"I find it very interesting that seven of the top ten scoring stocks in my database of 6,000 stocks and ETFs are food-related companies," says trading specialist Mike Turner.

The editor of Mastering the Markets adds, "And one of the top-scoring stocks that has caught my eye out of this group is the Starbucks Corp. (SBUX).

"This is a fundamentally solid company, that has been in a technical buy mode since March of 2009. This is one of those stocks that looks to be firing on all cylinders, and could continue its pricing trend for as long as the general market does not implode -- a potential development I am concerned about.

Northern California-based Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET) is a different flavor of coffee stock, really cashing in on premium herbal tea offerings and specialty foods as well as providing a great cup of java.

Jellies, jams, candies and pastries are just part of Peet's diverse product line. This has helped the company find a broader customer base, appealing to those with a sweet tooth as well as caffeine junkies and iced tea fanatics. The results are clear in Peet's bottom line.

Caribou Coffee (CBOU) is sometimes seen as a Starbucks (SBUX) knock-off, but this company can definitely stand on its own. The Minneapolis-based Caribou is the second-largest company-owned gourmet coffeehouse operator in the United States, based on the number of coffeehouses.

As of 2009, Caribou Coffee had 515 coffeehouses, including 101 franchised locations. The company offers high-quality gourmet coffee and espresso-based beverages, as well as specialty teas and whole bean coffee.

Talk about piping hot, how about Diedrich Coffee (DDRX)? The company's shares have been steaming higher for quite awhile now, racing up a stunning 17,000% in the last year from about 20 cents per share at this time in 2009 to around $35 today.

Last summer, the roaster and wholesaler of fine coffees was added to the small-cap Russell 2000 Index. Making it into the Russell 2000 means many indexed ETFs and mutual funds had to put DDRX shares in their portfolio. But it's not just the inclusion of DDRX into the Russell 2000 that makes it worth pouring into your portfolio. The company then saw shares explode after a buyout battle ensued between rival coffee companies.

As the name suggests, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) is based in the pastoral state of Vermont. The company offers about 180 varieties of coffee, cocoa and tea, which it sells to wholesale customers including supermarkets, convenience stores, resorts and office-delivery services.

Some of its biggest customers are ExxonMobil's (XOM) convenience stores and McDonald's (MCD) restaurants. In September, Green Mountain acquired Tully's Coffee, which has been chipping away at Starbucks' (SBUX) dominance in the Pacific Northwest. Green Mountain Coffee's popular Keurig brewing system is also red-hot, with the increasing demand for specialty coffees in homes, restaurants and offices.

The big news in the coffee world recently has focused around brewing behemoth Starbucks (SBUX) as it has bounced back big-time. The company bested Wall Street earnings estimates in late January thanks to 4% growth in same-store sales and a fiscal first-quarter profit that more than tripled over last year.

Cost-cutting efforts and the downsizing of underperforming stores have really paid off. Starbucks has now closed 676 U.S. locations and almost 100 abroad, but has managed to see stronger sales. This may sound counterintuitive, but a rejuvenated product line with affordable options and low-fat drinks like the Skinny Latte have made consumers fall in love with Starbucks once more. In addition, just this week Starbucks announced they will offer their Seattle's Best Coffee at Burger King (BKC) restaurants starting later this year.

For millions of Americans, and indeed for millions around the globe, there's nothing like a piping hot cup of coffee to help kick-start the day. It's the beverage of choice for the hordes on Wall Street, many of whom rely on a strong cup of java to help propel them through a stressful trading day.

But Wall Street pros don't just relegate their relationship with coffee to what's inside their mugs. For many professionals, as well as for many individual investors, coffee is more about buying and selling shares of the best coffee stocks out there.

"One of the guiding principles of our growth investing system is the concept that major trends tend to persist longer and go farther than originally expected," says Timothy Lutts.

In The Cabot Stock of the Month, he explains, "It's a principle that supports our current bullish market stance and our recommendation of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR), even though the stock is already up more than four-fold since March."

"The business, of course, is coffee, a true global mass-market product. And while Starbucks' stock peaked in 2006 (ending a 14-year run), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is younger and far less famous.

"Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR) recently reported an outstanding second quarter," notes growth stock expert Michael Cintolo in The Cabot Market Letter.

The advisor explains, "Initially after the earnings report, the stock fell following its report, supposedly because revenue growth was light. But we think focusing on that detail misses the big picture.

"First, revenue growth is still accelerating; the second quarter's rose 61% from a year ago, compared to 60%, 56% and 45% growth the prior three quarters.

On Tuesday, July 21, brewing behemoth Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) bested Wall Street earnings estimates for the second quarter. The Seattle-based coffee giant reported earnings of $151.5 million in the period, driven by cost-cutting efforts and the downsizing of underperforming stores. Starbucks has now closed at 676 U.S. locations and almost 100 abroad.

For years, Starbucks was the darling of Wall Street. It seemed to do no wrong. The shares vaulted from less than 70 cents a piece in 1992 to $40 by 2006. But Starbucks wasn't managing its growth very well, and they opened too many stores far too quickly. As a result, shareholders paid the price.

On Tuesday, July 28, the Northern California-based Peet's Coffee & Tea (NASDAQ: PEET) reported a quarterly profit that beat Wall Street estimates.

The company cited a combination of tighter cost controls and higher sales at its specialty business as chief reasons for the better-than-expected results.

For the second quarter ended June 28, net income rose to $3.4 million, or 26 cents per share, from $3 million, or 21 cents per share, one year ago. Revenue rose 5% to $73.6 million.

As the name suggests, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR) is based in the pastoral state of Vermont. The company offers about 180 varieties of coffee, cocoa, and tea, which it sells to wholesale customers including supermarkets, convenience stores, resorts, and office delivery services.

Some of its biggest customers are ExxonMobil's convenience stores and McDonald's restaurants. In September, Green Mountain acquired Tully's Coffee, which has been chipping away at Starbucks' dominance in the Pacific Northwest.

Talk about piping hot, how about Diedrich Coffee Inc. (NASDAQ: DDRX)? The company's shares have been steaming higher for quite awhile now, and recently received an extra shot of potential buyers.

On June 26, the roaster and wholesaler of fine coffees was added to the small-cap Russell 2000 Index. Making it into the Russell 2000 means many indexed ETFs and mutual funds had to put DDRX shares in their portfolio.

Caribou Coffee Company Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOU) is perhaps the least well known of the coffee stocks, but that shouldn't deter you from taking a sip from their cup. The Minneapolis-based company is the second largest company-owned gourmet coffeehouse operator in the United States, based on the number of coffeehouses.

At the end of Q1, Caribou Coffee had 515 coffeehouses, including 101 franchised locations. The company offers high-quality gourmet coffee and espresso-based beverages, as well as specialty teas, baked goods, whole bean coffee, branded merchandise, and related products.

For millions of Americans, and indeed for millions around the globe, there's nothing like a piping hot cup of coffee to help kick start the day. It's the beverage of choice for the hordes on Wall Street, many of whom rely on a strong cup of java to help propel them through a stressful trading day.

But Wall Street pros don't just relegate their relationship with coffee to what's inside their mugs.