Good news for coffee lovers The most famous coffee shop in the world opens its first location in Bilbao, and even though it’s logo knows no ​
boundaries​
(1), few people really know much about the company. The emblematic multinational with almost 17.000 shops in 50 countries, has chosen Gran via 20 to set up shop. This has been a hot topic in recent months among the locals, some not too happy about it’s arrival and others with high hopes. Starting from today the 1st of October, their doors will be open to customers. Many people don’t know much about this company apart from their logo and their worldwide recognition. However, these coffees have their own personal identity. Where does Starbucks come from? North America; they opened their first shop in 1971, at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Back then they mainly imported coffee. “Just like the old merchants used to do it” said by the organization. From that legacy the Mermaid seen on their logo was born, with which they wanted to “capture the sailing tradition of the first coffee merchants”. In the beginning ‘Starbucks Coffee Tea and Spices’ only sold coffee grains, tea and spices. It wasn’t until the 90’s that the company rapidly grew first in the USA and after in the rest of the world. After the year 2000 is when Starbucks big expansion took place and has become what we know it to be today. Why did they grow so much? In 1981, Howard Schultz, current president and main advisor, discovered these shops that had spread over the United States. The company insists that “since he had his first cup of Sumatra, he has been attracted to Starbucks”. A year later he became a member of the company. Later, on one of his trips to Italy in 1983, Howard was captivated by the Italian coffee shops, in which drinking coffee was much more than a mere activity to boost your energy but “a place to converse and to feel part of a community, a third place between home and work”. He was so ​
mesmerized​
(2) that he decided to take the concept to the other side of the ocean. It worked. At first he tried to get his own shops up and running like ‘Il Giornale’, but he returned to Starbucks in august of 1987 and bought the company with the help of other local investors. What is so special about it? “We are much more than the coffee we ​
brew​
(3)”, they say. They still have to demonstrate it in Bilbao. On their website they define themselves as “a meeting place in the neighbourhood, part of your daily routine”. They assure that apart from providing delicious food and drink, the music that they play is chosen based on “it’s artistic quality and attractiveness”, and that they are passionate about “everything that has to do with pleasure” of the experience their customers have in their shops. Sounds good, but sceptics say that what they offer is nothing special and that any other local coffee shop could match them. Maybe the only way to see who is right is to head on down(4) there and decide for yourself. Only coffee? Even though that's what they are famous for, they also have a selection of tea’s, chocolate drinks, cakes, salads and other types of snacks and refreshments. Grammar points: 1 What does ​
boundary​
mean? Can you think of synonyms 2 Could you write another sentence with the word​
mesmerized​
? 3 What does ​
brew​
mean? Can we use it with other drinks? 4 What does ​
head on down​
mean in that context? Is there another way to say the same thing? Questions: 1 Do you welcome Starbucks to Bilbao or are you happy with your local coffee shops? 2 Have you ever been to Starbucks before? What’s your favourite drink? 3 Why do you think Starbucks is so popular around the world? 4 Would it become your meeting place if there were a shop in your neighbourhood? Source: http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/201509/24/alla­cafe­starbucks­20150924105417.html