> the crap Americans pay $$$ for at Starbucks to absolute shame. It isn't really about the coffee, specifically, for the lion's share, and this can be said abo

> the crap Americans pay $$$ for at Starbucks to absolute shame. It isn't really about the coffee, specifically, for the lion's share, and this can be said about many consumer goods. It's convenience, a cultivated flavor profile (think McDonald's fries), nostalgia, consistency, the small socialization … and generally a combo of a few of these things. None of these are inherent to Starbucks, but they've captured a demographic that only needs to be captured once to be captured for life. So: people paying $$$ for Starbucks aren't really paying for coffee at all, and wouldn't want a superior coffee if you gave it to them in a better environment at half price.