French people seem ashamed to be seen at Starbucks

One of the most depressing signs of cultural defeat to many in France is the presence of Starbucks, says this report. "At the new Paris Starbucks near the Opera metro stop, French people approached for an interview seemed ashamed on some deep level to be there, or at a minimum felt the need to explain themselves," writes Charles M. Sennott. (Boston Globe)

Comments

Starbucks looks European for American and American for Europeans. For Europeans Starbucks is closer to McDonalds than to the regular European coffee place.

[-m]

That comment comes from someone who has obviously never tasted the god-awefull gutter swill they call coffee in france. Anyone who thinks they make decent, or even drinkable, coffee doesn't know anything about good coffee.
This article is absolute BS. If the french hate Starbucks so badly, why are the stores in paris turning such a great profit? It seems to me that the common parisian has welcome Starbucks into thier city. Anyway, with all the trouble france has been having this month I hardly think that Starbucks is "one of the most depressing signs of cultural defeat in france."

[Seattle Barista]

GUTTER SWILL? Have you EVER tasted Starbucks burnt-assed coffee? It is awful. Starbucks is DEFINITELY the McDonald's of coffee.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

It takes a dedicated coffee master to produce great tasting coffee. In fact if you follow all the recipes for making a great French press and even urnexing your coffee urns each night will go a long way to making a great cup of coffee for you and your customers.

[Isa]

Let me see... maybe because it's the most visited country in the world there must be profits!
Starbucks's good if you like coffe that tastes like hot chocolate and I sometimes do. But let's be serious : If one asks u for a good coffe , would u bring him to Starbucks?

[RjD]

Quote: But let's be serious : If one asks u for a good coffe , would u bring him to Starbucks?

Why Yes! I do it all the time.

[Loren]

hahaha XD i love all this comments.

[J&B]

I am French, but I think that Starbucks is Great, I don't see why I should be ashamed when I go there: the coffee is so good, I like it because it difers from the other coffees, a little bit of change on the habits is good once in a while!

[Gilian]

Hmm..
It seems to be interesting... I write my blog too.

[Amelie]

i am French. Mostly i do not like Starbucks because it seems to draw people from localized coffee shops. Plus its too USA for Europeans, well for me at least. But if you enjoy the commercialsed look and prefer monotenus interiors, then bonne chance :)