21 Fun Facts about Starbucks
For more than 50 years, Starbucks has been a major player in the coffee scene, and this brand has established itself in nearly every corner of the world. If you think you know all there is to know about this brand — these fun facts about Starbucks may surprise you.
Starbucks is much more than a brand associated with coffee — it’s practically a culture unto itself. The logo is just as recognizable as its marque, so much so that most people don’t even need to see the words.
While most people know that Starbucks had humble beginnings in Seattle, Washington, there are a lot of facts about Starbucks coffee not quite so well known. That’s where we come in! As we look into these interesting tidbits, we’ll cover these topics:
Starbucks History
Starbucks coffee was founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington, by Zev Siegl, Jerry Baldwin, and Gordon Bowker. Their company was sold to Howard Schulz in the 1980s, and he guided much of its growth and sales. Today, Starbucks company information reveals its the world’s largest coffee chain, with over 33,000 stores globally and hundreds of thousands of employees.
The brand receives much of the credit for what’s known as the second wave of coffee culture. This introduced many varieties of coffee to the general public and created new java lovers. The coffee beans themselves weren’t involved in a lot of experimentation, but concocting other coffee-based drinks opened up a whole new world.
Interesting Facts About Starbucks
1. If you buy coffee beans from Starbucks, a barista will grind them for you. Very helpful if you don’t have your own coffee grinder!
2. Despite the persistence of rumors of a secret menu — there isn’t one. However, you can order drinks not on the menu, providing you know the ingredients.
3. You can request that your Frappuccino be cream-based instead of espresso-based.
4. They may not advertise it, but pour-over coffee is available at most, if not all, Starbucks locations.
5. While everyone knows of the tall, grande, and venti cups, there are two drink sizes not on the menu — short and trenta. Short is 8 ounces and can only be ordered for hot drinks. Trenta is 31 ounces and reserved for cold beverages — iced teas and coffee, cold brew, and lemonade.
6. You can get a drink for your dog! A puppuccino is a small espresso cup of whipped cream. Most dogs love this popular treat.
7. Starbucks once owned a music label called Hear Music. In 2007, Starbucks and Concord Music Group got together to launch the new record label. It even signed music stars like Paul McCartney. However, it only lasted about one year before closing down.
8. With all of the possibilities for ingredients, there are more than 87,000 different drink combinations available at Starbucks. You could literally have a different drink every day of your life.
9. Starbucks has Signing Stores, places of work for employees who are deaf and hearing-disabled. Customers know that signing is the best way to communicate with these baristas.
10. The color of each barista’s apron has a meaning. Green is the most common — every barista starts with that. Black means that a barista is a coffee master. Red is worn for Christmas. And, an apron that adorns an American flag means that a barista is a military veteran or military spouse.
11. If you bring in your own reusable cup, you can receive a small discount on your drink.
12. Starbucks has its own coffee plantation in Costa Rica. The goal of its farm is to find sustainable solutions to improve both the lives of coffee farmers and the quality of coffee beans, and to adopt more traditional methods of growing coffee.
13. The largest Starbucks store is in Chicago. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago boasts 35,000 square feet of coffee-drinking space across five levels.
14. There’s a 10-minute rule. If patrons are waiting, baristas must begin taking orders 10 minutes before their posted opening time. They must also continue taking orders until 10 minutes past the official closing time.
15. Starbucks owns a trademark for the Frappuccino. Reportedly, they inherited the patent when they purchased another company, and the Starbucks Frappuccino was introduced in 1995.
16. Each year, Starbucks uses about four billion cups.
17. Starbucks has had a few flops. Chantico was the biggest blunder. Launched in 2005, Chantico was described as a chocolate dessert you could drink. It was only available in one size and wasn’t customizable. Knowing that people love to tailor drinks at Starbucks, this seemed destined to fail. It was pulled from the stores within the year.
18. The original logo had to be altered because it was deemed too sexy. That iconic mermaid image that we know today was originally much more revealing, including her breasts.
19. The first Starbucks outside the United States opened in Tokyo in 1996.
20. Starbucks was the first brand to reach 10 million likes on Facebook.
21. And, if you’re after a little laugh, here’s a video clip dedicated to all those patrons who’ve been given a Starbucks funny name by the barista.
Wrapping Up
Even if you don’t love java, almost everyone is familiar with the brand. With more stores than any other coffee chain, it might be difficult to find someone who hasn’t visited a Starbucks.
While the company is best known for its wide assortment of coffee drinks and free wi-fi, that’s not all there is to Starbucks. Most people may know the basic history of the brand, but they’ve never heard of some lesser-known fun Starbuck facts. Knowing the meaning behind the color of a barista’s apron or that there are other drink sizes not on the menu provides you with a little insider information.
Whether you’re playing a trivia game or just comparing notes on coffee shops, you can use these fun facts about Starbucks to liven up the conversation!
Starbucks Coffee Facts FAQs
What Is Starbucks Real Name?
Starbucks. However, when the founders were considering names, they originally had the idea of Pequod, from the novel Moby Dick. As that story goes, Pequod didn’t seem to quite fit, but one of the other characters was called Starbuck. And so it was.
When Was Starbucks Founded?
The first store opened in 1971, and in the 1980s, they sold their company to Howard Schultz. Starbucks was founded by three men — Zev Siegl, Jerry Baldwin, and Gordon Bowker.
How Many Starbucks Stores Are There?
There are more than 33,000 Starbucks located throughout the world. There’s at least one store in more than 80 different countries.
Which Country Has the Most Starbucks Stores?
The United States has more Starbucks locations than any other country, with about half of all stores being located in the US.
Why Is Starbucks Famous for Coffee?
Starbucks coffee is sometimes mocked by coffee aficionados, but the brand revolutionized the way that people view coffee. Starbucks created an environment where people could enjoy coffee and experiment with various drinks.
Why Is Starbucks Called Starbucks?
Starbucks was named by its founders. As previously mentioned, it’s believed that the name came from a character in the novel Moby Dick.
Where Does Starbucks Come From?
Its first coffee house opened in Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington.
What Is the No#1 Starbucks Drink?
Vanilla lattes are the most common Starbucks drinks at many locations. Regular hot coffee is another favorite.
