Dueling Fools: Starbucks

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but my wife is a Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) junkie. I go along for the ride sometimes, though it's not the same now that the chain has decided to no longer stock Jones Soda (NASDAQ:JSDA) for us non-java sippers. Don't get me started on how empty I felt when Chantico -- just about the only warm beverage I would have at Starbucks -- went obit city.

It's a good thing I'm riding the fence in this week's bout. Yes, the concept is a winner, but when I walk into places such as 7-Eleven or Burger King (NYSE:BKC) and see them promoting enhanced coffee blends, I begin to wonder whether Starbucks -- a popular Motley Fool Stock Advisor newsletter recommendation -- can get away with its premium-priced brews forever.

Tim Beyers isn't worried. He's our bull this week. Larry Rothman is the far more skeptical bear.

Which Fool will take the winning sip? That's what this week's bout is all about.

Duel on!

• Read the bull argument
• Read the bear argument
• Read the bullish rebuttal
• Read the bearish rebuttal
• Sound off in Motley Fool CAPS
• Vote for the winner

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz really does miss the chocolaty splendor of Chantico. He does not own shares in any of the companies in this article. The Fool has a disclosure policy, and it likes its espressos enlightened.