Originally Posted by shipwreck

Not directed at me I know, but since I am also Sort Of opposed to chains I can give one answer. Its the utter homogenization of the landscape. I like rolling the dice in a small diner or coffee shop. It might be horrible, it might be great, but given the choice of a greasy spoon or a slick cookie cutter marketing machine, its the first one every time.
I won't boycott a chain to the point of not going into one(except mcdonalds, I will wait in the car while others go in). I really dont care about the whole shop locally thing, or who gets my money. I do care about the dismal sameness of a brand that is established everywhere.

And on topic, sort of, I am a tea drinker, and pretty persnickety about that. I will take a quality irish breakfast tea in bags, and keep them dry at the expense of almost everything else. From fall to late spring I take a thermos on tour. Fill it with boiling water and a bag at night, then drink it first thing in the morning. Its over steeped, but since I am not a morning person, it still helps. I like to be ready to roll early, not messing with the stove till I find a spot down the road and am more awake.