Store Finder COFFEE LETTER SHOP RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT STARBUCKS Our heritage Every day, we go to work hoping to achieve two things: share the best coffee with our friends and contribute to making the world a little better. This is the way it was when the first Starbucks store opened in 1971, and it continues to be so today. Back then, the company was a single store in Pike Place Market, a historic Seattle market. From its narrow window, Starbucks offered some of the best freshly roasted whole bean coffees in the world. The name, inspired by the novel Moby Dick, evoked the romance of the high seas and the maritime tradition of the early coffee merchants. In 1981, Howard Schultz (President and CEO of Starbucks) first walked into a Starbucks store. Ever since he had his first cup of Sumatra, he was drawn to Starbucks: a year later he joined the company. A year later, in 1983, Howard traveled to Italy and was captivated by Italian coffee shops and the romance of the coffee-drinking experience. He had a vision to bring the tradition of the Italian coffee shop to the United States. A place to talk and feel part of the community. A third place, between work and home. He left Starbucks for a time to start his own Il Giornale coffee shops. But he returned in August 1987 and bought Starbucks with the help of other local investors. From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different company. A company where not only coffee and its rich tradition are honored, but also where a sense of connection is created. Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit, just one person, one glass and one neighborhood at the same time. Today, with more than 15,000 stores in 50 countries, Starbucks is the world's leading roaster and specialty coffee retailer. And with each cup we try to bring to life both our heritage and an exceptional experience. ABOUT STARBUCKS About Starbucks Our heritage Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest ABOUT STARBUCKS Our heritage Our company Starbucks partners CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent questions QUICK LINKS Nutritional information Store finder For partners Change region Spanish Merchandising Web accessibility Privacy statement Terms of use Site Map © 2016 Starbucks Corporation. All rights reserved.