Happy 12th Anniversary, Starbucks Philippines!I don’t exactly remember when I first heard of or got hooked to the so-called “Starbucks coffeehouse experience”. But my earliest recollection of having drunk their product was in the late 90’s.
Back then, I used to write as a contributing editor to a rather academic publication called the Sanggunian: The Philippine Local Government Journal. Its office was along Tomas Morato Avenue near the corner of Timog Avenue. On many occasions as I would go there to submit my articles, they would often serve some merienda like Hen Lin dimsum or tasty éclair pastries with (you guessed it right!) classy Starbucks coffee. Albert C. Lim, editor in chief of the Sanggunian would proudly tell me in the local vernacular, “Pare, simple lang ang merienda natin. Pero Starbucks ang kape naming dito!” (Bro, the snack we serve here is quite simple. But the coffee we serve comes from Starbucks!)
And so that was my early impressions of Starbucks, a tasty but nevertheless, expensive upscale glorification of the common man’s drink. I grew up drinking instant coffee from diamond shape encrusted Nescafe glasses. There was a time that I liked black coffee so much I think I consumed around 6-8 glasses of coffee a day! I eventually shifted back to colas when one day I saw my chest quite uncontrollably palpitating.
Back then, I used to write as a contributing editor to a rather academic publication called the Sanggunian: The Philippine Local Government Journal. Its office was along Tomas Morato Avenue near the corner of Timog Avenue. On many occasions as I would go there to submit my articles, they would often serve some merienda like Hen Lin dimsum or tasty éclair pastries with (you guessed it right!) classy Starbucks coffee. Albert C. Lim, editor in chief of the Sanggunian would proudly tell me in the local vernacular, “Pare, simple lang ang merienda natin. Pero Starbucks ang kape naming dito!” (Bro, the snack we serve here is quite simple. But the coffee we serve comes from Starbucks!)
And so that was my early impressions of Starbucks, a tasty but nevertheless, expensive upscale glorification of the common man’s drink. I grew up drinking instant coffee from diamond shape encrusted Nescafe glasses. There was a time that I liked black coffee so much I think I consumed around 6-8 glasses of coffee a day! I eventually shifted back to colas when one day I saw my chest quite uncontrollably palpitating.
So through the years, I considerably lost my penchant for coffee. Starbucks, you might say, in a way revived my interest for what many still considered simply a working man’s beverage by raising the quality standards for its products and providing a totally new drinking experience to share and enjoy!
Family bonding at the SM Mall of Asia Starbucks branch
(Dec. 2006)
Initially, I think I spent more money collecting the shop’s coffee mugs and tumblers than on the coffee itself, drawn to their elegant and yet functional designs worthy to be part of my personal collection.
This time around my Starbucks experience is often shared with the whole family, as new and youthful generations of serious coffee drinkers like my children are set to emerge.
Chilling out at the FEU Hospital Starbucks branch in Fairview after attending an evening Mass at the Good Shepherd Parish (June 2007)
So it wasn’t just the excellent coffee or the mugs and tumblers that I collect, or their wonderful planners I use every year or the ambiance, or the soothing music or the friendly baristas or the countless moments of family bonding that makes me come back….and back all over again to this coffee brand. Rather, it’s the synergy of it all that makes that distinctive Starbucks experience that makes me want to come back and experience it all over again.
Everybody in my family loves a Frappuccino! (Trinoma - November 2009)
Congratulations Starbucks on your 12th year in the Philippines!
May you continue to brew excellent coffee covered with the warmth of that unique Starbucks experience!
