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I will offer an observation here: franchise production of food and drink relies upon homogeneity. Sometimes, people go out for something new, but often people
by at_a_remove 7y ago
I will offer an observation here: franchise production of food and drink relies upon homogeneity. Sometimes, people go out for something new, but often people want the same old thing. Someone across the country in a strange bed, where their accent sticks out, might want something familiar, and that is the experience of McDonald's in the United States. I could go from one corner of the country to another and the burgers would taste identical.
And so, people want replicable coffee drinks. And coffee can be a fickle beast to brew. Given that, unlike McDonald's which can freeze and ship, you must go from bean to drink on premise in a matter of minutes, I could see a focus on trying to ferret out a way to make that expensive cup taste the same from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine.
- Endlessly 7y agoOddly, globally, Starbucks around the world are not the same; for example, the percent of fat in the milk differs from region to region.
- at_a_remove 7y agoYes, I think where an established culture exists in some boundaries that a franchise tries to grow into, it must adapt and offer its own variety within that. I know McDonald's would be different in, say, Japan, but it is likely the same within Japan. It is a bit more startling in the United States because it is such a large country. Imagine crossing a reasonable fraction of the globe and the food is still the same! The comfort of the familiar is an incredibly strong lure and I believe it happens in ways that are so broad we can hardly see we are within them, like a bug on the surface of a tidal wave. Food and drink homogeneity is only one of the ways, but is likely one of the more primal. People of a certain age, when given Kosher-for-Passover Coke (still made with sugar) are delighted by the return to what they grew up with. In any case, Starbucks wants a customer who, perhaps having had their fill of experimental recipes and lunches at new places, can reach for a stimulus just like they had before. It might mean a lot in an airport terminal after nights on a mattress you've never slept on before.
- WhyNotHugo 7y agoMcDonald has very different menus in different regions, as does starbucks. I remember visiting NY and being fascinated by many of the options I've never seen in other countries.
- at_a_remove 7y agoYes. And your basic burger is still going to taste the same. The idea is that Item X is going to taste the same within a given region, typically a country, not that Y or Z will not be on offer.
- cozzyd 7y agoIn their Chicago HQ (ironically on Randolph Street), McDonald's has an "Global Menu" where they serve a rotating selection of items served around world. It seems that chicken is king in most other countries.
- WhyNotHugo 7y agoIt isn't in the US? What's the top options then?
- cozzyd 7y agoMost people get beef burgers at McD's in the US (at least, that's my impression).
- ValentineC 7y ago> Given that, unlike McDonald's which can freeze and ship, you must go from bean to drink on premise in a matter of minutes, I could see a focus on trying to ferret out a way to make that expensive cup taste the same from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. There's a 2013 article on why 30% of Michelin-star restaurants went with Nespresso, which seems to have consistency down: https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/03/nespresso-sold-at-michelin-starred-restaurants.html https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/03/nespresso-sold-at-micheli...