Well? IS IT?!?

Let's have it out, once and for all.

The coffee chain claims to involve itself in humanitarian efforts and it seems to have interests in creating progressive, alternative business models (like their record label efforts, for example).

On the other hand, Starbucks is known for pushing indie coffee shops out of business and their very logo has become synonymous with the whole boogieman concept of "corporate fascism".

Do you go to Starbucks? Do you consciously avoid it? Is it for ethical reasons or just because you don't like their coffee? If you avoid Starbucks because it's a chain franchise, do you also avoid all fast food chains? If not, why is one better than the other?

So tell me: IS STARBUCKS EVIL???

I never go to it. I always go to Tim Hortons - so cheap and oh so good.

This thread is both offensive and subversive on its face Christopher!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

I MUST KNOW!!!

JustErin said:

I love Tims when in your neck of the woods! Maybe I'll invade you one of these days!

eh. I can take or leave them, I guess. They're not the best coffee, but they're reliable. They're freaking everywhere. When I want a grande mocha frappucino, only starbucks will do.

But that's almost never.

JustErin said:

my only other option in the area is dunn bros.

i really don't mind their coffee, but their location by my job is really threadbare and skanky and i don't like going there because it's like going to someone's skankity bachelor pad apartment and pretending you're comfortable. that's really not a dining experience i'm going for, even if it's just coffee.

Their coffee sucks. Don't know how you can drink the stuff. No wonder they failed in only 3 months from opening a branch in Israel.

Starbuck's not evil.
The cylons are.

i'd love to write them off as trendy corporate evil, but i love their vanilla stuff too much.

Anxiety said:

Dunns by Carries old joint was great.... not salvation but great....

Seattle presented the best coffee joints to me ... very personal work... but Starbucks Sumatra is amazingly good!

Illustrator said:

D R I N K S T A R B U C K S !

Anxiety said:

We also have Robin's Donuts, Bridghead Coffee, Second Cup, and crappy Dunkin Donuts.

Illustrator said:

AND Captain Apollo is a mere mortal, he has to use the public restrooms just like the rest of us

oh, and COFFEE is evil

ZombieKitten said:

ZombieKitten said:

I love you buttttt

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Anxiety said:

Dunn Bros is my fave chain of coffee, I think they're only a local chain. If I can't go to an indie, they're the best.

Anxiety said:

But, of course, these things are all about PR.


I don't believe anyone "pushes" anyone out of business. While huge corps with incredibly deep pockets like Starbucks make it much more difficult for indies to thrive, a smart one can still kick their ass.


I don't drink coffee. But I don't subscribe to that "Indie good; Corporate bad" philosophy. Some "indies" are rotten and some corporations are cool.


Whenever I'm reminded of Starbucks, I think of this :

http://www.youtube.com/wa...__ZDevLq28

Kind of sums up how I feel about the whole Starbucks phenomenon.

ZombieKitten said:

Well, I think you owe me a coffee pic.... You sorta like attacked my religion!

CarrieMpls said:

If ever i get back there I wish to worship at the alter of Dunns!

Ace said:

i'm kinda with you on the whole cynical backlash thing. i'm just trying to suss out what makes for notably unethical behavior from companies these days. i mean, pouring shampoo in bunny rabbits' eyes and not hiring people as waiters because they're homogay...that's the kind of stuff *I* grew up with. maybe we're painting with a softer palette these days.

Well, they certainly lace their chai and green tea lattes with something, 'cause that stuff is crazy addictive!

So I say definitely evil.

...On the other hand, Joni is dropping a CD on their Hear Music label. So maybe they're evil... but the good kind of evil.

Lammastide said:

I have always adored you!

I enjoy Pete's Coffee, 'cause Starbuck's is evil.....

Starbucks is da debil which is why I go to a mom and pop coffee stand by my house

I go to starbucks because simply put, their iced americano is the only thing that wakes me up in the morning. It is downstairs from my work. I buy one as I come upstairs in the morning, and one on my way out the door!

Reply to 'Once and for all: IS STARBUCKS EVIL???'

Maybe a little, but so what!

[Edited 9/20/07 19:21pm]

you GUYS...!

*WHY* do you think starbucks is evil??? that's what i wanna KNOW!!! :bitchyasstantrum: