No longer a sit-down chain, Starbucks has long replaced its spacious, plush seating with stiff metal chairs. There are 17,068 locations in the U.S., but any semblance of community and customer interaction is now restricted to a mobile app or drive-thru line.
I have been guilty of purchasing from this global chain. The convenience, especially given my busy schedule, is unmatched; however, Starbucks has long been accused of violating labor laws by firing pro-union employees. Not to mention, I have noticed a decline in their quality of beverages. Rather than supporting this coffee giant I have stepped towards alternatives, and Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) students should do the same by considering these local coffee shops instead.
Birch Coffee: My favorite coffee shop in proximity to FLC is undeniably Birch. The aroma of blueberry muffins and ground coffee beans is a refreshing change of pace from New York City’s stifling air quality. It may not be a mom-and-pop cafe, but compared to Starbucks, Birch optimizes better ingredients and authentic customer service for a fraction of the cost. My signature order, a large iced dirty chai, costs $6.25 with a student discount.
Conversely, the same order costs $9.58 on the Starbucks mobile app. With watered-down oat milk and an unpleasant ratio of chai to espresso, convenience is rarely worth the absence of flavor.
Masseria Caffè & Bakery: Masseria offers rich and refined Italian coffee paired with flakey frittatas that melt in your mouth. Located across from Birch, it is the perfect spot to do homework on a rainy day. The cafe has a long table with high chairs by the expansive window, and you can people-watch while sipping on my personal favorite — a cold brew — for six dollars.
Paris Baguette: One of the larger chains in this list, Paris Baguette has 4,500 locations worldwide. Although this is not a local New York establishment, a 20 oz. iced dirty chai costs $7.27 — still cheaper than Starbucks — and offers a comforting atmosphere with rustic wooden tables and chairs. I say this is the perfect spot to grind out a homework assignment or catch up with friends.
Cafes have long served as a space for study sessions, first-dates, last-dates and friendly gatherings. Going out for coffee is relatively low-stakes; it’s not overly formal, and centers around a beverage most people are familiar with.
I urge you to break your Starbucks reliance. I promise accessibility is not worth the steep costs and internal labor strife. As consumers, we have substantial power to drive the market, and every purchase should be made wisely, even when going out for something as trivial as coffee.
