My father was in the Navy. On the night shift, the coffee would become syrupy and he would drink that. He drinks coffee black. He tried Starbucks and will not touch the stuff.

My parents are smokers. There were few times cigarette ash accidentally got into my mouth. I swear Starbucks coffee and cigarette ash taste the same. I've had it from a couple of stores and both tasted the same. I can't help but think someone else in the comments is right in that people don't go for the coffee but for the stuff that hides the coffee.