Starbucks, The Big Player In Coffee
But No Restaurants In Colombia

I stop in at Starbucks every now and then, the coffee is better than most restaurants and at least equal to most specialty coffee shops. When I buy a cup of coffee the quality is always high and the training of the staff is at the top.

But there are none in Colombia at this time even though Colombian coffee is world renowned, the most popular coffee shops in Colombia I believe are the Juan Valdez chain, in Santa Marta there are at least 3 or 4.

Variety is the spice of life but Colombia is a tough market, The big chain could teach Colombians much about brewing coffee, at least some of the finer points. Although Colombia produces some really good coffee, unless you go to a specialty shop the coffee is not always high quality. Would this type of franchise really be transformational for Colombia, of course Colombia needs the expertise and the high quality training and Starbucks has that in spades.

It takes effort to go to the little guy down the block because they are not always in the prime locations, but sometimes knowing people and making new friends is important.

Colombia is still very individual, restaurants, corner food stores especially, this is a real pleasure, individuals running many of the stores right out of a small corner of their house, it's a great pleasure to use these and after a little while they know who you are and are happy to see you. This is what's missing when a big company moves in now everyone is an employee or associate.

In business though, who looks after you better, the guy who has a connection in the community and who lives two block away or the big companies with their great training and high standards, it's hard to know.

Here is a good link about Ethiopian coffee Ethiopian Farmers

But every now and then it's nice to have a coffee served up by the number one chain.

Coming up in Bogota
June 2-5, 2011

The 2011 World Barista Championship.

The first time in a major coffee producing country.

Put on by

• Colombian Coffee Federation
• Speciality Coffee Association of Colombia

Return from Starbucks to Caribbean Restaurants

Return from Starbucks to Santa Marta Travel Guide