Let’s see…the first brief paragraph is about my weekend…my bad…the second is how I came across the article and why I’m translating it, the third is an overdue note about translating Korean articles, which is what I just said I’d do in paragraph 2 and, well, what I do on my blog so it’s important, the 4th is about issues I have with the quality of the article and Korean newspapers, then the translated article, then relating that article to coffee prices in Korea…jeez, need I go on?

Sure, I admit that some of it would possibly not make sense to someone seeing the blog for the first time, but then it’s my blog and I don’t discuss things in isolation. Anyone who’s read more than a few posts of the blog would understand everything else I refer to.

If you were just after information about coffee then I’m sorry, but if my blog is “an irreverent look at Korean social issues and learning Korean,” then some non-coffee related subjects are going to come up regardless of the post’s title. And seriously, if you found that post off the point, then you’re going to hate the rest of the blog!

Get to the point!!!, or do you have a point. I’ve read your post for two minutes and still couldn’t figure out what the hell you were talking about. You get way off the topic man, we’re talking about coffee remember. Reminds me of some of my boring college instructors, were discussing a topic and he’s way off in right field. Education means nothing unless you put it to good use. WTF!!!

http://bridgingculturekorea.blogspot.com/search/label/Starbucks%20Korea

thanks for the link, and I quite agree with you about the thin, runny thing called an ‘Americano.’ I had more of my fill of them until about 2004 or 2005, when Starbucks finally began offering Soy milk, and still virtually the only one which does (although with your obvious expertise on the subject, you might know of more).

Considering readily it and tofu is consumed here, and how soy milk has been available at Starbuckses in Japan at least since I started going there on visa runs in 2000, it’s always suprised me how Koreans thought the idea of putting soy milk in coffee was bizarre. Admittedly though, Korean soy milk generally tastes foul compared to the stuff back home, so I can’t blame Koreans for their reluctance.

But back to your question. I’m afraid I simply don’t have any detailed information about Starbucks in Korea, although you’ve piqued my interest. But considering how Korea has the highest rate of short-term, irregular, low-paid jobs in the OECD though, like I blogged about a few posts ago, then I would be very suprised if Starbucks provided many side-benefits to its workers. Based on my own personal experience however, I think it may well be on the better places to work for students: it probably does actually provide at least the minimum wage of 3500won an hour, which would make it unusual from what I hear, and I’d say that at least 50% of the faces that were at my local branch when I moved here 4 years ago are still there now (although I admit that I wouldn’t know about other coffee shops, because I don’t go to them).

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!

Also, I don’t trust Americans’ taste in coffee as any kind of benchmark whatsoever (though I am one). Americans don’t even realize that “Americano” is titled thusly to make fun of us for essentially drinking watered-down espresso.

“Uncommon Grounds,” a history of the bean, is also a good read.