Lattes

[forsyth]

How did drinking lattes become this sign of elite out-of-touch-ness? Seriously. Starbucks are EVERYWHERE. All sorts of people to to Starbucks. It's the freaking McDonald's of coffee. So how's drinking coffee in milk make somebody an elitist? I don't get it.

Comments

[vanmojo.livejournal.com]

Well, Double-F if you don't get it, then you are clearly one of the elites; a latte-drinking, cheese-eating, peace-loving, limp-wristed, slack-jawed, no-Chuck-Norris-movie-owning, hybrid-driving, word-reading, college-educated, tool-using, opposable-thumb-having, domesticated-west-African-plains-ape-descended, surrender monkey from Franceataxechussetsstan...

You can't possibly share the values of honest, hard working Americans, who want nothing more from life than their color TV to watch teh_NASCAR, a barcalounger, some pork fat, a can of Coors and when they drink coffee in the morning, it comes out of a big ass tin can you bought at Wal*Mart, like God intended when He made America.

mojo sends

[amazingadrian.livejournal.com]

Starbucks has become a bit of a symbol since it broke onto the scene. A corporate symbol. The symbol of successful dot-commers and Fortune 500's, since everybody knows that coffee is the fuel that drives the corporate world. It is not a mom-and-pops place. It is not a resteraunt. It is commercialism done right, when it should be the McDonalds or Wal-Mart of coffee. And I hear it's a great place to work too.

Sure, you have a butt load of everyday people who enjoy starbucks coffee, many of which who probably don't even think about it...but that symbolism is still there. It's why conservatives sling "Starbucks" around like it's a curse word when labeling people. And it probably does not help that the Starbucks culture has been adopted by today's college and business youth, who are equal parts impassioned and clueless.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

They don't sling "Starbucks" around as an insult. but "latte". I suspect because it sounds all furrin'.

And since when are American conservatives anti-corporate?

[amazingadrian.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I've heard some say that simply going to Starbucks is indicative that you're a loser (In less pleasant terms too). When I was in High School, some folks used to have the same sentiments towards Wal-Mart. So I guess the hate is relative.

No, they aren't anti-corporate. I'm guessing the ones that rail against Starbucks the loudest somehow see it as being against the free market.

*shrug* I can only call it how I see it. The whole thing is completely irrational to me.

[forsythferret.livejournal.com]

The anti-Starbucks crowd I know tend to be the more radical lefties, actually. Because Starbucks is a corporate symbol that's frickin EVERYWHERE.

I have one thought on the use of lattes as symbols of "elitism". They do run $2-5 depending what exact drink youg et, so I guess the logic is if you have the money to blow on $5 coffee, you must be elite? Or maybe it's just because it's not soda or beer, and that oughta be good enough for anybody!

[amazingadrian.livejournal.com]

People used to look at Wine the same way, until they realized the more expensive stuff really was better. Somehow, I don't think it's the same with Starbucks, but there is a burgeoning market for gourmet coffee. Like people look for the best grape crops of the year for wine, so too, are they starting to look at the places that grow and harvest java beans, as well as the different methods and climes they're processed in.

I read in a magazine that the mid '00's were lousy years for coffee, and that global warming was already affecting some crops. Though the same magazine said the '07 batch from South America had improved.

It may be the wave that Starbucks is riding on, especially with the advent of Free Trade coffee.