A must-read for your Thursday post-humpday blues, this firebrand blog post from noted former coffee guy Chris Tacy casts its animadversion on that most beleagured of modern memes: the hipster. Do you hate them? Do you love them? Are you amongst their ranks? Also, are they ruining coffee?
Take it away, Mr. Tacy:
There were a few years (before hipsters discovered speciality coffee) where it seemed like coffee was about to become about the coffee (rather than the brand and the marketing).
What we are seeing is the coffee version of gentrification. And I’m sure it makes the owners of companies like Stumptown and Blue Bottle very happy – as it is resulting in massive business opportunity.
But it’s making it harder and harder to actually get good coffee – and harder and harder for coffee businesses that are interested first and foremost in coffee and customer experience to succeed.
It’s a heckuva read, and makes use of the term “hipster” 15 distinct times (including the headline). Tacy fears the hipster, their impact on the mainstream market’s buying decisions, and what he suggests is a brand-over-quality blindness.
Does Mr. Tacy sound like the proverbial shotgun wielding “get off my lawn” geriatric? Has Mr. Tacy been living in the Mission District for too long? Go read Chris Tacy’s blog now, then have yourself another Export A and tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Meanwhile, are you preparing to shop for the holiday hipster in your life? Consult our exclusive 12 Gifts For The Hipster Barista Ultimate Gift Guide. Bon chance!
