try a real coffee house and you will see that not only is it better than Starbucks it is often cheaper.  example in Seattle is Darte

Its not just the coffee, its the few minutes of sanctuary to sit there, have a conversation, sip the coffee in an overstuffed chair and not smell old donuts or get your feet stuck on some day old slurpies spill....please, get it right...having a starbucks is taking a break, enjoying a moment and moving on...get over who's coffee is best..if you like sitting in a dunkin donuts, go ahead.

all of the comments are great except the one about the Army.  I work for the Air Force and that little lie was circulated around here for a while.  If you check the facts (www.snopes.com) the entire anti-army thing is a fabrication.

I don't mind anyone liking or not liking a product (I prefer Seattle's Best), but get your facts right and don't be dooped into someone elses lie.

it is what it is. i go there, get a plain coffee, read the newspaper, and leave. where else can i do that??? Mcdonald's???  david

Starbucks had an original concept that made having a coffee drink fun and appealing in the same way having a bartender make your drink just for you and getting to see it made.  Now Starbucks uses larger versions of the machines bought in stores that only require you to push a button; anyone can do that at home.  

hey Jim Kwanyuen and others that think a cup of coffee at starbucks cost $5  maybe ya should check the menu     if yer payin $5 then your not ordering coffee your ordering a specialty drink...it helps to know what you talkin about before ya make a fool of yourself ....but then again you have never been in a starbucks   HAVE YOU???  Ya just like to post

I think Starbucks is over-rated and too expensive for the middle class people.  It has always tasted burnt to me, but I did like the latte drinks that made it creamy and sweeter.  I did enjoy the madaline cookies with my coffee.  I don't think that Mr. Schultz will be able to turn this business around, and make a profit without closing many stores, and revamping the store for the middle-class worker.  

it was only a matter of time before average folks calculated what they were paying for a cup at Starbucks vs McDonalds.  The price difference makes no sense

To Dan about Starbucks not supporting our troops.  It sure makes you look stupid, why don't you check things out with www.snopes.com and hoaxbusters instead of believing everything you read in an email.  I don't drink coffee but I know that the whole thing started with one false emaill and should have ended with the retraction.  Always one in the crowd....

Starbucks to me has always been a great place to hang out and relax. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but from what I have had there, I was not to impressed being such a popular brand. I agree with most peoples opinion on the taste of Starbucks coffee....bitter! Even places like Pete's and Coffee Bean. It seems that all the upscale places to have coffee have been voted the worst tasting. Whereas, places like good old 7-11, Dunkin Donuts, and dare I say McDonald's, have outclassed Starbucks and friends in terms of taste and price.

I do enjoy their ice teas now and again and hope they don't lose focus on that and actually expand their selection. Their baked goods are not half bad either.

For the coffee enthusiast no place will ever be perfect. I have heard debates go on for weeks on which has the better coffee, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or 7-11.

So whats next? I think if Starbucks focuses a bit more on taste, and price, rather than brand image, I think it will be back to that $40 a share in no time.