The lifeblood of job creation in America is small business, but they can't get access to credit.

I grew up in a working class family where there was no health insurance. I saw first hand the fracturing of the American dream and the bitterness that comes when there is no hope and a lot of despair. So I wanted to build the company, in a sense, that my father never got a chance to work for.

I think we are living in a time where the consumer has lots of choices, whether it's coffee, newspapers or whatever it is. And there is parity in the market place and as a result of that the consumer is beginning to make decisions, not just on what things cost and the convenience of it.

I am concerned about any attrition in customer traffic at Starbucks, but I don't want to use the economy, commodity prices or consumer confidence as an excuse.

The premium single-cup segment is the fastest-growing business within the global coffee industry.

Victory is much more meaningful when it comes not just from one person, but from the joint achievements of many.

People around the world, they want the authentic Starbucks experience.