But his jest is not far from truth. He personally hires a roastmaster who oversees the roasting process from beginning to end and who controls the freshness standard of the coffee beans. Starbucks' Gimble, who admitted that Java's Bowl of Soul is one of his favorite coffee drinks, said the coffee market is extremely healthy right now and provides room for expanded business. According to statistics compiled by Tully's, Americans drink over 5.8 billion gallons of coffee each year at an average of 3.7 cups of coffee per day. Starbucks can help improve on those numbers locally, Gimble said.
Local opinion is still skeptical.
Competition is the backbone of the country, Councilman Hall said, but a sense of community is also a backbone. A balance is needed, and the age-old juggling act will continue. The town is changing. I don't know. Starbucks, Tully's boast of better roasted beans.