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Totally agree!

I think Starbucks is a ripoff. I'd never get regular coffee there, only something special like a Venti Mocha Breve, if I felt like splurging (both money-wise and diet-wise!) Otherwise I am much happier with just a good ol' cuppa Dunkins, and much less broke afterwards.

I know that I have said this on here sometime earlier, but frankly, although I love their tea (I am more of a tea drinker, anyway), I can't stand their coffee. Like ye above, I think that it tastes distinctly bitter and burnt and it hurts my throat. I much prefer the "brown water" that I get served at places like diners or Perkins or Dunkin' Donuts. I even bought a bag of their coffee to grind and brew at home, but unfortunately, my parents (with whom I still live, thanks to the great economy) thought that it wasn't strong enough, so I don't even get decent coffee at home, either.

Where I live, we also have a place called Caribou Coffee, which actually is located really close to where I work, but unless they happen to be brewing their really basic blends, it ends up being just like Starbucks - bitter and burnt.

I don't know anyone who raves about the drip coffee, even after the massive 'retraining day'--most people who are into Starbucks love their fancy specialty drinks, like the Frappucinos or Macciatios. In my more financially wasteful 20s I would buy their beans, and thought the French Roast was good--now it would probably be too strong for me.

I don't buy coffee out--I make it better at home. Dunkin' Donuts is way to sweet, though, for me--the opposite problem with Starbucks.

I don't drink drip, only espresso drinks, but I DID used to work for them for a few months. The reason it tastes "burnt" to a lot of people is that they take their beans through the first "pop" of roasting and actually get to a second "pop" which means something to real coffee connoisseurs, but not to me or most people apparently. Their Pike Place blend is a fairly recent addition to their lineup and is a much lighter blend than most of their others. My hubby loves it and their Christmas blend.

I drink Starbucks, mostly because it's the only thing around here (other than making my own). When I got back from Italy this spring (I apologize if this sounds arrogant) I couldn't drink Starbucks for about two months because finally, I could taste the burnt(-ness?) and bitterness that everyone had always complained about. Now that I'm back at school and more often than not forget to set my coffeepot the night before, I run in there almost every other day to get that fix. It's okay, definitely better than the "brown water" (haha, I like that, Traveller) at DD, but I think I still like my own lattes from my Bodum best.

burned and bitter (and way too hot to drink) is pretty accurate for Starbucks drip ... which is why I don't drink it. Their espresso is pretty good though, and quite consistent given their automatic machines. There's a lot of room for barista error (not that I know how to do it right, but consistency is much more hit or miss with an actual person pulling it unless they know what they're doing and care about doing it right), so the consistency is a nice thing to have. However, the machines mean they cannot do cubano shots, which makes me sad.

I try to make my own coffee in a press every morning, but when I don't/can't, I go for a tall triple americano ... doesn't hurt that there's a starbucks right around the corner from my office. Otherwise, I'd never bother.

I work from home, so I rarely drink coffee outside. I don't hate Starbucks though and may get an occasional latte (about once a year, I reckon). I once tried a DD latte and had to dispose of it after I took the first sip - I didn't realise that they sweeten their lattes, and I hate the taste of sweet (or way too sweet, as it was) coffee or tea. For the most part though, I make my own and am very pleased with it.

I buy Starbucks ground -- either House Blend, Colombia, French Roast, or some other blends. I usually mix them together to make my own unique blend. But I have to have it first thing in the morning. I brew it strong, using a Melita filter and drink about 18 ounces while watching the morning news shows. Then I get dressed and go to work. I prefer the way I make it, as opposed to what they serve in Starbucks' stores.

And, I meant to say that I think SBUX is in a world of trouble cause they never moved with the times. Only offering 2 coffees (and 1 decaf) totally abandons the core foodie market. Yes, the espresso drinks and candy drinks (yech) make more profit, but you don't develop strong and loyal users with that crap. If SBUX had 5 or 6 coffees going per day, I think they'd be in a much better place now. People tend to not think about country origin, bean growing conditions, and so on when they order a cup of "regular", but SBUX could have changed that. They failed at it, though.

Frankly, it's like a gelato place only offering 1 or 2 flavors.

But, what can ya do?

Love, love, love Starbucks coffee - to me, it tastes "done" whereas Dunkin tastes "raw" and sour to me. But then, I only ever get espresso or the bold drip version - never an espresso drink.

As more and more Sbux close in my city, I've considered how much my patronage has declined in the past decade, from nearly a car payment to barely a blip on my debit card. I've never had a problem with the flavor of their coffee...no, wait, there was that Christmas Blend that nearly took the enamel off my teeth...I had to dump about a third of it and add milk to mellow it out...whew! was I wired! I like really robust coffees and espressos particularly with desserts, but when I'm running around I like an easy quaff. Anyway, I didn't have a problem with the flavor, just the habit.

I love Starbuck's I don''t drink coffee anymore but when I did they never did me wrong with what I ordered. The first time I had Starbucks was in 1984 when I was a college student and was working as a temp for the U of Washington. At this one place I was temping at is where I ha my first experience and I could not believe how great it was, I asked them what kind of coffee this was and they said Starbucks. Been a customer ever since. Now I don't drink cofffee, I drink their Chai tea and they still have not disappointed me. I have tried to support the local yadda yadda little stand and quaint little coffee houses, coffee stands ect. around Seattle but they almost always mess it up F#4k it up somehow, plus their prices are the same if not more then Starbucks. Plus right now Starbucks has their cranberry bliss bars for the holidays that is to die for, a little pricey but worth it.

Only because they're everywhere and easy to get to. Hell of a lot better than the coffee at the local truck stop. Used to own stock, but sold before they peaked and fell - made a few bucks, but that was offset by the Enron losses.

I do prefer though the independent coffee houses.

I'll drink it in a pinch, but I much prefer my own home brew made with my micro-roasted Morro Bay CA coffee beans. I too think it's burnt-tasting and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I like the organic chai tea, though, and the chocolate croissants (if you can get there before they're all gone) are positively sinful.

@pjracz - those cranberry bliss bars are awesome.

@ccbweb: maybe I should have clarified better...for the taste of the regular coffee, I think it's a rip off. I'd rather get the same coffee, which tastes better, at Dunkins. BUT, if we're talking specialty hot drinks, like a Mocha Breve, then I think Starbuck's is good. But for regular coffee, even at the price, isn't worth it, as I don't enjoy the taste of their regular coffee. for any price.

I'm a Seattle area native.... and I'm addicted to the Bux as I call it. There is just something about holding one of their cups in my hand and sipping on a delicious peppermint white mocha. No where else makes them like the Bux does. I don't drink coffee from anywhere else.

@lawofmurphy: "The core foodie market" wants 5 or 6 types of brewed coffee at a time? Are they going to make their own blends?

I think one significant difference between a coffee shop/house/bar offering a couple of already brewed, ready to go drip coffees and a gelato shop offering a dozen or more flavors is that the gelato can all be kept in the freezer for days once they are made. As you know, the coffee is only going to be worth drinking for 30 minutes or maybe up to and hour or two if you've got a really good air pot and you're willing to push it a bit.

What Starbucks (and I think Peet's and probably a lot of other shops, though I don't know for certain) will do is whip up a French Press pot with any coffee you want. They'll grind some beans for you fresh and make you a press pot to order.

@juliebugsmama: that makes plenty of sense to me! Thanks for clarifying.

I'm not a huge coffee drinker...maybe that's why I don't actually mind Starbucks. I suppose I'm in a coffee conundrum: I prefer Starbucks over Dunkin' Donuts, but I prefer Pete's to Starbucks.

Sigh.