Starbucks has revolutionised the way we drink coffee. Christopher Pike / The National
Starbucks has revolutionised the way we drink coffee. Christopher Pike / The National

Coffee’s fine print



Consumers, take note: there is no such thing as a free lunch or even a free cup of coffee

Starbucks revolutionised the coffee industry by giving consumers the ability to customise their beverages. This started a trend towards a more sophisticated world of boutique coffee. As with any premium product, however, it came at a price.

As The National reported yesterday, some customers have been complaining that the coffee chain has been charging for "extras" that they didn't order. While Starbucks could do more to clarify its menu options and prices, customers should realise that premium coffee with extra ingredients, such as caramel shots, comes at a price.

Moreover, “upselling” is nothing new in the food industry. Many fast-food chains ask customers whether they would like to upsize their orders by highlighting the value in the larger quantity. But nobody expects to get an extra helping of chips at their favourite fast-food joint free. So why should we expect an elaborate espresso to cost the same as a normal cup of filter coffee?

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills