So what’s with Starbucks? Besides crappy coffee, I mean? I avoid that place whenever and wherever possible but sometimes stopping there can’t be helped. Like when you are desperate for a latte and you’re on the road and the only place to get a latte is Starbucks. Even a crappy latte is better than no latte at all.

I was thinking about this the other day when I found myself in such a position and pulled into a Starbucks. Why is it that the lattes at Starbucks seem so bland compared to lattes anywhere else on the planet? So, I asked how many shots in the mucho vente crappo whatever they call the largest one. Two shots, the guy says? Two? Did I hear that right? I’m paying the same amount of money at Starbucks for a two-shot large that I’m paying for the usual three-shot large in every other coffee shop? No wonder it’s bland. It’s not coffee, it’s warm milk. And you have to pay extra to get it the way you would get it any other coffee shop.

But the big question is, this is Starbucks, why does this sort of rip-off surprise me so?