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Talking about coffee..

Jan 30th, 2007 by Lillian

… which I’m not but who cares.. Did you know that Starbucks is the church for the lonely expatriate? so she thinks… I totally agree

Posted in Everyday Life in Thailand, Chiang Mai | 7 Comments

7 Responses to “Talking about coffee..”

on 30 Jan 2007 at 7:06 pm1Elemmaciltur

Well, here in Munich Starbucks aren’t much the Church for the lonely Ex-Patriates but more of a tourist dump. Although I have to admit that I like Starbucks.
on 30 Jan 2007 at 11:57 pm2Korbua

… it is? emmm… i didn’t know that! in bkk… it’s just another big thing…
on 31 Jan 2007 at 7:02 pm3Sidney

They are hugly successful in the Philippines!
on 31 Jan 2007 at 8:39 pm4warapunga

Caffeine Addict’s Quiz:

Do you want to know if you suffer from “Alertness Deficit Disorder” (ADD)? Then just take this simple quiz. These questions will help us to determine whether or not you suffer from this terrible affliction; the only known cure for which is caffeine. ADD takes the lives of millions of Americans, hundreds of Canadians, and a handful of Ugandans every year. If that doesn’t scare you, let’s just say that you are more susceptible than anyone else. YES, YOU! If you suffer from this disease, missing just one trip to Starbucks could be FATAL. The following series of Yes/No questions will allow us to determine your Addiction Factor(TM). Keep track of the number of Yes and No answers you get and chart yourself at the end. Remember: Prevention is the best medicine. Or was it laughter? Either way, read on.

1. Do you use coffee to escape from your problems?

2. Do you eat spoonfuls of instant coffee because it’s easier?

3. Have you ever woken up in a puddle of your own coffee?

4. Do you find that it’s easier to drink more coffee than go to sleep?

5.

a) Have you ever drunk cold coffee?

b) Right out of the pot?

6. Do you spend more than 20% of your income on coffee and/or coffee related products?

7. Does your coffee cup resemble a beer stein?

8. Has anyone ever told you that you “have a problem”?

9. Do you need coffee:

a) …to get up in the morning?

b) …to get out of bed?

c) …to be injected intravenously to stimulate blood-flow?

10. Do you own a “Coffee Helmet”? (For the culturally ignorant, a coffee- helmet is a hat with coffee-cups attached to it and a straw coming out of each cup leading to the mouth, used for hands-free drinking.)

11. Do Native North American Aboriginal Indian Peoples call you “Ona mac towanda” (Smells-like- coffee)?

12. Does your doctor measure your heartbeat on the Richter scale as well as by its frequency?

13. Have you ever sold personal or other people’s possessions just to get your fix for the day?

14. Does the phrase “swiss water decaffienated” strike terror into your heart?

15.

a) Do you have a coffee maker in more than one room of your house?

b) …in more than five?

c) …in your bathroom?

16.

a) Do the people at Second Cup refuse do give you free coffee cards anymore?

b) …because you’re wearing out their hole-punch?

c) …and it’s bad for the environment?

17. Do you grind your own coffee?

18. Do you grow your own coffee?

19. Have you ever been fired from a job because you’re “drinking their profits”?

20.

a) Do you know Juan Valdez?

b) …and his donkey?

c) …intimately?

21. Do you salivate uncontrollably whenever you hear dripping water?

22.

a) Is sleep a hobby of yours?

b) …that you don’t like?

c) …because it’s too frustrating?
on 31 Jan 2007 at 11:32 pm5Richard

A new Starbucks is opening in Cologne - I walked by it today and felt my heart sink. I haven’t been in one in years and wouldn’t enter one now except to put out a fire. This outlet of globalization makes me sick.
on 02 Feb 2007 at 10:14 am6Lillian

Well, I still enjoy a coffee at Starbucks once in a while. Chiang Mai now has a new chain.. Wawaee which I like going to !
on 02 Feb 2007 at 3:47 pm7Andy

Hi Lillian - firstly thank’s for your comment on my blog. I wish I was as religious as you about updating frequently. I would give you an award anytime

Actually, in my experience, Starbucks in Thailand is a bit of a nightmare. Although I have never visited one in Chiang Mai I have witnessed grounds being re-used - on oe occassion for THREE cups of coffee. This was not an isolated incident, I have seen this in two Starbucks in Pattaya and at least three different shops in Bangkok. I am sure this is not a Starbucks policy; probably just Thai franchisees applying their “waste not want not” attitude, but it does rather suck when you are paying 100+ baht a go. Luckily I have found a fantastic (Thai managed and owned ) coffee shop far from the madding crowd in Pattaya whose coffee is not only far better than Starbucks but no corners are cut and it is a fraction of the price at 25 baht for a large coffee either espresso, cappuchino ro latte. Thankfully they haven’t yet got into the caramel schmaltz that isnt real coffee anyway. It has free wi-fi too which is a great bonus as well as an in house bakery producing more than passable German and French pastries..