[Gaffer]

I agree. Their basic cup of coffee does taste like battery acid. Bitter, too strong and tastes burnt.

I think many SB aficionados subconsciously gussy up their acid with sprinkles, Cinnamon, latte (weak milk), steam, whateverthehell else will dilute the acid, and end up with something they think is great. They get the privilege of paying 5-7 bucks for it, to boot.

[nascarnation]

It’s an incredible business model, similar to Red Bull, where you use clever advertising and media buzz to sell a product for several times what your competitors do.

[stuartcr]

I’m having an excellent SB bold, black...$1.56

[Boogieman]

Humans are strange psychologically. Hand them something that tastes like crap, for free, and they spit it out. Charge them an exorbitant price for something that tastes like crap, and they will love it, because they assume that it must be great if others will pay that price for it.

[Right Wing Assault]

Bitter, too strong and tastes burnt.

"Burnt" is my first thought. The places smell like a campfire. I believe they sacrifice their coffee beans to the coffee god on a pyre. Their coffee is made from the ashes.