Rumor: Starbucks buying Seattle Coffee?

A rumor that Starbucks Corp. might be interested in purchasing Seattle Coffee Co. -- which owns the brands Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia -- is gaining the attention of analysts.

Neither company is commenting on the rumor, but restaurant analyst Mark Kalinowski of Salomon Smith Barney has taken the idea seriously enough to do an analysis of how such a potential deal might benefit both Seattle-based Starbucks and Seattle Coffee's owner, AFC Enterprises Inc. in Atlanta.

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