Being American I had no idea the coffee I've been buying was stale. Though I don't think I'd like it if it was naturally sweet. I enjoy the robust slightly bitter taste of black-as-midnight coffee.
Most Americans "enjoy" stale, burned coffee. Starbucks has some of the worst coffee but it has become the hallmark on which Americans judge coffee quality. Starbucks have themselves stated they burn their coffee so as to ensure customers get a consistently burned flavor at every location. Stating consistency of experience is more important than quality. They also use this to push their flavorings, which most people use to hide the burned flavor; probably without realizing.
Anyone telling you Starbucks sells quality coffee is an idiot or a liar.
Stale and burned are the only flavors that can come through on top of a beverage that has as much fat and sugar as 2 cups of ice-cream.
No one says that who isn't working for PR at Starbucks.
That's a stale taste. Been to South America and it's so much better. I can't even drink it in the states unless I go to this special shop that rapidly imports fresh beans. It's not overpoweringly sweet at all, it's subtle.
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