It’s like the debate about Apple. To me Apple is a cult. To those that adhere to it they are simply delivering a better product and overall consumer experience.
I happen to like Starbucks. I think they charge more but when it comes to just regular coffee not THAT much more. They get about $1.50 or the smallest size cup whereas a gas station or quickie mart might get $.99. For me the extra $0.50 is not going to keep me from buying a cup of Joe that to me taste tastes better and predictably so.
If you really want to get down to it one man’s branding is another man’s cult. The whole point of having a brand is for the company to be able to charge more for said brand and to ensure customer loyalty. For the consumer it’s about paying a bit more for a product or service that is perceived to be superior and also having a company willing to stand behind their products or service (because they want to protect their brand). There are cult like aspects to all of this. But it depends on your point of view - if you’re a cult adherent or if you are not.
You can see the same phenomena at work with all sorts of products and services - take the Chevy vs. Ford feud as one example. Or adherents of a particular beer. Or handguns. Or what have you.
Me too. But then I like very strong coffee, I make my coffee at home pretty strong. I haven’t had the bad experiences, the rude or snotty baristas at Starbucks that others have had. Every time I’ve gone to a Starbucks, the people waiting on me have been very friendly and very proficient and I haven’t run into swarms of crazed liberals either, just regular folks like me who want a latte and or a pastry. And I’ve never ordered a drink at Starbucks that wasn’t exactly as I ordered it. I don’t go to Starbucks often or anywhere else for that matter for coffee on the go, not in my budget now days (and even don’t get me started on how horrible McDonald’s coffee is), I usually brew at home and take some in my travel mug. But I got a $15 Starbucks gift card for Christmas and I’m really looking forward to a few Caramel Macchiatos.