I like coffee that doesn't taste like coffee, so I'm into cafe lattes. The ones at Dunkin Donuts always have added flavor, so I can't drink those. I also think their coffee is both too watery and too strong at the same time.

About 10 years ago now, someone introduced me to Tim Horton's Iced Cappuccinos. I had an hour before a train in NYC a few weeks ago, and decided to get a small. It was three times the size I remember from the last time I had one in Canada, and tasted disgusting. I don't think it was the rainwater that got into the cup, so when I go off to Canada next week I have to check. Maybe I'll even get one when I arrive at YUL.

heh heh.. :D

Lets' see.. Grande' sets back $5 a pop.. thats $25 per day if you have 5.. that's $750 per month.. approaching $10 grand per year.. approaching $100 grand in 10 years..

But smoking is more expensive..:-:

Are cigarettes over $25 a pack in Canada now? :eek:;)

Funny..:D

Once all health care related costs, death, insurance, cost of product, etc.. all factored in.. not even close imo..

YOW!

I have a friend whom stays at Hampton Inns exclusively. He gets a to go cup in the morning. Throughout his day, he stops in to Hampton Inns with his cup and refills it for free. Hampton keeps coffee out all day and it's usually pretty fresh. The way he looks at it, he stayed with them the night before and is staying with them that night, so he DESERVES to get free coffee from them.
He usually goes through about 5 cups a day.

I'll have to call him and say, "Hey, do you realize you are saving $10,000 a year?" ;)

Ok, that's cheap...

My general rule of thumb is Starbucks while on the road (exception: Italy) and local while at home.

True.. cup of joe usually runs $1.50 or something.. so the savings realized is straight Starbucks..

Why not see Starbucks as a treat once in awhile, and supplement with Tim Hortons, Dunkin Donuts, Second Cup, McDonalds cafe, etc..

Whoever drinks 5 cups of Starbucks coffee a day obviously has money to burn and eats out quite a bit.. all in context.:)

I'd like to nominate the small micro-chain the Woods, in northern WA state. Good coffee, excellent service, free wi-fi, cozy seating, indoor and outdoor fireplaces. The food isn't all to my taste but they have nice breakfast sandwiches.

It's nice to see another coffee company doing well in WA since Starbucks inhaled Seattle's Best.

How exactly does one get any work done going out to purchase five cups of coffee per day ?

I was shocked at the morning ritual of some of my American colleagues recently. There was a Starbucks visible across the road, and they invited me along at the start of the workday. I agreed, looking forward to a brisk walk. We did walk - to the parking lot. Then they all climbed into the car, and drove across the road and parked, bought their coffee, climbed back into the car and drove back across the road. (And they did this multiple times per day, and needed at least one 'helper' to hold the coffee tray whilst in the car)

I'm perhaps spoiled by the places where I work in Europe which have at minimum a coffee maker but usually a nice high tech one, or a Nespresso machine, or a fancy espresso machine (or more than one), in the office or meeting room.

If I do end up with that Starbucks brew, I tend to keep the coffee all day and sip at it. It's not very good to begin with, so drinking it cool or cold makes little difference to me.

My guess with the 5 cups of coffee is that the person drives a lot for their job, and as such, can stop quickly to get another cup of coffee.

Grabbing Java on the road! Starbucks or other?
 

My favorite coffee shop is Peet's coffee.

I do so miss Peet's from when I lived in California.

I recently ran across a Starbucks in Ujung Pandang, Indonesia and was tempted, but hesitated because I don't drink the local water in such places. I had the same situation in Turkey a few years ago.

Can the purity of the water used by Starbucks in such places be trusted?