I admit it. I like Starbucks. But after seeing that there will be a Starbucks in the Forbidden City in China I am troubled that someday I will walk into Plaza Mayor and see a Starbucks. Has anyone seen a Starbucks in Spain? If they haven't made it there yet, I say we "mobilize" to keep them out!

Alejandro,

Do not worry. Starbucks is not going to make it in Madrid. My daughter was a Starbuck fanatic until she started drinking cafe con leche and she said it is a lot cheaper than Starbucks.

Cafe con leche makes Starbucks taste like too old instant nescafe (not that I've tasted that but...) In reality - Hard Rock Cafes are world-wide (including Madrid) as are McDonalds - so Starbucks will probably give Madrid a shot .... No slur/slams intended - but the teenagers (and the kind of tourists that cause you to deny your association with the same country) are the ones that most likely would support a Starbucks. Just like with Hard Rock - it's an American gimmick with a ton of marketing expertize behind it.

Hi.

I live in Boulder, Colorado and we get a satirical newspaper here called the Onion. Anyway, there was a headline a couple of months ago that read: "Starbucks Opened in Bathroom of Already Existing Starbucks."

That pretty much says it all, no?

I have not seen any Starbucks in Europe, in fact I did not know it before coming to the US. American style places seem to become more popular, though, not only McDonalds, but also quite expensive Bagel places (I have not seen one of those in Spain, though).
Apart from McDonalds, there are a few Dunkin' Donuts in Madrid, and some Spanish chains of places for coffee and tea, although the large majority of cafes/bars are still independent ones. It is possible that a Starbucks in Madrid might attract enough young people and tourists. However, certainly not if they charge prices as high as in the US. Teenagers will hardly have that much money. I am not really sure whether it would be profitable.
I guess in any case they would not brew exactly the same coffee than here if they opened a Starbucks in Spain, the Spanish coffee tastes so much better.

Kimberley,

The Onion is awesome! I don't read it regularly but it is so funny! I remember hearing the slogan a Starbucks on Every Corner. There are two within five minutes of where I live.

Connie: I saw Starbucks lots of places in London, but that isn't too surprising.

I am all for capitalism and expansion, but I despise the idea of a chain company running into the ground local businesses that express a locale's culture. Not exactly the same, but a local Austin coffee shop put a big sign up asking Austinites why they were supporting Seatle!

Starbucks doesn't hold a candle to cafe con leche!

Kimberley,
Wisconsin is the only place besides Colorado(Madison and Milwaukee) that the Onion is published and distributed. It is the most popular paper on campus and I just tried to send my brother a couple copies in Spain(although he never received the package). I saw that article and it was hilarious.

Starbucks coffee is horrible in comparison to cafe con leche. We have one not even a block away and I was so sad that they can't even make anything similar to it. All of their stuff tastes bitter or burnt. Cafe con leche is strong but sooo smooth to drink. I've never had any coffee like it.

Jaime, I totally get it about the bitter or burnt coffee at Starbucks...Every time i try to get something I like, it ends up very dissapointing. Here in S.D. they have 3 of them within a 1/2 mile radius...need I say more about running "ma and pa" out of business...just another example of the homogenization of America!

Yeah. I can't stand it either. They roast the beans waaaaay too long. blech. I like my coffe strong, but not strong and bitter.
That is the trick with spanish coffee.

WHen I came back to the States, I tried drinking capuccino's but they don't have that smooth flavor of a Spanish cafe con leche.

P.S. You can read an internet version of The Onion! It is hilarious.

Sorry, you might call me ignorant, but i trully don't know what Starbucks is. Is it like a coffee place or what?
It seems you have a lot of Starbucks in the U.S., but we have none here in Brazil.