Fourbucks burns their cofee to give people the illusion it is stroner and a more exotic variety that it really is. From the greatest connoiseur of coffee and chocolate I know (my wife). I can tell somehting is off with it, just not exactly what. The best coffee in Charlotte is available at some Sams Mart Gas stations and it is one hell of a nice espresso made with a giant espresso machine. Best of all its $1.49 for 20 oz.
Charlotte has a few competetors for Starbucks. There is Caribou coffee which is decent, except usually there is some grounds that get into the cup, and There is Bear rock, Lava Java, Java Joe and some others too. All in all not just all starbucks all the time. BTW Loooooong time favorite of mine from the west coast was Tully's. I believe they were previously called Seattle's best coffee.
Cool.
Srinath.