Starbuck (Nasdaq SBUX) is ubiquitous, and despite being portrayed as a steamroller in the retail coffee industry, the company does do several admirable things – purchasing fair trade coffee, offering very affordable and amazingly good insurance to even their part time workers, and taking a proactive position with regard to using recycled materials.

With all the fuss about the ‘bucks, we’ve lost sight of the smaller local and regional chains that are real innovators in the industry.

The Coffeebean and Tea Leaf in Southern California is one of my favourite coffee places. A favourite drink of mine is Moroccan Mocha with is actually a hot chocolate made with mint tea.

I wonder if there is anything like it in the New York metro area ? 5 years ago