How Starbucks destroyed the "Third Place" and replaced it with protein powder

"Starbucks removed the chairs, added protein drinks, and called it innovation. Here's what they actually sacrificed. As an avid coffee drinker and someone who lives a decently healthy lifestyle, I tend to avoid the sugary drinks from coffee chains and just opt for a healthier and cost-effective black coffee. I personally think the majority of Starbucks drinks have too much sugar and are advertised to the Gen Z audience as something that is Instagrammable and photoesque."

"Walk into a Starbucks on any given day, and you'll see drinks topped with " cold foam", " whipped cream," and mixed in with different gradients of food coloring. The entire experience seems more around visual appeal and social sharing than nutrition. Starbucks Growing up, my mom would go to a Starbucks and just read newspapers for hours, perfectly happy with a short pike in a tall cup."

Starbucks removed chairs and introduced protein lattes and protein cold foam while expanding visually driven, sugary offerings. Many customers who prefer healthier, cost-effective black coffee feel alienated by drinks heavy in sugar and designed for Instagram appeal. The menu increasingly features cold foam, whipped cream, and colorful gradients that favor social sharing over nutrition. Longstanding communal rituals, like lingering with newspapers over simple brewed coffee, have been eroded as spaces and beverages shift toward trend-driven consumption. The brand's emphasis on youthful, imageable beverages and product innovation has altered the cafe's atmosphere and the experience of belonging once centered on modest coffee and unpressured presence.

Read at Medium