…and the list goes on and on. Let’s be real, if you’ve ever hung out at a Starbucks studying, reading, or chillin on your MacBook; if you’ve ever stood in line at Starbucks for a decent amount of time; if you have ever asked a Starbucks “lifer” what their drink of choice is – you will hear the most intricate, lengthy, specific, semi-different-language drink. Don’t believe me, hang out at a Starbucks tomorrow.
Before I go any further, I have to admit, I hate Starbucks. Not the company (the company as a business has a brilliant corporate structure) – the actual coffee (the espresso). In fact, most people, when you ask them, actually hate the coffee from Starbucks too! My hatred of Starbucks comes from working at a coffee shop that was their competition, The Coffee Bean. After tasting the Coffee Bean’s espresso and multiple drinks, I have never hated Starbucks more. Starbucks burns their coffee (and their beans are actually very poor in quality), they use liquid flavorings (which actually are not made to mix well with espresso), and they don’t even steam milk in the best way (to make it smooth, creamy, and with perfect natural foam on top). I know that you might think Starbucks is phenomenal. Your pumpkin spice latte…your cinnamon dulce “crappacinno”…it’s wonderful. You think they’re delicious. Yet, I will challenge you…go to a different coffee shop and ask them to make their version. You will be amazed at the difference.
I know that I will have some haters who read this; some hardcore Starbucks lovers. That’s ok. I don’t care. In the grand scheme of things, your choice of where you get a drink is not going to, or should not, ruin any friendships. Yet, to show both sides, I will share many things that Starbucks does well. They are often times super friendly. They have an incredible variety of drinks (especially seasonal). They have an incredible atmosphere (chairs, interior colors, etc). They have free internet now. They serve not just coffee, but delicious snacks and breakfast items. They often have great service time (both inside and the drive-through). They often times have a drive-through at their stand alone locations. The company is active in the community and supports many local organizations. The list CAN go on, but the number one thing that Starbucks does well, that people LOVE them for, is that they are EVERYWHERE. Basically, people love Starbucks because it is CONVENIENT.
Let’s talk about this for a little bit. While I worked at the Coffee Bean, you would not believe the number of people who would come in, get a drink, taste it, and tell me, “Oh my gosh, this is the best drink I have ever had.” Or my personal favorite, “Wow, this is so much better than Starbucks!” Yet, the funny thing is that I would never see those people…ever. They never came back. They had just made a statement that the drink I had just made them was the best; better than Starbucks (the leader in the coffee industry). I even had conversations with customers who could tell me specifically why our drinks were better. Yet, I would never see those people again. Or, if I did, they would make it a fact to tell me, “You know, if you guys would have more locations available, I wouldn’t have to go to Starbucks. It’s just that they are so close. I hate getting their drinks, but it’s out of my way to come here.”
So what’s my point in all this? Why the comparison? Well, doesn’t this sound a bit like how we treat church? Doesn’t this sound like how we view going to church? Doesn’t this sound a bit like what we like or don’t like about church? Doesn’t this even sound like the things we find ourselves saying after GOING to church? Doesn’t this sound a bit like the conversations we have with our friends who attend one kind of church (size, denomination, style, preaching topics/style) while we attend a different kind of church? I would submit that it is an incredible picture of how we view what church we go to. Don’t believe me…just wait.
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