I had heard of Starbucks, but I had never tasted it until 2006 in Portland, OR at Porsche Parade. The hospitality room always has free coffee and some form or danish or muffins. So I walked up the the big urn of coffee and filled up the standard paper coffee cup. I took one sip and almost did a spit take. It took all my will power to just spit it back in the cup. It tasted like it was burned badly and just horrid. I walked to the trash can to toss it in the trash and the can was 1/2 full of cups of coffee with lots of coffee in them. I had to get in my car and drive to the Burger King 1/4 mile away to get some decent coffee.
At the Concours they had free coffee and I figured someone had just really screwed up in brewing that last batch. Same result, only I did end up spitting out that nasty burned coffee. Later I learned the nickname is Charbucks. I presume they burn the hell out of it to get you to want to add cream or sugar and make a zero calorie beverage fattening.
I ended up going to a local grocery store to buy some Folgers coffee packs and used the room coffee maker to make decent coffee.
I drink coffee, black. No frappichino, cappuccino, or other forms of coffee. I have never even tried it sweetened or with milk or cream. I drink tea straight up, no sweetener. And it is NOT "un-sweetned" tea! That would imply it was sweet to start with and the sweetness was removed. It is just tea.
Rant over!
I understand that ^ as well as I understand waiting in line at Starbucks for overpriced coffee. It is still a free country so I have no issues with it.