My wife and I say the same thing, they must burn the beans when they roast them and since I’ve never tasted any difference, they must be doing it on purpose.
Of course, I haven’t been to a starbucks for many years and plan to keep it that way. Now I have another reason to avoid them.
Starbucks in Canada used to burn the beans but for the past 5 or so years the coffee has been decent. Still way overpriced given the same product is 30% cheaper at Timmies or McDs. As a bonus, McDs coffee is free this week (they do the free coffee week a couple of times a year).
Starbucks uses poor quality beans and over roasts them, making their coffees too bitter and acidic.
People that know coffee know this. People that don’t know coffee really savor their bitter cup experience.