From the Beginning
We’ve always believed that our customers should expect more than coffee. More than 40 years after our first store opened, it’s still a commitment we hold ourselves to every day.
Our Heritage
A Brief History
1971
We start by selling coffee beans in Seattle's Pikes Place market.
1987
We add handcrafted espresso beverages to the menu.
1992
We become a publicly traded company.
2011
We celebrate 40 years and begin the next chapter in our history.
In 1971...
Starbucks opened as 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.
Now, our coffeehouses have become a beacon for coffee lovers around the globe. Why do they insist on Starbucks? 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.
Meet me at Starbucks
We believe that a shared moment of genuine connection over coffee is a simple act that helps provide an uplifting part of someone’s day.
In every place that we’ve been, in every place that we touch, we’ve always tried to make it a little better than we found it, right from the beginning.
