Starbucks

Starbucks. What is it about Starbucks. I'm at my local one. There are at least ten cafes down this street. They all essentially sell the same product, with certain elements such as paninis and cakes probably being of a higher quality, with a more personalised service, yet Starbucks is able to stay open longer and is generally fuller than the others. I have a loyalty card here, it gives me cheap coffee and free wifi, but that can't be why everyone else is here, wifi is ubiquitous. The seats are comfortable, the drinks are nice, but generally overpriced.

It must be the clientele. They're all rich. Who else pays £3 for a mug of coffee with some sprinkles on top? Rich men tend to attract beautiful women, but I don't see too much pulling going on, a little bit of flirting but its not exactly a meat market here. I tend to come to cafes alone. However much I like company its a habit I developed in Paris, after work you go to the tabac have a cafe and mix with the locals. Id like to go back and see if they still recognise me! "sha va, mec?" said the Vietnamese tabac owner, i reckon my French was better than his. On that note, I never found many Starbucks in Paris, and obviously there was a cafe culture.

So has Starbucks created soemthing new? Is there a generation that doesn't go to the pub after work but goes for a coffee instead? Are we becoming more introvert and have started to look for features such as wifi rather than atmosphere? Im sat here alone as are many others, and everyone seems 'connected' in a nokia kind of way.