Starbucks in MT (cont...)

I posted here on Saturday about a Starbucks coming to Missoula MT and an editorial written about it. I got this information from Starbucks Gossip -- a site I stop by regularly to get the lowdown on what the giant is doing. I was there today reading around and found the below comment: That editorial is awesome. Any protests are flat-out bogus. It's the rare indie coffee shop that knows how to keep its gear clean... nothing worse than stepping into one of those places and seeing an inch of crusted-over milk on the steaming wand. Is this accurate? I bet you have a better chance of seeing "crusted-over milk on the steaming wand(s)" at Starbucks than at..say..Stumptown, Progress Coffee, or Bongo Java. Basically what this person is saying is that Starbucks is the all knowing coffee retailer which is ignorant. Why can't we all just get along? Independents could argue that Starbuck's use of super automatic machines takes away from the need to have skilled baristas -- baristas that live coffee, have a passion for the art of pulling the perfect cup with the perfect crema, and the love for using the machine. Starbucks is not going to go away. They are the corporate side of coffee and have done great things. They are not BETTER than independents, their baristas are not superior to those at independents, and their coffee is not the best that has ever been roasted. There are great people that work at both of these types of stores. People that know what they are talking about, know how to pour a great cup of coffee, know the skill of latte art, and love coffee. This article is right. People will go to the place they like the best, the place that fits their style, and the place that is the most convenient. For me, this place will always be a local coffee retailer. Do I despise Starbucks for being successful? No. Those of you who are not interested in the independent take note. Just because we do not have a mermaid on our sign does not mean we are not qualified to serve coffee in this country. Get over it. We know how to take care of our equipment, we know how to pull great coffee, and our baristas will always be at the top of any barista jam or competition. Its not about competition. Its about the passionate journey coffee takes from the vine to the cup. Its about the art of making coffee. Its about community and relationship. Go to the place that makes you happy but I will guarantee you one thing -- you will find as created, passionate, knowledgeable, and "qualified" baristas in the local scene as you will in the corporate scene. ...be bold Tagged: Cafe Evoke, Bozeman, Montana, Starbucks, Coffee