Comments on: Starbucks, the New Coffee Culture, and Why it Reflects Our Changing World http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/ A Future Look at Today Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:38:37 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Dave Kustin http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Dave Kustin Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:13:29 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/#comment-762 I don't think the popularity is about addiction, as you mention in the previous post, as much as it is about fashion and having an accessory. George touched on this. As with most fashion oriented items, "the famous" have made is fashionable to walk around with a Starbucks in their hand. It is the new cigarette. To a degree, I think the same holds true for Blackberry's and Treos. I question how many people actually "need" them for their jobs. Now, I do believe it is the best freakin coffee you can find. So good, you wonder why every place that serves coffee is not as good as even the worst Starbucks roast. What's the big secret? There just roasted beans that are ground up and have hot water poured over them. Dave I don’t think the popularity is about addiction, as you mention in the previous post, as much as it is about fashion and having an accessory. George touched on this. As with most fashion oriented items, “the famous” have made is fashionable to walk around with a Starbucks in their hand. It is the new cigarette. To a degree, I think the same holds true for Blackberry’s and Treos. I question how many people actually “need” them for their jobs.

Now, I do believe it is the best freakin coffee you can find. So good, you wonder why every place that serves coffee is not as good as even the worst Starbucks roast. What’s the big secret? There just roasted beans that are ground up and have hot water poured over them.

Dave

]]> By: Stuart Friedman http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Stuart Friedman Thu, 30 Nov 2006 11:49:37 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/#comment-761 David, Love your stuff! Actually, you can add one more option to the number calculated above by Ben: that's the free will/choice of individuality NOT to go to Starbucks. David,

Love your stuff! Actually, you can add one more option to the number calculated above by Ben: that’s the free will/choice of individuality NOT to go to Starbucks.

]]> By: ENGAGING CULTURE » Starbucks and Pluralism http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/comment-page-1/#comment-758 ENGAGING CULTURE » Starbucks and Pluralism Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:21:22 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/#comment-758 [...] I just read a very interesting article on EvolutionShift.com [...] [...] I just read a very interesting article on EvolutionShift.com [...]

]]> By: george rosenbaum http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/comment-page-1/#comment-741 george rosenbaum Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:00:20 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/11/27/starbucks-the-new-coffee-culture-and-why-it-reflects-our-changing-world/#comment-741 Think of Starbucks as a replacement for tobacco. Starting at about age 5 kids used to know what brand they would smoke. Smoking was a public act that delivered identity, not only in the brand, size, but also how you smoked. Now that smoking is no longer an effective instrument of identity, what are people to do. They carry and sip or suck coffee drinks. Or they carry and sip or suck water bottles. The need for easy instruments of identity is not new and probably has not grown from transition to the Information age. Super selection has always been appealing but was rare before technology enabled distribution and media the dissemination of choice. There are signs that new identity instruments are on the horizon as people become overwhelmed or bored by "infinte" choice. Those signs are visible in the downsizing of stores, simplification of health care e.g. nurse practicioner, small town revivals, retro movements, and ominously, the growing appeal of fundamentalism. Think of Starbucks as a replacement for tobacco. Starting at about age 5 kids used to know what brand they would smoke. Smoking was a public act that delivered identity, not only in the brand, size, but also how you smoked. Now that smoking is no longer
an effective instrument of identity, what are people to do. They carry and sip or suck coffee drinks. Or they carry and sip or suck water bottles. The need for easy instruments of identity is not new and probably has not grown from transition to the Information age. Super selection has always been appealing but was rare before technology enabled distribution and media the dissemination of choice. There are signs that new identity instruments are on the horizon as people become overwhelmed or bored by “infinte” choice. Those signs are visible in the downsizing of stores, simplification of health care e.g. nurse practicioner, small town revivals, retro movements, and ominously, the growing appeal of fundamentalism.

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