Starbucks' refreshing lack of melancholy stirring up Vienna's coffeehouse culture

By Daniel Rubin, Knight Ridder Newspapers, 12/29/2002

VIENNA - It's been a well-caffeinated year since Starbucks splashed into the land of the traditional Viennese coffeehouse, with its silver trays, heavy cream, and tuxedoed indifference.

With eight new stores in the heart of European coffee culture, Viennese wags are talking about the ''Starbucks effect,'' which to Christian Wurmdobler, writer for the magazine Falter, means ''you can finally go into a coffeehouse and order a latte without them scowling at you.''

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