Why Americans are OBSESSED with Starbucks

For millions of people, their daily stop at Starbucks is a routine they don’t even question. We're here to figure out how they become the biggest coffee chain in the world and dive into their incredibly clever marketing, devious design, and uncanny ability to make people spend their money,

Subscribe to Future Proof!

Join our Patreon:

Stay updated on our socials

For further reading, check out the sources for this video here:

Script: Jaz Papadopoulos
Editor: Sam Askew
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand

[reloadingdragon]

My gf used to work at starbucks, and the funniest thing she ever told me was that the trashcans with split openings for separating trash and recycling are all thrown out in the same dumpster. But yes, starbucks cares about the environment 😂

[midnightflare]

So basically StarBucks is a candy store, where adults don't have to worry about looking like a child?

[CharlesFerguson-qg]

You should find a local coffee shop that your town supports. They probably have better stuff.

[TechOutAdam]

As an ex-barista, it's simple. Loads of caffeine + sugar = drug addiction. Just look up how much sugar is in a caramel frappucino and loads of customers got that every morning. You know what's more terrifying? See how people are before they get their drink. How tired, nasty, angry and hostile. It's literally a drug addiction I'm telling you.

[Cuppppps]

I work at Sbux. Customers are addicted to sugar. Plain and simple. I get shaken espressos with blonde shots sometimes for caffeine, but I usually just drink water and watered down refreshers. The company doesn't care about us and couldn't care less if we're down employees and have 3 baristas struggling on their busiest days of the year. Remember, the baristas are not who you should be angry at. It is one of the last few places who pay at least 15 an hour and will hire you without demanding you have a Batchlors degree or even a high school diploma. We are just adults who got unlucky in the job sphere, kids who want extra money and people in their 20's trying to pay bills or put themselves through college. Call corporate, and complain to them. Don't buy from the company.

[JoelReid]

Come to Australia, where Starbucks failed dismally...
As a teenager in the 1990s it was normal from my family to visit coffee shops to play cards and chat. Coffee shops were a place to hang out and socialise. And then came Starbucks and they failed, because they did not understand.

[porsche]

Was addicted to Starbucks as a teen, got a job there and realized how bad it was and could never justify buying sbux without a discount! I’m so lucky to live in Seattle surrounded by AMAZING independent coffee

[lisaboban]

If it has 400 calories and whipped cream, its not a coffee, its a milkshake.

[zarajoe]

I will never forget being in Germany at some touristy location. On one side of the road was a beautiful local German coffee and cake shop. Everyone from every walk of life was there. Everyone that is, except Americans. Because on the other side of the road was a Starbucks, and it was full of Americans. It astounded me honestly, to travel and see another part of the world and experience another culture, only to not do any of that and just go to the same place you can go to at home. Again I'll never forget it

[Scarshadow]

Another understated niche that I think Starbucks (and other local coffee shops - which are better alternatives) is that they're the closet third-space most people can go to that isn't just a park or a library to go to (especially since some parks aren't the best to visit depending on the weather/crime rate, and some libraries are strict about food). The losses of easily accessible third-spaces in the US isn't always talked about often, and people usually talk about it more for kids (especially after Sephora stores getting overrun by them) when it also applies for adults too - especially when people feel their life is stagnant just going between home and school/work.
Since a lot of people just recommend cooking/eating at home to save on money/eat healthier, I wouldn't be surprised most people still eat out if only for helping improve their mental health and to have some sort of IRL community outside of school/work/college.

[jakmanxyom]

Watching this as a Malaysian, where a lot of my countrypeople are rejecting Starbucks for local café chains partly in solidarity with its anti-war Union, partly out of deep appreciation to their local establishments...I'm feeling the winds of change.

[Rossy]

Something interesting: here in South East Asia Starbucks has literally no chance of competing with local roasters and even chains yet it maintains a relatively ok place in the market. As a foreigner it has one benefit: all the staff are trained to speak English, which has been surprisingly helpful on a few occasions. For locals the appeal is entirely based on image: it’s a western chain and therefore part of a fancy rich person aesthetic despite being worse and more expensive than any local options.

[piewithmoustachepwm]

Sugar and caffeine, when you wanna be a cartel but not sell anything illegal

[redred]

The social psychology that Starbucks manipulates, whether on purpose or not is actually genius. Creating a routine, with a culture, AND since there are very vocal haters of Starbucks, they now also have an “us vs them” factor which keep loyal customers even more loyal. The high prices will also essentially gaslight the customers into thinking the drink tastes better than it actually is (since no one likes the feeling of cognitive dissonance), on top of the additive factors of caffeine and sugar. There’s so, so much more to this topic which is mental.

[robster]

Pro-tip:

Buy their official syrup for $13.

They sell them directly inside their own stores. It is the *EXACT* same syrup they use for their drinks. Each bottle can last you 6-8 months.

Make the coffee at home and you’ll quickly realize its not the coffee that you like, but instead the syrups they use.

[caesar]

“Dr Evil, several years ago we invested in a small Seattle-based coffee company.“

[space__hobbit]

They tried to open a store in Adelaide, where we already have a well developed local coffee culture. It shut down after 3 months due to lack of traffic. Noone wanted it 😂

[timor]

They don't do well in countries where good "speciality" (ie espresso based) coffee has been widely available long before their arrival. They fell flat on their face in Australia, after boasting that they would soon have half the market.

[iditSammich]

Former SB barista here, there are fun creations baristas will make, but those usually appear close to closing time when we are tired, depressed, and really wanting to go home.

[XavierXonora]

I bought a second hand espresso machine for $450 five years ago, I've spent $400 on repairs, and about $1000 on beans and another $1000 on milk. I drink a cup a day or more and my wife almost as much. That's 3650 coffees (or more honestly) maybe a bit more on sugar/electricity etc, but that still puts me at between 80c and $1 per coffee.

Buy yourself a coffee machine.