Originally Posted by
stut
Agree with the comments about Starbucks Japan. Not sure if it was just the novelty of it, but I found the quality really good, particularly the milk used (which made the milky drinks better than Doutor et al). They were also always (as you'd expect for Japan) absolutely spotless, as much a reflection on the customers as the staff.
I've also, out of curiosity, looked in on a Starbucks in Paris. Must be a real moneyspinner - I would guess about 80-90% of people in there were drinking the lardier forms of Frappucino, and the basic ones started at €5 a pop!
I have not had Starbucks in Japan, but did have brewed coffee a few times in China (not by my choice) and found it tasted odd. May be the water, or more likely just the taste of Starbucks coffee is not my taste.
I once out of desperation had to enter a Starbucks in Germany and found many confused people. The coffee culture doesn't adapt well to the grab and go aspect of Starbucks. (Coffee to go is still somewhat rare, perhaps due to the environmental aspect, perhaps due to the already existing culture around coffee shops and 'stand cafes') People were looking for seating, or standing tables, and seemed overwhelmed by the choices.