Monday 7 October 2013

Density of Starbucks




Not only is the Starbucks Coffee brand one of the biggest exports to other countries, but also one of the most popular brands in America. On the West Coast, there is a Starbucks on every highway exit and as particularly the first diagram shows, the West Coast does have the highest population density of the shops. The first diagram is a cartogram, which uses the size of each state to show it's amount of Starbucks locations as opposed to the actual size of the state, therefore making it evident that California has the largest amount of locations.
The absence of densely populated locations in the middle of the country reflects the difference in terrains between the coasts and the middle which is more mountainous and less city like. Steph Abegg also makes the point that the amount of locations are proportionate to the state population and as California has the largest state population, it is common knowledge that it would have the most Starbucks. California's high number of Starbucks Coffee shops also reflects the nature of the state, as one filled with contemporary franchises.
The second diagram is a more graphic representation of every location in the country and clearly shows the huge dispersion of the shops around the coasts. The North of the country has the least amount of Starbucks, perhaps suggesting something about their style of living.


Sources: Steph Abegg: 'Starbucks: A West Coast Phenomenon' (stephabegg.com)
               James Davenport diagram (ediblegeography.com)

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