Starbucks to open first coffee shop in Italy

[RedBar]

The American coffee chain promised to enter the birthplace of the espresso "with humility and respect".

[bbc.co.uk...]

Hopefully the Italians will do the same to Starbucks as they have to fast food!

[engine]

Entering hallowed ground with that one, and it'll be interesting how that works out. It may be a hit because it's different.

For me, SB coffee has never been any good.

[johnhh]

Starbucks is rubbish, overpriced flavoured water. Give them a year, famous last words...

[piatkow]

Over here the punters seem to prefer the three big coffee chains to independents despite the premium prices.

[engine]

I make a point of seeking out the independent tea and coffee shops and cafes as it's often better value for money, and, importantly, for me, there's something about it being somewhere that's different.

[piatkow]

So do I but when Costa took over a former restaurant site near me the independent next door was out of business within months.

[piatkow]

Hopefully the Italian public will show rather more discrimination than the British.