Sucker for Starbucks

Coffee has been a part of my life since the age of five. No, I was not drinking espresso at the age of ten. I am from Rhode Island, home of coffee milk. When other children my age were ordering chocolate milk with their grilled cheese sandwiches, I was ordering coffee milk. It was not until college that I really became interested in coffee for both its flavor and caffeine. Both my parents were religious Dunkin Donuts coffee drinkers, until they hit their midlife crises and drastically switched to Starbucks, never turning back.

I am going to admit something here, that I would never admit to my peers, I am a sucker for Starbucks. No, it is not my first choice in terms of taste and atmosphere. I am a fan of Think in the village. However, there are a combination of factors that draw me to Starbucks. First of all, where I live there are three of them within two blocks, so there is the convenience factor. Also, there are no other coffee shops, besides chains, that I know of around where I live. The second reason, is that I enjoy the music they play, I am a big jazz fan, and really don't mind the atmosphere. It gives me a place to read, write, think, sit, talk, and drink some coffee. I don't enjoy the atmosphere quite as much in the winter. I often find that there are more homeless people hanging out than actual customers. The third reason is that I like the coffee. I usually get the espresso or a hot/iced coffee. Its not mind blowing, but it certainly is a decent cup. Lastly, I often get gift certificates from family to Starbucks. I know that the coffee is overpriced, but so are most things these days. I know it is not unique considering there are three of them in a distance of two blocks from me. The coffee can sometimes be burnt tasting or a little more acidic than I would normally like. It can be inconsistent from place to place. But, overall I think Starbucks is not so bad; in fact, it can be enjoyable.

I diverged from my usual doppio espresso today and got the new Pike Place Blend. I really liked this blend. I found it smoother, less acidic, and not burnt; however, I realize I could have just gotten a really good cup. I will have to order it a few more times to form my complete opinion. I will update this post if my findings change. However, I am disappointed with the new cups. The quotes are gone!! Even though most of the time I thought they were stupid, they made me laugh.