Of all the Starbucks we've been to, and we've been to a lot of them, this shop is our favorite.  It does 'Starbucks' best.  Of course the coffee and sweets are great and it's easy to pick up a ground pound to take home, but the people really are what makes this Starbucks so good.  The staff members are invariably friendly and patient.  

It's also a community meeting point.  Whenever I visit, there's always a gaggle of friends in the front window, often with a couple kids just hanging out.  People come in, wave, say hi to somebody that they know and are on their way again.  

I always come away from this national chain knowing that I'm in a small town.

Directions:  From the 101 take the Casitas Pass exit.  Turn away from the mountains.  At the end of Casitas Pass, turn left onto Carpinteria.  Take the first left into the parking lot.  Starbucks is on the left.