
Starbucks has a monopoly on our college campus and forced a unique coffee shop in the art building to close.
We had the reverse. The campus had a Starbucks. It was a ghost town used by literally no one. The Students Union had their own coffee shop. That’s the one that got business
I’m so glad that here in Italy Starbucks is really not that popular. We have a big culture of small historical cafes and youngsters are still really invested in it! Going out, taking a coffee in some pretty place with a friend, chatting a lot, smoking a rolled up cigarette… this is such an european way of living, americans really don’t get to experience this. like i never heard one single of my friends say “i really want to go to starbucks!”
Starbucks coffee has tasting notes of motor oil, burnt rats, and wet concrete. The pike place blend is especially horrendous.
Agreed! Although their Blonde Roast is pretty good.
@@KoreyThatcher true, I think I heard some positive things about a few of their blends (I think veranda was one of them it's been quite a while) but the better roasts are usually unavailable
Ummmm sounds delicious! lol
And their customers call themselves "connoisseurs"
and you tasted all three so you know the flavor?
thank you for explaining the whole "banking" aspect of starbucks. im a dunkin girly personally but i always found it suspicious that they push you so much to use their autofill feature on your dunkin card!
I go to Starbucks almost exclusively for specialty drinks. I think the culture around creating unique drinks is really cool. I only get the ones advertised, but it would be interesting if they had an offshoot store catered to unique beverages
Same here! 😂
I love living in Portland. We have so many good local coffee shops with amazing coffee. I don’t ever have to even be tempted by Starbucks lol, cause it’s awful in comparison to any other shop
Thank you for your videos. I started making my own cappuccinos/matcha drinks at home a couple years ago instead of Starbucks (absurd prices for terrible flavor/coffee) and after seeing your videos, I feel even stronger about never buying from them again.
7:00 Polymatter reference, nice. Every content creator who has the strength to acknowledge great work has my admiration.
Pro-tip:
Buy their official syrup for $13.
They sell them directly inside their own stores. It is the *EXACT* same syrup they use for their drinks. Each bottle can last you 6-8 months.
Make the coffee at home and you’ll quickly realize its not the coffee that you like, but instead the syrups they use.
I saw the syrups online for $50 and up per bottle. Do you know if it's only at corporate stores that you can do this? Because I worked at a licensed store and there was no button for selling the syrup bottles. But you are absolutely right. One time I forgot to put the syrup in my brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso and it was disgusting. That was the moment I realized.... It's the syrup. It's all about the syrup 🫤
The cups are a design masterpiece. They even had a scene in game of thrones.
We do be boycotting
I live in Germany and the next Starbucks is 45 min away
They really don't have a lot of shops here lmao
5:06 it’s interesting here in Melbourne, Australia, the coffee, capital of Australia, Starbucks has been relegated to that place where foreign students in the central business area and other in a suburbs will sit for hours, nursing a single coffee while doing their team assignments. Almost no one who actually appreciates decent coffee would be seen dead in Starbucks in Melbourne, which is why over the last five years they’ve shut down post of their Melbourne and chunk of their Sydney stores.
Interstate students too from states without starbucks
Aussies have a great coffee culture; the influx of Europeans post WW2 brought some of the best coffee traditions.
They also didn’t survive in Adelaide
I remember at one point there were more coffee machines in Melbourne that the whole of the UK. I think it was ofter the London olympics where a lot of places who got a machine for the games then sold them off and lots of cafes in Melbourne bought them up.@@AlexShiro
I live in a small city and there’s like 17 Starbucks in total. There’s only like 3 or 4 local coffee shops
I'm a teacher and I've noticed a few kids coming to my classes recently with drinks from Coffee Bean. These big chains are definitely targeting kids.
You say that like they've got a Coffee Bean mafia accosting these kids in the back alley with coffee or something. No, what's more likely is that their parents were already drinking Coffee Bean and got their kid something for breakfast, too.
@@jacobp.2024 Yeah I know, but I've had 10 year old kids drinking actual coffee. What kids like coffee? I wonder what they're putting in these drinks to get kids to like them. Having said that, half of Starbucks' products have enough sugar to make you slip into a diabetic coma.
I feel so lucky to be born, raised and currently living in Italy. Until some years ago, we did not have a single Starbucks shop in the whole country (now there are some that opened in the last couple of years or so, from northern to southern Italy) and we have, for sure, a great "espresso culture" (if you say coffee here, you're automatically meaning an espresso and that's almost the only type of coffee we know). The only way to get coffee while you're out (and for a lot of people is still true, due to the still very limited expansion of Starbucks and similar) is to go to a bar and ask for a coffee (remember: you'll be served an espresso, that hasn't added sugar in it) that's as cheap as 80 euro cents here in southern Italy (even though now it's getting more expensive, something like 1, 1.10 euro). For sure, you won't be taking long to sip and enjoy your coffee, but it was and it is still the nicest thing to do sipping a coffee with my dad before going what we where supposed to go.
