I’m not much of a Starbucks Coffee drinker. Well, actually, that’s an understatement…I never patronize Starbucks.
I tried it once and I don’t see the appeal. It was like overpriced hot chocolate to me. Too sweet! And definitely too expensive!
Do you like Starbucks? The world’s busiest Starbucks is in 渋谷 (Shibuya, Tokyo). But, personally, I like 「ドトール・コーヒー」 (Doutor Coffee) or even McDonalds‘s coffee better. To me, that’s real coffee.
But I walked past a Starbucks yesterday and noticed that they’re having a 「SAKURA シリーズ」 (Sakura (Cherry Ｂlossom) Series).
Starbucks's 「SAKURA シリーズ 2009」
It’s Sakura flavored scones and desserts, and pink coffee cups and coffee pots.
It’s not for me. I’d never buy any of that stuff. But if you want more info about it, click here to visit Starbucks Japan‘s website (mostly in 日本語 (Japanese) only).
Tokyo Five 
Here in Malaysia, MCD’s coffee taste stale..CBTL and Starbucks are growing at the same level
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What’s “CBTL”?
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I’m sipping on a Sakura frappuccino from Starbucks as I type 🙂
The mug set this year is beautiful, I like it better than last year’s. Wasn’t here to see them the year before. I bought a few of the tumblers (travel mugs) for friends back in the U.S. and the small and larger one for myself.
There is a Dunkin Donuts on Yokosuka Base and the donuts taste just like the ones in the States. It’s nice to go in there and get one if we want, but we’re not big donut fans. Whenever there’s an open base event the Japanese will carry out two or three of the dozen sized boxes each. I have a picture of a guy carrying four. Mr. Donut is all right, but it’s nice to have Dunkin Donuts as an option.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is very good and much cheaper than Starbucks! I frequented one in Pearl City, HI when we lived there.
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I think Mister Donuts is better that Dunkin’ Donuts.
Actually when I first came to Japan, there were Dunkin’ Donuts stores in Japan…but they weren’t popular and the franchise left Japan (I didn’t know they were on the military bases though. But I heard the bases have “Taco Bell” too…and that restaurant’s not in Japan either.)
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I certainly don’t like Starbuck. I prefer a sock as a bag and filled with mixtures of herbs and natural grass to make aromatic blend of delicious coffee.
It sure makes my “EYES POP” in the morning!
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You don’t actually mean a 靴下 (sock), do you? Maybe you’re talking about a filter??
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Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are out in California and recently have made their way out to Florida. I use to love them but now being twelve years later I’ve lost the taste for the both of them. There’s a Dunkin Donuts off of 66th street that for some reason has the best coffee ever. I believe it has something to do with the cream they use. The University of Florida said Dunkin Donuts medium roast has 80% more caffine than Starbucks:)
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I’ve never heard of Coffee Bean or Tea Leaf. And, as I mentioned on this site before, Dunkin’ Donuts was in Japan years ago and failed here. They had to close all of their shops in Japan because their donuts are too sweet for Japanese taste.
Mister Donuts has good donuts and good coffee (with free refills). (McDonalds has free refills, too.)
Speaking of McDonalds, here in Japan McDonalds has begun to sell “Breakfast Hotdogs”.
Does McDonalds in America and other countries sell hotdogs?
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Between Coffee Bean and Starbucks, I’ll choose Starbucks because it taste much more better. I guess each countries franchise tend to make it differently i suppose because when i have an SB cafe latte i am never disappointed but i do agree with your McD’s coffee its pretty wholesome 🙂
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I don’t know “Coffee Bean“. But, personally, I don’t like Starbucks. But I know lots of people do like them.
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Prolly cos SB’s pretty much celebrity endorsed i guess hence ppl like them but i agree with you on having real coffee. Now i know my younger sister never liked SB or CB coffees cos she said she can never taste her coffee in them. I wonder what she drank when she was in Japan.
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>I wonder what she drank when she was in Japan.
There are many coffee shops in Japan.
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I visited the one in Shinjuku….it was very impressive. Looking forward to seeing the view from Tokyo Tower.
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I visited both of the Shinjuku observation decks and wrote posts about each.
Here:
https://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/shinjuku/
and here:
https://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/shinjuku-skyline/
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Aloha – Its been awhile since I had a chance to visit your blog. I’ll be leaving for Japan in 10 days so I am getting excited reading your post. I will be visiting Tokyo Tower for the first time. Also looking forward to seeing the Sakura and going shopping in Akihabara.
This post got me even more excited. I am a fan of Starbucks although I prefer Doutor when I am in Japan. I hope they still have the Sakura stuff while I am there, that will make good omiyage for my friends.
Thanks for all the great posts!
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Only ten more days? I think that Starbucks will still have the “SAKURA Series ’09” campaign going at that time.
You never visited the Tokyo Tower before?
How about the observatories in Shinjuku or Ikebukuro?
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I used to drink it on a regular basis because I got it for my employees. I started getting Dunkin Donuts because it was cheaper, faster and just as good.
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You have “employees”? Do you own your own business?
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Yikes, looks like I’m the only SB lover! But…I don’t drink coffee LOL I *love* their caramel frappuccino and chocolate chunk scones!
Thanks for the tip on the Sakura stuff, I’ll definitely have to go soon to get a Sakura coffee mug! Too cute!
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Not only you. Many people must love “Starbucks”…that’s why they’re such a big chain!
If you want the Sakura merchandise, you should go soon. It’s limited time only.
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I brew my own coffee — famous Hawaiian coffee called LION’S COFFEE, especially the hazel nut Kona coffee.
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Japan’s coffee shop chain called “Doutor” has a coffee bean plantation in Hawaii.
Have you heard of Doutor?
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nope, never heard of Doutor.
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Really? They’re all over Japan.
Since they have a plantation in Hawaii, I thought they might have coffee shops there too.
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I started going to Starbucks all the time when I moved to Tokyo to take a break from the city or to study. Then I moved to Sendai and could get a bigger apartment and hardly ever go.
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Really? So you like Starbucks coffee? Don’t you find it overpriced (and too sweet)?
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I am very proud to say I have never patronized Starbucks!
Not that I have a problem with coffee, just Starbucks and their loser over-marketization.
I think they are in big trouble financially these days in US.
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As for me, the reason I don’t like Starbucks is because their coffee is expensive…and it doesn’t taste like coffee to me.
It’s too sweet.
Maybe I’m old-fashioned. I just like regular coffee. And I especially like McDonalds ¥120 coffee with free refills!
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