St. Arbucks: Patron Saint of Familiarity

Next time you are in Starbucks drinking your vanilla latte and doing the daily Sudoku puzzle in the calender section, I want you to take a minute to look around.

What is it that is so attractive about Starbucks (or any other chain coffee place that you may frequent?) Is it the calming shade of green? Is it all the pretty and over priced coffee mugs they have on display, different colors and patterns that change seasonally? Or is it the girl behind the counter who knows your name and drink order? When you walk in do you feel a sense of relief? Everything will be OK now that you've made it to Starbucks.

I find Starbucks habits to be fascinating. Starbucks is interesting because EVERY single one is the same. No matter what city you live in or what neighborhood you happen to be walking around, you know that exactly what you are going to get when you walk into a Starbucks (or St. Arbucks as my friend Dave likes to call it.) You know they will have your drink of choice. They have pastries, things to "eat". They have tables to work and chairs to lounge. There are relatively clean bathrooms and you can stay for hours on end. You can even sit outside to enjoy the sunshine and second hand smoke from your fellow customers.

THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. But rather than being a deterrent, I think that is what brings people back. I mean, we all have OUR Starbucks, the one we go to most often and where the people making our coffee look familiar. But we also know that when we stray from our typical neighborhood destination, the other one will pretty much be on par with what we are accustomed to. So Starbucks hooks you two ways: by at once being your local venue and also being your preferred choice when outside your typical nucleus because it reminds you of home. In fact for some, it is a kind of home away from home. A place to go and regroup before you continue with your day, or a place to kill a few hours in between appointments.

When it comes down to it, do (some) people go to Starbucks because they want coffee, or because they want familiarity? I'm sure you can find a Korean-run donut place in your neighborhood with better coffee for a whole lot less. But that isn't the point, is it?

Sometimes, a Starbucks can be the only thing constant in your life. I cannot study at home so I often go to Starbucks to work. Often their are multiple establishments in a three block radius and so I know that all I have to do is find a Starbucks. A moment of panic about where to go does not even have time to register because I know I will be safe at home in the warm embrace of my purple chair and grande percent mocha.