Ah, and that crappy Italian sounding names don't really mean anything serious ("venti" may mean both the number twenty or "winds" and "frappuccino" means nothing at all).
I have never understood the appeal of Starbucks. I cant say I have never been to one, but I think saying I have been there less than a dozen times in 48 years is accurate - and all of those visits were 25+ years ago. I can make perfectly good coffee at home in just a few minutes and I dont have to get dressed, leave the house, stand in line, have to learn a foreign language to order, or pay insane prices for what should cost pennies. I live a block and a half away from a Starbucks and sometimes when people come over, the will say something like "You have lived in this house for 8 years and so close to a Starbucks. Can you even guess how many times you have been there?" I enjoy it, as I will make a show of thinking and doing math with my fingers. Then I will say, "Zero."
Here I am, a consumer of Starbucks, drinking white choc mocha while watching this. Great vid! :)
We are all dogs in God’s hot car.
Top comment
I'm stealing this comment, I hope you don't mind. ♥️
Only you are dog I am a human
Cold truth
Remember when they opened in Sweden. A lot of people went there once for the novelty.
They eventually pulled back out of the country, not being able to compete with local chains.
A local coffee shop in my town has shirts for sale, as well as what employees wear that say “friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks”
I worked at a restaurant trade show that had multiple booths to get free, high quality, coffee and espresso. There was a 40 minute line to pay for Starbucks across the hall. Those people didn't want coffee they wanted their Starbucks order.
I’ve been on 4 different trips this year. Every airport I’ve been to & every hotel I’ve stayed at had a Starbucks.
As a Colombian, I can assure you that Starbucks is no-one's first choice here. Mainly just foreigners (which validates one of this video's points) and snobs go there. We value drinking real coffee over sugar-loaded, coffee-flavored drinks.
Estoy de acuerdoo
Could this be another one of the "major differences" between America and Europe?
Growing up and living in Germany, I want consistency in my home cooking, but variety and diversity in the cafes and restaurants I visit.
Starbucks Frappuccinos got me into coffee and I worked my way down.
But I rarely go now. It's so incredibly inconsistent. Frankly every single place is very inconsistent with coffee. Be it big chains or small cafes. It's so hard to find good coffee.
The only way I get consistency is with my Kureig.
Don’t succumb-use that willpower! LOL
As a non-coffee drinker, I don’t go to Starbucks. Recently though, Safeway (Albertsons) has been offering $2 grande drinks at their in-store outlets. I tried the fruity drinks until I realized it was just a carbon-free soda drink. Yesterday I tried to order something not unhealthy-I don’t think it’s possible unless you like black coffee. It’s more like a dessert chain of drinks, as donut shops are deep fried cake shops!
LOVE my deep fried cakes!
As a current SB barista of one year, everything presented here validates my gripes, annoyances, and general negativity for this company to such a high degree😹 Especially vibed with the point of so many people being addicted to the substances while being conditioned to desire the experience of getting their daily substance
Another understated niche that I think Starbucks (and other local coffee shops - which are better alternatives to go to) is that they're the closet third-space most people can go to that isn't just a park or a library to go to (especially since some parks aren't the best to visit depending on the weather/crime rate, and some libraries* are strict about food). The losses of easily accessible third-spaces in the US isn't always talked about often, and people usually talk about it more for kids (especially after Sephora stores getting overrun by them) when it also applies for adults too - especially when people feel their life is stagnant just going between home and school/work.
Since a lot of people just recommend cooking/eating at home to save on money/eat healthier, I wouldn't be surprised most people still eat out if only for helping improve their mental health and to have some sort of IRL community outside of school/work/college.
As a Gen Xer I've been brainwashed by Tim Horton's. The only time I've ever had a Starbucks is the morning after a date...Too expensive, too sweet.
I can't attest to the consistency of the taste. When I go to a Starbucks, I always go to the same one and order a chai latte. Every time it is a different level of sweet. It's really annoying.
why is there sugar in that drink in the 1st place?
That’s actually kinda funny but sad. Chai teas are by far the simplest drink to make. Venti’s gets 6 pumps of the chai and milk.
@@pierrex3226 ok chai masala or well what is normally referred to as chai tea here, is a spiced tea with milk and sugar in it. people don't usually drink it without sugar because the bitter notes form the tea and spices makes it unpalatable for most people.
@@diiii_mond 5 pumps if it's hot. And it should be half hot water and half milk. If a barista does more of one than the other then that will affect the taste.
@@pierrex3226 you can always ask for no sugar
y'all pray for me, the Oatmilk Venti shaken espresso drink has me in a chokehold. I'm trying to break free
buying starbucks was like a sign of wealth/luxury here in malaysia. these days, the shops are empty of customers
In Europe we avoid Starbucks at all costs because their coffee is so disgusting compared to the one from local coffee shops. And there’s a lot of smaller shops you can choose from with delicious coffee, so Starbucks isn’t even considered. But when we’re visiting America it seems like it’s the only option, it’s so hard to find something local.
