It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... (Starbucks)

Member Name: athena

Product:	Starbucks
Date:	13/09/01 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality food and drink, Nice merchandise

Disadvantages: Soooooo expensive, Surcharges on eating in

Starbucks. The mere word screams American culture....the comfy seats, and big steaming mugs of coffee, the closest possible place to "Friends" in the UK. They certainly have a wide range. Large glass counters filled with all manner of delightful goodies-leek and parmesan scones, death by chocolate cakes, banoffee pie and the more 'healthy' bran muffins and granola bars. Home to the chic- I once saw Tracy Shaw from Coronation Street in the Manchester one, but I can't say it has made me like it more.

I loved Starbucks in the USA, I had never been in anything like it before. Since I have been back in the UK though, I realise that if I went to Starbucks everyday I would soon be living on the street. I think I liked it there because someone else was always paying! The drinks are soooo expensive-I think the cheapest black coffee is £1.55 -that's the smallest size. Large mugs of speciality coffee are getting into the £3 level. For a drink!!! I won't pretend I don't like them.... although I happen to think that Costa make a higher quality product for a slightly lower price.

The food is quite similar- good quality, but the cheapest cake, to eat in, costs £1.40. Some are £2.40 +. So your drink and cake can easily cost you something bordering on £5 which is what I like to pay for my whole lunch. It is good quality though. It tastes good, but I cannot justify the high cost to myself- especially as a student.

One thing that is very good about Starbucks though is the cold Nantucket Nectar drinks they sell. My boyfriend loves them and it's been very hard finding anywhere other than Starbucks that sells them in the UK. They are made in America and have no artificial rubbish but real juice in such as apple and cranberry. So when we go to Starbucks he gets his favourite drink, and when we go to Costa I get mine!

One thing I will point out, is how it is different here in Starbucks than in America. Here, they su
rcharge all food to eat in. In the USA they surcharge all drinks being taken out by about 5 cents for the supply of the takeout disposeable cup. Weird huh? But definitly a way of reaping in more money...
another way is with their own highly priced merchandise. That's exactly what they are though. A company after as much profit as they possibly can which is why millions are sprouting all through the UK especially in city centres... at least we know it though! They don't hide their money- hunger.

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