It was then that I learned a secret seldom shared...

Copied from my Facebook Notes:
I drink Starbuck's coffee regularly, at least once a day. One Friday night I was on my way to a friend's house to relinquish $40 in a Texas Hold-Em tournament. Before leaving home I decided it was a Drambuie and coffee night so on the way I stopped for a cup (already had the Drambuie). To my chagrin there was only one dripped brew available...

Months earlier, in the midst of hundreds of store closings, plummeting share prices and a General National Malaise, Starbucks decided in order to boost profitability it would replace it's magnificently complex and robust flavored House Blend, on which its success was built, with a different brew. The goal? "Make it Cheaply." The highly talented Research Department, progenitors of the Iced Caffe Mocha, was tasked with creating a brew that would improve Starbuck's Earnings Per Share. Taste was no object. Low cost was. A Cheap Replacement was born. The drop in cost increased gross profit per cup by 50%!

Since flavor was no object they produced a dark dishwater. Upon tasting they cried, "No one will drink this swill!" Marketing tasted the swill, spat it upon the ground and smiled a knowing smile saying, "The name will sell it. The name will replace the flavor. The name will be the impetus for success. We'll name it after the most famous place in our hometown of Seattle... It will henceforth be 'Pike's Place'..."

Where was I? Ah, yes... There was only one dripped brew available, the dark dishwater, Pike's Place. With resignation to the barista I said "Pike's Place is the worst beverage sold by Starbucks! Drink it, I cannot." It was then that I learned a secret seldom shared. "With an air of confidentiality the barista quietly said, "Did you know, sir, that you can pick any coffee on our shelf, bring it to the counter and ask us to make of it an eight cup French Press?" "No! How much?" I asked. "$3.50 (plus tax)."

Turning to the coffee display I found the highest priced pound, returned to him and said, "There, make me an 8 cup French Press of this $13.95 per pound Komodo Dragon. How much do I owe you?"

"Certainly sir! It will be ready in approximately eight minutes. That'll be $3.79 Total." My heart leapt with joy. The flavor? Exquisite, even without the Drambuie... . Constant Reader, I have more coffee tales to tell...