Starbucks Coffee - new openings in Munich

DD ain't donuts.

These are donuts:

You're right, that isn't at all negative.

@captpopular:

Apologies, just don't like getting into this whole 'big companies are arseholes' convo - if they can succeed like this good on em. Just assumed you were implying something else - but yes, I do know what they say about assumptions.

Having said that, fair point to you.

@Tim: Yep. Timbits are da best!! MMmmmmm.

Oh...you had to go and mention Timmy's. Man...I would kill for one of their donuts right now...and a hot chocolate. Ohh or a bagel...nice toasted bagel. Their sandwiches...nice soup...and all from drive-through. Miss that place

I looked into Tim Horton's franchise rights for Europe but they 'have no plans to expand to Europe in the immediate future'. I guess they are rich enough.

Get those f-ing donuts here and we'd all be happy.

For me, it's about a place to sit down and not have the formality of service. Cushy chairs all the better.

Like that ads in England say; "it's your home from home". And judging by all the crappy Ikea furniture we all seem to be trading in these fora, SBUX provides a sorely needed living-room niche, if nothing else.

If you are traveling and need to rest a bit, where can you go? Are you going to chill at McDs? Pull up a nice step at the Hauptbahnhof? And don't tell me you can read a book as comfortably in a stiff, metal cafe chair on Marienplatz.

SFCC and Coffee Fellows provide third places rather nicely too. They won't go out of business due to SBUX. The cafe across from the Pinakothek at the end of Tuerkenstrasse is really cool too. They are unaffected by SBUX.

In Seattle, where I'm from, the independent coffee-shop business seems to be booming. Every time I go back, there're more new cafes and more SBUX. Many of the 'indies' have become small chains themselves. People patronize them for better coffee, funkier atmosphere, and free wifi. SBUX seems to have invigorated the business of coffee-living rooms.

SBUX is just a victim of it's ridiculous success. It was so cool when it was new...

What Munich needs is it's own brand of 'third place'...where you can relax in a thick, cushy sessel and tip back a Mass...

Now, I just don't understand the motivations of people who leap to the defence of multinational corporations (or powerful political figures). Why defend powerful entities when they're already on top? It's just bizarre. Starbucks does not need defending. You're not in danger of losing access to its range of expensive coffee grotesqueries and el-blando range of muzak.
I do, however, understand the motivations of millions people who are against Starbucks (and other similar powerful entities). Here's some reasons:

They are anti-union, eg: retailworker.com

They exploit labour and use genetically modified products (and, no, multinationals do not bring wealth to third world countries. Stop kidding yourself):bizjournals.com

Globalisation is intrinsically not a bad thing. Look at the benefits of vaccines, for example. But the current crop of exploiters, flat-earthers and neo-liberals doing most of the globalising, are basically causing carnage, eg:zmag.org

How about we try democratising globalisation?

Before we let these ruthless, exploitative organisations 'touch our lives' (what in Orwellian hell does that mean?), we should at least be aware of the real costs beyond the menu board.

Sorry we're too busy drinking coffee.

How do flat-earthers globalise ?

I am pretty sure that what Orwell had in mind was a little bit more sinister than coffee houses.

I'm not much for using words longer than three syllables, but aren't successful companies democratically globalized? I mean, people vote with their cash, nein?

You can argue about MS forcing vendors to install Windows and enslaving the computer users of the world, but NOBODY needs to go into a SBUX and pay too much for a drink and a lounge chair.

It seems to me that folks aren't defending big, rich companies, they're simply saying that they like something, or at least, don't hate something. It takes a lot of energy to fight and hate.

I agree. Good points. However, the point I tried to argue was that Starbucks exploits those with less power, such as third world workers, for whom such choices do not exist.
I also agree it takes a lot of energy, not so much to 'hate', but to take a little time to be aware of who does what to whom in the process of consumption. It took a little practice, but eventually I managed to learn to drink coffee and think simultaneously.

A good, respectable company will travel to all four corners of the globe for its people...

...to find they will work for a tenth of what Americans will.

@Ginmunich

With your requirements, you're going to have to go on a starvation diet pretty soon. Starbucks is hardly the only offender.

