Here in the UK, I'd say Starbucks tastes of nothing. Hot brown drink. Their ground bags you can buy and take home are equally a non-event. Not sure why people rave about it. Coffee is some of the worst I've had, not withstanding UK McDonald's.

Which blend? They have multiple, including a pretty light one that you may have mistakenly gotten. “Starbucks” isn’t a blend or a flavor profile.

Isn't "hot and brown" a mainstay of British cuisine in general?

Only according to Americans, tbh, and often ones who have never visited.

Ones who have visited the UK, when asked where they ate, often ate at hellish tourist traps or absolute shit tier chain pubs like Wetherspoons or Greene King.

I'm an American who has lived in the UK. I can report back that we're definitely not the ones who invented the term "eating beige".

Given the choice, I'll actually get a small cup of black coffee from McD's anytime. At least it's only a couple dollars.

you shouldn't taste battery acid. really. don't.