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Starbucks has become a part of almost every student and urban office worker's lifestyle. This empire of a company has 6,216 company operated stores world wide with over 110,000 employees operating them; everywhere from Japan to Qatar. Apparently, the first Starbucks was opened in 1971 in Seattle not as a Cafe' but as a store specializing in high quality beans and coffee making equiptment. The buying and selling of the company through various individuals has resulted in the current "Starbucks-on-every-block" world.



As the company expanded the original logo was toned down to be more "Appropriate" to avoid from anyone taking offense.
The name "Starbucks" apparently came from the name of the first mate of a ship called the Peqoud from the famous novel Moby Dick. (Peqoud was also considered to be the name of the company but was canned because it sounded too much like the slang for urine). Along with the name, the logo is also water related. The logo depicts a siren or also known as a mermaid or a melusine often appearing in Greek Mythology. These sirens would sing on islands of rocks and lure sailors with their beautiful voices, causing them to crash into the cliffs.

But really, what's the obsession?

This information surely does not explain to us the reason for the cult like following behind this major corporate power.
I went to numerous sites on Starbucks to find the answer. I even went to a blog dedicated to Starbucks called, "Starbucks Gossip" and yet no pertinent information.

I personally believe the popularity and the obsession comes from a combination of two aspects.

First off, Starbucks has become more of a brand then a product. You cannot deny how aesthetically pleasing those white cups with the sip tops are. How smooth it feels when you have one in your hands, going in for each sip feels better than it tastes. I believe its really not about the coffee anymore, its about the image. Walking down the street with a hot house blend during the winter or a cold Rumba Frappuccino during the summer, it is quite literally, fashionable.

Going hand in hand with the "Image" of Starbucks, the second reason that contributes to the popularity is escapism factor. By this I mean that every Starbucks offers the same interior (more or less), same products, and same perky smiling employees. This means that anyone can walk into any Starbucks and escape into this perfect little world of cool latin/jazz techno BGM, the various smells and sounds of coffee making, and the general hustle and bustle of a store that is "Happening".

All this combined makes a very attractive haven for anyone who wants to escape.

Through looking up the various facts for this entry I came to realize that although Starbucks seems to have in general a bad image as a company, (Sometimes even referred to as the "Empire") it really does provide people with a familiar place in which they can kick back and put there mind at ease. Being the son of a Cafe' owner, I always did have mixed feelings about ordering coffee from Starbucks. But now I know that I am buying the atmosphere, the decor, the tasteful background music, and that feeling of myself unwinding. At 390 yen per cup for mediocre coffee I better get something else!

Here's what Lewis Black has to say about Starbucks.



Until next time,


(Information source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks)