coffee shops

Despite the specialty-coffee craze for lattes, cappuccinos and other blended and frozen drinks, most consumers still get their caffeine fix from a regular cup of coffee, according to a new survey by Technomic.

Starbucks on Tuesday said it would give away a free 12-ounce bag of its ground house-blend coffee to any customer not satisfied with its Via instant coffee during the next seven months.

Starbucks is partnering with India-based coffee-bean provider Tata Coffee to help it open its first retail stores in India. According to the agreement, Tata will help Starbucks source and roast beans, as well as develop the new stores.

The New Year brings new hope to the restaurant industry, which suffered heavily during the harsh, eat-at-home recession. As a result, the number of restaurants have dwindled nationwide. But Goldman Sachs says this is very good news for three companies in particular.

Starbucks said Wednesday that it plans to grow its worldwide sales by expanding its 220 stores in mainland China to "at least" 1,500 by 2015. The world's largest coffee chain also is planning to add stores in Brazil, Russia and India.

Starbucks (SBUX) plans to reduce the number of stores it renovates in 2011 as it focuses on flagship outlets, Bloomberg News reported. The company will leave its renovation budget unchanged at $250 million, but renovate only about half the 1,900 stores due to be upgraded next year, development...

Starbucks is giving its Seattle's Best Coffee Brand, which it acquired in 2003, a new sleeker look and has struck a deal with AMC Theatres to distribute the java in 300 theaters beginning in July.

Getting some of the $700 billion bailout for America's banks looks to be a lot easier than applying for a job at a Portland coffee shop. I didn't believe it until I saw it myself, but applying for a bank bailout in the federal Capital Purchase Program requires only two pages. And I realize that...