To summarize something as phenomenonally successful as Starbucks coffee history might be a challenge. Many volumes have been written on the subject, it is examined and taught in business schools, and whole semesters are dedicated to the marketing genius of the company. The amazing success of Starbuck's business model certainly deserves commendation if not adoration in the business world.
The story of Starbucks coffee history begins in Seattle in 1971, when three friends with a passion for fresh coffee, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, opened a small shop and began selling fresh-roasted, gourmet coffee beans and brewing and roasting accessories.
In 1980 Zev Siegl sold out to pursue other ventures. By that time Starbucks was the largest roaster in Washington with six retail outlets. In 1981 the small coffee company caught the attention of Howard Schultz, a plastics salesman that noted the large quantity of plastic drip-brewing thermoses that they were buying from Hammarplast, the Swedish manufacturer that Shchultz represented here in the U.S.
In 1982 Starbucks coffee history was changed forever when Baldwin hired the energetic Schultz as the new head of marketing and shortly thereafter sent him to an international housewares show in Milan, Italy in 1983. Schultz found himself infatuated with the vibrant coffee culture of Italy. While in nearby Verona, Schultz had his first caffe' latte' and, as he observed the cafe patrons chatting and laughing joyously while sipping their coffees in the elegant surroundings, inspiration struck.
In what he describes as an epiphany, the idea hit him, "why not create community gathering places like the great coffee house of Italy in the United States?" he wondered. This idea would place Starbucks coffee history into the annuls of business journals for decades to come.
However, his idea was not well received by Baldwin as he wasn't too keen on getting into the restaurant business and distracting him from his original plan of selling whole beans. But he did let him test a small espresso bar in the corner of one of the stores. It was an immediate success and Schultz branched out on his own and opened Il Giornale, a coffee house named after Italy's largest newspaper, 'The Daily'.
In 1987 Starbuck's was up for sale and Schultz raised the $3.8 million by convincing investors of his vision, one hundred and twenty-five outlets in the next five years. Schultz modified the Starbuck's bare-breasted mermaid logo into a more socially acceptable figure, changed the name of Il Giornale to Starbuck's and converted the six existing Starbuck's roasting shops into elegant, comfortable coffee houses. Starbucks coffee history was just was beginning to take shape.
Shultz exceeded his goal of one hundred and twenty-five stores in five years, in 1992 there were 165 cafes in operation. Today there are over 8,000 stores in 30 countries and annual revenues in excess of $7.5 billion.
© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.
You can find more articles on coffee such as Coffee Breaks, Coffee and Health and Coffee Colonics.
Here is an article that tells the secret of creating... Read More
There is good coffee and absolutely abysmal coffee. Both may... Read More
Many sober, law abiding people who would never dream of... Read More
Marylyn Monroe famed amongst other things for her love of... Read More
Does your morning coffee cause you pain? Are you frustrated... Read More
An autopsy released this week has found caffeine to be... Read More
Who doesn't love solving a good mystery? Is the Loch... Read More
Are you a coffee addict? Are you searching for a... Read More
Pure Kona Coffee is gourmet coffee grown only on the... Read More
To summarize something as phenomenonally successful as Starbucks coffee history... Read More
For coffee lovers, there are few things more appealing than... Read More
All the experts agree. People who want the best flavor... Read More
Do you remember your first experience with coffee? I'm sorry... Read More
Caffeine is big business. There are new coffee shops popping... Read More
Here are some facts about the relationship between coffee and... Read More
Coffee is heavily studied, but study results contradict one another.... Read More
Choosing a good coffee maker is not a decision to... Read More
Arabian coffee is the quintessential coffee of the world. Arabia... Read More
The beverage called coffee is the result of mixing dry... Read More
If we look at commodity trading from a purely conceptual... Read More
When it comes to coffee makers there are thousands to... Read More
India produces two fine coffees, but even among coffee devotees... Read More
From the year dot, my mother taught all her children... Read More
Have you ever wondered how restaurants get their coffee to... Read More
Coffee club membership is a joy for coffee lovers The... Read More
How many different names have you run across for different... Read More
Want to know a few secrets to making a good... Read More
Civil War soldiers, Confederate and Union, used to... Read More
The coffee plant has two main species. There is the... Read More
Have you had the pleasure of tasting Starbucks new less... Read More
You can be a coffee lover without knowing much about... Read More
A large percentage of the population loves to drink both... Read More
New research by a University of Minnesota professor and a... Read More
The stress of unemployment can really take a toll on... Read More
How many different names have you run across for different... Read More
Ahhhhh, coffee... a fantastic dark beverage that wakes us up... Read More
Most dentist, particular those who specialize in cosmetic dentistry love... Read More
Have you ever wondered how restaurants get their coffee to... Read More
For years, the idea of roasting your own coffee beans... Read More
A good travel mug is a must when you need... Read More
The coffee plant has two main species. There is the... Read More
Starbucks Coffee Company was founded in 1971 by three businessmen... Read More
In the early days of the coffee craze, before the... Read More
Who doesn't love solving a good mystery? Is the Loch... Read More
As researchers learn more about antioxidants with health and disease,... Read More
A large percentage of the population loves to drink both... Read More
Caffeine is big business. There are new coffee shops popping... Read More
Here are some facts about the relationship between coffee and... Read More
Specialty gourmet coffee is a very hot commodity in today's... Read More
Juan Valdez is a fictitious character who was created in... Read More
In Kenya coffee production dates back several hundred years. Coffee... Read More
Coffee club membership is a joy for coffee lovers The... Read More
Starbucks has seen tremendous growth in our cities and the... Read More
Who the heck knows?According to two studies published in the... Read More
You can be a coffee lover without knowing much about... Read More
For coffee lovers, there are few things more appealing than... Read More
So you are finally fed up with that bland black... Read More
Having a hard time giving up your 4 cups of... Read More
About 850 A.D it is said that a lone shepherd... Read More
Like much of Hawaii, Kona offers ideal climate conditions for... Read More
One look at a line at the local Starbucks in... Read More
At Starbucks they obviously need coffee. To insure that they... Read More
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, yet it is not... Read More
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the... Read More
Flavored coffee syrup is a popular addition to any coffee... Read More
Here is an article that tells the secret of creating... Read More
Coffee |