Coffee. Yep one of those American pastimes that got me. I hate to say this but I am actually going to miss Starbucks when I go to Bermuda. To think I used to avoid the place like the plague when I was in London. Give me Cafe Nero anytime.

There is a lot to dislike Starbucks for, but it does consistently knock out a decent cup of Joe, although I'm an americano man myself as I prefer the sharper and stronger taste and not that weak old crap they tout. A cafe americano, $2.21, once a day, first thing in the morning and lasts me about 3 hours. In Bermuda I will have to revert back to the independent coffee house, which after my taste buds have got used to it, will be no bad thing.

Starbucks the global monster is of course trying to re-invent itself into the coffee-house experience it probably was in Seattle 30 years ago. The thing is, it's not easy making 15,000 formulaic stores into individualistic neighbourhood cafés.

Chairman Howard Scultz is giving it a go though, notwithstanding his plan to have a Starbucks on every street on the planet. Last week they implemented a (temporary) retro logo getting away from the familiar green and showing a bit more boob, although the mermaid's breasts look a bit far apart d'you think? Not that I've met too many mermaids.

And then there is the new coffee - Pike Place Roast, named after the Seattle location of the very first Starbucks store. It's alright, a bit sweeter I would say, a bit like McDonalds others say. Not the neighbourhood experience Schultz was hoping for then?

To my mind a coffee shop should be a stop-off from the monotony of another busy day. A welcoming environment that is neither work nor home. The trouble is Starbucks has become that monotony. Maybe those little family run coffee shops in Bermuda will be a good thing.