Yep. Totally agree. It would be virtually impossible to eat well, drink well and enjoy life without having to compromise. It's just that some are worse offenders than others. Some are more visible and accessible. Happily Starbucks makes themselves easy targets by being such blights on the streetscape.
I suppose you're also referring to ordinary foodstuffs. Again, never easy. Where there's possibilities for positive action, such as supporting a local growers' co-operative or something along those lines, then why not? Don't know of any in Munich, but maybe another TTer might.

But apparently no lessons on 'how not to be patronizing'.

It was sarcasm, but point taken. I apologise (I've got a bloody cold and nothing to do except sit around being cranky).

I seem to be in Karma Hell for my postings here... but it's all in good fun, right? Especially the sarcasm.

Right?

just a few quick items from The Onion about Starbucks:


(sorry, you need to pay to view these archived articles)

But the 'Phase Two' was definately Orwell 101...

I guess we'll never know...

But that first headline is a classic!

Why are Starbuck's "blights on the sidewalks"? They're fairly clean, tastefully decorated. The one in Sendlingerstr. has very nice garden furniture. Nothing risky to be sure, but nice nonetheless.

If you walk around Munich, the shops are mostly a mind-numbingly boring, (non-)array of bakeries, shoe stores, eyeglasses shops, and apotheken.

At present, I find Starbucks a welcome variety on the streets of Munich. If and when three more open, then, I guess that'll be enough.

Despite my comments, I'm not really a huge fan of Starbucks. If they are abusing the third world, then that sucks. But I don't have that info. I just personally find having a few on our fair streets infinitelly more interesting than, say a McDonald's, a shoe store, a bakery, or an apothek.

Munich does seem to have a great many shoe shops and what not. An extraordinary number of Apoteken - the first day I was here, I wandered around to the local PLatz and was flabberghasted to find 4 or 5 Apoteken within 100 metres of each other.
I just hope that the local Starbucks keep their outlet numbers down to a reasonable level, pay a decent wage, allow their employees to organise and use coffee from a decent source.
The evidence elsewhere suggests not.

Cheers Tim. Stopped in for a coffee at this place today and it was lovely!

If anyone else has any suggestions for good coffee please post! I'm trying to find a nice cafe around Hauptbahnhof but having no luck - everyone serves dishwater there with a bit of foam on top to make it look like coffee.

I had a coffee in the Sendlingerstr. Starbucks today and it was utter sh*te. I know my German's not too sharp, but the gimp gave me the wrong coffee and then it tasted like the kind of coffee I would concoct at home - and that's no compliment. Look elsewhere people...

The Starbucks on Leopold also sucks. I am in love with Frappucinos and they never blend them correctly- too runny.. they never understand my request, which isn't very difficult-

Espresso Frappucino with an extra shot and Creme de Menthe syrup.

I swear, everytime I order it they stare at me for a few seconds in utter confusion. Uhh.. huh..h

Plus, it costs a fucking fortune

@Marshbot

Have you tried Hotel Anna, on Schützenstr.? It's on the corner nearest Stachus, opposite Kaufhof, only a couple of minutes from Hbf. I'm not a big coffee drinker so I can't really comment on the quality, but it seems to be fairly popular with people much trendier than me.

Incidentally, I got dragged into a Starbucks in Luzern by some American friends. I was delighted to see that the only people in there were other Americans. If the locals shun these places, then there is still hope for the family-run coffee house. It was, however, particularly painful to see a Starbucks in Vienna, the spiritual home of the coffee house. I find it a great shame that tourists go to Starbucks even when there are traditional, pleasant, privately-owned alternatives. Still, that's progress I guess.

I'll try it out, thanks!

I'm not very trendy though so hopefully they don't have a bouncer.

Death to the American imperialist pig-dogs!

If that was aimed at me, that wasn't what I meant. I just feel that when people are on holiday, they should try something they can't get at home, especially in Vienna which is famous for its coffee houses.

Hmmm, how good are these Frappacino's really? Maybe I need to try more.

I met a confused looking American family on Marienplatz last week and asked if they needed directions. Turned out they had literally just arrived, found their way to the middle of town and were examining their map frantically trying to find... no, not one of the sights... a Starbucks for a frappacino. Priorities!
It was kinda cute actually. The total cliche'd American fam'! I thought I was on one of those hidden camera shows for a second.

The Fraps at Starbucks aren't tooooooooooooo bad, depends on how much sugar you lie in your daily diet, and hence, how much you actually want to keep your teeth. Prefer a proper ice-coffee anyday of the week

Actually, they have the "light" ones now, with less sugar.. I just prefer a cold coffee in the summer. They're yummy. The Starbucks ice cream is good, too, but I don't think you can get it here.

