--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee…" description: "\"“So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee as an affordable luxury, I think to myself, Maybe so. But more accurate, I like to think, is that the starbuck..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg" --- # So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee as an affordable… ![“So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee as an affordable luxury, I think to myself, Maybe so. But more accurate, I like to think, is that the starbucks experience - personal connection- is an affordable necessity. We are all hungry for community.” quote by Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg) > ““So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee as an affordable luxury, I think to myself, Maybe so. But more accurate, I like to think, is that the starbucks experience - personal connection- is an affordable necessity. We are all hungry for community.”” [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Starbucks experience provides a personal, community‑building connection that feels essential rather than merely a luxury. **In simple terms:** Starbucks offers a needed sense of community. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connections in daily life. Themes community experience necessity affordability personal connection Mood warm reflective inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - visiting coffee shops - team building - networking events - online community forums Key Concepts social capital brand experience human need Questions to Reflect On - How does a shared space foster belonging? - What simple rituals create community? A Different Perspective Not everyone values coffee culture equally; some may see it as unnecessary expense. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Coffee Affordable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-affordable-6113918/) [Refer Starbucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refer-starbucks-6113919/) [Starbucks Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starbucks-coffee/) [Starbucks Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starbucks-experience-2436599/) [Think Starbucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-starbucks-1205603/) ## Related quotes > [We think of Starbucks not as a coffee company but a media company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-think-of-starbucks-not-as-a-coffee-company-but-a-media-company/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [People around the world, they want the authentic Starbucks experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/people-around-the-world-they-want-the-authentic-starbucks-experience/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Post-9/11, we saw an immediate uptick in the amount of people in our stores, all over the country. People wanted that human connection. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/post-9-11-we-saw-an-immediate-uptick-in-the-amount-of-people-in-our/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [I am concerned about any attrition in customer traffic at Starbucks, but I don't want to use the economy, commodity prices or consumer confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/i-am-concerned-about-any-attrition-in-customer-traffic-at-starbucks-2/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [I think Starbucks created a platform and, ultimately, a runway for many other companies to emulate. I suspect if we had not achieved what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/i-think-starbucks-created-a-platform-and-ultimately-a-runway-for-many/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“Starbucks has always been about so much more than coffee. But without great coffee, we have no reason to exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/starbucks-has-always-been-about-so-much-more-than-coffee-but-without/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Let's tell people we voted because of the worldwide financial meltdown rather than the free cup of Starbucks coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-s-tell-people-we-voted-because-of-the-worldwide-financial/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think Starbucks would go out of business if more people were to Superglue their eyelids open when they felt tired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-think-starbucks-would-go-out-of-business-if-more-people-were-to/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What I would hope to do is painting, because I don't think I'm qualified for anything else. My last job would be babysitting, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/what-i-would-hope-to-do-is-painting-because-i-don-t-think-i-m/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [“So don’t think of Starbucks as a place to get a $6 latté; think of it as a place to meet someone who shares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-sack/so-don-t-think-of-starbucks-as-a-place-to-get-a-6-latt-think-of-it-as/) [Brian Sack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-sack/) > [“We all, like Frodo, carry a Quest, a Task: our daily duties. They come to us, not from us. We are free only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/we-all-like-frodo-carry-a-quest-a-task-our-daily-duties-they-come-to/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“I wanted to sip my daily Starbucks coffee as I got to work early (no later than 11:00 am), have a late lunch (1:00-4:00),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wanted-to-sip-my-daily-starbucks-coffee-as-i-got-to-work-early-no/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hills/going-to-starbucks-for-coffee-is-like-going-to-prison-for-sex-you/) [Adam Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hills/) > [Politics now is rather like going into Starbucks for a coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/politics-now-is-rather-like-going-into-starbucks-for-a-coffee/) [Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/) > [“When I go house hunting, I use a rather large gun. You should see me fish for the best tasting Starbucks coffee. Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-i-go-house-hunting-i-use-a-rather-large-gun-you-should-see-me/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Howard Schultz > [For Starbucks, there will be no shortage of the highest-quality arabica beans. I suspect that for some others there could potentially be a problem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/for-starbucks-there-will-be-no-shortage-of-the-highest-quality/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If it Captures Your Imagination, it will captivate others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-it-captures-your-imagination-it-will-captivate-others/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If you look at coffee, tea, food and juice, we think there are inherent opportunities. If you look at health bars or grab-and-go products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-you-look-at-coffee-tea-food-and-juice-we-think-there-are-inherent/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [The success of the Starbucks has been based on this balance between profitability and a social conscience. Everywhere we're doing business, were trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/the-success-of-the-starbucks-has-been-based-on-this-balance-between/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Companies should not have a singular view of profitability. There needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility... The companies that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/companies-should-not-have-a-singular-view-of-profitability-there/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Success is best when its shared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/success-is-best-when-its-shared/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [While their service is ending, our responsibility is just beginning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/while-their-service-is-ending-our-responsibility-is-just-beginning/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“Living in the same city as Microsoft, I’m only too aware that, even in low-technology businesses like coffee, the Next Big Thing could knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/living-in-the-same-city-as-microsoft-i-m-only-too-aware-that-even-in/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [We have a big opportunity in China. We think the number of stores here can rival the number in North America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-have-a-big-opportunity-in-china-we-think-the-number-of-stores-here/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Starbucks is not an advertiser; people think we are a great marketing company, but in fact we spend very little money on marketing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/starbucks-is-not-an-advertiser-people-think-we-are-a-great-marketing/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [We woke up one day, and all the sudden Starbucks was in the middle of this political crossfire between the people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-woke-up-one-day-and-all-the-sudden-starbucks-was-in-the-middle-of/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [I'm in a different position than most CEO's. I'm a founder. I'm not a hired CEO. Now, I can be fired by the board,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/i-m-in-a-different-position-than-most-ceo-s-i-m-a-founder-i-m-not-a/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Profitability is a shallow goal if it doesn't have a real purpose, and the purpose has to be share the profits with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/profitability-is-a-shallow-goal-if-it-doesn-t-have-a-real-purpose-and/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [And with the right mentor, don't be afraid to expose your vulnerabilities. Admit you don't know what you don't know. When you acknowledge your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/and-with-the-right-mentor-don-t-be-afraid-to-expose-your/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [People in Washington need to put their feet in the shoes of working Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/people-in-washington-need-to-put-their-feet-in-the-shoes-of-working/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) [Explore all 252 Howard Schultz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) ## More Coffee quotes > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/) [Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/) > [White Coffee Really Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-saicha/white-coffee-really-helps/) [Anwar Saicha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-saicha/) > [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Coffee and tobacco are complete repose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/coffee-and-tobacco-are-complete-repose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/) [Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/) > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [I don't typically drink coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cavallari/i-don-t-typically-drink-coffee/) [Kristin Cavallari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cavallari/) > [I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/i-put-hibiscus-flower-in-every-cup-of-tea-i-have-it-s-sweet-sexy-and/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“That is why I love Starbucks. It doesn't matter how much money you have or what social world you're from, chances are you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-davis/that-is-why-i-love-starbucks-it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-money-you/) [Kyra Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-davis/) [Browse all 3,625 Coffee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee as an affordable luxury, I think to myself, Maybe so. But more accurate, I like to think, is that the starbucks experience - personal connection- is an affordable necessity. We are all hungry for community.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Schultz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-as-an-affordable-luxury-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coffee" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-as-an-affordable-luxury-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e03/howard-schultz-1317_coffee_so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-a_1605702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So when some refer to Starbucks' coffee as an affordable luxury, I think to myself, Maybe so. But more…” — Howard Schultz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Howard Schultz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So when some refer to Starbucks'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-as-an-affordable-luxury-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/so-when-some-refer-to-starbucks-coffee-as-an-affordable-luxury-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```