Observations on Coffee Choices

Starbucks – One of America’s premier coffee shops.  Starbucks has transformed its image in the past couple years.  Once easily considered as the choice of the wealthier individuals, Starbucks has done many things to help change this visad.  While their coffee is still over priced (and taste burnt at all times), one cannot discredit a store that requires no purchase to use the restroom.
               
However, you could say it’s a power play by them.  Let people in to use the restroom for free, maybe those people will buy a coffee, than need to pee again…repeat on and on.  Great marketing or one of the greatest money making schemes of all time?
               
Despite their acceptance of those with full bladders, Starbucks does still seem to attract wealthier clientele.  Celebrities, doctors, lawyers, etc. all seem to buy Starbucks despite the coffee really not being all that great. For some it may just be a status thing.  They would refuse to buy their coffee in a Dunkin Donuts to show how much money they make.

Dunkin Donuts – This is the American working class Coffee.  By drinking this, you are not only a true-blue American, you also show that you’re not snobby about your beverages.  Additionally, they offer donuts.  Who doesn’t want to eat donuts from time to time?  Dunkin is affordable, decently tasteful, and wonderfully marketed.  “America Runs on Dunkin” is perhaps one of the best slogans of all time.  It’s basically saying BE AMERICAN. ‘Merica, enough said.

Tim Horton’s – Yes, I know, they’re Canadian.  Just because they come from the Great White North doesn’t mean they don’t know what a decent cup of joe taste like.  Hear me out.  While they may not do too many things right north of the border, I can assure you they do know coffee.  Warm, delicious aromas greet you as you walk into Tim’s.  Horton's grew to international fame when it appeared in the popular sitcom How I met Your Mother.  In an episode which involves Barney and Robin going to Canada (and therefore stopping at a Tim Horton's), Barney is stunned by the quality of their coffee.  Trust me, you'll have a similar experienceThey put the coffee first in this establishment and the taste proves it.  Great coffee at an even better price.

Caribou Coffee – Does this place even exist anymore?  I think they do the Latte’s and stuff that people seem to like.   The only people I knew who went here was when they needed free Wifi before that became a normal thing in coffee shops.    Either you were escaping the dark ages of dial-up or you were on a date in high school.

Panera Bread – You’re hungry for food as well as caffeine.  Usually looking for a tasty, generic bagel.  Relatively inexpensive, but still a type of status associated with this.  Other bagel shops offer more variety but we all know the Asiago is delicious.  The soups and sandwiches are good as well.  Still the coffee is more of a side bar here.

Local Coffee Shop Frequent Visitor – This can vary from town to town.  Many people will fiercely defend their local coffee shop (as some defend local pubs).  They can feel it is the best coffee ever (despite any extra cost they may incur by the daily visits).  In reality, they may just be used to it or really enjoy the atmosphere, or good service etc.  Who doesn’t like walking in somewhere and not even having to say what you want because they already know?
However, these folks are most likely supporting small local businesses, making it harder to hate them, even with their somewhat snobby coffee opinions.

Fast Food Coffee – Avoid if all possible.  If you must, tread lightly this coffee can cause third degree burns on the inside of your thighs if it pops open in between your legs while you're driving, causing a multi-million dollar lawsuit.  It also most likely tastes like broccoli rotting on top of some camel poop for months before it decomposes.

Gas Station Coffee – Where Fast Food Coffee is avoidable, gas stations can be passable.  However, there tends to be some exceptions.  Sheetz and Wawa both have pretty decent coffee.  Additionally, both of these establishments have M-T-O food, which is horribly delicious.  Finally, when visiting “travel centers” you can frequently find better coffee than in normal gas stations.

European Coffee – This is really just expresso.  They just call it coffee because they can have another thing to hold over Americans.

Home Made Coffee – You are on a budget.  It’s not the best, but it’s not the worst either.  It can come anywhere and everywhere at any time (given that you have a travel mug).  You can also make it the exact way you like it.  Huge benefits if you grind your own coffee.  Grinding your own coffee may seem "hip" or "wealthy" to some.  But after trying it, you'll never want to go back.  Whole beans are just as cost efficient as ground coffee and don't go stale as fast.  You can choose any kind you want as well (almost all brands sell whole bean).