[conserv13]

$4 for a cup of coffee that costs less than $.50 to make

The author needs to take a small business class. Sure, the water, coffee and cup may not add up to $.50, but what about the lease on the building, lease of the equipment, the wage of the people working there, etc...?

[sportutegrl]

I assume he meant the consumer could make it himself at home for .50, thus saving 3.50.

[HereInTheHeartland]

"The author needs to take a small business class"

Exactly. They are not selling a commodity and they are also a for profit company.
Go to any restaurant or grocery store and see if the input costs have any relationship to the price of the product.

I do buy this type of coffee. I try to buy it from places that have equal or better products than Starbucks.
There are some really good locally owned places in my area. They seem to have a few less of the Birkenstock crowd than Starbucks also.

[Loud Mime]

see post 35... ;)