Originally Posted by xepherys

They didn't "steal" the market from indies... The indies let them come and take it. *shrug* That's generally how it works. You think Wal-Mart "stole" the mom-and-pop shop? No, but not enough was done early on to stop them. Same deal... Think about it this way. The anti-Sbux crowd here say the coffee is too pricey and not very good. The neighborhood cafe is tastier and cheaper. If that's true, how is Sbux so huge? Why would people pay $5 for a cup of sub-standard coffee when they could drive two more blocks and pay $1 for a great cup?

At any rate, I like Sbux coffee and Caribou as well. I HATE Beaners/Bigby coffee. As for smaller cafes? They are hit and miss, so if I'm in the mood to be adventurous, I'll try one. If I just need good coffee I go where I know I can get it.