Brief History of Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks opens first store

Mar 30, 1971

Starbucks opens first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. It was started by three people who met in college. Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker.

Howard Schultz joins Starbucks

Jan 1, 1982

Howard Schultz joins Starbucks as director of retail operations and marketing. Starbucks starts selling providing to fine restaurants and espresso bars. Photo from nbc news online

Starbucks begins offering coffee beverages

Jan 1, 1985

Schultz founds Il Giornale. He then began serving brewed coffee and espresso beverages. Photo from Starbucks online

Starbucks and Il Giornale are one

Jan 1, 1987

Starbucks and Il Giornale merge and become the Starbucks corporation. They then open up stores in Chicago and Vancouver, Canada.

Starbucks now has 33 stores

Jan 1, 1988

Starbucks is growing and opening up more stores nation wide

Starbucks opens their first drive thru

Jan 1, 1994

The first Starbucks opened in Southern California in 1994

Starbucks serves their first Frappuccino

Jan 1, 1995

Starbucks serves their first Frappuccino

Starbucks buys Tazo Tea

Jan 1, 1999

Starbucks buys Tazo Tea and expand their menu.

Starbucks begins ethically buying their beans

Jan 1, 2001

Starbucks starts to ethically buy their coffee. Thisi was developed in partnership with Conservation International.

Starbucks begins loyalty program

May 1, 2008

In May of 2008 Starbucks began their loyalty program with the gold card.