International Journal of Applied Business and International Management
Vol 11, No 1 (2026): April 2026

Determinants of Customer Satisfaction in the Coffee Chain Industry: Evidence from Malaysia

Lay Hong Tan (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia)
Abrisam Abassy Shaiful Nasri (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Aderline Shi Han Ong (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Adlyn Syamsina Abdul Halim (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Ahmad Reza Palavi Hamat (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Namit Das (IMS Ghaziabad – Business School, India6 Presidency University, India)
Neha Treesa D (IMS Ghaziabad – Business School, India6 Presidency University, India)
Daisy Mui Hung Kee (Universiti Sains Malaysia)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Apr 2026

Abstract

As a globally recognized coffeehouse chain, Starbucks operates in a highly competitive industry where understanding customer preferences is essential for sustaining a competitive advantage. This study examines the determinants of customer satisfaction among coffee chain customers in Malaysia, using Starbucks as the focal case context, with emphasis on product quality, price fairness, service quality, and brand image. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 200 Starbucks customers through an online questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS, including reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that the model explains 62.7% of the variance in customer satisfaction (R² = 0.627, F = 81.968, p 0.001). All four variables were found to be statistically significant predictors, with price fairness emerging as the strongest determinant (? = 0.299, p 0.001), followed by brand image (? = 0.240, p 0.001), service quality (? = 0.203, p 0.01), and product quality (? = 0.167, p 0.05). The findings suggest that customer satisfaction is driven more by perceived value and brand-related factors than by product attributes alone. Practically, managers should emphasize value-based strategies while maintaining consistent service quality to enhance customer satisfaction.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

IJABIM

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Social Sciences

Description

The International Journal of Applied Business and International Management (IJABIM) is a peer-reviewed journal that provides a platform for scholars, professionals, and policymakers to share pioneering research in international business, management, and economics. Published quarterly, the journal ...