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| A candid photo of customers coming in and out and passing by on Starbucks coffee shop at Ayala Exchange in Makati. ✨Starbucks is the heaven for coffee lovers. ✨ ☕ |
When I was in United Kingdom, I noticed that the Coffee Culture is evident. The British public's lifestyle especially in the City of London in the mornings are fast paced like people rushed to work and quickly popped up at the Coffee shop to buy coffee or buy bagels and sandwiches with it and off they go! While others dine in for a short period and then leave.
This UK's Coffee Culture scenario is evident till now in local cafes and Licensed shops however UK also adopted the Starbucks' Coffee Culture where they can sit, relax and enjoy their coffees for longer periods with themselves or with their friends or colleagues.
There are also times where in everything is busy and lively because aside from simply drinking coffee, there are also chatting, long queues, some even work, doing business or study.
This leaves Starbucks true to their business model as shown in the picture and other major Coffee shops in the UK like Costa and Cafe Nero follows the trend of having a comfy ambiance. Other countries with these Coffee Shops have also adapt to this Coffee Culture and added a different twist to it depending on their lifestyle and culture.
About the Scottish Vlogger who make his concerns known
There was this viral video in the Philippines from a Scottish Travel Vlogger, who were dismayed at the site of Coffee Culture in the Philippines. According to him, there are some people who stayed in the Starbucks for hours and his concern that Starbucks' sales might be affected because there are some people who wants to dine in but couldn't do it because of the people inside. He also complained about the noise, and he stated that some people make it like an office or library.
What is good about the viral video?
The good thing about it is, he caught the attention of the Filipinos and there are some truths about it and some Filipinos have also noticed the bad coffee culture of their fellow Pinoys. For some Filipinos they see that others as entitled that they can do whatever they please in a Coffee shop without mindful of other people who are there. As for others, they find it unfair that a customer buys one Coffee but stays for long hours and they find it unfair for Starbucks in terms of their expenses. In that sense the Vlogger earned likes and the sentiments of some Filipinos.
What is the bad side of this viral video?
Now that Vlogger's concern becomes viral, does this make an impact for Starbucks and Filipinos who do does these behaviors?
In my opinion, it is a "Yes" but only for a short term because these concerns are addressed by a foreign travel Vlogger and that might affect the other tourist who will go to Philippine Starbucks, but it is a short term because Filipinos can easily return to their own ways because it is part of their culture and lifestyle that not a Foreigner can stop it.
Some Filipinos might think, who the heck is this guy to give such rant and others blindly agree to it? It's like my country, my rules and mind your own business. It creates also more division between those people who use Coffee shops with a different purpose those who wants Coffee quick and those who wants to take time and be productive in the Cafe. For example, a college student who regularly goes to this Coffee shop to study for long periods while enjoying a sip of coffee and now feels guilty because of this rant from this vlogger and Cafe police Filipinos.
I do think that Starbucks is losing some of its faithful customers for this kind of prejudice but not realizing that there are worst customers around. While others checked the number of Coffees people are buying versus the number of hours they stayed in the premises. It seems that your right to stay longer depends on how many items you buy there. I do feel that some Filipinos are being insecure that they mind other people's business while these people don't mind theirs. We came to Coffee shop to relax, unwind and be ourselves and not to pressure by the eyes of spectators that knows it all.
This Travel Vlogger is not helpful at all to the Filipino community because he doesn't dare to ask and try to understand why these people act that way. There are also some Filipinos who tried to "Parinig" making statements indirectly to shame those who are doing it believing that these people will change but no it isn't. For as long as you don't listen and understand people's reason behind these actions there is no impact and no change.
He may have a point but instead of making a video and have a rant about it, he should have done it differently by approaching the management directly to address the problem and offer a solution. Start to ask some of customers as to why they are doing it to gain more and clearer understanding.
What he doesn't know, there is some part of his country that has the similar Coffee Culture. During my stay in the UK, there are also people doing their business, studying and doing their work for longer hours as they sip their coffees there times that Starbucks is too crowded and noisy during Winter seasons. Unlike in the Philippines, most Starbucks in UK particularly in London don't have guards.
UK's drinking and street culture is more distrubing than Philippine Coffee Culture.
If you see the Drinking culture at UK pubs and streets at London at night are worst for instance after working hours, you see an office lady lying on the floor and wasted. I was really shocked when I saw that in London because she was making vulnerable to herself. A man whom I personally saw lying on train's floor look drunk and wasted at one of the carriages of Golders Green Underground trains. While others are too loud in public and then two bearded men with an influence of alcohol was about to kiss when I pass by on one of the pubs at Charing Cross.
Do you think those kind of people would make London and UK safe? Did Filipinos and other nationalities tried to complain and make a viral video to address that? It's a "No" because some of them may think that its a part of British culture and they have no means to express their concerns because it is not their country and for them, for as long as it doesn't interfere with what they are doing, these Cafe police people and other horrible people must mind their own business and insecurities otherwise their community will fight back. So don't expect that you will received the same comfort and convenience you have in the UK can be also seen in Philippines and others. People have different ways of doing things and what we need to do is research, get to know with their culture, accept, respect and adapt to it and vice versa if they are in your country.
