For many, the mere mention of the name Starbucks brings about reverent expressions and calming thoughts of lattes and flavored coffees. You may even picture the young smiling barista behind the counter ready to help you choose from the Starbucks coffees offered. The aroma of fresh coffee and pastries assaults your senses from the moment you walk inside and for many it lasts until they are seated back at their desks and ready to begin work.
Is the recognition from purely branding that makes them rank right up there with other popular brands such as Coca Cola and McDonalds? Or, is it due to the number of locations worldwide making it bound to be recognized through advertising? Or, is a Starbucks coffee just that good; a part of something special?
The CEO of Starbucks coffees, Howard Schultz, said that the idea was to create a “third place,” somewhere other than work or home where people could go to settle in and read or just hang out with friends while enjoying a specialty gourmet coffee. The atmosphere is comfortable and provides several different ways to enjoy social interaction, whether playing a game or just talking.
Of course, Starbucks is all about coffee. From a coffee cup full of their special blend to lattes and espressos, Starbucks is synonymous with coffee and they take it very seriously. They started out as premium coffee roasters and have held fast to their beginnings by serving only excellent brews. They recently underwent some changes and now discard any coffee that had been brewed for more than a half hour.
Starbucks has a commitment to providing their customers with excellent service and excellent Starbucks coffees. They ask their employees to avoid wearing any type of strong perfume, as it may interfere with the aroma of the coffee. At one time Starbucks served breakfast sandwiches along with their coffee but soon stopped as people claimed that the smell of the food overpowered the aroma of their coffee and the place smelled more like a diner than a cafe bar. Starbucks also has an indoor no-smoking policy to avoid the smell of smoke permeating into the coffee.
