STARBUCKED will be the first book to explore the incredible rise of the Starbucks Corporation and the caffeine-crazy culture that fueled its succes...
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May 15, 2008
Josh
rated it: 
Easily the most fascinating American food-culture book I've read sicne Fast-Food Nation ... More than just a history of Starbucks as a company (though it is that) the book traces the place coffee has held in American culture, both pre and post the "coffee house boom" of the 1990s that Starbucks (nearly single-handedly) created ...
The book makes you think twice regarding a variety of issues ... For example, is your local "mom and pop" coffee house really strugglin More...
The book makes you think twice regarding a variety of issues ... For example, is your local "mom and pop" coffee house really strugglin More...
Feb 09, 2008
Anna
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This was a great history/analysis of the effect that Starbucks has had on the American and world economies. I found it pleasingly objective, but not in a neutral sense. In the sense that the author seems to vascillate from vehemently opposing Starbucks and everything it stands for to telling you that you should go there as often as you can.
I think this book showed me that you can love Starbucks at the same time you can love independant cafes; that you can patronize Starbucks without feeli More...
I think this book showed me that you can love Starbucks at the same time you can love independant cafes; that you can patronize Starbucks without feeli More...
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Mar 29, 2009
Bill
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In "Starbucked," Taylor Clark serves up an entertainingly-written, well-researched overview of the Starbucks phenomenon. Clark was working as a reporter at an alternative weekly in Portland, Oregon, when he became intrigued by the pervasive presence of the coffee chain. After a neighborhood dispute over a new Starbucks in Portland escalated into an attempted firebombing, he wrote an article about the controversy. He soon decided there was a book-length story to be told.
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Aug 01, 2011
I picked this book up in an airport in Frankfurt. Because I am a selfclaimed Starbucks devotee (I wouldn't say addict, but I go out of my way to get a Starbucks over any of it's competitors) and I figured I should probably know a little something about this company/brand. I drink orange pekoe as well, and have no idea what pekoe even means, but then it's not the commercial goliath like Starbucks.
If you are anti-Starbucks, you'll have most of your reasons for hating Starbucks debunked. Having More...
If you are anti-Starbucks, you'll have most of your reasons for hating Starbucks debunked. Having More...
Nov 22, 2011
Mark
rated it: 
I don't shop much at Starbucks. Rarely, rarely. For one I think the coffee tastes like crap. Call me weird, call me Philistine, whatever. For as they are the McDonalds of caffeine, their banal ubiquity is suspect to begin with. after hearing wonderful things about CEO Howard Schultz's book and "motivation" from various associates, reading this book warned me off ever giving it another thought. While I do not share some of the idiosyncracies that led one ex-employee to take up with the
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Dec 19, 2008
William
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This is an interesting read and you don’t have to be a coffee fiend to enjoy it. I was surprised to learn that Starbucks really isn’t responsible for crushing the mom and pops coffee shops; in fact they’ve been beneficial to them. I was also surprised to learn that in the land of coffee geekdom Starbucks (or Charbucks) is considered substandard coffee. This surprised me because I really like it and I don’t ever get the milky/sugary drinks, just straight black coffee.
Despite assurances t More...
Despite assurances t More...
Sep 01, 2009
Isis
rated it:
A delightful microhistory of not just Starbucks but the practice, culture, and ethics of coffee drinking in the US and elsewhere, and how the rise of Starbucks changed these. Readable and engaging, delivering the bitter jolt of caffeinated facts in a smooth and milky narrative with the occasional frothy diversion, and how's that for a metaphor?
Clark has interviewed a lot of people and done a lot of research. He takes pains to neither lionize nor deride Starbucks and its people, po More...
Clark has interviewed a lot of people and done a lot of research. He takes pains to neither lionize nor deride Starbucks and its people, po More...
May 31, 2011
Barbara
rated it:
This book was fantastic!
