Agree with the comments about Starbucks Japan. Not sure if it was just the novelty of it, but I found the quality really good, particularly the milk used (which made the milky drinks better than Doutor et al). They were also always (as you'd expect for Japan) absolutely spotless, as much a reflection on the customers as the staff.

I've also, out of curiosity, looked in on a Starbucks in Paris. Must be a real moneyspinner - I would guess about 80-90% of people in there were drinking the lardier forms of Frappucino, and the basic ones started at €5 a pop!