Tuesday, February 19, 2002


has the independent coffee house as we know it -- already near to being an endangered species -- just been saved from certain extinction?

i think the answer could be yes.

although chain coffee stores are overrunning the nation -- heck, the world -- those independent coffeehouses that focus on maintaining quality coffee and a welcoming personality manage to thrive. their long-term survival has been in doubt however, not from starbucks, but from the uber-chain, mcdonalds.

unknown to most americans, mcdonalds has actually been dabbling in coffeehouses since the early 90s. these mccafes/aroma cafes now exist in several countries, such as england, portugal, australia, and argentina, but the u.s.a didn't see it's first example until last year in chicago (here and here).

could mcdonalds be starting to abandon the concept by selling off its english aroma cafes? we will have to watch the fate of that chicago mccafe closely.

if this concept thrives, it could be the death knell for your favorite coffeehouse. or could lovers of quality coffee sit back in our favorite upscale local places and watch as starbucks and mcdonald's battle it out against each other for the mass-market coffee business?

either way, it's just possible that the charming local coffeehouse has just been given a new lease on life! so take advantage of it. support your independent neighborhood coffee place!

posted by fortune | 11:14 AM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments