I could see it going OK, but I'm not sure about what sort of follow-through is possible in the context of a coffee purchase. I do think Schulze is ultimately trying to move away from the notion of Starbucks as a place where people make simple transactions for coffee (that could be fulfilled just as well by an industrial robot) and more like small community centers, in line with the historical role of coffee shops. He's onto something, and he's iterating.
and more like small community centers, in line with the historical role of coffee shops.
People have been talking about this recently, and I've even gone to a handful of local cafes that explicitly state this as their purpose, but I've never felt that this was achieved. I've never been to a cafe where I felt comfortable chatting up strangers. If this is what Starbucks is doing, and they do it successfully, I'll go out of my way just to go to their cafes.
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I could see it going OK, but I'm not sure about what sort of follow-through is possible in the context of a coffee purchase. I do think Schulze is ultimately trying to move away from the notion of Starbucks as a place where people make simple transactions for coffee (that could be fulfilled just as well by an industrial robot) and more like small community centers, in line with the historical role of coffee shops. He's onto something, and he's iterating.
People have been talking about this recently, and I've even gone to a handful of local cafes that explicitly state this as their purpose, but I've never felt that this was achieved. I've never been to a cafe where I felt comfortable chatting up strangers. If this is what Starbucks is doing, and they do it successfully, I'll go out of my way just to go to their cafes.
That would make sense, but then you talk with the strangers not with the barista.
Of course in this modern age the strangers are on their computers/phones/ipads so I don't know how well it will go.