svcw, I agree about why Starbucks (Charbucks) roasts their coffee so dark. It is so they can uses lower quality coffee and coffee from various sources while maintaining the same flavor.
Some of their specialty shelf coffee is pretty good. However, like you, I don’t like supporting leftist organizations.
Ironically, I meet one of my best customers (a lefty) at Starbucks to drop off 20 or 30 pounds of coffee that he buys from me for his Gelato shop. I will buy a cup of Starbucks and sit and talk with him for 10 or 20 minutes, then he gets in his Prius and heads home. He is the best lefty I know and one of the few I am proud to call a friend.
Actually STBX buys only the best beans and pays on average more than most for those beans.
Personally, I like the high altitude shade grown coffees from Columbia the best.
Oh, well like wine coffee is a personal taste issue.