The First Starbucks Coffee Shop

The original Starbucks

Once the concept was pegged down and the business plan finalized the very first Starbucks coffee shop opened in 1971. Today, just outside of downtown Chicago where I’m staying, there are two Starbucks coffee shops within a ten-block radius, but there are parts of downtown with a Starbucks at just about every block. I wonder if they like McDonalds are keeping count of number of coffees served to date.

I now consume more filter coffee than before and their Cappuccino goes down good. Though I can do without their overly sweet and rich 350-calorie green tea latte. I don’t think it was intended for green tea to be drunk like that. I have not been inside the original store, there’s always a long queue, but looking at their site it sounds like a coffee plus recycle based concept store. Pretty much in keeping with Seattle’s strictly regulated recycling program. My friend’s household has three bins in the kitchen, which are mirrored by larger bins outside for food waste (excluding animal waste), recycling (plastic, paper, glass, cans and so much more) and rubbish (lint, dirt, soiled food containers etc.). With penalties they city hands out for noncompliance, a lackluster recycling approach will not do.

Since 2010 there’s been talk of Starbucks opening in South Africa. Unless they plan on significantly slashing their prices or our exchange rate improving this will not be a viable expansion strategy. A medium cappuccino is about $4.20, that’s about R45.00 at the moment. Compared to existing South African coffee stores a selling prices, that is steep yo.

Coffee beans on the sidewalk