I was in Seattle recently and went to a few independent coffee bars (actually, you can't spit without hitting one in Seattle). At one place in particular, the latte was good and strong and made by someone who cared about what they were doing. It was like Starbucks before they became the fast-food equivalent of coffee. Walk into a Starbucks now and they've got multiple drink concoctions and microwave breakfast sandwiches and coffee that is not nearly as good as those indy places or even Peet's. Howard should focus on the coffee and hire baristas that give a crap.

What does this have to do with Consumerist? (It's also posted at least 12 hours late.)

I LOVE Starbucks Coffee but it is a complete ripoff. If you LOVE a good cappuccino as much as me I recommend getting one of these.

[www.germes-online.com]

Once I got one I said "Goodbye Starbucks!"

This cheap Cappuccino cup makes the best capuccinnos I ever had.

First frost the Milk. Then add coffee, Sugar, and Cinnamon. Yummy!! :-D

NPR covered this: [www.npr.org]

Howard's going to shut down underperforming US stores, focus more on international stores, and get back to customer service.

I'm conflicted about this. What if he shuts down the Starbucks that's across the street from another Starbucks in Houston? That would make me so sad.