When will it stop?

LETHAL LADY · 22-08-2016 11:31PM

The Moldy Gowl wrote: »

Becuase we always like to mess with our food and make them taste different I suppose. It's no different to anything else really.

Each coffee has a different style and texture be it an espresso or a latte. Then you have the different types of beans and how the milk is frothed. The world of coffee is extraordinarily diverse.

Coffee is lifes most simple pleasures.

If we didn't have the likes of starbucks or costa everywhere in Ireland, we probably wouldn't have such a varied market of coffee. Like them or hate them, they get people drinking coffee and they encourage coffee shops to give me a better product.

Ah look, I was reared on Maxwell House from a drum, so I'm a bit behind ya there.

The Moldy Gowl · 22-08-2016 11:40PM

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

Ah look, I was reared on Maxwell House from a drum, so I'm a bit behind ya there.

That's some sad stuff right there.

ThinkProgress · 22-08-2016 11:43PM

The Moldy Gowl wrote: »

Becuase we always like to mess with our food and make them taste different I suppose. It's no different to anything else really.

True.

But since coffee is a delivery vehicle for the most popular addictive drug in the world, it's also about constantly trying to keep people interested and engaged... so they keep consuming the drug and keep flocking back to their dealer for another fix!

They know most people don't like to see themselves as drug addicts, so they make the delivery method seem suave, sophisticated and trendy! Give it an exotic look and feel etc.

They promote everything about the product, except the drug itself. Everything else is just an elaborate distraction method. We do the same with alcohol, and it never seems to stop being successful.

xabi · 22-08-2016 11:48PM

They don't even use proper barista machines, press a button and that will be 4.50 please.

Collie D · 22-08-2016 11:50PM

average_runner wrote: »

My sandwich shop and coffee shop know my name, I better move on.

Oh, I get your point and I should have pre-empted it but those are places I assume you go to regularly. I've been to Starbucks three or four times in my life and never the same one twice so I don't expect or want the same level of familiarity as I would in my local pub or staff canteen.

The Moldy Gowl · 22-08-2016 11:53PM

ThinkProgress wrote: »

True.

But since coffee is a delivery vehicle for the most popular addictive drug in the world, it's also about constantly trying to keep people interested and engaged... so they keep consuming the drug and keep flocking back to their dealer for another fix!

They know most people don't like to see themselves as drug addicts, so they make the delivery method seem suave, sophisticated and trendy! Give it an exotic look and feel etc.

They promote everything about the product, except the drug itself. Everything else is just an elaborate distraction method. We do the same with alcohol, and it never seems to stop being successful.

I'm glad you have found enlightenment in this crazy world filled with sheeple

https://i.imgur.com/IVZU03y.gifv

debabyjesus · 23-08-2016 12:03AM

Stealthfins wrote: »

By far the best coffee shop in Ireland is Joe's in Lahinch.
Right on the corner there.

Thanks Joe. And fair play to you for trying every coffee shop in Ireland before you gave yourself that honour

wakka12 · 23-08-2016 12:29AM

Alf Stewart. wrote: »

Meh. I just don't go in them as I'm not an "overly fond of coffee" kinda bloke, seems a bit offer priced too if you ask me.

I love beer.

Open more Wetherspoons, or other pubs with cheap booze!

Theres a few more supposed to open in Dublin city centre you'll be glad to hear

bodhrandude · 23-08-2016 01:28AM

Are you talking about the rain, please let it be the rain. How come we can't ask the weather directly when its going to stop, there must be a break where we get a rest from the wet,

languagenerd · 23-08-2016 01:57AM

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

If i walked through Paris and saw a starbucks instead of a local cafe id also be annoyed.

Paris has even more Starbucks branches than Dublin (or it did the last time I was there a couple years ago). They do this everywhere, as mentioned: flood the market to get a monopoly. I think the independent scene in Dublin is healthy enough at the moment though.

JupiterKid · 23-08-2016 04:01AM

Yes, there definitely does seem to be a lot of Starbucks popping up all over the city centre. I've also heard of Starbuck's business model of saturating an area to kill off competition.

But I generally avoid Starbucks because their coffee is horrible.

pickarooney · 23-08-2016 05:46AM

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't really have a problem with Starbucks, you get what you pay for. It's not really like other places make much effort to do better coffee, they just do their version of coffee. I don't think I've ever gone into an independent place and had a choice beyond Americano, Latte and cappuccino. I've never been given the option of Colombian, Ethiopian beans, etc.. for example.

At least they have some choices, I'm in France now and when i ask for an Americano I get a look that's not so much "what's an Americano?" but "Jaysus, just have an espresso like a normal person". I can't get a big cup of coffee for love nor money.

The independents need to up their game, just offering espresso based coffees and crying I'm an independent isn't good enough to get people over the convenience of the likes of Starbucks.

Ask for a café allongé if you want a big cup of coffee.
Americano is a beef and tomato sandwich.

