Coffee has always been an important part of the fabric of Jamaican culture. The Blue Mountains is where most of this coffee is grown. It is the highest peak on the island sitting at about 7,402 feet according to the Blue Mountain coffee website.
In recent years many Jamaicans have refuted the idea of letting a huge coffee company like Starbucks enter the island. Politicians and civilians alike have voiced their concern about the presence of Starbucks and the coffee market in Jamaica. Cafes like Cafe Blue and Cannon Ball have been affected by this decision the most. As the Starbucks lines get longer, local cafe lines get shorter.
I decided to visit these local cafes and Starbucks to see what the big difference really is. The difference lies within the customer service, Starbucks is more efficient and customer friendly. I think the friendliness, tied with curiosity and the craving for something new, are the reasons more coffee lovers are going to Starbucks. So far, the Kingston based store seems to be doing very well. Fans and foes of Starbucks visit the store often and ultimately give them good business.
