I love coffee ice cream, but just like coffee. I really barely know decaf from regular. I know instant coffee, but it is all really the same thing to me. I usually skip coffee but love breakfast. Today, I’ve been busy, and wanted to take a break with Starbucks. In most areas, you find a Starbucks on just about every corner. In this area of Maryland, I couldn’t find one for a few miles. I did happen to come across and Einstein Bros Bagel Bakery. It looked empty and closed. I started to wonder how much is good coffee really worth.
Starbuck Vs. Einstein Food
I know Starbucks has bagels and so many variations of coffee it would make your head spin. Einstein’s also has Coca Cola product on the tap with free refills. What I usually do not see at Starbuck is food for lunch or an afternoon snack.
Starbucks makes an effort to have afternoon food at some locations. However in the evening, I’m looking for something to eat. I’m not looking for the muffins or fruit that I normally see at Starbucks.
Einstein Bros has a new Pizza Bagel that is fantastic. You get your choice of pepperoni, cheese, cheese and spinach along with a few other selections. To say the least, Einstein’s food selection has Starbucks outmatched
Starbuck Vs. Einstein Location
Ok, hands down we all know that Starbucks has more locations than Einstein. If you do not consider the Starbucks location in the grocery stores, Starbucks still has thousands more locations than Einstein. The numbers are amazing. Starbucks owns and operates over 6000 locations with over 3000 licensed locations. Einstein’s owns and operates 340 locations with 100 licensed.
I know that sometimes quantity does not meal quality. Clearly there is a McDonalds everywhere, but I would not consider them the best food in the world. Starbucks location advantage makes them a household name. They have a brand that they have marketed and promoted well.
Starbuck Vs. Einstein Ambiance
Every Einstein I’ve ever seen was basic. They consistently have large area of table tables mixed with booths the walls and windows. The color scheme was brown, red, black and grey. They had no music and no wireless Internet connection. I type this on my broadband connection as I sit here in Einstein’s loving my Pizza Bagel. As a whole it was not very impressive or unique. But the food is always good.
Starbucks usually has much more modern location. The motif is normally filled with dim lights couches, odd shaped chairs and music. They also have wireless Internet. Some people sit there as I am doing right now and take care of office work. You feel like you are in a community in Starbucks. In fact the last few times I went to Starbucks I ran into acquaintances I have not seen in years.
Starbucks sells CD’s with books, t-shirts, coffee mugs beards and hats. I would not put it past Starbuck to capitalize on any marketing opportunity. The Starbuck’s CEO appeared on “The Big Idea” with Donny Deutsch in fall of 2007. That night he said Starbucks strives to be a community. In their philosophy and focus I see the impact of this effort. I understand when I stand in line and the person asks what size I want and they repeat it back to me in Starbuck language. I have no idea which one of their terms means large. I have no interest in understanding which one means large either. But I do love my large Starbucks Mocha Frapatino with whipped cream on it.
All in all Starbuck is a better place if you want a pricy cup of coffee and need the wireless Internet. If you want a place to sit and have quite thoughts and entire restaurant to yourself, go to Einstein’s. As much as I wanted Starbucks, Einstein’s worked out just find. Quite honestly, I couldn’t tell much difference in the Mocha Frap that I got here either. Einstein’s certainly helped me in the creative process to think because for the hours that I sat in the restaurant I sat alone.