Even J. K. Rowling does her novel works in Cafe shops, but I don't think she would only stay for 30 minutes to do her writing works there and it takes time. To write something, it needs some brainstorming, creativity, inspiration and productivity and Coffee shops like Starbucks ignite those senses through the smell of a Coffee first then drinking it will now move you up to the new level of productivity with sharp focus.
With his concern about Starbucks is losing its customers that's a nay! because even if there are people who are dining here for long periods, there are others who do Take out orders or even call Starbucks directly or use other delivery service to purchase and enjoy the product.
For a foreigner who just visited the Philippines or other countries, I would suggest that before you create a video, noting these bad and odd experiences, you have to look at your country in a mirror first and remind yourself that each country has their own way of doing things and also has their own set of good qualities and flaws. Learn to adapt and be open to experiences that are different to you and instead of complaining, approach the management and express your concerns and offer a solution that would benefit everyone involved. In that way the problem would sorted nicely without drama.
Understanding the Coffee Culture in the Philippines and the type of people who go there.
Now, we move on to the Coffee culture scenario in the Philippines. When Starbucks came to the Philippines, only the rich and some well to do people and professionals can afford it. If someone knows that you go there, they will say, you are posh person however on my return to Philippines after 7 years from UK, I was shocked that Filipinos are catching up with the trend and even students can now afford it. They begin to use Starbucks as an opportunity for them to study and for others they conduct a business while for some, they are staying there to pass time or wait for something but are not buying anything and there also others who probably stays there for free Wi-Fi or just be there to look cool which annoys others.
Unlike in the UK or in other countries, most Filipinos are not originally book readers. They only encounter books if this book becomes a world trend like Harry Potter, Twilight or the local pocket books which I think only a few only reads it. They would only encounter textbooks during their school and university days but it is not something that they are immediately interested for example, you immediately fancy reading law books or other books that gives factual and informative information plus having your book collection is expensive.
The Philippines have few National libraries and not all schools have bigger libraries to accommodate students so the alternate solution is to go a Coffee shop and do their studies there. There are also some who doesn't have a study facility at their home or living with a shared accommodation that are not conducive for studying so if they see Starbucks in their area for as long as they can afford to buy a coffee then they will go there. Philippines doesn't have public libraries on every high street or it is small to accommodate everyone or they are too strict with the rules.
The next in line in Philippine Coffee culture population are the professional workers from the corporate world. These professionals sometimes use Starbucks and other cafes for socialisation during breaks or having a meet-up with a family member or friend/s who have the same love for Coffee, breads and pastries goes along with it. Some of them use Cafe shops to work for example their boss sends them an urgent email to do their tasks or a meeting with colleagues during their off days or the office is not available to use.
The third in the Coffee Culture population are people who owns or involved in business and Entrepreneurs. They are in Starbucks or other Coffee shops because this a place that is very conducive in brainstorming and sharing of ideas especially during mornings where everyone is on the go. If you have a customer and a client, whom you wanted to lure to your business inviting them for a Coffee is a nice thing to do to present how your business works and what other things they need to know.
And last on the population are the Freelancers and those who are starting with their work from home jobs but cannot do their jobs on home because of their children around, their house is near at the street where the noise of vehicles can be heard and cannot afford to rent a Co-working space or rent a studio or private rooms because its too expensive.
We see these people normally on a Coffee shop on a daily basis and for simply controlling or restrict their behavior is no good and assuming that these people are there to look cool or posh and make indirect statements to shame them for them to change wouldn't be effective. If you try to set your biases at the side and try to understand and accept where they are coming from then a change that works for everybody would be possible.
How can a Starbucks and other Cafe shops solve these issues and retain the customers happy coffee experience? (My suggestions)
First thing that they must do is to set intentions when it comes to the number of sales that they want on a daily basis and from there they must set boundaries by implementing a rule that would benefit everyone for example they make an Online Announcement like this.
"To enjoy your Coffee drinking experience the allotted time to stay in the premises would be 30 mins (or they may set any time limit that works for them) to give to the new customers a chance to dine in. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
Aside from Online Announcement there would be also sign boards that would also make other people be informed even they missed these online announcements. It is important that everyone must informed and not just approaching one person by a guard or staff to be reprimanded and then they saw on the other customer they are treated differently which is unfair. Be consistent and firm with the rules and provide an explanation to your side why there has to be that way.
Another great suggestion is, if you have a regular customer who use Starbucks/Coffee shops to study or work for longer hours let say they stay in the mornings till afternoon or from afternoon till evenings, you may offer them menus from that particular time and with that you are making strategy to have more sales as you are catering your customer's needs. You offer that customer that convenience that instead of them going to other places to eat that might interrupt their focus on doing their activities.
For those who are envious or insecure seeing those people at Starbucks for longer hours, you shouldn't be because this is a first come, first serve basis. These people are not responsible why you did have your coffee from that branch in the first place. They are not feeling entitled or anything, they simply have a purpose on why they are there and they have nothing against you.
What these people can do is to make adjustments by simply ordering coffee for take out, make online or phone deliveries or simply choose a Coffee shop with less people to dine in.
You may also include a posts about Coffee etiquettes on Social medias or on site so all people have to be aware of the behaviors that is allowed and not allowed in the Coffee shop.
With proper communication, right information, be accepting and understanding where others are coming from, we can achieve orderliness for everyone making your Coffee shop a safe place where people relax, getting comfy and having pleasant feeling when your customers enjoy every sip of their favorite Coffees.
Happy sipping everyone!
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