Why Israelis Didn’t Like Starbucks or Why Americans Like Bad Coffee

Ten years have passed since Starbucks closed their six branches in Israel.

They had been open two years. Delek Group, the Israeli corporation, managed (mismanaged?) the branches, not individual branch managers.

However, Starbucks failed in the “Start-Up Nation” because of its “You don’t like the coffee? You’ll get used to it” attitude. Israelis love coffee. Starbucks, unlike MacDonald’s who changed their menu to fit Israeli taste and succeeded big-time, did not “go with the flow.”

The average Israeli consumer loves the strong, Italian-style latte or cappuccino. The watery beverage that passes for a strong brew just does not cut it here.

Not only is the Israeli style coffee big bucks (or shekels) here, Aroma, the biggest coffee giant in Israel with more than 125 branches, has opened branches in New York City.

Other honorable mentions in Israel are: Cup O ’Joe has 105 and and so does Café Café. Arcafe and Greg are galloping at full steam to cash in on the insatiable thirst for the brown ambrosia. All of the cafes have varied menus. The food is generally very good with generous portions and reasonable prices. They are found in many large cities to the smallest towns in the country.

My little town of Afula boasts 2 Aroma cafes, 2 Greg cafes, two Café Café’s. Roladin, a relative newcomer, just opened a branch, not to mention the local cafes here. And this is in a town with about forty-two thousand inhabitants. We love our coffee!

Why not Starbucks? Basically, the coffee at Starbucks, for me, has no kick. It just doesn’t do it for me. All the others do.

So when you come to Israel, prepare to have great coffee, great food, great times and a trip of your lifetime.

With froth, of course!