I was a little apprehensive about reading somethign about Starbucks (I've heard horror stories from friends about how much Howard Schulz's book tends to read like a company brainwashing manual), but this book was a wonderfully sardonic compilation of the history of Starbucks as well as the affect it had on coffee culture, written by a journalist not an ex-employee nor the company head.
I found it refreshing to read about the development of a com More...
I was a little apprehensive about reading somethign about Starbucks (I've heard horror stories from friends about how much Howard Schulz's book tends to read like a company brainwashing manual), but this book was a wonderfully sardonic compilation of the history of Starbucks as well as the affect it had on coffee culture, written by a journalist not an ex-employee nor the company head.
I found it refreshing to read about the development of a com More...
May 21, 2009
Jennie
rated it:
Good book - not a coffee drinker myself, but the author makes a persuasive case for being a coffee snob. I'm not a huge fan of the Fair Trade movement myself, and this author puts it into words what I have felt all along. I don't care for programs that reward all equally whether you produce good or bad - the market will resolve those issues. I do feel for those coffee farmers who are scraping to get by. But giving them Fair Trade contracts that do not encourage them to better their product is no
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Feb 05, 2011
Chris
rated it:
This book holds rich history on the emergence of coffee all the way from its origins in Africa and Arabia, to the great hero that took coffee beans as a prize for defending Vienna. To the first coffee shop in Europe, and its importance to the lives of londoners, and the transition from tea to coffee in America. It also has great history of the improvement of coffee brewery in America, and how war has effected the quality of coffee. It also provided me with history on the piloting of Starbucks an
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Nov 16, 2009
Amy
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I really enjoyed this book which is saying a lot because I am not a fan of coffee nor am I a coffee drinker. But I found the entire history of Starbucks and the way it has changed the entire culture of America fascinating. I think the book was well written, very interesting and the pace moved well. There were very few sections that were slow for me and I feel like I ultimately learned a great deal about coffee, business strategy and the history of coffee. I definitely recommend this one, particu
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Nov 30, 2009
Jen
rated it:
This book was okay. It was divided into two parts and the first part I really enjoyed. This was the section filled with the history of Starbucks and all the trivial bits; which I love. The second section talked about Starbucks' global impact and legacy, which I did not enjoy as much.
I had a hard time in this book separating Howard Schultz from Starbucks, which may very well be fair. But, Starbucks is a big player in Seattle and for all the bad (or good) we love them. They are a More...
I had a hard time in this book separating Howard Schultz from Starbucks, which may very well be fair. But, Starbucks is a big player in Seattle and for all the bad (or good) we love them. They are a More...
May 14, 2010
Rushabh
rated it:
Fast, funny, reasonably balanced read into the workings of the coffee trade and Starbucs. Fascinating parts include the history of coffee consumption in the US - or large, milky, beverage consumption really. Insights into how Starbucks makes money, where the dollars in your $4 latte go, what Fair Trade coffee means and why it exists and finally, the cultural imperialism that Starbucks leads to. Clark tries to be neutral, but achieves that by stepping too far in one direction (anti- or pro- S'buc
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Sep 04, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
Admittedly, I am a bit of a coffee freak, so a whole book about coffee sounded right up my alley. Even so, I was still worried that this would be some dry narration of the history of coffee that either touted the grandness of Starbucks or blamed it for all the evils of the world. I was pleased to find that not only is it a pretty fair look into the world of Starbucks, but the author is graced with a sarcastic sense of humor that keeps the book lively. Clark does a great job of pulling together a
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Sep 15, 2008
Marie
rated it:
I picked this up not because I despise or love Starbucks but because like most people I have noticed the deluge of Starbucks stores over the last 10 or so years. I also don't frequently go to Starbucks as I am not much of a coffee-drinker. I thought it was an especially interesting time to read this book given the end of the company's reign of expansion in July with the closing of 600 stores.
Anyway, it is an interesting read. Clark includes a lot of history on coffee, coffee growers and t More...
