Coffee City
Melissa Allison tracks Seattle's — and the world's — caffeine addiction.
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Starbucks grows up: Now that its hip phase has passed, what are the lasting strengths of its brand?
Posted by Melissa Allison
![starbucks1[1].JPG](http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/coffee/starbucks1%5B1%5D.JPG)
With fourth quarter earnings coming out on Thursday, it seems like a good time for a recap. Check out what consultants, Starbucks, a big investor and longtime customer and recently established blogger Melody Overton (of StarbucksMelody.com) have to say about Starbucks' former hipness and where it goes from here.
[Update: This story's comments are pretty lively, including this gem: "I am not judging her, just inferring that anyone who goes to a Sbux as a regular is going for emotional issues." What about people who frequent other coffee shops? Or bars?]
Analysts predict a 3 percent drop in same-store sales for the fourth quarter, which would be an improvement from recent quarters, but still a decline on top of last year's 7 percent fourth-quarter drop.
The photo is of Overton outside Starbucks' 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea shop on Capitol Hill, by Seattle Times photographer Ken Lambert.
I worked this weekend, including writing about Tent City 4 moving to Bellevue and an obituary of Chuck "Mr. Kirkland" Morgan, and will be out on Monday and Tuesday.
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