[JohnFen]

Yes, one of the core things that Starbucks (and McDonald's and so forth) sells is consistency. Their products may not be great, but you can go to one anywhere and know exactly what you're going to get.

Mom-and-pop places don't have that certainty. There are both great and terrible ones.

If you're in an unfamiliar place and just want a coffee, Starbucks can be just the ticket. It's not a gamble. And if you enjoy coffee and want something above "adequate", you'll also be keeping an eye out for promising mom-and-pop places to switch to.