Starbucks my friend

I started going to Starbucks in 2000 when I worked for Roger's. It began by going with a fellow manager. I went with him to get the hell out of the office not to go to Starbucks. Eventually I started asking him and the Barista's about the drink he was ordering. I wanted to know what it tasted like. I tried it, finally, but only after they all assured me there was no coffee in it (I do not like coffee). The drink was a Grande Soy no water no foam Tazo Chai. A little piece of heaven that has grown into a daily addiction.

Once I had tasted it I was hooked. I started going to SB all on my own. I had a new confidence in ordering. I had figured out enough of the secret coffee language to do that. It also served as a way to escape the horrors of work. When one works in an oppressed negative environment the comfy chairs of the local SB are even more inviting. Although I know that SB is a large corporation and for the most part I do not like those beasts either I have failed to find another coffee shop that can make a soy chai latte that equals SB. I have tried Timothy's, Second Cup and Balsac's. The first two use a powder, just awful. Balsac's as I recall used a syrup, as does SB, but it was awful as well. I am left with SB.

I recently spotted this article concerning SB's opening practises. Despite all the hype and complainers it looks like the little green coffee shop makes it for all the others. Although I am sure SB has an evil side I have been able to avoid seeing it. They build schools in poverty stricken coffee countries and make a mean chai latte. What could be wrong with all that?

PS. Check out Rondi's blog which indirectly lead me to the SB article. She has deeper more meaningful blog entries. Worldly issues that impact us all. Every now and then we meet up at SB (sorry Rondi if I am outing you) and we drink lattes and talk about all the humans that have no clue. We never run out of things to say on that topic!