As a foodie, I’m always looking for something new, and I tend to gravitate towards local, small businesses first, but realistically, there are some large corporations I can’t do without. Starbucks is one of them.

My first taste of Starbucks occurred during high school when I’d meet friends at Barnes & Noble. We’d sip on our coffees while studying, schmoozing, and comparing books. I think we felt sophisticated. But this routine continued throughout college. Sometimes, we’d meet up at one of the few Starbucks in the area.

When I moved back to New Jersey for grad school, the same thing ended up happening. Starbucks seemed to be the regular place to meet up when we had a group project, a date, or just needed to get out of our apartments. A lot of good memories came out of those Starbucks visits.

But it’s not just about the sentiment. I travel a lot, up and down the east coast, sometimes domestically, once to Canada. (I’m not a traveler – it’s just not me.) If I can find a Starbucks, and I almost always can, I know I’m good. I can use a clean bathroom if needed. I can choose from a large variety of coffee and tea – regular or decaf. I can get a bottle of water. And I can get a healthy snack for the road, or something more filling.

Whenever I come across a Starbucks, I feel relieved. I know exactly what to expect every time, at every store, and for someone who doesn’t love traveling to begin with, having that one less stressor is a real godsend.

I love supporting local, small business, and I think I do a pretty good job, but I’m thankful that Starbucks exists, and I will always be a loyal customer for as long as they do.