Part of the reason they are big in the US may be the fact that we drive so much. There are many Starbucks stores with drive-thru windows. If you want to consum

Part of the reason they are big in the US may be the fact that we drive so much. There are many Starbucks stores with drive-thru windows. If you want to consume a beverage while driving, a covered cup with a straw is much easier. (One could now say “Americans shouldn’t drive so much!” or “don’t consume food while driving”, I guess. We should probably also build more dense housing in walkable neighborhoods, invest in mass transit, and shorten commutes and working hours so everybody has time for a leisurely breakfast at the neighborhood cafe.)