With stores in all 50 states and in 38 countries outside the U.S., the Starbucks Coffee Company is something that we automatically think of when we think of coffee. Named after the first mate in Moby Dick, Starbucks can be found all over the place. Some people only go there occasionally, as a treat or something to sip while chatting with a friend, but some are regulars. The white cup with the watermelon-green, circular label is a familiar friend, a little way of greeting the day. But Starbucks isn’t only a coffee place, and we don’t love it only because it’s where we get our caffeine jolt. Starbucks is so much more than that. It is a chance for us to make a clear decision about what we want; it gives us the opportunity to be in control. The sense of identity and decisiveness that comes with ordering coffee at Starbucks is why you can find them in Honolulu, New York City, and Beijing. You are not handed the same cup of coffee as the guy in front of you, your order can be so specific to your every need that it is as if the person behind the counter got up that morning to make a coffee just for you. “Iced Decaf double venti Vanilla Non-fat no whip Latte!” “Tall caramel macchiato!” “Tall strawberry frappuchino with whipped cream!” “Grande decaf cappuccino!” When we walk into Starbucks, we do not feel like just any customer, but a special and important individual. The quintessential cup of Starbucks coffee can be found anywhere because anyone can find something there for them.
