Asking someone out for a coffee may seem a bit too traditional for some, but there are ways to make it an extraordinary date. At Starbucks we are always excited to celebrate connections between people and what better occasion for this than on Valentine’s Day?! This is why we’ve come up with some ideas that can take a seemingly run-of-the-mill coffee date to the next level.&nbsp;

core/paragraph

core/image

Who says you must stay put on a coffee date? The world’s your oyster. Switch things up by going on a picturesque stroll, a bike ride or you could even ask your partner to go skating!

Whether you choose to sit at a park and partake in people watching, comment on the scenery as you ride by or even see who can skate the fastest, take your coffee with you! Make it theme-appropriate and environmentally friendly with Starbucks new adorable reusable cups. There’s a variety of styles to choose from that are perfect for hot beverages or a delicious, iced beverage on the go. Plus, reusables cups and drinkware can be a lovely memento of your meet cute!

core/separator

A box of candy is a Valentine’s Day classic, so why not incorporate it into your next coffee date? Starbucks Love Bonbon Latte is the perfect choice for this, and the gorgeous mix of white chocolate, mocha, espresso, and hazelnut will most definitely make your date flavorful and, of course, unforgettable. Available to personalize with your favorite milk alternative across Latin America and the Caribbean from February 10 to 15.

Tell your crush how you feel, surprise your bestie, or remind that special someone in your life how important they are to you, through a unique Valentine.

Forget the flower bouquet and instead send love, kisses, and delicious Starbucks treats via UberEats! From February 10 to February 15, you can make your order and send it along with a personalized message in the cup. “You’re brew-tiful”, “Thanks a latte for being my friend”, whatever you want to share, just click on the "Send it as a Gift" message in the UberEats app and start delivering a whole lotta love.

Now you know how to make this Valentine’s Day an affair to remember, so let’s go beyond coffee and make it about connection, wherever you are in the region.

A few ideas that can take a seemingly run-of-the-mill coffee date to the next level. 

This Valentine’s Day have a coffee date with a twist - Historias-en

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/SBX2023206-Valentines-Day-LAC-Feature-image.jpg

Historias-en

This Valentine’s Day have a coffee date with a twist

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2023/this-valentines-day-have-a-coffee-date-with-a-twist/

twitter:card

twitter:description

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/SBX2023206-Valentines-Day-LAC-Feature-image-1024x498.jpg

twitter:image

twitter:title

Earlier this month, we celebrated the craft and artistry that goes into making our iconic espresso-based beverages in Latin America and the Caribbean at the Starbucks LAC Barista Championship in Hacienda Alsacia, Costa Rica.

This event was a unique opportunity for green apron partners (employees) <a href="https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/starbucks-lac-barista-championship/">across the region</a> to showcase their knowledge and expertise, and to celebrate coffee passion with their fellow partners. The top National Barista Champions from unique LAC markets competed across three days for the overall title; <a href="https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/meet-the-champion-starbucks-lac-barista-championship/">Camila from Argentina</a> was officially crowned LAC Barista Champion.

"I've always loved learning and with coffee you never stop finding out new things", Camila told us. "If you're anything like me, then my advice for you is to take part in a tasting if you ever get a chance. You'll learn so much and will love coffee even more!"

All throughout the competition the partners outdid themselves through awesome skill and artistry, as you can imagine, such an occasion was ripe with the best coffee wisdom. So we asked our Champions for their tips and tricks to brew the best cup of coffee.

1. Start with the basics

Mauricesa from the Cayman Islands reminded us of the importance of properly storing our beans. After all, maintaining the quality of our key ingredient is fundamental to preparing a good cup of coffee.

“At home, we must ensure that the beans are kept in an airtight container at the right temperature and stored somewhere they can’t get wet,” she said. “Coffee is what you make it: it is a blank canvas packed with flavor to which you can add your own twist. Whether by adding creamers, milks, something sweet, or even by adding some coffee to your favorite recipes or desserts, coffee is all about personalizing and loving your experience.”

Once we have the coffee, the next step is knowing which brewing method to use. Even though everyone had their preferred way of making coffee, most of our Champions mentioned the French press as their favorite at home.

“I think a French press is a must-have!” said Shanyhah, who was representing the Bahamas. “What I love about it is that I can prepare my hot coffee every morning and when I get home, I can make iced coffee with the rest of the batch. I highly recommend it.”

Juan Marco from Guatemala shared another great trick: he told us we can use the French press to froth warm milk for a homemade cappuccino. “You just put the milk in the carafe and press up and down a couple of times until you get the desired texture for your coffee.”

John from Peru gave us a tip we didn’t expect. “Make sure to preheat the carafe before making the coffee. You can <a>dip</a> it in some hot water beforehand, for example. And always make sure you use filtered water!”

