The prophecy of the end of Starbucks.

Actually, it’s more about the rise of a new kind of coffee snob. And there’s little doubt that Starbucks, as a legitimate place to get good coffee, is on the decline. I’m not saying that they’re going anywhere, but the used to have a certain cachet. Yes, you knew you were walking into a national chain, but it still had a certain air to it. Not anymore.

So I’m perfectly happy with this third wave of coffee in modern America. My favorite places – Pound and Peregrine Espresso – both take special care about where and from who they buy their beans.