Part I: Starbucks
The only reason I want an iPhone is to have the Starbucks locator so that I can easily find my fix when I travel.
A Grande Latte now costs about $3.70. I have at least one every day. That would be $111 / month and over $1,300 per year. This is a serious habit which I have no interest whatever in breaking.
No, I will not drink McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts or any other coffee slinger. I like Starbucks Lattes. This company has coffee dialed and are incredibly consistent at delivering what I crave.
In return for my investment, I enjoy a sense of community wherever I travel and most certainly as I regularly visit one of my seven local establishments. Somehow Starbucks has managed to maintain a vibe at thousands of locations around the world. In the busier parts of Beijing you can look down the street and see 4 or 5 Starbucks signs in every direction. Walk in to any one and you will be instantly transported back home. Smell is a powerful emotional trigger
The best match of all is Sbux and bike riding. Bike riders, as a group, are very civilized and the pre and post-ride social aspect of cycling is perhaps as much fun and interesting as the miles themselves. Nothing tees up a cool morning ride better than a great coffee.
There is no shame. I am a coffee snob.
