About Us

It happens millions of times each week – a customer receives a drink from a Starbucks^® barista – but each interaction is unique.

It’s just a moment in time – just one hand reaching over the counter to present a cup to another outstretched hand. But it’s a connection.

At Starbucks^®, we make sure everything we do honours that connection – from our commitment to the finest quality coffee, to the way we engage with our customers and communities to do business responsibly. From Starbucks^® beginnings as a single store, in every place we’ve been, and every place we touch, we’ve tried to make it a little better than we found it.

WHEN WAS STARBUCKS^® FOUNDED?

When the first Starbucks^® opened in 1971, our company was a single store in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. From just a narrow shop front, Starbucks^® offered some of the world’s finest fresh-roasted whole bean coffees. The name, inspired by Moby Dick, evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders.

In 1981, Howard Schultz (Starbucks^® former chairman, president and chief executive officer) first walked into a Starbucks^® store. From his first cup of Sumatra, Howard was drawn into Starbucks^® and joined a year later.

In 1983, Howard travelled to Italy and became captivated with Italian coffee bars and the romance of the coffee experience. He had a vision to bring the Italian coffeehouse tradition back to the United States. He wanted to create a place for conversation and a sense of community – a third place between work and home. He left the company for a short period of time to start his own Il Giornale coffeehouses and returned in August 1987 to purchase Starbucks^® with the help of local investors.

From the beginning, Starbucks^® set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but that also brought a feeling of connection. Our mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time.
 

MORE THAN COFFEE

To say Starbucks^® purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees is very true. That’s the essence of what we do – but it hardly tells the whole story.

Starbucks^® coffeehouses have become a beacon for coffee lovers everywhere. Why do they insist on going to a Starbucks^® coffeehouse? Because they know they can count on genuine service, an inviting atmosphere and a superb cup of expertly roasted and richly brewed coffee every time.

We’re not just passionate purveyors of coffee. Starbucks^® also brings you everything else that goes with a full and rewarding coffeehouse experience. We offer a selection of premium teas, fine pastries and other delectable treats to please the taste buds. And the music you hear in store is chosen for its artistry and appeal.

It’s not unusual to see people coming to Starbucks^® to chat, meet up or even work. Our coffeehouses are a neighbourhood gathering place, a part of your daily routine.

At Starbucks^® everything is done through the lens of humanity. Starbucks^® has come a long way since that very first coffeehouse, but it stays true to the same values today. Now, you can even enjoy delicious, high quality Starbucks^® coffee in your own home and connect to the moment, your surroundings, and family and friends.

Brew a coffee of your choice and serve it in your favourite cup, mug or glass to make it yours and create your very own Starbucks^® coffee experience.