By ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE, AP Business Writer Wed Feb 27, 4:59 AM ET
A day after shutting down most of its U.S. shops for three hours to retrain baristas on espresso basics, Starbucks is welcoming customers back Wednesday with a new promise posted in stores: "Your drink should be perfect, every time. If not, let us know and we'll make it right."
[...]
Meanwhile in Seattle, a line a dozen people deep snaked outside one of Caffe Vita Coffee Roasting Co.'s Seattle shops at dusk Tuesday, as the local chain gave away free espresso drinks while the world's largest gourmet coffee retailer [Starbucks] shut its doors. [to retrain workers]
"Free-market economy, baby! You've got to take advantage of what the competition throws at you," squealed Amy Grooms, a 29-year-old accountant who said she quit going to Starbucks once she moved to Seattle, because she thinks independents brew better-tasting coffee. [...]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_bi_ge/stop_the_espresso