Starbucks Coffee: The Making Of An International Giant
From its humble beginnings back in the 1970's, Starbucks coffee has become a world renowned coffee giant of epic proportions. What started as a small shop in Seattle, Washington, geared to sell high quality coffee beans, has now become the most widely recognizable brand of gourmet coffee in the world today. Test your Starbucks coffee knowledge to see just how well you know your favorite coffee brand.
Where It All Began
When two teachers and a writer were inspired to open their first store in the Pike Place Market in Seattle, they had no idea that their baby would become what it is today. The very first Starbucks coffee shop opened in 1971, and was created to sell gourmet coffee, just not in the sense that it does today. The founders of Starbucks coffee began buying raw coffee beans from suppliers, then roasting them themselves to gourmet perfection.
The store was an instant hit, but an innovative entrepreneur, Howard Schultz, felt that it wasn't quite living up to its full potential. When the owners rejected the idea of selling coffee made in the store, believing that it would never catch on; Schultz branched off on his own by opening his own chain of coffee shops, which became an instant hit.
In 1987, Starbucks coffee sold to Schultz who immediately changed the name of his coffee shop chain. He started to branch out from the Seattle area into Vancouver, British Columbia, and Chicago; and by the time Starbucks coffee went national in 1992, the chain consisted of more than 150 stores. Now, Starbucks coffee consists of more than 15,000 stores in more than 40 different countries.
Not Just Your Average Cup Of Joe
Don't walk into a Starbucks coffee thinking that you'll just grab a cup of coffee. Starbucks has more than 20 different varieties of coffee to choose from, and almost as many flavors. Coming in sizes that reflect that Italian influence, you can choose from a tall, grande, or venti cup of your favorite beverage; and can even choose one of their many varieties of tea now available. And don't forget the ultra-gourmet bagels and biscotti that you can purchase on the side!
In all, the Starbucks coffee chain has become a thousand times what the original owners once dreamed it could be. Well on its way to its ultimate goal of 40,000 stores worldwide, Starbucks coffee has become the international giant of coffee in a way that no one could have possibly imagined.
