Yes it’s one of those global chains that seems to creep up everywhere and destroy classic local establisments, like Barnes & Nobles with books (funny how these 2 companies seemed to even team up like in wrestling).  But I just have to make a few contrarian opinions.

1. If you’ve never been to places like Houston, then you don’t understand that a good coffee experience is highly subjective.  Back in my consulting days, in some cities you’d be lucky to get a cup of brown water with ground up chalk from a gas station driving on the way to work.  Starbucks was an oasis of civilization often in those territories.

2. It is consistent and it works (most of the time anyway).  Anywhere around the globe — grande soy caramel machiatto.  London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Berlin, etc. etc.  Even with crazy lines, things get done, and you get what you ordered.

3. It’s tasty.  What can I say, I’ve been brainwashed/addicted to a hot package full of caffeine and sugar.

I see Starbucks like a treat or a reward.  It’s not for regular usage.  And it’s not where I particularly like to hang out if I’m in a cool town — I’d prefer being at Godshot which has the best flat whites in town and is a block from my house and let’s me bring the stroller in (Starbucks did too, but then again I was stuck in a mall).  So I prefer to have my cake, and eat it too.  And thus I support my local barristas, and every once in a while add a few more pence to the global Starbucks machinery so hopefully there will be some lost soul somewhere clamoring for a real cup of coffee who may get their own little oasis (BTW, Helsinki should be priority on that list…  Sorry friends.)

Sundays without brunch is like baseball (or cricket) without beer — they aren’t that exciting to begin with, so a little extra is needed to make it worthwhile.  And there is no place like New York — the Mecca of brunch which comes in so many forms and varieties that it is almost cruel to try to squeeze it in only on weekends.  So transplanting to from New York to Berlin was going to take some adjustment.  The good news is that compared to other cities (e.g. Helsinki) there is a thriving brunch scene which is all over Berlin.  No one will ever go hungry on a Sunday.  There is however a general pattern that brunch means buffet.  While a bit of a change from the egg-benedict style plates we were used to, it’s allowed us to explore another avenue of the brunch family.

Today we went to Cafe Butter — a local Prenzlauerberg spot with a pleasant decor (high ceilings and classic fixtures) and good service.  Unlike some of the other places which had ethnic themes (Russian, Spanish), this was a straightforward eating experience.  Some eggs, some yogurts, some waffles, assorted meats and cheeses, plus an extra assortment of warm foods (chicken wings, meatballs, hearty meat & vegetable soup) and savory salads.  All for 7.95 euro.  Not bad and even could give New York a run for the money on the value front.  But still the best quality remains back over the ocean.  Hope to visit it soon.

With so many places its hard to keep track of it all.  So just in case, I try to keep most of my favorite dining places on this shared Google map:

View Places to Eat and Drink NYC & Beyond in a larger map