I know Starbucks around Metro Manlia has water filtration systems.

A grande of what is $5? How about getting some accurate figures there before you start playing Euclid. I get a venti drip and that's about $2. Americano is $3. It's cheaper than any local coffee shop and the pricing isn't different thank Dunkin'.

Starbucks is great on the road if only for the little green sticks that seal the lid of your coffee so it doesn't go all over the place as you drive. They are also comfortable, have free wifi, clean bathrooms, reasonable food options and they're consistent.

I often read people complaining about the 'high' cost of coffee etc in 'Europe'. (There was a poster who had a meal at McDonalds for two adults, child, and toddler and said that he paid $75++ which really confused me)

Espresso in Portugal is under a Euro, often 60-70 cents, in comparison to your posted prices.

It's location-dependent, too. In NYC a venti coffee is $3-something. A grande latte with an extra shot is about $5.

As for the question of water purification...you could always go in to the store and ask about their particular setup. It would hardly be in keeping with Starbucks's brand image to sell coffee that some people can't drink.

In any case, heating water past about 160F will kill anything in it. Coffee is 195F and higher.

I like Meinl in Chicago and Vienna and have it shipped to me at YVR. Locally I like Republica, Elysian and Caffe Arteggiano. Don't like sbux usually but their specialty coffee using the Clover system is quite an improvement; however in SEA I really enjoy Fonte.

They are also in Grand Rapids, MI. There is a large number of German travellers to that city, and I was pleasantly surprised to find one of their shops there, and the ability to purchase their coffee there. (Yes, I realise that they are Austrian, but the product appeals to that shared taste)

Artigiano has good espresso drinks, but while their 'hook' is being frequent winners of coffee art competitions, they also seem to pride themselves on odd concept of 'service'. And their food product is variable; much of their baked good product comes from Pane e Formaggio which is just awful. That said, it's somewhere I will stop for a decent espresso drink in Vancouver; I just find my food elsewhere.

And going back to the Starbucks food conversation from earlier, western Canada Starbucks now use US Starbucks food product, not the local baker they used for over a decade.

I fear that with the spread of Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme in western Europe and the UK that Tim Hortons will not be far behind. Hopefully good taste and common sense will win out in the end; there cannot be that many tourists to support all three of those chains.

I love Peet's coffee in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. The best coffees from around the world & butteriest madeleine cookies you will ever have. Urth cafe in LA is amazing. Along with Coral tree in Brentwood. They both serve up their coffees & teas like works of art. And have great menus serving almost gourmet quality food & pastries. Coffee Bean & Tea leaf is also pretty good when it comes to the larger chains. With so many great little cafes, I'd have to say Starbucks comes in last.

I avoid the big green mermaid like the plague if I can, but there are some places that it just can't be avoided. Texas is a good example.

A lot of west coast roasters are gaining traction nationally; Blue Bottle, Equator, Fonte, Stumptown, D'Arte just to name a few. The trick is finding them, as most of the shops that feature these roasters are independents who don't have a big neon sign advertising their bean of choice.

It's also nice to see a lot of higher end hotels move away from Starbucks and into a higher class of coffee. W Hotels, St. Regis, Four Seasons have all jumped off the Schultz bandwagon.

Herkimer Coffee in Seattle is really nice.
http://www.herkimercoffee.com/

Interesting article about the clash of Starbucks with local culture
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/bu...nted=all&_r=1&

All of the things listed are why I don't frequent Starbucks (drinking 'on the go' in a paper cup, fake chumminess by taking my name, lack of espresso drinks with a decent taste)

Generally the people I see on Paris streets carrying a Starbucks paper cup seem to be American tourists. I walk past one almost every day in favour of other, better-to-me choices.

Taking your name is to ensure you get your drink. Lots of drinks look the same.

I was paraphrasing the article: (I don't patronise Starbucks, except on very rare occasions, and never have in France or the UK)

My favourite coffee place manages to get coffee to the customers without taking our names.

Also, if you're in London, there's a good chance that people will queue at the serving counter (we love a good queue) and expect to have their drinks served in turn. So there's no confusion...

I stand corrected. I DID go to a Starbucks recently in London. It was completely empty. My colleague (who had requested that we stop there as there was nothing else open in the area that day), was asked for his name. He was confused as to why, and had to give it three times before they understood (common German name with a simple English variation)

The enter time we stood and waited for his drink, nobody came into the shop. When his drink was ready, the barista stood in front of us and loudly shouted out the (wrongly pronounced) name. We said 'er, that's us...' and looked around the empty shop.

When we left, we both burst into giggles at the bizarre and absurd exercise. Neither of felt that service was enhanced by this 'customer service' game.

And like the other posters, I have never had an issue getting the correct coffee in a London coffee place. And we certainly didn't get a free coffee for participating in the theatre.