One dollar for a cup of Starbucks coffee. And free refills. - Really. It might happen. Starbucks is feeling the economic crunch along with everyone else:

“…Starbucks is experimenting with a smaller, “short” $1 cup as well as free refills for brewed coffee. Starbucks charges around $1.50 to $4.00 for a coffee, depending on size and flavor.

In a statement, Starbucks said, “This test is not indicative of any new business strategy.”"

link: Seattle Starbucks tests $1 coffee and free refills

Starbucks may be feeling the competition from McDonald’s. However, as the consumer knows, costs are climbing at the gas pump and at the grocery store. And the amount of disposable income for a visit to Starbucks is decreasing. A recession would mean less traffic at your local Starbucks shop. It seems as though the world’s most famous coffee shops may be willing to take less profit per customer, to keep up people volume.

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: coffee, starbucks, mcdonald’s, recession, customer volume