Is it just me, or do caffeine addicts sound like heroin addicts when they try to rationalize their addiction?
On a less serious note, people defend coffee for several reasons, not just because it's addictive. It's been shown to be healthy and sustainable in moderation when it's consumed black. It's associated with productivity which is a mental booster, as well as all the other trendy, bohemian associations it has. And, of course, it has an immediately verifiable wake-up "kick" to it.
I don't drink coffee, but I get why people drink it. What I don't get is why people drink Starbucks coffee.
* Trusted brand (like McD's) * Atmosphere * Free wifi * Status * Crack or some other addictive substance added to the beverages
Is it really a mental booster, or is it just that people who have morning coffee to "wake up and get productive" get their first "hit" of caffeine for the day and so fight the caffeine withdrawal symptoms? IMHO, the inclusion of caffeine in DSM-5 suggests the latter.
When I started going to the Starbucks near my old office instead, within a week they knew my name, they know my [custom] drink, they know what I do and what my plans are for the weekend without sounding fake or pretentious and despite being one of the busier locations in the city. For me, it's customer experience, and Starbucks really emphasizes that in their training process. My taste buds preferred the local shop, but my money went to the company where the employees actually looked up at me and smiled and engaged me.
I also know they have really great benefits for their employees and with sites like mystarbucksidea.com, they at least pretend to give credence to the ideas of their customers (although they've implemented quite a few of them, they've been incredibly stingy about buying hemp milk).