And the number is growing, analysts say. Coffee prices can fluctuate dramatically, depending on weather and the social conditions in the countries that grow and export the beans, a factor that may keep some investors up at night. Wall Street's most famous, and visible, coffee stock is Starbucks.
Expansion continues at a brisk rate.
Last year, the company announced plans to have 20,000 stores worldwide in the next three years. For the 26 weeks ending April 1, Starbucks opened 634 new stores, including 438 in North America, bringing its worldwide total to 4,135, including 3,414 in North America. According to Marie Driscoll, an analyst at Argus Research Co. in New York, Starbucks has nowhere to go but up if it continues to focus on its core competencies. Starbucks enjoys a global reputation for quality. The company owns and operates each store, choosing not to franchise.