...Continuing on the French theme, Rhonda Malleck, owner of The Fine Grind, tells us her indie coffee shop received international attention when it was featured in a recent issue of France’s Glamour Magazine.
“When they called me to do a story on The Fine Grind, I was as surprised as anyone,” said Mallek. “I thought, what could the French version of Glamour want with a six-hundred foot coffee shop in New Jersey?”
A Glamour reporter traveled from Paris to investigate Mallek’s efforts to hold her own against the explosion of Starbucks Cafés in the United States. The frenchie said Glamour was covering the story because Europeans are alarmed about the proliferation of Starbucks coffee shops, not just on “Main Street USA” but on European boulevards and avenues as well. Traditionalists have scoffed at the idea of Europeans drinking coffee from paper cups, but Starbucks recently announced a big push to expand its international operations.
Six months ago, the local hangout made national news after we reported on how the little java joint tried to take on the competition posting a Fine Grind billboard across the street from the Route 23 Starbucks.
“The reporter seemed concerned with issues about quality and the loss of independent shops,” Mallek said. “It's sad that even other countries are nervous about the Starbucks empire, but it makes me glad to know I'm not fighting alone.”
Click here for an insider's perspective on the American coffee invasion.
Meanwhile, experts are saying "drink up" - those latte's, no matter where you drink them, may help you live longer.
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Comments (6)
People vote with their cash.
If Starbucks is successful in France, I guess someone is enjoying their (BITTER) coffee.
But the French are different from us, they will pass a law banning Starbucks for "cultural" reasons.
We just scream about how many we have-- (and quietly continue to spend $3 per cup...)
Love em or hate em, Starbucks brought the concept of high quality coffee to most of the US. Prior to Starbucks, most people in Manhattan would get coffee in a blue paper Greek diner cup from the local deli or would get it from a street vendor. In Massachusetts, it was Dunkin Donuts- and while many still are loyal to DD, that company has had to scramble to improve its coffee offering to compete with Starbucks' product.
The claim that Starbucks crushed the independent coffee house is a bit of a stretch in this part of the world since there never were many quality, independent coffee houses to begin with. If there is a good, locally owned shop that can make a comparable cup, I'm there. But those types of establishments have been few and far between. Now if I were still living in SF, I'd be at my local Peet's most everyday.
The French Tobac bars and cafes already provide quality coffee, and like Starbucks, it's no problem to stay a long time over one cup (like Starbucks, no free refills). But it's been five years since I've been there, and I don't know how the popularity of laptops has affected things. What was rare then was coffee-to-go, with a lid, as well as large cups, that I could take to work. That should have been a lesson to me, though, to give up my unhealthy American habit of snacking and large portions.
Why should we care about what the French think about anything?
SOM
Buster,
While it might be fun to believe that Americans are the only unhealthy snackers in the world, please consider we are not alone. For the past 5 years or so, there have been many articles and stats about the fattening of the Europeans.....
Here's a little something about the fatties Down Under.
My guess, China and India are next...
Wow... The Fine Grind does it again, congratulations TFG!
It really is amazing how such a small place has garnered international recognition, but I must say they deserve it and I really shouldn't be all that suprised. It's the only place I can go that truly feels like home but with much better coffee and service!