Coffee Shop Talk

 When Starbucks first arrived in the Philippines. I resisted the urge to go there because when I saw the prices then, my minds made up that it’s just an overpriced coffee shop, but walking pass their store everyday on my way to work, the coffee shop smelled really really nice but I managed to resist the temptation of going in and buying myself a cup. Then one day, a friend invited me to drink coffee there, her treat! Because I am not one to turn down a freebie I accepted her offer and after taking my first sip of mocha frappuccino I was hooked and Starbucks became my favorite coffee shop where before the closest thing I came to drinking brewed coffee was at McDonald’s.

Starbucks managed to be more than just a coffee shop for most of the Filipino people, it became a status symbol of wealth and coolness especially among students and yuppies to be seen fiddling away all day doing their homework or browsing the Internet on their wifi enabled laptop. Their products there might be considered overpriced by some like their pastries, bearista dolls, mugs and cups. But Starbucks managed to thrive very well and I see more Starbucks coffee shops opening all around the Philippines and I wish I could have a sip of their coffee at various locations around the country.