Fall is just around the corner, which means Starbucks will have its pumpkin spice latte in stores again. It also means the curmudgeons will start wagging their fingers at the Starbucks lovers.
Don’t worry, Starbucks isn’t in any danger. We Americans still love our Starbucks (well, except for the Americans who believe Starbucks has declared war on Christmas).
But as a young person living in New York City, I’ve also heard people starting to chastise it. Namely because it’s a chain. They get annoyed that there’s one in just about every town in the U.S., and on just about every street corner in cities. They hate that it puts indie coffee shops out of business. To them, Starbucks represents the corporatization of our lives. Oh, and of course the coffee “isn’t that great.”
I say this is a case of familiarity breeding contempt.
Don’t get me wrong, I love indie coffee shops. And I’m all for local businesses having a fair shot. I also dislike many things about the corporate world. But when it comes down to it, is Starbucks really so bad?
Here are the reasons I like it.
1. Hours. It’s open late. Most indie coffee shops close early or are only open at weird hours (like only on Mondays, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on Sundays). As someone who works full-time and values the chance to unwind after the day or maybe get some writing done while sipping on a latte, there’s only so many places that will let me do that after 8:00 p.m. Besides Starbucks.
2. Ambiance. Despite the fact that almost every Starbucks looks the same, you have to admit that their interior design is relaxing. I once took an interior design course in high school where we learned about how color affects our emotions. It turned out that rooms painted bright colors like orange, red, and yellow (think McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Burger King), raise people’s adrenaline, leading them to feel like they’re in a rush. Whereas browns, greens, and blues helped people calm down and relax. I know Starbucks may not look as hip as your local shop that just opened last year, but their green and brown color scheme at least signals that we should come in and stay a while.
3. Locations, locations, locations. Also, Starbucks is practically everywhere. But do you know how many times that’s saved me? I remember this one particular time when I was coming home late from a bookstore event, when it suddenly started down pouring. I was cold and wet and tired and starving, but through the big fat rain drops falling down around me, I saw the glow of a Starbucks sign in the distance. It was like a lighthouse leading me through to a warm, dry place that I knew would be open at such an hour.
It’s things like the above that make me thankful for places like Starbucks. I know they don’t have the greatest coffee. And I know they definitely put more sugar in their food than necessary. But overall, I find Starbucks to be a comfortable, comforting place (with free WiFi and pumpkin spice lattes) where I know I’ll always be welcome.
Steph Grossman 