Believe me, I don’t understand Starbux at all, other than that the folks running it are way smarter than I am.
It’s pure capitalism, nobody had to go there and spend money there, and they are a huge success.
And it’s not like a one time purchase, their success has to be based on repeat customers.
Customers can buy their effluent and feel good about what special persons they are, and how much other people will be inclined to see them similarly. For a limited but desperate population, it works every time.