Melissa Jones is a freshman creative writing major and writes 'Not Your Average Jones' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Write to Melissa at mdjones7@bsu.edu.
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There was a time in my life when I enjoyed a drink from Starbucks fairly regularly. Though, perhaps “enjoyed” is too generous a term, because I soon realized that I was drinking that latté plastered with the green logo for purely social reasons; it didn’t even taste good.
In college, it seems like average students almost get pleasure out of wasting their money on a drink that boasts the Starbucks name, and I believe this money could be better spent on drinks from local coffee shops, like The Caffeinery in downtown Muncie.
It baffles me that, on the typical “broke college kid” budget, students are willing to pay $4.35 for a cup of Starbucks coffee that coffee expert Wes Johansen deemed “almost gag-like” and “really … unpleasant.”
A 16-ounce cup of coffee brewed at home costs less than a dollar to make, according to dailyfinance.com, so why pay such a steep price for a beverage that Johansen said smells of “chemical odors” with a “hint of wet cardboard”?
Sure, local coffee shops sometimes charge about the same amount of money, but customers get more for their money when spent locally. The Caffeinery, for example, utilizes different coffee beans all the time, giving customers unique, quality flavors each visit.
With its overpriced, overrated drinks, I’m surprised that Starbucks, with over 20,000 locations, has managed to become one of the most essential sources of fuel for not only college students, but everyday people around the world. This profit-driven chain doesn’t deserve the attention nor the money consumers feed it.
Small and local coffee shops lose well deserved and much needed business each day to the Starbucks giant. Local coffee shops often encourage a better sense of community and greater awareness of environmentalism by serving their drinks in actual mugs, as opposed to cardboard to-go cups. According to amiba.net, buying from local businesses also keeps about three times the amount of money spent in the community than corporations like Starbucks do.
The Cup, a local coffee shop located in the Village, offers “a rich experience … in what you taste and how you interact with local culture,” according to their website. They provide a deeper connection between customers and the community by showcasing art by local artists, as well as hosting poetry and other readings.
The Caffeinery supports the community in a similar fashion, as they sell vegan and gluten-free cupcakes from a local company.
So, next time you need a little extra energy boost, do yourself and your community a favor by buying a true cup of coffee from a local shop, not an “almost gag-like” liquid in a Siren-lad cup.
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