3. For your inner connoisseur

As we spoke more with our Champions, their suggestions became more specific. Yatziri from Costa Rica suggested we research the place where our coffee is from to find out more about it; understanding the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/introducing-the-next-generation-of-starbucks-coffee-art/">brewing instructions and coffee description</a>s can help you know what foods to pair it with to make the most of the flavors. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Andrew, a partner representing Jamaica, advised us to “try different brewing methods of your favorite coffee so you can see which one you like best.” On a similar note, Jezabel from Uruguay recommended we get out of our comfort zone and try different coffees and add some variations, such as different milks, <a>to</a> taste new combinations.

4. Cold brew all the way

For more experienced at-home baristas, Miguel Ángel from Mexico had this to say: “You’ve got to try to make your own Cold Brew coffee! Beans from Kenya are great for this. You only need a big glass container, then grind your coffee as coarsely as possible and put 10 g to every 180 ml of room-temperature water. Put your coffee mixture in the fridge for 20 hours and voilà! As an extra tip, I really like to add a slice of orange or grapefruit to the infusion to give it a more citrusy touch.”

All in all, the consensus for great coffee at home was to have fun and enjoy both the brewing and learning process behind a great cup.

“Always seek to improve your technique, whether by watching a video on YouTube or asking a partner at your local Starbucks store how to choose the perfect quality coffee for your taste,” recommended Vinicius, who’s representing Brazil for the fourth time.

Finally, a piece of advice from Moisés from Bolivia: “Enjoy every cup of coffee like it is your first one, so that every time you taste it, you can find new textures and flavors in it!”

Brew Your Best Cup of Coffee: Top tips and tricks from this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Championship contestants - Historias-en

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/Tips-Tricks.jpg

Brew Your Best Cup of Coffee: Top tips and tricks from this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Championship contestants

Earlier this month, we celebrated the craft and artistry that goes into making our iconic espresso-based beverages in Latin America and the Caribbean at the Starbucks LAC Barista Championship in Hacienda Alsacia, Costa Rica. This event was a unique opportunity for green apron partners (employees) across the region to showcase their knowledge and expertise, and […]

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/starbucks-lac-barista-championship-tips-and-tricks/

Set against the beautiful green hills of Costa Rica at Starbucks first and only coffee farm Hacienda Alsacia, this year’s Starbucks Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Barista Championship reunited top baristas representing <a href="https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/starbucks-lac-barista-championship/">21 markets across the region</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With mesmerizing precision and support for their fellow competitors, baristas flashed their latte art skills and flexed their beverage mastery.

“It makes me so proud that as we celebrate two decades of presence in this dynamic region, we have the opportunity to see our green apron partners gathered together at Hacienda Alsacia – Starbucks beautiful coffee farm – to showcase their coffee knowledge and expertise,” said Tom Ferguson, president, Starbucks Latin America and Caribbean.

After three days of competition where partners displayed their skill and artistry through multiple rounds of exciting coffee challenges, including espresso shot pulling, milk steaming, latte art and beverage innovation, <a href="https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/press/2022/starbucks-green-apron-partners-showcase-their-coffee-craft-and-skill-at-the-latin-america-and-caribbean-barista-championship/">Camila from Argentina earned the prestigious title of Starbucks LAC Barista Champion 2022</a>.

“It’s been an incredible experience that extends beyond winning and representing my market and the larger Latin America and Caribbean region,” the champion said about her win. “What I’m most proud of is being part of something bigger and sharing an experience like this with so many beautiful people. I wouldn't change it for the world.”

Tasting coffee with her fellow competitors until dawn, sharing stories, practicing their craft, laughing and connecting through coffee was an invaluable experience to Camila, who felt supported by her partners every step of the way.

“Nothing really prepares you for this adventure,” she noted, “but it sure is worth it: the connections you make, the things you learn. I left Argentina with no idea how much knowledge and love I would leave the competition with. It would be amazing to participate again, but I would also like more partners to have the ability to experience this journey.”

core/embed

This year, Starbucks green apron partners gathered at Hacienda Alsacia to fully experience the deep care that goes into the first 10 feet of a cup of coffee to share that connection with customers at the last 10 feet.

“The Championship helped us appreciate the importance of our work in the stores,” Camila shared. “It is an honor to be part of the arduous process behind a single coffee bean. However, the Championship was also about solidarity and being united. The friendships I’ve made here are the most beautiful thing I’m taking back home.”

It was a thrill to watch these outstanding coffee experts share their passion, love and out-of-this-world skills during the Starbucks LAC Barista Championship 2022. We are excited to continue recognizing the coffee mastery of our partners, who inspire us every day!

Let’s raise a mug for this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Champion, Camila from Argentina! - Historias-en

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/Winner-Header-ENG.jpg

Let’s raise a mug for this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Champion, Camila from Argentina!

