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Yonhap News reports, in what the news agency calls an "ambush", that Starbucks Korea is raising its prices 300 ($0.26) won across the board for 15 teas and coffees. An americano now costs 3,600 won ($3.09), a latte 4,100 ($3.52), and a caramel macchiatto 5,100 ($4.38). For its part, Starbucks points out it hasn't raised prices for five years and is still 10 percent cheaper than the competition... I wonder if any Starbucks-swilling readers agree.
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Yes, Starbucks is more expensive compared to the US. However, compare it to other countries and Korea is actually pretty cheap. The Economist did a thing on this a number of years ago.
By the way, I generally dislike Starbucks and try not to go there, but of all the reasons to not like Starbucks, it being expensive compared to other countries is a pretty dumb one.
Starbucks tastes horrible, and should consider its real competitian, Dunkin Donuts, which tastes great (When you tell the attentants not to water down the coffee) and is much much cheaper than starbucks. (Mr. Donut as well, if you are lucky enough to live in a town that is large enough to have a Mr. Donut, though Mr. Donut Japan is much nicer than Korea since they let people have free refils, oh yeah and I forgot McDonalds from 4 years ago, that was only 1000 won and tasted great as well, but they jacked up their prices and made that yucky Lavazza coffee.)
Dunkin' Donuts coffee is tasty? That's pretty amusing. I go to Starbucks a lot, on account of their free wi-fi, electricity, heating and comfy seats. The coffee is good too, as are the bagels. This price rise seems a bit steep though, especially considering the price of milk appears to have come down. Still, as long as you're spending eight hours a day there, you're still ahead in real terms.
Those prices are still at least a dollar cheaper than what we have State-side. Invest in a good coffeemaker. Specifically, get a Krups coffeemaker. I did. It's a lot cheaper and more convenient, and it brews a good cup.
Who ARE these competitors they lament for having higher prices than them? (Seriously, not rhetorical) Starbucks is only good for grabbing a steamed milk and reading away the afternoon in a comfy chair.
Pascucci, Coffee Bean and Gloria Jeans are all more expensive than Starbucks. Holly's, Angel-in-us and A Twosome Place are about the same price, but the latter two have very silly names, and in all three, the coffee is nothing special. The only Korean chain that really punches its weight is Ediya. Their coffee is great and they have free wi-fi, but they only tend to lease small premises.
woho.... stop there! im not a coffee person but after what stevie said i just have to comment ^^ coffee.. blah blah cheap blah tasty blah blah BUT twosomeplace has the freaking best cake in all over korea ok.. exaggerated, but my point being: im here for now quite a few years but quality wise not even most of the big hotel chains (hilton ambasador etc) or specialized bakery etc can compete with twosomeplaces cake. that being said i just can say that i like their milk green tea. however i think all the chains mentioned by stevie are quite pricey.
Just buy some good beans at homeplus and brew at home. I only buy starbucks, etc. if I'm on a date.
Does anyone else think that Angel-in-us sounds like an STD? I have a bad case of Angelinus!
Starbucks and a few other Western chains are the only folks who brew drip coffee. They're now priced exactly the same as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf which makes a much better drip coffee, removing all reason to ever go to Starbucks again. Thanks for making the choice easy, guys!
If you live in Seoul, you may notice that there are a lot of good locally owned coffee places around. Many of them roast their own beans and have free wi-fi (that you don't need to enter an ID number to use). As long as they aren't blasting K-pop, they have a lot better seating as well. Since the owners are often working there, the service is better too. Check it out and support the mom and pop businesses!
Angel-in-us sounds more like "analingus", which is a real word. It means to, well, toss a salad.
Sleepless in Seattle has a great capuccino.
HA! I'm totally going to call that place "analingus" now! I've never had coffee there, but I can guess that it's crappy.
Once when checking through my bankbook I noticed some money had been paid out to 'Angelinos gang' (sorry, no hangeul on this keyboard). I was perplexed for days, until I realised that I had been to Angel in us coffee shop, Gangnam-gu office station. I am with outtatown on this. I hate the generic places and always seek out the more curious, independent coffee shops and tea rooms. I hate feeling like a clone paper cup. |
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