The cultural implications of Starbucks
How’s that four dollar Double Mocha Mint Frappuccino and what does it say about you? These are the types of questions Historian Bryant Simon explores in his new book, “Everything but the Coffee: Learning about America from Starbucks.” Simon talks with Larry about Starbucks’ success and recent downturn and what it all reveals about us consumers.
University of California Press
What does your venti soy chai latte no foam say about you--and us?
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Guest:
Bryant Simon, author of "Everything But the Coffee: Learning about America from Starbucks" (University of California Press). He is a professor of History and the Director of American studies at Temple University.
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Eric Johnson
Tender Greens
Tender Greens is like your favorite rock band where you want to keep it a secret but also hope for tremendous success. And successful it is. Healthy and tasty salads and veggies, lean cuts of steak, chicken and tuna all served up in a 'fast food' style and price tag - but in a much better environment and quality. The flatiron angus steak with Yukon Gold potatoes top out my list. I also love to get the line caught ahi tuna with a baby spinach and goat cheese salad - quite tasty when I'm shooting for lighter fare. Makes for a nice and not-too-expensive dinner, and an excellent lunch as well.
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2 weeks, 1 day ago
I have no idea what people see in Starbucks. I may have had 3 coffees from Starbucks in my life.
2 weeks, 1 day ago
historically analyzing america via starbucks is interesting to a point. where it REALLY gets interesting is in its role as a neo-colonial arm, for example, vis a vis, china.
most americans are completely unaware - EVEN ones who've been there! - that there are THOUSANDS of starbucks in china... along with wal marts, mcdonalds, coke and pepsi... the old style colonialism via armies with guns is dead - long live the neo-colonialism ... with a soy mocha latte!!!
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Why no discussion of what Starbuck's has done to independent cafes? They've destroyed them. I'm glad Starbuck's is falling on hard times, maybe local cafes can make a comeback. In Orange County they bought out and buried the smaller, local and much better quality Diedrich's coffee chain, and we're worse off for it.
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Most people haven't the taste to notice, but Starbucks coffee is no longer the excellent tasting java that it was 20 years ago. I've found Starbucks coffee to be weak, watery and poorly flavored. Just enough people notice that their customer numbers are down. There are very few coffee shops that actually have any idea what a good cup of coffee should taste like. And some friends of mine actually prefer weak, watery, bad tasting coffee.
2 weeks, 1 day ago
20+ years ago a good friend from Sao Paulo Brazil visited me here in LA. I took him for his first Starbucks (they are in Brazil now.....a la coals to Newcastle). He took a sip...pounded the table and complianed loudly, "can't you Americans let us be best at SOMETHING?!"
I imagine the post-perculator generation has no idea what passed for coffee for most Americans a few decades ago. Ironically, you can still find it at some "coffee shops". Starbucks did much for the average coffee drinker.