I prefer a cold coffee in summer too. I just disagree with the sugaring of coffee (both hot and cold) to any extent, ruins the flavour. The Fraps have sooooo much sugar in them that there is zero coffee flavour to it. I'm assuming by 'light' they mean only 4 heaped tablespoons of sugar vs 8?

This has to be nipped in the bud, you'll be expecting people to learn some useful phrases in the local language soon !

Sargeant, hang him from the bridge.

Yes, and when you get a venti size it really makes a difference.

i've been to starbuck's once or twice just to try it out, but if i want coffee-chain coffee in munich, then i am coffee fellows loyalist.

a coupla years back i was in madrid but i could not find a non-smoking place to rest my weary feet. and there was Starbucks right on the main road. i walked past it twice cause i didn't wanna go in there, but i could not find a damn coffee house that was open. i ended up taking a power nap in a comfy lounge chair for 10 minutes and was ready to go after that!

Ya lost me...not quite up on the Starbucks lingo

when you're in a strange place you gravitate towards what you know. if people read their guide books, they might be less inclined to visit a starbucks, but lonely planet will mention it cause they know that's how we tourists are. i'm hoping there isn't a Starbucks in glasgow or edinburgh when i head there next week.

It's the Big Gulp of Starbucks. You do know 7-11, right?

I disagree, if I gravitated to what I knew, I'd never have left Aotearoa. I travel to experience new things/tastes/smells/scenery/culture. The last thing I want to do when I'm on a Greek island is to get a full English at one of the pubs with footy on the TV, nor do I want to hit McD's or BK (have been known to in emergencies tho)

It's like the Quicki-Mart on the Simpsons right?
So a Vento is the big fuck off coffee at Starbucks? Hmmmm an extra big bad coffee...no thanks!

I was in Tokyo with a German buddy of mine, we partyed on till like 6:00 in the morning. There was nothing open to eat and he wanted a coffee, god knows why. But we passed a Starbucks on the way, he went in, I continued on to the hotel.

He got his coffee, sat down in one of those big chairs, had a sip of the coffee and fell asleep till 9:00AM. This was a work day, people were coming in and out to get their morning coffee and here's Frank, sitting there snoring! The Japanese were too challenged with the idea of waking him up to send him on his way!

He woke up, got another coffee and finally made it back to the hotel!

Goddamn there is some dumbassness here...did Starbucks in Vienna *really* hurt you?

The Munchners sure seem to like it b/c the one on Leopoldstrasse is always full when I'm there. When I'm in Paris, the stores there are crowded also. If Starbucks didn't think they could make a star-buck ($$$) then they wouldn't open stores in Vienna, Zimbabwe, or wherever.

What's painful is some foreigner lamenting the disappearance of "the old ways" in someone elses country. If they want Starbucks or McDonald's or whatever let them have it.

Flame on!

@Brock_Landers

So Starbucks is the cheap place to stay in Tokyo`?

that's not my point. when you're in a foreign country as a tourist, it can be overwhelming. you gravitate to what you know cause it's comforting and easy. that's why in madrid, i settled on a starbucks's cause i knew i would find non-smoking and a comfy seat to rest my feet (albeit the one on leostr. has no comfy seats). it's the same reason i went to the gap. i knew there i could find my size 8-short pants and they would fit!
it's easy for us "munichites" to chide tourists who crave their frappachino. they don't know better. we do.

Yeah, but the coffee is quite expensive

I agree with Elfentsar : for some people if you're going through culture shock, it's comforting seeing things that you recognise and are familiar with (in this case, a Starbucks).

Also, when I was there (the only time) on Sendlingerstr, I noticed also that most people were Americans. About 1/5 or 1/6 of the people were German (or at least were speaking German amongst themselves). You don't get these big ears for nothing!

As for no Starbucks in Edinburgh or Glasgow... good luck Elfenstar trying to ignore them
Edinburgh

thanks for the heads-up!

@elfenstar

If you are looking for a good alternative to Starbucks in Edinburgh try "The Elephant House" on George IV Bridge ... its a local coffee shop which does numberous different coffees and teas, has big shared tables and they are happy for you to sit for a while reading. Also does nice light lunches and cakes. Can get busy though.