It must be something in the water. What else could account for the fact that three of the most popular gourmet coffee chains in Japan originate in Seattle, Wash.? First there was Starbucks, then Tully's and now Seattle's Best Coffee has brought its "pleasing to the palate" brew to Shinjuku, minutes from Takashimaya department store in Times Square.

Considering it was third to get here, you might think it's a bit presumptuous for it to use "best coffee" in its name, but the reality is SBC was established before Starbucks (both of them opened within months of each other in 1971 in Seattle's famous Pike Place Market) and has been maintaining its caffeine level quite nicely ever since.

SBC, which describes its beverage as America's "Coffee House coffee" was originally known as Stewart Brothers Coffee, named after Jim Stewart, founder and chairman, and his brother/business partner, Dave. In 1988, when it was discovered that there was another coffee company with "Stewart" in the name, SBC was rechristened Seattle's Best Coffee.