Why I still go to Starbucks

"... What he or she wants is a clean, quiet, comfortable, air-conditioned space, to work, meet friends or linger for hours, no questions asked. Such hangouts are scarce in India, and with the urban chaos outside, boy, do we need them. India’s women, desperately short of safe public spaces, want to sit by themselves without being leered at, as they might be in dhabas. India has an estimated 200 million people between 18 and 25. The young, who usually live with extended families in cramped houses, want to chat, date and escape their prying parents. The growing number of entrepreneurs who work from home are looking for venues to network and meet clients. And everyone – absolutely everyone – will be looking for that scarcest of commodities in India: a clean toilet. It’s not about the coffee. It’s about the coffee house."

"Why India's yuppies want Starbucks (it's not about the coffee)" by Kavitha Rao from The Guardian

I read this article recently and it has stuck with me. I love Starbucks ... but my love, like the young Indians mentioned above, is not about the coffee ... or at least not just about the coffee. Its about the coffee house and, in particular, my coffee house.

First off, let me say ... my favourite bean is an aged Sumatran. "Old Brown Java" as some providers refer to it. This is a bean that Starbucks uses regularly ... and it's something that makes me happy.

But it's not used in Pike Place ... their 'signature blend' and the only one they offer nowadays.

I like Pike ... but I don't love it. What I did love was the when they used to brew a variety of blends AND Pike. I used to love seeing what they had on offer and getting spoiled with cafetieres with the latest blend to try.

I don't get this any more ... but I still go to Starbucks. Why?

One reason is because of the coffee house itself ... it's the most convenient place for me to hang out at lunch time or after work. The upper floor at the 'Bucks in Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow; has a really relaxed atmosphere ... even when suits hog seats ... and students think they own the place. I've had some great conversations in there ... and got a lot of stuff done. It's my third place ... or, at least, one of them.

I am a big fan of Beanscene and would go there *everyday* if I could ... I particularly like the one across from the Kelvingrove Museum. It is something special. Ironically, I drink 'London Fogs' when I go there rather than coffee ... but it is still a favoured coffee house for similar reasons.

Another reason is the staff there are fantastic. Anne, Lesley and Hannah are just so warm and welcoming ... they really light up a bad day with their infectious enthusiasm for what they do.

Lastly ... Starbucks have embraced mobile payments and 'passbook' on the iPhone. Making payment convenient and zero hassle. I like this a lot ... mainly because I hate carrying money on me.

So I guess when I talk about my love of coffee ... I need probably expand that to ... I love coffee houses too and have my particular favourites.

Hopefully this is food for thought for all the coffee connoisseurs out there ... you may have the best coffee blends in world (hopefully one that includes age Sumatran beans) but if your coffee house isn't warm, relaxed and friendly ... and your staff are similarly engaging ... then you'll miss out.

People like me want great coffee ... but they need a place to relax and hang out ... and the difference between need and want is why I still go to Starbucks.

Tx

a gathering in February...

I called another gathering a while back ((link)) and I have to say I am stoked by the response I received. Jon G has it in his diary... Matthew and possibly Debbie from Kirkwall will be coming - they will be in town... as is Andrew Clark (a fellow podcaster at councilofwar.co.uk/) as well as some of the folk from the first gathering.

So anyway... I want to try a new location - The Caffe Nero at Hope Street ((91 Hope Street G2 5TB - Tel: 0141 249 9832)) - they have a basement space that will be more conducive to conversation.

Be there on the 21st Feb from 1630hrs onwards... until about 1830hrs or so (the place shuts at 1900hrs). Anyone up for food afterwards can join Olly and I for something Japanese... or fusion... (although we are flexible - Nando's is maybe too far for some)

While you are waiting... check out this article on psfk :: Why Coffee Mornings Work & Networking Evenings Don't...

I love the idea of going out and drinking but it won't be anything like Coffee Morning or Likemind. Alcohol destroys the social initimacy that a caffenited morning has. As soon as people start drinking they revert to their socially trained norms and get cliquey. We've all been to networking nights and stood their with a bottle in our hand on our own as others chat alongside us. There's something interesting about turning up to a coffee morning at a cafe where you know no-one and you sit down and reach out your hand instinctively to the people around you and everyone chats. You just don't get that in a bar : people may shake hands but backs are turned pretty quickly.

OK so I don't drink... but I dig the sentiment. This is about conversation... and putting yourself out there to meet new people and talk about stuff that interests and inspires you. Meaningful connections were made last time that I hope to see sprout and grow.

Can't wait. If you can make it... let me know.

Calling another gathering...

The sun was shining yesterday when I traveled to work... and I was thinking about how well the gathering went.

So much so that I'd like to call another one! Got a bit of time on this... because I would like to tie it in to a visit to these parts of Matthew Bennett (and possibly his good lady, Debbie) who are good friends of ours and the Corps officers in Kirkwall.

I'm thinking 1630hrs for 1700hrs on Wednesday, 21st February : It is Ash Wednesday and will be the start of Lent... and I can't think of a more fitting start to a time of sustained contemplation than to hang out with some sweet folk.

Still to decide on the venue. It will be in Glasgow... but we may look at the Nero near Central Station - it has a basement space which may be more suitable for our blether.

Leave me a comment or send me an email if you want to come... or if you have any other preferred locations.

Who knows... I might even make some badges.

Gathering

Right... first off... I understand why people have coffee mornings - I am so wired! 2 lattes and suddenly Lucy in the sky with diamonds makes sense! Oh my goodness... here comes the sun now... Love is a fab album.

(LtoR) Tim, Dan, Julie & Paul (apparently being electrocuted or something)

The gathering happened! Yeah! 10 folk turned up... including a chap I hadn't met before (Tim - a friend of Innes). Roscoe came in from Bellshill and Dan even traveled from Glenrothes to hang out... which was way cool.

(LtoR) Jonathan, Tim & Dan

After brief introductions... everybody just chilled and the conversation just kind of flowed. Its a beautiful thing to see people connect. Everyone just opened up and started to blether.

(LtoR) Innes, SuperAlly & the back of Roscoe's heid

Connections were made. Ideas conceived. Dots were joined. Numbers & email addresses swapped (I love my moo cards!)

A couple of things that made the night a success:

(1) Julie pointed Paul towards a Christian charity who invest their funds by providing up to 3/4s of a person's mortgage. They see their money protected and the worker gets to do their thing without the overhead of a full mortgage. Nice!

(2) Jonathan inspired Dan to consider movie nights in Glenrothes. Jonathan is part of the Glasgow Central Fellowship and their movie nights at The Kog Cafe are really cool. It was sweet to see Dan's mind running with the idea. Success!

Thanks to everyone who came... including Darren who ran away before my phone came out for pics...

Thanks too to SuperAlly for giving me a loan of The Screwtape Letters. Cheers mate!

Here's to the next one. Keep posted.

Likemind.ny

Not sure what this is other than what it says ::

who: people like you.
what: an opportunity to enjoy coffee and conversation.
why: because drinking good coffee with likeminded people is fun.

I like the sentiment... Let's have more coffee mornings / afternoons / evenings!

likemind.us

Thanks to ((PSFK)) for the heads-up!