Starbucks to Italy? You CANNOT be serious!<BR><BR>Why don't you introduce them to ice-cream, and tinned spaghetti, and ...

I know Julie, can you believe it? I read the article this morning and almost spit up my starbucks latte! Actually I'm surprised it took them this long! I guess someone will be teaching the Pope religion next too!<BR>It's just SACRILEGE I say!

God please no. Its got to be the worst coffee, I prefer instant over Starbucks.<BR>

I have even a better one that I heard while in Turkey last week. A man and woman sitting at the next table to us in Istanbul started chatting to us about being Americans,etc.He then asked us what our thoughts were about bring Starbucks or Caribou Coffee type stores to Istanbul and the surrounding areas of Turkey. It seems that he has been in New York lately and is trying to arrange some franchise type American coffee places to come there.He says that between the tourists and the REAL Turkish people-he will be very wealthy as they all LOVE brewed coffee.What is the world coming to?

Liz - where was the article you read? Is it online?

On returning from Italy last week, I stopped at Starbucks for a "cappucino". I could not believe how bad it was! How quickly we become accustomed to the mediocre and think it good. Where does one find a good cappucino in say SF bay area?

Just returned from Paris. In a delightful sidewalk cafe near rue du buci in the 5th we were sitting next to an american couple who spoke no French (not even bon jour or merci) and were trying to order a tall non fat mocha. The waiter could not understand what they wanted and they were acting very irritated. They had one of those translating devices and were trying to find out the french for tall non fat mocha and couldn't find it so they left.<BR>We probably should have helped them but we couldn't believe what we were seeing. I wonder if they ever discovered the wonderful cafe cremes/ au laits?

Found the article in my local paper. According to the head of Starbucks for Europe and the Middle East they will establish outlets in France, Spain and Germany as well as Italy next year. He also said that the company had already set up in Switzerland which because of its Italian, French and German speaking cantons offered an excellent opportunity to learn how to operate throughout Europe.<BR><BR>I hope they go bankrupt

Caribou and Starbucks may not meet the high European standards of java excellence, but i'm glad i can pull into a Starbuck's on the way to work and get some good coffee -- what were my choices before? -- McDonald's and Duncan Donuts! Maybe Starbuck's will have to raise their standards in order to attract the European clientel.

The coffee in Italy was yummy wasn't it? I am also looking for the article, where is it? Jcat

This just taps into my fears that you will someday travel from Morocco, to Sweden, to Mexico, Nepal and Los Angeles and find the same, Body Shop, McDonalds, Gap, Bennetton, Budweiser...Starbucks.. at every flippin location...

It is a nightmare, isn't it? The only hope is that "coffee to go" is an unacceptable concept in Italy - if you can't sit and take it easy, why bother. I don't think they even know what styroform is!! Let's hope...<BR><BR>

If Italians want Starbucks in their country, why should anyone determine that it should be otherwise?

Wendy,<BR><BR>The Italians never asked for it. It's Starbuck's bright idea to sell more of their coffee.

Look at it this way: maybe Starbucks will learn how to brew a decent coffee and bring the recipe back to the States, ...

<BR><BR>For Paul &amp; Jessycat:<BR>The article was in ...<BR>'The Times' - Thursday 5th. April<BR><BR>The original was in ...<BR>'La Stampa' - Wednesday 4th. April<BR>(Front page, - they must be really excited!!)<BR><BR>I nearly choked on my caffe' corretto!<BR><BR>I bet Santa Chiara and Christina can't wait...<BR><BR>Steve

Thanks, Steve, for the tip on finding the article in La Stampa! Here's a link to the article, if anyone's interested (and can read a bit of Italian):<BR><BR>http://WWW.LASTAMPA.it/Search/Giorna...;TxT=starbucks

I'm getting ready for my first trip to Italy &amp; I'm looking forward to trying the coffee there! Put me in the column of those who think Starbucks is the worst! (Actually, I like the coffee at Dunkin' Donuts around here . . .)

How do you say "double espresso half caff, half decaff mocha latte steamed 1% milk not skim with a sprinkle of cinnamon" in Italian?<BR><BR>I'm another one who thinks Starbucks coffee is not good (burnt beans), which explains the above bastardization (you have to drown the taste); McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts actually make pretty good coffee.<BR><BR>The secret to French and Italian coffee is the coffee itself...even the storebrands are good. Apparently, they know good beans and how to roast them properly. Maybe they *will* teach Starbucks a thing or two... <BR>

LA Stampa wrote We thought we had everything in Italy, but it turns out we lacked one thing - American coffee.<BR><BR>Give me McDondalds coffee anyday over Starbucks. Here in Vancouver we actually have 2 Starbucks across the street from each other!!!