Whose side are you on, whose side are you on?

RC... where do the Krispy Kreme people fit in? I mean, just look at this page: http://www.krispykreme.com/varieties.html
You can tell KK is a very special place.

Hmmm. I don't know about the rural part. My experience is that Bah-stonians (aka my dear wife) swear by Dunkin Donuts coffee. OTOH, Washingtonians (aka me) are with you, RC.

They don't factor in a lot of things, like the fact that in some regions one store dominates, that in small towns lots of old folks hang out at Dunkin Donuts and in cities young people hang out at Starbucks (and use the Wi-Fi hotspot). And they act as if the world is only East Coast and West Coast. We on the Gulf Coast would take exception.

Here in Houston, I have only passed one Dunkin Donuts. I go there for iced coffee. If I want a Cafe Americano and a cinnamon chip scone, I hit Starbucks. If I'm in the mood for kolaches with my coffee, I got to Shipley's or The Coffee Guy. If I want donuts, I go to Shipley's, because they are a much more prominent regional chain and there are a lot more of them than Dunkin Donuts. If I'm in California, I'm going to go to Winchell's (apple fritters!). If I'm in Canada, it's Tim Horton's. If in Boston -- Dunkin Donuts.

Now wait a dang ole minute there! I happen to like Starbucks.....

Bah, Starbucks doesn't have that good of coffee. My sister is a major coffee snob and refuses to go there. I'll go if it's difficult to go to a better place, but it's not the best.

While I hate to disagree with someone like a name like yours... DD = coffee like crankcase oil. Starsmucks on the other hand has a problem with the language. Tall = small. At least theirs is drinkable for this tea-guzzler.

There is a web "toon" that addresses the language and attitude at starsmucks. I was forwarded it by a daughter who has worked for Starbucks more than once between full time jobs. It is NOT recommended as there are language and anger issues in it. AKA funny, but you really need to avoid it around younger children. Which is why I did not post a link.

Oh, how I miss those apple fritters here in the Northeast!

There are only 3 Starbucks in the entire state of New Hampshire(I'm not counting the ones in the Barnes and Nobles). Dunkins, however, are everywhere. They are way overpriced for the (lack of ) quality for their product. I haven't found a good doughnut to eat since I left California. I haven't found a single doughnut shop in the NorthEast that makes the lovely greaseballs on site - they are all factory produced and trucked in. I am generally a tea drinker - Dunkins charges expresso prices for floor sweepings quality of tea. And speaking of expresso - a co-worker persuaded me to at least try the lattes at Dunkins. This morning, on my way home from work (very sleep deprived, helped a baby into the world at 0753 and I go off my 24 hour shift at 0800) I didn't have the stamina to drive 5 miles the wrong direction from home to buy Starbucks, so I hit the DD. I ordered a smallest size of Hazelnut Latte. I should have realized there was a problem when the clerk asked me if I wanted sugar and whipped cream on that. I figured that the hazelnut syrup would be sweet enough, no? So I just went with the basic. Got out to the car, a few miles down the road it felt almost cool enough to drink, and I took a swig - nearly ran off the road. Bitter as an old maid, no hazelnut flavor at all, and still too hot. I guess it was just as well, the adrenaline kept me alert for the rest of the 45 minute drive until I could add sugar.
About the only beverage DD makes that I find tolerable is the strawberry coolatta - but then one of my besetting culinary sins is a real hankering for 7-11 Slurpees......

Oh, man, are the DDs everywhere! Around here, they build 'em within sight of each other.

It's not just that one store predominates in some regions. I've never seen a Dunkin Donuts west of the Rocky Mountains. And I'd rather go to a Seattle's Best Coffee than Starbucks.

Now you've done it. We've already got the Christian-Secular culture wars, The Red state-Blue state divide and the Bush-Gore stand-off, but that is not enough upheaval. You have to go and dredge up the most sensitive nerve-jangling topic: coffee.

Well, I've been drinking coffee since I was 7 (grandma used to make it so sweet for me). I've had cups of joe up and down the entire East Coast from Boston to Jacksonville. Drank the Dunkin Donuts brew when I lived in Boston, Chock Full'O'Nuts when I was in NYC, WaWa's in Philly and many local spots along the way, not to mention 1000s of 7-11s (or McDonalds' - yuck!).

But nothing, NOTHING comes even close to Starbucks. I am not speaking of those dressed up fancy lattes, espressos or mocha drinks, but good ol' brewed coffee. Starbucks always has fresh coffee -- nothing left on a burner for hours. It has excellent beans -- nothing that needs to be flavored to be palatable. There is one bean coffee in particular that is pure heaven in a cup -- Sumatra. Whenever I see Sumatra as the brew choice at Starbucks, I nearly break down and buy a 10-cup thermal box of the stuff. It is the smoothest, richest coffee in the world to me. I only wish Starbucks offered brewed Sumatra every day. I would be a better person for it.

I am a conservative farm boy from rural upstate New York (not to be confused with the city of the same name), but I will drive miles out of my way for a Starbucks cup of coffee. So, please, don't knock Starbucks so hard. Can't we all just get along, please?

Being Canadian, I prefer Tim Horton's -- Starbucks is good in a pinch, though!