QUOTED: Sam James on the leg up he’s gotten from the good folks at Starbucks

I think the chains have done an incredible favour to anyone in the independent coffee business.

—Sam James, of Sam James Coffee Bar fame, musing on Metro Morning about the effect that coffee shop chains have on independent places like his. James credited the big chains with developing people’s knowledge and awareness of coffee, but said indie shops have them beat when it comes to craftsmanship and quality. Of course, coming from a guy who’s set to open a shop deep in Starbucks territory (i.e. the Path) in May, them’s (exceedingly polite) fighting words. [Metro Morning]