August 28, 2005
Kaldi-bucks
Here, as promised, are some photos of Addis' great Starbucks rip-off Kaldi's. They were taken with what is officially the worst digital camera in the world. But you get the idea.
If it is a tribute to Starbucks, it is not a particularly subtle one. I haven't been into a Starbucks for months (it is now just a few weeks away from the anniversary of the day we left all that behind us and moved to Addis). But I am pretty sure that even those swirly patterns on the wall are a direct copy.
As far as I am concerned, it makes the whole experience of drinking there more enjoyable. The chairs are just as comfortable as in America or the UK. The service is also up to scratch. And the coffee is, of course, much, much better.
Just a few weeks back, the New York Times did an article on the chain, with a much better photo. In it Starbucks said they were aware of the outlet.
Officials at the Starbucks Coffee Company were not thrilled when they learned of the knockoff. "Even where it may seem playful, this type of misappropriation of a company's name (and reputation) is both derivative and dilutive of their trademark rights," a company spokeswoman, Lara Wyss, said in an e-mail message, adding that the company prefers to resolve such conflicts amicably.
Despite their grumbling, Srarbucks would be very unwise to send in the lawyers. As Nestlé has already learned to its cost, a super-rich company that flexes its legal muscles in Ethiopia will never emerge unscathed.
Posted by aheavens at August 28, 2005 2:10 PM
Comments
I don't have much to say about coffee but i am rather surprised that you haven't posted anything about the EU's election assesment result.
A journalist who had access to fly with Meles to Axum and interviewed the Minister of Information while there were unrest in Addis and a journalist who posts the 'offcial result of ethiopia's election' in its blogwebsite should have said atleast something about the EU oberver's assesment report.
I have much respect for your reporting, honestly.But it is offending to see judgments like u mentioned the freedom of speech via internet from ethiopian expat.Internet is the only means for ethiopians abroad to express their views, you like it or not.And believe me we dont play into the game of ethnic problem as Bereket Simon told u. This assertion is just to use the propaganda of the ruling party.
Ethiopian expats are as much more intersted about their country as those at home.
As for the opinion of the leaving ambassador of the US to Ethiopia, i can only tell you we ethiopians don't share it. We are the last nation who need teachings on ' national good', only our current leaders in power don't get it.
I disagree with you on this point, otherwise keep on posting your views.
Posted by: daniel at August 28, 2005 4:44 PM
Daniel
Get a grip of yourself. This thread is about Kaldi-bucks. Why are you interjecting poltics in a non-political topic? Take your comment to Ethiopian Review or the tabloid Ethiomedia where you will receive sympathatic ears.
Posted by: Hamsa at August 28, 2005 5:16 PM
About Kaldi's, the atmosphere is great but the coffee sometimes leaves much to be desired. Especially the so called "mocha" flavors and the like. Also, they had muffins last I checked, but they tend to be a few days old. Otherwise, Kaldi's is OK. There are other places that are less crowded and offer better coffee/pastries.
Posted by: Gio at August 28, 2005 7:05 PM
I wonder if there is a concept of "coffee-to-go" in Addis? and whether if there are styrofoam-like material to produce cheap and throw away coffee mugs.
Posted by: tyrel at August 29, 2005 5:48 AM
You certainly can get coffee-to-go in Kaldi's. You can even walk out with it sucking your drink through the top of a styrofoam cup - or is it a cardboard cup - not sure.
Most people's version of coffee-to-go though is to drive up, park outside and get the waiters to serve them in their cars. This drive-in for a cup of coffee is quite the thing to do in Addis, I have noticed. You are guaranteed a seat and you can choose your own surroundings and music.
Posted by: andrew at August 29, 2005 6:14 AM
are there Khaldi coffee shop chains in the city ?
I also heard there is a Burger-Queen place in town..hehe..Obviously there is a market for american fast-food culture. I wonder if American food franchise companies would be profitable in Addis as they are say in India or some Middle East countries.
Posted by: tyrel at August 29, 2005 6:20 AM
I have read on one news paper that McDonald’s market researcher’s came to Addis few years ago for Market research. Decided not to open their chain here due to the reason that large number of the population is unable afford to eat the set of burger they serve.
Posted by: senay at August 29, 2005 4:50 PM
I just came back from Addis Ababa. Quite frankly, i found the Kaldi's establishment better than Starbucks. There was waiter service, and the coffee was better and cheaper.
Dare I say that Starbucks has a thing or two to learn from Kaldi's?
BTW-I don't remember seeing swirls on the wall at any Starbucks.
Posted by: safiya at August 29, 2005 10:42 PM
I am not a Starbucks fan but I have to admit that am amazed to see the exact copy of Starbucks in Addis. Honestly, I thought that we were actually sitting in a Starbucks ‘till I noticed the name Kaldi’s on the logo.
I liked the atmosphere, the service and of course the coffee better than what we have here.
Posted by: abyssinia at September 3, 2005 12:26 AM
Well u said Amhara this, Tigrayan that, but you miss the point. It should be Amhara this and TIGRE that. Why you shy away from who you are.I could say more, but its fruitless beacuse you are
living in what they call the big lie, repeated so
many times you are totally at a loss where the lies stop and the truth begins. One thing is for
sure you came to power by force of arms, you stay in power by force of arms. You act lie you re the
majority, when your hearts knows you are the littlest of the little. You know ethnic division is brought and institutionalized by you, yet accuse others of being racist. Go read the letters of the Emperor Yohannes, God rest his noble soul.I have done so over hundred different
times, not one place will you find the word Amhara.Its always Shewa, Tigray, Begemeder, Wello,Gojjam etc etc, even when he is in great anger. Same with Emeye Menelik and the others. It was the facist minority hateful dictator Mussolini
who first brought this Tigray/ Tigre, Amhara, and Galla/Sidama ethnic bantustan on the people of Ethiopia. You as his loyal Hamassien barya, you have done your best to continue the mission. I tell you, you have failed miserably.The end is near, you know it so do I. The power of the Ethiopian people is upon you. Manchus and Mongols come and go, China always stay Chinese. Mot Le eritrea, mot le Eritreawi Legesse Zenawi.
Posted by: Mercenary Heavens at September 3, 2005 4:50 PM
As stated the coffee here is much better than Starbucks (and about everywhere in Ethiopia) and I'm a Starbucks junkie. Although their "coffee" is more like expresso. Its hard coming back to the US after experiencing table service and car service complete with real china.
Another big plus is the price. Maybe around $.50 a cup!
Side-note: Around the corner is a "Olives Garden" Italian restaurant (with a "s")
Posted by: c w at September 9, 2005 1:57 AM
When we had stay in Kaldi`s, we don`t remenber write this post. We knew the coffeshop in your blog, and in our second trip to Addis Abeba (in abr.may 2006) we vsit Kaldi`s. It`s a very interesnting place and allow us to know other face of Ethiopia. Furthermore, it`s a great idea, using the Starbucks marketing, like Starbucks use the ethiopian varieties of coffee. Now we write a post in our blog were link again yours. Thanks a lot.
http://mamaetiopia.blogspot.com/2007/05/kaldis-la-rplica-starbucks-en-addis.html
Posted by: Carlos Agulló at May 8, 2007 5:14 PM