The time before last that I drove to the Subic Royal store aboard the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to go grocery shopping, I noticed a new Starbucks coffee shop in the process of being completed. I made a mental note that I'd have to stop in and take a look around when it was done. Well, it was done by the following trip (more than a month later), but I didn't feel like stopping in at the time. Little did I know that my son had already been there.

Bum Scoop

A couple of days ago, one of my sisters-in-law (Florian) told another sister-in-law (Darlene) that they sold t-shirts and blouses at the Starbucks coffee shop. She had overheard it in a conversation while riding a bus from Olongapo to Bataan. The next day, I decided to go there with my son, Darlene and her daughter, Ashlene (who's 3-years old I think).

The coffee shop is easy to find because it's on the corner of Rizal Highway and Argonaut Street and it almost stands out like a sore thumb. Parking is on Rizal Avenue on the opposite side of the intersection, so going through the intersection and turning around in order to park in that parking lot was interesting to say the least. Cars coming off the exit from the Subic expressway don't slow down for anything as they try to beat the light at that corner.

Well, there were things for sale at the Starbucks coffee shop, like coffee mugs and other assorted items, but not clothing of any kind. Florian must have heard the conversation wrong. I now call her "Bum Scoop Florian".

Starbucks Coffee Prices

My son wanted a "Java Chip" drink like he'd had before so I ordered two of them. I also ordered an "Apple Berry Freeze" (apple and strawberry with crushed ice) for Ashlene since Darlene didn't want anything. When I paid P490 (just over USD $10) for the drinks, I remembered why I didn't frequently go to Starbucks when I was in the US. I'm sorry, but those prices are absurd.

What's even more absurd is that Starbucks expects to do well at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Their prices are too high for the average resident in the Philippines, so they must be catering to the upper class and tourists. I'm not in the upper class and I'm not a tourist, so I guess I won't be going back there again. I'd be much better off (and probably "save" a lot of money) by buying my own coffee beans, a coffee grinder and brewing my own coffee.

On second thought, I think I'll stick to making coffee like Starbucks at home using Nescafé instant coffee and milk. My worn-out taste buds really can't tell the difference.

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