First Starbucks in Prague is a hit

by Iva Skoch on

It’s been a couple of months since Starbucks opened their first Czech Republic location. And, you guessed it, it is smashing success, and not only with tourists.

I remember just a few years ago the idea of a $4 cup of coffee was a science fiction concept in this country. Not today, with the Czech koruna hitting all time highs against the dollar day after day, $4 for a cup of coffee is no longer as much money as it used to be. Just a few years ago, the dollar was traded 1:35 against the Czech koruna. Now, it is 1:16. Ouch.

For those of you, who know Prague, Starbucks picked a great location right next to the Malostranske namesti tram stop (below the castle), where the restaurant Square and Malostranska kavarna used to be. (See photo; it is the building on the left). Don’t get me wrong, I am not a big fan of Starbucks. At the same time, I applaud them for giving Prague what they have been waiting for. Early morning coffee and breakfast is still hard to find around Malostranske namesti. I have heard this complain from several people who visited me here. Of course, small locally-owned coffee shop could never afford the rent that Starbucks can pay.

When I was at the Prague airport earlier this week, I noticed that Starbucks is opening an airport location, too. Yes, Prague is gentrifying rapidly. And, it is certainly not “the cheap place” to visit any longer.

Russia Gets its First Starbucks

by Catherine Bodry on

While the Forbidden City is forbidding Starbucks, the global coffee chain finally opened its doors in Russia two years after it won a legal battle to protect its brand in the Russian market. It took long enough. McDonald’s has been there since 1990, so I’m surprised it took Starbucks over 10 years to set up shop in Russia.

The shop is located in a Mega shopping mall in Khimki, just north of Moscow. The company plans to open another shop on Moscow’s historic Stary Arbat street before 2007 is up, but is keeping mum on further expansion plans.

My prediction? It won’t be long before Starbucks shops pop up across Russia like pimples on an adolescent’s face.

[via Reuters]

Vietnamese Coffee

by Catherine Bodry on

I’m waiting for Vietnamese coffee shops to sprout like Starbucks in mini-malls all over America. Such a coffee-crazed country is a ripe market for a drink so strong, rich, and crazily caffeinated.

I was prepared for pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) when planning my trip, as Anchorage already has a couple of Vietnamese restaurants. But I was completely taken aback by the quality of Vietnam’s coffee, which is sold on the sidewalk for a few cents.

Cups are brewed individually by pressing coarsely-ground beans inside a stainless steel filter and pouring boiling water over them. A lid covers the top, which keeps the water hot while it drips into your glass. Often, as much as a half-inch of sweetened condensed milk has already been added to the glass — it was always too sweet for me so I was careful not to stir too much, leaving most of the sticky milk on the bottom.

After a couple of minutes you remove the aluminum contraption, using the lid as a foundation now in order to catch any stray drips. What’s left is a cup of coffee strong enough to make you grind your teeth for hours in a caffeine rush. No 16-ounce mocha-lattes here; glasses aren’t much larger than shot glasses. Sip it slowly.

And if you get a chance, visit the coffee plantations and roasters in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. You can smell the roasting beans for miles, and when you get inside a roaster you’re surrounded by a thick hug of chocolate-smelling coffee beans.

Caffeinated in Seattle

by Iva Skoch on

Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! Man, is this a beautiful piece of the planet or what. On that perfect sunny day in Seattle–like today–you’d be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque city (sorry, Prague).

Although I lived here a few years ago, I forgot how many coffee shops there are! Literally one on every block and they keep multiplying. And it’s not just Starbucks, although the original location (picture) in the Pike Place Market still attracts tourists.

I remember walking to work in that “morning march of the claws” (MMC) every day. MMC are all the people bundled up in Columbia Sportswear rain gear, marching to work with their right arm extended, their hand (mutated into a cup-holding claw) tightly gripping a cup of java. Their expression suggested: “Don’t talk to me before I have a chance to caffeinate.”

Everyone here seems to have a favorite coffee place, too. While favorite places used to be chains, such as Starbucks, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Tully’s, Peet’s…, now people seem to appreciate and cherish their independent coffee shops, as the latest Best of Citysearch survey indicates. When I lived here, my favorite local place used to be Uptown Coffee. Although they now have a few locations now, they still make possibly the best cappuccino foam West of Italy.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of July 15

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here we are again at another weeks end. As quirky as we are at times it seems there are still many good practical pickings out there to explore. If you need tips to arrive alive or help in a travel insurance purchase check out some of these. Oh, and if you need someone to do the sight-seeing for you we’ve found a little something in that department too.

5. Americano To Go (Away from Forbidden City):
If you plan your vacations based on the number of Starbucks locations per city, you may very well be out of luck with this particular destination.

4. Think You’re Covered? Top 10 Things Travel Insurance Might Not Foot the Bill For:
This is an excellent post everyone should read! While purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Kilimanjaro can offer some peace of mind make sure you’ve read the fine print. Surprisingly, it does not cover everything you may have previously thought.

3. Vacation Surrogate Will Vacation for You:
Um, I have to agree with many of the comments on the plug above. I don’t get it. I wouldn’t do it, but I’m sure it works for someone out and there and kudos to Sara Thacher – San Fran’s Vacation Surrogate for being clever enough to develop a way for those who can’t travel to the city. I’d rather go on my own though.

2. Airline Hackers: Inside the World of Mileage Running:
I love finding ways to increase my mileage on various airlines, however mileage running hasn’t been one of my methods. This option works well if you’ve got a flexible schedule and a burning desire to collect as many sky points as possible, but there are other easier ways. Read further to find out some tips to mileage running if you’re all packed and ready to go!

1. Six Tips to Stay Awake on Road Trips:
Driving late at night or at dusk and yes, even in the day can be tiring when on a long road trip. If having the windows rolled down with blasts of cool air hitting at your face while the Iron Maiden pumps out from the stereo doesn’t work in keeping you awake, look into some of these other helpful tips.