Blended strawberries - strawberries
Blended strawberries with tonn of sugar, milk, ice cream and whipped cream - milkshake
Ground coffee beans with water - coffee
Ground coffee beans with water, tonn of sugar, milk, ice cream and whipped cream - also coffee?
This is idiotic. The last one should also be considered nothing but a coffee-flavored milkshake.
This was sooo good! Amazing storytelling. 20 minutes gone away like nothing
Nice haircut my man, looking fresh!
Not me drinking my starbucks cold brew while watching this video
Boooooo! ;-) :-p lol
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
I thought I liked Star Bucks, but the things I would get there is the chia tea with coconut milk and whipped cream. They just buy pre-made chia tea and you can get the exact same container that you didn't have to brew or anything. Turns out I could make the exact same drink while sitting in a park. If I made it at home it would be even better. Plus I always use my Klean Kanteen because they are awesome.
5:47 One of the interesting ways they make it so your coffee taste the same is their water. I service their water filtration systems, and they have various models, but the goal is to make the water you drink there taste the exact same no matter what location you go to
Yep, this is a technique perfected by Coca-Cola. Restaurants that use Coke dispensers are contractually required to use and maintain water filtration systems so that their product maintains consistency. Usually, the filter is in the dispenser itself.
but goddamn if that water ain't delicious
I bet they have problems in Flint...
That's true of a lot of foods. It's why New York pizza tastes like it does and can't be made quite right anywhere else.
@@christyrodrigue6628 New York pizza is a scam, it's just thin crust pizza, you can make it anywhere and it tastes exactly the same. NYCers need to get the F over themselves.
As someone who’s always hated coffee (I feel like I dodged a bullet there), it’s wild seeing people act with coffee/Starbucks. It’s like observing some alien species lol.
I get coffee in some form nearly every day, and I never get starbucks, ever.
It just sucks
Can honestly say I'm 42 yrs old and have never been in a Starbucks.
I think it's because we existed before they did if you live in the UK. I'm 43, and there wasn't nothing even like it until the late 1990s over here 🙂 We thankfully came from a world before Starbucks and other massive corporations!
Really? You haven't lived! Lol!!
People used to drink Coke to get their sugar and caffeine fix, but folks began to become aware that soda is unhealthy...so they switched to coffee, which has far more sugar than soda pop, so it is even more unhealthy and addictive.
Excellent video once again. Your videos are so funny and so informative!! I have liked, subscribed and love sharing.. Keep up the good work!
My biggest flex is that last time I had a Starbucks drink was probably in 2016, only cuz' there was no other coffee place around 😢
my anti-flex is that i last got starbucks at an international airport in france because it was the only coffee shop without a line 😅 (bit of an anti-flex for starbucks, too, if you think about it)
My flex is I never enter or tried a Starbucks coffee , but I’m European 😂
Starbucks has just opened in my town and It has all the quality of an out of date bus waiting room. How it can be so badly designed is beyond me. Spoke to a customer who used the drive through. They were the only car there and after a fifteen minute wait a server popped their head out and asked what their order was as they have forgotten!
That says it all really about them doesn't it? 🙂
I don't understand the hype regarding Starbucks. I have been to one ONCE when I was a teen, must have been about ~15 years ago. The place was crammed, there were a lot of customers there on that particular day. I had the feeling the people on the tables next to us would sit at our table if they just turned or leaned in slightly, and there were tables on every side of where I sat with my friends. A horrible layout, I don't understand why any hipster would want to do their laptop work in such a place.
I ordered some kind of cookie, it was dry as hell and didn't even contain enough sugar to distract from the unflavoured mess it was. It was overpriced as hell, too, even back then. I never set foot in one of their stores again after that. I figured if I wanted a sugar rush from a cookie I could go to Subways instead and get five cookies for the same price I paid at Starbucks for only one.
I live in Europe so there are small independent coffee shops everywhere. I am lucky.
Great vid! Congrats to all involved
As an autistic person that has a bunch of issues with food, the only reason I go to Starbucks sometimes is because of the consistency and convenience. This video might just be the kick in the butt I need to visit a local independent coffee shop instead.
I’ve been online all day waiting for future proof to upload.😭 (please pin)
Folks wanting to be seen by others in public holding a SB drink just to feel like they're cool or something lol. I make and being my own coffee to work. Not wasting my money over their coffee
I'm glad that in Indonesia there's a coffee shop booming and many newly local coffeeshop are open to actually compete with starbucks since hanging out culture in Indonesia are strong.
I don't really drink "actual" coffee in the first place so back in 2016~ it was crazy because there's simply no comparison (from south east asia), nowadays there are a lot of local coffee chains that has better prices anyway
Good thing I don't go to Starbucks. I've always found it too expensive which prevents me from going there on a regular as well as I don't like going alone. I only go rarely for a refresher or overseas to get the special ceremic mugs.