Squeeonline · 23-08-2016 09:04AM

Freakenomics did a great episode on this. Though they used Mattress stores as the example but it applies to starbucks as well http://freakonomics.com/podcast/mattress-store-bubble/

riclad · 23-08-2016 03:02PM

I don,t go to coffee shops ,
i would not know what to order,
i think its a celtic tiger thing.
Every main street now has an american style coffee shop.
For every pub that closes 2 coffee shops appear overnight .
Young people know all about grande americano frappe etc like they all know how to use ipads ,mobile phone apps ,snapchat ,facebook etc
i go to a cafe and get tea and a roll .
Chain stores like starbucks have economys of scale that an indie shop cant compete with .

Boom_Bap · 23-08-2016 03:05PM

Deadly news for the bazillions of Starbucks drinkers though.

Cina · 23-08-2016 03:06PM

VonLuck wrote: »

There was a new coffee shop that opened in Rathmines maybe earlier this year, then a couple months later a Starbucks opened up literally just across the road. Needless to say they closed down shortly thereafter.

I always thought Rathmines needed two Starbucks.

I went into that place twice - their coffee was awful and so was the service, I don't think it's Starbucks that killed them. Quite a few coffee places in Rarthmines doing well even with the Starbucks there.

The second Starbucks is usually pretty quiet whenever I walk past. In fact the Insomnia across the road is usually busier (helps that it's a little cheaper, mind).

Anyway, Starbucks charge more money for their coffee than most other coffee shops in Ireland, which I find utterly bizarre. They're a coffee chain with 'meh' coffee in comparison to others. It'd be like McDonalds charging as much for a burger as a respected restaurant.

Cina · 23-08-2016 03:10PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't really have a problem with Starbucks, you get what you pay for. It's not really like other places make much effort to do better coffee, they just do their version of coffee. I don't think I've ever gone into an independent place and had a choice beyond Americano, Latte and cappuccino. I've never been given the option of Colombian, Ethiopian beans, etc.. for example.

You need to go to Butlers.

Sweet, frothy, coffee heaven. Mmmmmm.

tayto lover · 23-08-2016 03:34PM

When will it stop?

A bit like that silly Rose of Tralee rubbish.

Voodoomelon · 23-08-2016 04:24PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't really have a problem with Starbucks, you get what you pay for. It's not really like other places make much effort to do better coffee, they just do their version of coffee. I don't think I've ever gone into an independent place and had a choice beyond Americano, Latte and cappuccino. I've never been given the option of Colombian, Ethiopian beans, etc.. for example.

At least they have some choices, I'm in France now and when i ask for an Americano I get a look that's not so much "what's an Americano?" but "Jaysus, just have an espresso like a normal person". I can't get a big cup of coffee for love nor money.

The independents need to up their game, just offering espresso based coffees and crying I'm an independent isn't good enough to get people over the convenience of the likes of Starbucks.

Couldn't believe the same myself in France in June. Coffee over there is sh1te, and I mean everywhere. 7 cities and I think we had a single, alright coffee. The rest was p1ss.

wakka12 · 23-08-2016 04:38PM

johnty56 wrote: »

One of starbucks business methods is to saturate an area with shops, to the point that independents cannot compete or function, and have to close down. Starbucks then close many of the stores they opened, and then have a monopoly in the area. They are Scum.

Ive never seen this happen anywhere, and once they close down the excess stores cant indie shops reopen again anyway. And also ,theyre not scum for making profits. They are only making profits because of the demand from the public, blame the public for drinking their coffee, if anything.

johnty56 · 24-08-2016 12:04PM

I've seen it happen in a few places, and it is a pretty well known strategy of Starbucks. As to them being scum, well they seem to expect to be able to operate in a societal structure and benefit form all that entails without paying into it in any way.. just another tax avoiding scum corporation.
As to indies reopening.. if you had invested heavily in your business and found yourself going bust.. how easy do you think it would be to do it again?
And yes, you are right.. it really is the public who are to blame.. clear lack of forethought or consideration- but that is a far wider debate:)

pumpkin4life · 24-08-2016 02:39PM

"Good puzzle would be cross Dublin without passing a Storbucks." - Leopald Bloom 2016.

ScumLord · 24-08-2016 10:48PM

IRLConor wrote: »

Most of the good places will do filter coffee as well.

But that's just another way of brewing the same coffee. I've been making espressos at home (until I broke my cheapo espresso machine from overuse) and there's a big difference between Ethiopian beans, Columbian beans and so on. There's no choice in country of origin, even the same country can produce different varieties of beans. At the moment a shop only stocks one type of bean, it would be like if all wine was just the one grape.

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Couldn't believe the same myself in France in June. Coffee over there is sh1te, and I mean everywhere. 7 cities and I think we had a single, alright coffee. The rest was p1ss.

The coffee was fine I just couldn't get the measurement I wanted, I was on the road and wanted a big cup of coffee. The largest cup size they had would be considered a small cup of coffee here.

IRLConor · 25-08-2016 02:46PM

ScumLord wrote: »

But that's just another way of brewing the same coffee. I've been making espressos at home (until I broke my cheapo espresso machine from overuse) and there's a big difference between Ethiopian beans, Columbian beans and so on. There's no choice in country of origin, even the same country can produce different varieties of beans. At the moment a shop only stocks one type of bean, it would be like if all wine was just the one grape.

I don't know which places you're going to, but most of my regular places have two or three different bean options at all times.

When will it stop?

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