Unconvinced. It's more of a hypothesis that SB does not want ppl to buy espresso shots (which in fact is on the menu). They will get you on pastry anyway. I'd

Unconvinced. It's more of a hypothesis that SB does not want ppl to buy espresso shots (which in fact is on the menu). They will get you on pastry anyway. I'd rather agree on this with the SB manager's rationale, that the blend/roast is tuned for the milk-based drinks, indeed, which are priced higher. From my own experiences, the baristas are often taught to put two shots into tall lattes, otherwise the clients complain of too milkiness. I won't drink that much of caffeine out of simple physiological concerns but completely understand the flavor expectations. As for the espressos, the coffee habits in the US are very particular, filtered and drip coffee largely rules, now with additional variety of "geeky" brew and drip with tons of bean blends to choose from. And, yes, let's not forget the expectations about the volume - it has to last through a meeting :) SB blend seems to serve to tastes equally in drip or blended with milk. Simplifies the logistics. For everybody else, try the Reserve. By the way, SB espresso is not too bad, goes well with vanilla ice-cream! Though my preference with SB is the hot chocolate, most other places care little about the good cocoa.