Anyway, it is an interesting read. Clark includes a lot of history on coffee, coffee growers and t More...
Jun 08, 2009
michelle
rated it:
This was a fascinating inside look at Starbucks, the history of coffee, the Starbucks backlash and the homogenization of our culture.
Taylor Clark starts by telling the history of coffee in America and how the dream of Howard Shultz has changed the way Americans drink coffee, for better or worse. The company was started by a trio of coffee lovers in Seattle who were trying to emulate Peet's coffee. They started by purchasing coffee beans from him and when they really started being su More...
Taylor Clark starts by telling the history of coffee in America and how the dream of Howard Shultz has changed the way Americans drink coffee, for better or worse. The company was started by a trio of coffee lovers in Seattle who were trying to emulate Peet's coffee. They started by purchasing coffee beans from him and when they really started being su More...
Apr 18, 2008
Douglas
rated it:
I recently became friends with an independent coffee shop owner, http://www.thebeancup.com - The Bean Cup, and the owner worked at Starbucks for many of the early years out in California. I noticed immediately that the expresso was much richer and smoother and was amazed at the difference in flavor and even the smell of the brew.
Chris started teaching me how to pour shots properly and the science behind the beans, the grind, the packing of the shot, the temperature of the water (and More...
Chris started teaching me how to pour shots properly and the science behind the beans, the grind, the packing of the shot, the temperature of the water (and More...
Feb 22, 2008
Sundry
rated it:
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I've been hanging around coffee houses since I found my first one in 1979! I even worked in an indy coffee house for four years.
Interesting history of Starbucks from a guy who also loves coffee houses. Nice tone, often humorous, always informative.
He discusses a lot of misconceptions about Starbucks and how they have impacted independent coffee houses. Like, there were fewer than 600 coffee houses in the U.S. before Starbucks. Now the number of t More...
Interesting history of Starbucks from a guy who also loves coffee houses. Nice tone, often humorous, always informative.
He discusses a lot of misconceptions about Starbucks and how they have impacted independent coffee houses. Like, there were fewer than 600 coffee houses in the U.S. before Starbucks. Now the number of t More...
Dec 23, 2007
Ree
rated it:
setengah dari tulisannya mengagumi strategi bisnis Howard Schultz, di sisi lain Taylor membuka segala kegilaan Howard Schultz sebagai pemimpin perusahaan yang tak pernah kenyang memberangus kedai-kedai kopi lokal dan taktik gorok lehernya. Banyak kisah hebat sekaligus kisah menyebalkan dari seorang Howard Schultz yang sering menebar kontroversi setiap kali gerai korporatnya ini memasuki lahan baru.
Bayangkan saja, Jika ia menginginkan lahan gerai yang ia tuju, ia akan dengan sungguh- More...
Bayangkan saja, Jika ia menginginkan lahan gerai yang ia tuju, ia akan dengan sungguh- More...
Dec 05, 2007
Schnaucl
rated it:
This was a truly fascinating book and surprisingly funny, too. The first half of the book covers the history of coffee followed by the history of Starbucks. Clark has enough funny asides that it feels more like talking to a friend than it does reading a history book. It's pretty clear that he admires Howard Schultz, which is understandable, but he doesn't sound like a guy I'd want to work for. (He could give Al Gore a run for his money in terms of micromanaging).
The second half More...
The second half More...
May 12, 2008
Bill
rated it:
I love coffee. I love drip coffee, french press coffee, and espresso. I love it with sugar and without. I suppose it shouldn't have come as such a surprise then, that I found this book compelling, but it did and I did.
I'm a bit of a Starbucks backlash person. I was a big fan in the early 90's but over time fell out of love as I perceived that the Evil Empire was putting smaller shops out of business. After reading the book I have adjusted my perspective a bit. Starbucked makes a pret More...
