# Mock Coffee Chain Cafes 'Dumb Starbucks' is a Mysterious Cafe That's Spoofing Starbucks By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-02-11 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dumb-starbucks References: [mashable](http://mashable.com/2014/02/09/dumb-starbucks/) & [hollywoodreporter](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dumb-starbucks-shop-appears-las-678728) This past weekend, a '[Dumb Starbucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/short-n-sweet-cafe)' opened in Los Angeles and the lines to get a "dumb coffee" or a "dumb tea" were ridiculously long. It's unclear who is behind the mysterious project, but the [mock coffee shop](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitchenaid-caffeine-confessions) is perfectly on brand with Starbucks' logo, [beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frappuccino-blended-beverages) and interior decorations, although its cash registers are only for appearance — coffees and pastries at Dumb Starbucks are reportedly free, although tips are appreciated. Even though you can get coffee from Dumb Starbucks, the shop classifies itself as a work of parody. A FAQ inside the shop states: "in the eyes of the law, our "coffee shop" is actually an art gallery and the "coffee" you're buying is actually the art." Despite its intentions, Dumb Starbucks is probably a lawsuit waiting to happen, so you might want to get in line for a "dumb espresso" pronto. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Humor](https://www.trendhunter.com/humor) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Parody Cafes:** Entrepreneurs can create parody versions of established brands to generate buzz and awareness, while also providing a fresh and unique experience for customers. - **Art Gallery Cafes:** Cafes that are classified as art galleries could create a loophole for entrepreneurs to avoid legal issues with established brands or to circumvent strict regulations in the food and beverage industry. - **Free Food and Beverage:** Offering free food and beverage can be an effective marketing strategy to attract customers and generate buzz, although entrepreneurs would need to explore alternative revenue streams to ensure profitability. ### Where This Applies - **Food and Beverage:** Established brands in the food and beverage industry could potentially face legal issues or reputational damage from spoof cafes, and may need to develop a response plan to protect their intellectual property rights. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Marketing and advertising agencies could leverage the concept of parody cafes to create unique campaigns for clients that generate buzz and achieve viral status. - **Hospitality and Tourism:** Parody cafes that are classified as art galleries could become a popular attraction for tourists, providing an alternative experience to traditional cafes and coffee shops. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Social Experiment Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simply-coffee-caf.md) - [Coffee-Themed April Fool's News](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eight-oclock-coffee.md) - [Vegan Milk Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caulimilk.md) - [$1,000 Coffee Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/expensive-coffee.md) - [TV Show Latte Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/latte-larrys.md) - [Restored Cafe Culture Retailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-coffee-house.md) - [Cheeky Coffee Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-new-ads.md) - [Customizable Cafe Drink Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/official-starbucks-secret-menu.md) - [Limited-Edition April Fool's Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oops-collection.md)