Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Man visits 15,000 Starbucks in 30 nations – even though he now hates the coffee

A caffeine addict has revealed how he has visited 15,061 Starbucks stores around the world – despite hating the taste of their coffee.

The 47-year-old, named only as Winter, has spent over $150,000 (£120,000) on his 22-year quest to get a caffeine fix from every Starbucks on the planet.

His remarkable journey has taken him to 30 different countries on four different continents and he says is determined to stop at every one of the Seattle-based company's 30,000 branches.

He developed his "extreme hobby" after visiting a branch in Plano, Texas, all the way back in 1997.


Back then, there were just 1,500 Starbucks in the US but its explosive growth, particularly in China and Europe, has seen that number balloon over the past decade.

"Starbucking" – as he calls it – sees him drive or fly hundreds of miles to new openings across the US and beyond every available weekend.

Winter, a computer programmer from Houston, Texas, documents every visit on his website and recently surpassed the 15,000 mark on a visit to Starbucks in Lima, Peru.

He usually asks for filter coffee but occasionally opts for an espresso if they do not have his first selection.

Winter lists the Dazaifu Tenmangu Sando location in Fukuoka, Japan, as his favourite, citing the distinctive architecture as its most memorable feature.

His travels have allowed him to meet fellow coffee lovers on different continents, and says Starbucks "gave me my big first circle of friends."


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