[Shayne Parkinson]

I've tried Starbucks a couple of times, but their coffee's too weak for my (and many others') tastes. They're struggling to survive in New Zealand; my nearest one closed down recently. I'd noticed it was usually quiet there, even when nearby espresso bars were packed.

For home use, I buy fair trade coffee beans roasted locally in fairly small batches. We grind it as needed (i.e. every time we make coffee). For out-and-about, I've a couple of favourite small cafes that use local roasters.