Set against the beautiful green hills of Costa Rica at Starbucks first and only coffee farm Hacienda Alsacia, this year’s Starbucks Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Barista Championship reunited top baristas representing 21 markets across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp; With mesmerizing precision and support for their fellow competitors, baristas flashed their latte art skills and flexed their […]

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/meet-the-champion-starbucks-lac-barista-championship/

One thing hasn't changed over the last 20 years since we opened our first stores in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): our partners' passion for coffee!

We're proud of all the milestones we've reached in these two decades, but most importantly we are proud of the thousands of green apron partners that day in and day out handcraft our customers' favorite espresso-based drinks.

To recognize the skill and dedication of our green apron partners, as a company we celebrate the Barista Championship around the world. This year, the Championship will return to the LAC region, where partners will showcase their coffee passion, creativity and expertise. National Barista Champions from 21 unique LAC markets will compete across three days for the overall title, with a crowning at Starbucks coffee farm <a href="https://www.starbuckscoffeefarm.com/en/">Hacienda Alsacia</a> in Costa Rica.

Hosting the event at Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks global agronomy headquarters, provides participating partners the unique opportunity to experience first-hand the first 10 feet of the coffee journey, which will enrich their knowledge of the last 10 feet: right before the cup of coffee reaches a customer.

Join the excitement of the Starbucks LAC Barista Championship and get to know this year’s contestants!

core/media-text

Meet our 21 Champions: Get to know our green apron partners participating in this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Championship! - Historias-en

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2022/10/Header-Image_LAC-Barista-Championship-LAC.jpg

Meet our 21 Champions: Get to know our green apron partners participating in this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Championship!

For 20 years, Starbucks partners across Latin America have been hard at work preparing your favorite beverages. To recognize their craft and dedication we are celebrating the Starbucks LAC Barista Championship.

Get to know our green apron partners participating in this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Champiohip

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/starbucks-lac-barista-championship/

By Michael Ko/Photos by Joshua Trujillo

As Starbucks turns 50, Michelle Burns, who leads coffee at Starbucks, and her team are working to ensure the best outcomes for coffee farmers and the land it’s grown on.

Michelle Burns remembers vividly the trip she took to Colombia in 2018. As the sun broke through the clouds, she trekked into a rugged mountain region in Caldas, one of the country’s main coffee-producing regions – a two-and-a-half-hour ascent up through steep terrain, then down into a valley. There, she and her group were greeted by about 15 local farmers, mostly young people who’d returned home and recently started coffee farming after decades of armed conflicts in the area had subsided.

“They shared their stories with us,” recalls Burns, now Starbucks&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/leadership/michelle-burns/">executive vice president of Global Coffee, Tea and Cocoa</a>, “stories about conflict and all the challenges that happened in Colombia, stories of moving away after losing family members who were in coffee farming.

“They’d come back to reclaim that land. And we asked them, ‘What can we do to help?’”

The moment – and her subsequent takeaway: “the incredible possibility to positively impact the lives and support the next generation of farmers” – led to the Starbucks Colombia Initiative, called “Granos de Esperanza” (grains of hope), a kind of real-time agricultural and economic innovation lab.

Today, 100 local farmers in Nariño, Colombia are learning the latest climate education, soil and fertilizer analysis techniques and coffee cultivation and business practices. They’re applying innovations gained at Hacienda Alsacia, the Starbucks research farm in Costa Rica. And they’re incorporating new technologies like eco-pulpers that use less water in the coffee-production process.

The moment also widened Burns’ perspective on the bean-to-cup journey and drove home the importance and urgency of making sure that Starbucks is committed to doing the work and making the investments to ensure a sustainable future of coffee for all, especially for those who grow it and the land they work on. &nbsp;

To that end, Starbucks has opened&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-opens-farmer-support-center-in-brazil-for-coffee-growing/">10 coffee farmer support centers</a>&nbsp;around the globe, the latest in Brazil; committed to provide 100 million healthy coffee trees to coffee farmers by 2025; provided access to low-interest loans to coffee farmers in regions where traditional banks are not an option; and piloted programs in Guatemala to help coffee-farming families diversify their income streams.

A commitment to take less and give more to the planet

core/heading

Starbucks has also&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/starbucks-announces-coffee-specific-environmental-goals/#:~:text=In%202020%20Starbucks%20committed%20to,50%25%2C%20both%20by%202030." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">set goals</a>&nbsp;to achieve carbon-neutral green coffee and conserve water usage in green coffee processing by 50 percent, both by 2030.

“That is bold,” Burns says. “The effort that needs to happen on methodology and technology and bringing all the pieces together, it’s somewhat uncharted territory. We’re very ambitiously out there, not yet having all the answers, but trying to find the solutions.”

