Starbucks is not the best, but it’s not as bad as you’re making it out to be.
The truth is, many Americans, especially the older generations, are used to weak, light coffee. Case in point: the people who always jump into Starbucks threads and extol the virtues of Dunkin Donuts’ coffee (light and weak). So, for them, Starbucks is just too dark and too strong. But, if you really like coffee, dark roast can be very enjoyable.
My favorite, though, is Peet’s. They are fanatical about making things right.
That reminds me of the old Mother McCready joke “When I make caffee I makes caffee, when I make water I makes water, an’ by gad I never makes ‘em tagether in the same pot!”