Tea for two?

         A new study has finally told us how to have a successful relationship. The study was conducted by Wakefield Research and was sponsored by Seattle's Best Coffee. So what did the survey tell us? Have another cup of coffee.

         Now that you know the startling news (you thought it was either luck or your personality, didn't you?) I'll let you in on some more.

         To quote from a report, the study revealed that "39% of coffee drinkers recommend coffee with a significant other as the best way to have a healthy relationship." It even beat out flowers and jewelry.

         For new couples, here's a little sweetener. Some 28% of the coffee drinkers said "staying for 'morning after' coffee is the first sign the relationship is getting serious". Even more than keeping a toothbrush there or updating your status on Facebook.

         And what if you skip coffee together? According to the study, 31% of the people not satisfied with their relationship would rather end the relationship than  give up their coffee.

         This is really serious stuff. Especially on Valentine's Day. I can imagine all the new greeting cards coming out:

                             Roses are red, violets are blue,
                             I'd rather be on a caffeine binge with you.


                             I'll be your grande if you'll be my vente.


                             One more coffee together and it will be
                             grounds for marriage.


                             Dear Valentine: Join me for coffee.
                             The cup is disposable but I'm not.


                            Just knowing you, Sweetheart,
                            my mocha runneth over.


            But what do you do if your sweetheart doesn't drink coffee? Chai, I presume. And save the green  tea for Saint Patrick's Day.

The coffee wars are percolating.

         The coffee wars are about to open a third front. Dunkin' Donuts is getting serious.

         They already have 57% of the fast-food coffee market in New England and New York, and they're planning to expand throughout the U.S. this year and next.

          So now there are the three powers: Starbucks, McDonalds, and Dunkin' Donuts. But don't expect Dunkin' to take much business from Starbucks.

          A recent survey showed that Dunkin's customers don't think Starbucks is for them. "Couches? I'm here to eat, not to sleep". The Italian words, the marble, the little tables --- "it's cold". And no real cakey donuts. Looks like a lot of people aren't hankerin' for what Starbucks calls "the third place to be".

         It works both ways. Starbucks customers don't think that much of the Dunkin' Donuts way of doing business, either. No big flurry of activity at the expresso machine, no leather arm chairs, no maple oat scones; just coffee, donuts, and a other things.

        Is Dunkin' the anti-Starbucks we've been expecting? To do to them what they did to all those mom-and-pops? I doubt it. I think Starbucks has spoiled most of us. We're not going to give up the cafe and go back to the coffee shop. We like those moments of feeling special each morning, with our Starbucks' rituals and knowing that our coffee doesn't have to be commonplace.

       What would be an even better experience?  Here in San Francisco we have Cafe Trieste and the other coffee houses in North Beach. Italian singers often brighten things up and have everyone smiling.

        In Seattle, Starbucks is testing beer and wine to anchor their after-work and evening business. They'll be even harder for Dunkin' to catch up with.

        I'm guessing Coca-Cola is going to come up with coffee ideas of their own, possibly using some of the ideas they use in their vending machine coffee in Japan.

        All of us should turn on our entrepreneurial brains and come up with a way to make millions in the coffee business.

       But first I'll have a grande double shot soy caramel macchiato.