DD is crap. They are so inconsistent in their products from one store to the other. They are all owned by individual franchisees who must decide on their own how to brew the coffee, how much extras to put into specialty drinks, etc.

I am a Starbucks drinker. Granted their coffee is not to everyone's taste, but it is more consistent than not from one Starbucks to another. When I go into Starbucks, I pretty much know what to expect.

When I go into a DD, I have no idea what I'm going to get.

BTW, I agree with Bamavol, I am not at all impressed with Ritazza.

And I have no problem supporting local, mom-and-pop stores of any kind. But they open and close too frequently.