Starbucks owns Seattle's Best Coffee. For the consumer, how do they differ? i assume that Seattle's Best Coffee is considered a step down from Starbucks in prestige. Is there a difference in the quality or kinds of coffee available? Food? Ambience? I now find a Seattle's Best Coffee shop in the local supermarket (other stores in the same chain often have a Starbucks). The two major bookstores in the area--Barnes & Noble and Borders--have Starbucks and Seattle's Best respectively. We often call coffee a commodity. I assume that brands attempt to prevent commodification. -- David M. Fahey Professor Emeritus of History Miami University Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA