This Guy Spent 17 Years Attempting to Visit Every Starbucks on Earth, Calls it Starbucking

The man known only as Winter, formerly Rafael Lozano, began his quest to visit every Starbucks in 1997. Back then, there were only 1,500 locations scattered through four different countries. Totally doable, right? Who would have thought that a small coffee chain would turn into such a global success over the last 17 years, now with more than 20,000 locations in 65 countries.

That didn’t stop or discourage Winter, according to Chron. Winter had gotten the idea one fateful Houston day 17 years ago when he asked a barista if it would be possible to visit every Starbucks in the world.

So far, Winter has 11,773 Starbucks locations visited under his heavily-caffeinated belt. He estimates that he’s 95 percent compete with the United States stores. Winter lives in the back of his Honda Fit and does contract computer programming to finance his passion. Through this achievement, Winter said he’s learned a lot about himself.

“I have learned about what I’m willing to do, that I don’t need all the things that I assumed I needed when I grew up: material possessions, stability. My mind has shifted to a more minimalist, purpose-oriented life,” Winter told Chron.

Since his adventure began, Winter has spent about $100,000 on Starbucks beverages or food. He once even paid $153 for a plane ticket just so he could have access to a Starbucks inside an airport in Chile. Winter calls his chosen lifestyle “Starbucking.”

Here we thought he was just an urban legend.

H/T Chron Picthx Starbucks Everywhere