My wife is a coffee scholar; she's taught a class in it, taking people around to different roasters in the area in central North Carolina.
We sort of joke about Starbucks and their over-roasted somewhat burnt tasting coffee, but if you need caffeine at off-hours at Duke University's big hospital, Starbuck's is there for you.
But selectively, there are some high end roasters in the region like Larry's, Muddy Dog, Counter Culture, and a number of others, that do a range of really advanced versions of the bean. It's a matter of finding what you like in their repertoires. With online sales, you can order from hundreds or thousands of roasters.
For breakfast, we have some familiar standbys like Illy's, Peets, Lavatta, and Chock Full of Nuts, among others. My wife likes it dark roasted and fresh ground. Alas, I have to do decaf, but have preferences in that line. Illy's makes a good one, for example.
