Sorry, but I'm with tonypct here. DD is the only coffee I've bought within the past couple of years that caused me to do a spit take on the first sip. I kept thinking back to my younger days drinking Folgers....

As for Starbucks, they're far from my favorite -- those spots belong to Intelligentsia for espresso (Black Cat Blend), or Greenwell Farms Private Reserve 100% Kona for drip. But for all the Starbucks bashers out there, consider a few things:

* Before Starbucks opened up the market for more drinkable coffee in the US, most folks were drinking complete swill. In response to Starbucks' success, new places have opened up (think back -- there were NOT loads of great local coffee places or smaller chains back in the 80s). Even previously existing chains (think McD's) have had to upgrade their offerings in an attempt to keep pace. Erase the history of Starbucks and you'll be re-introduced to 80s-vintage coffee at McD's. No thanks.

* While the espresso drinks on Starbucks' menu contain way too much milk for my tastes, you can get better-proportioned drinks upon request. Try ordering a short latte. Still not my favorite by any stretch, but certainly drinkable, and way better than I've found at any other large chain.

* Now here's the kicker -- want to know why the drinks have kept growing to the point where a Venti is a gallon of milk with "essence of espresso"? Because you -- the American public -- told them that's what you want. Back in the day, their primary drinks were straight espresso, and cappuccinos and lattes made with the right amount of milk. Then they discovered that those drinks don't sell nearly as well as the "super sized" ones. Blame that one on America's tastes, not Starbucks.

No, I don't like Starbucks nearly as much as I did when I first went to one in the mid-80s. Still, the people who constantly criticize them seem to be forgetting where we'd be without them, and why they've evolved as they have....