“ which they market such that people can pretend to be coffee snobs”

I don’t think very many of their urban or suburban customers in the US have this hang up - they sell out of Target and hospitals amongst other things.

There are enough 3rd wave coffee shops around of varying levels of snobbery that people are aware of what’s available.

Starbucks gives familiarity and consistency.

> I don’t think very many of their urban or suburban customers in the US have this hang up

I think you might be surprised- ask them if they ever go to Dunkin' and they'll invariably indicate "no", sometimes with evident revulsion at the thought. We're obviously operating in anecdata here but that's been my experience.

Not in my experience. I work in hospitals mostly on academic campuses - if there’s a Starbucks, it’s getting a ton of business in that captive market. Dunkin’ does a pretty amazing business amongst this same crowd on the east coast and Midwest.

Again I have no idea how anyone with a few functioning brain cells squares up colocated in Target with snobby. Perhaps your friends are just dumb.

I mean I have known people that think that Panda Express is exotic Asian cuisine - and literally have heard crab Rangoons referred to as an exotic delicacy by some dumbass I went to high school with - doesn’t mean these people aren’t dumb as fuck. These people don’t make enough money as a collective to keep Starbucks afloat though.

> Perhaps your friends are just dumb.

> dumb as fuck

A strong argument can stand on its own merits without the need for insults or talking down. You're showing your hand by stooping like this.

I think Dunkin can be good but knowing which franchises are the "good ones" takes trial and error.

> "Blonde Roast", which is somehow decent despite Starbucks' apparent burnt-flavor bias

Well by definition it's a lighter roast so maybe that's why?

It's a good way to get the kids hooked.