I'm a bit of a Starbucks backlash person. I was a big fan in the early 90's but over time fell out of love as I perceived that the Evil Empire was putting smaller shops out of business. After reading the book I have adjusted my perspective a bit. Starbucked makes a pret More...
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Jan 17, 2009
Barbara
rated it:
An interesting, fun read that traces the history of coffee and the rise of the gourmet espresso craze fueled by Starbucks. Taylor Clark tells lots of interesting stories and introduces a wide cast of characters while expressing both admiration and distress over Starbucks' controversial expansion into cities all over the world. I do go to Starbucks (grande nonfat peppermint mocha twist no whip) but I still miss Coffee Connection and go to 1369 whenever I'm in Cambridge. Also, who knew, there
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Apr 09, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
This book was great. It's divided into two parts - the first part tells the story of Starbuck, and the second deals with the social issues that are raised with the company. I thought the whole thing was fascinating. Starbucks has definitely come a long way from its roots, and even from when I worked at the company for three years, in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The author also has an engaging writing style and is pretty funny.
A must-read for coffee lovers and anthropology students.
A must-read for coffee lovers and anthropology students.
Sep 07, 2008
Chris
rated it:
Quite interesting ... I have to offer the caveat that I rarely go to Starbucks, and in fact, I don't drink coffee at all, or have any interest in it, but I'm fascinated by the company and it's hold on popular culture. Well-done book, though it's interesting to note how supremely egotistical all the top execs at Starbucks are, happily changing history to suit their egos, and making sure that they get credit for everything they've done, and more. It's most interesting for the point that Starbuck
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Nov 16, 2008
Maria
rated it:
This is a fascinating read! Clark gives a very even handed account of the coffee giant. He clearly was not one who was either simply out to tell readers how amazing Starbucks is, nor how evil they are. It was quite amazing to see just how far Starbucks has fallen from the original vision and it will be interesting to see if it can recapture its glory (and make better tasting coffee, one of the major complaints against Starbucks). Clark does an excellent job of dealing with the major complaints
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Jun 02, 2011
HippieMommy
rated it:
So... I don't drink coffee, but I still liked this book. Clark does a great job of discussing the many social issues that surround Starbucks, without taking the easy, always-anti-corporate stance. I liked how any criticism of Starbucks was balanced with the good that Starbucks has done. It isn't as cut-and-dry as I expected when I picked up the book.
Still, I don't plan on going to one anytime soon...
Still, I don't plan on going to one anytime soon...
Aug 05, 2011
Kerith
rated it:
I found this to be a very balanced accounting of the coffeehouse explosion (which I remember happening just a year shy of my graduating college) and of the rise of Starbucks in particular. I had already read UNCOMMON GROUNDS, which I recommend as a great yet tough read about the history of coffee, and this was a great follow-up to that. Really quite fascinating and I very much appreciated his objectivity.
May 07, 2011
Jassanja
rated it:
An interesting read, even for someone who does not drink any coffee at all.
During the reading you are never sure if you know want to have some Starbucks STAT or if you rather go and boycott the chain.
the book is pretty nonjudgmental either way as the author keeps back his personal opinion almost until the end.
Jan 09, 2011
Chelsey
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’m not too into non-fiction, not gonna lie, but I decided to read this as soon as I saw it, because as many know, I am addicted to Starbucks. This book was very interesting, and I learned a lot about the history of coffee and about the company which was mainly why I bought it. It was clear in reading it that the author, a journalist, set out rather biasedly to speak against Starbucks, but was not really able to succeed.
Yes, there were a few things to speak negatively about, free trad More...
Yes, there were a few things to speak negatively about, free trad More...
Jul 08, 2009
Megan
rated it:
Fascinating, and funny too. I'm not even a coffee drinker, nor do I ever go to Starbucks. I learned about Starbucks' marketing, menu, real estate, gentrification, history and more. Hard-to-put down and full of interesting tidbits you will want to share.
