"This California-born coffee chain operates more than 1,000 locations worldwide (just under 300 in the U.S.) and is commonly found in airports and shopping malls, where it’s known for serving serviceable—if often forgettable—coffee. It carries a bit of 1990s pop-culture cachet as a spot where actors would read scripts, and its profitable, Asia-heavy footprint made it an attractive $350 million acquisition for a Filipino fast-food company seeking diversification and expanded regional reach." - Tim Forster