Musings on San Francisco
I didn’t get a chance to go to North Beach today, and I won’t get a chance now before I go. I guess there is good coffee in San Francisco, judging by that guy’s cup from yesterday, but it is only in one small location.
San Francisco is packed full of Starbucks coffee houses and similar places like Tully’s Coffee and Peet’s Coffee and Tea. Now, I don’t know the background or story of any of these places. But, from what I see, Starbucks does not place real coffee as a value. It likes to sell flavoured syrups and other such terrible coffee crimes. Tully’s just looks like it’s trying to be a mini-me for Starbucks.
The only one I can give credit to is Peet’s. Now, I haven’t really spent much time studying them, but it seems they do value good coffee. I remember reading a sign in the store that mentioned that all coffee served has been roasted less than 24 hours ago. Not many cafe’s in Melbourne can claim that!
All in all however, it seems this city claims to be diverse and multicultural and enjoys the good things in life, like good coffee. But the truth is, overall, this city does not respect fine coffee. In most area’s of the city, it’s either Starbucks and it’s friends or the small cafe which wouldn’t know a good coffee if it bit them on the… Well, you get the picture.
I’ll be glad to be back in Melbourne, sipping another great coffee at my favourite place. If you live in Melbourne, know that you are blessed.