A Research Outline on the Transformation of the Coffee Industry in the United States of America and the Role of Starbucks in It Essay

If this is coffee, please bring me some tea but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee. Abraham Lincoln No one knows when, how or even why coffee was discovered and first domesticated into an agricultural product. However, coffee has been around for over half a millennia, before Europeans even discovered the Americas (NCA n.p.). Though the beverage has been around the centuries, it is only in the past few decades that the coffee industry in the United States has been transformed from a goods-related supply chain to a service-oriented empire. And there is arguably one company responsible for this transformation Starbucks. Much like McDonalds introduced the concept of the fast food experience, Starbucks transformed coffee from just another consumer good to an industry that plays on human emotion, community, and daily life. This research paper aims at addressing the specifics of how, when and why Starbucks played an integral part of the transition of the coffee industry in the United States in the past few decades. The three main questions to be addressed, then, are 1) how has the coffee industry changed since the 1970s, 2) what role has Starbucks played in this transformation, and 3) how is the coffee industry likely to change in the future?This is a difficult research question to address form an objective standpoint, since the answers to the questions above depend largely on ones perspective. However, the paper will utilize several key resources to inform its subsequent discussion. First, William Roseberry addresses the shift in the coffee industry and the creation of coffee culture in his 1996 article discussing the rise of yuppie coffees and the reimagination of class in the United States (762). Second, Michael D. Smith wrote an article the same year examination not only the consumption and production of coffee, but how Starbucks plays into a new political economy of coffee production. The scholar combines cultural studies with consumption studies to create a...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Character Analysis of Basil Hallward in The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Novel by Oscar Wilde Essay

The main character in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian, is a man too easily influenced by his surroundings. He is quoted as saying, Basil Hallward is what I think I am Lord Henry is what the world thinks me Dorian is what I would like to bein other ages, perhaps (Wilde). This comparison falls in line with the moral of the story because Dorian is stuck with eternal youth and beauty even though he has a wicked soul. This causes different views of him by people who observe his daily life. Dorian is a sponge throughout the novel that absorbs everything and allows it to shape his personality, morals, and actions. Dorian Gray takes influence from Lord Henry, Basil Hallward, and the culture of society during which the novel was written. Lord Henry is the epitome of a wealthy, hedonistic gentleman seeking only pleasure, with little regard to cost or consequence. Lord Henry Wotton outwardly propounds hedonism, but it is his extreme egotism that drives him to manipulate both Basil Hallward a
Read more

An Analysis of the Character of Chichikov in the Poem, Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol Essay

Dead Souls takes place in the Russia of the late 1800s, where, unlike in America, one must be born into a prosperous family in order to have opportunities. The main character, Chichikov, is clever enough to develop a scheme in which he can rise from being a petty clerk to a respected landowner. In order to do this, Chichikov moves into a new town, pretending to already be a landowner, and begins a quest to buy the names of dead serfs who have not yet been officially reported dead. Each person that Chichkov presents this offer to has a different reaction, starting with the shy and introverted Manilov. Though he does not understand Chichikov's need for the names of these dead serfs, Manilov is a character that is so desperate for company that it does not take any effort to trick him into selling his dead souls cheaply. However, as Chichikov continues his journey, he starts to deal with more clever landowners who become suspicious of his scheme. Chichikov finds that the townsmen know
Read more

A Literary Analysis of the Third Twin by Ken Follett Essay

The Third TwinThe Third Twin by Ken Follett is a type of mystery book. It makes you look at different aspects of the story. When you think you know whats happening it is not always what you think.Dr. Jeannie Ferrami, a scientist funded by a university who is doing a study on twins is one of the main characters in the story. Jeannie Ferrami is tall with long brown hair and is also very athletic. Steve Logan a student at another college is also a very important character in the story. Berrington Jones the head of the college funds Dr. Jeannie Ferrami until Jeannie discovers something Berrington didnt want her to know. Ricky Phillips Berringtons son is a twin just and he plays a small part but with a big impact on the story. Lisa Miller who is Jeannies best friend comes early into the story playing a very dramatic role, another small character is Dennis Pinker one of the twins in the story who is a murderer and is also being studied He is one of Steve Logans twin brothers.Lisa Miller and
Read more