Specifically, Starbucks is focusing on reducing its carbon and water footprints at “the first ten feet” – starting on the farms – and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by equipping farmers with precision agronomy tools, promoting and distributing climate-resistant tree varietals and protecting and restoring at-risk forests in key coffee landscapes.

As part of its water conservation strategy, Starbucks is investing in ecological wet mills that can save up to 80 percent of water in coffee processing. To date, Starbucks has helped install 12,000 such new mills around the world.

“You think about the magnitude of water scarcity around the globe. Are there potential ways to innovate and identify and use equipment that is better for the environment? There are over 200,000 wet mills currently in our supply chain. We’ve only scratched the surface on scaling this technology.

“I am seeing the possibilities, and I get excited about the overall positive impact we can have. I feel the best knowing we’ll never hold this as our own. We’re working with others in the industry, so this work is in service to the entire coffee sector – and hopefully beyond, into the broader agricultural industry – because we’re committed to build on open sources of sharing.”

Burns still has the large handmade red ceramic mug that a fellow partner (employee) gifted her 26 years ago, her first at Starbucks. When it’s cradled in her hands, she feels familiarity and friendship, comfort and warmth. Like so many others who have a coffee ritual, this mug is part of hers.

These days, when she drinks coffee out of this mug, she’s reminded of the need to slow down and savor the moment.

For 50 years, coffee has been the core of Starbucks, and Burns always comes back to that, especially as a highly visible leader during intensely complex times – a climate crisis, crop diseases like coffee rust, a highly charged political landscape, an aging farmer population, supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, labor and staffing shortages.

“It is important to stay true to the heart and the mission of our company, and the love for coffee, and your experience with it.

“I believe that by honoring our heritage, staying true to where and why we started as a company – strongly rooted in our mission and values, with an aspiration to make sure that in the end, we’re giving more than we’re taking – then we can really go after the biggest, boldest aspirations.”

That thinking led Starbucks to develop one of the coffee industry’s first ethical sourcing standards,&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-sourcing-coffee/">Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices</a>, a verification program that allows Starbucks to ensure it gets high-quality, ethically sourced coffee while also gaining insights into the challenges faced by farmers and supply chain operations in the more than 30 different coffee-producing countries around the world – and then to share that knowledge back.

C.A.F.E. Practices measures more than 200 criteria – as scored by an independent third-party auditor – in the categories of economic transparency, environmental leadership, social responsibility and quality. Starbucks pays premiums above commercial market price to help ensure coffee farmer profitability, and also financially rewards supply chains that reach the highest performance levels.

That commitment to stay rooted in Starbucks mission and values continues to drive Burns in her work – especially as a woman leading in the coffee industry – whether it’s planet-first initiatives, farmer support or increasing awareness among customers of the entire coffee-making process.

“You just think about the magnitude,” Burns says. “How many hands actually touch the coffee along the way, how many miles are there from a field to one of our stores? It’s incredible… That has to be integrated into all the ways we work, think and act. We work in support of 400,000 farmers, just like we work in support of 400,000 partners.”

Given that Starbucks buys about 800 million pounds of coffee every year, or about 5 percent of the world’s coffee, Burns says, “the potential to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of farmers and their communities is tremendous.

“People have watched us working hard to do the right things, find solutions and take great care of farmers and their communities, for decades. They grant us an amount of trust and opportunity to help lead the discussion around ensuring a sustainable future of coffee for all. That is a privilege as well as a responsibility, but it’s so important that we follow through. “When I think about that challenge, and I look at what is required, and the journey ahead, my sense is, we must. We must be brave, and we must lead, and set out aspirations that are bold to take the path that can create a better future for those that grow coffee and their families, and to ensure that the beauty and art and ritual that’s coffee remains in all of our cultures, for decades and decades to come.”

As Starbucks turns 50, Michelle Burns, who leads coffee at Starbucks, and her team are working to ensure the best outcomes for coffee farmers and the land it’s grown on.

Working to create a more sustainable future of coffee for all - Historias-en

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2022/04/SBX20210928-Michelle-Burns-Future-of-Coffee-50th-FeatureHorizontal.jpeg

Working to create a more sustainable future of coffee for all

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/a-more-sustainable-future-of-coffee-for-all/

Ring in the cheer, the holidays are here! And no matter&nbsp;where you are in the world, you can enjoy the festive flavors of the holidays at Starbucks.&nbsp;

In Japan, you can get toasty with the&nbsp;new&nbsp;version of the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha&nbsp;topped with tiny white chocolate covered marshmallows.&nbsp;In Europe,&nbsp;you can try the new Caramel Waffle Latte, inspired by Dutch&nbsp;stroopwafel.&nbsp;And in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea,&nbsp;you can&nbsp;enjoy&nbsp;a sweet and slightly savory&nbsp;Golden Wish Latte&nbsp;with flavors&nbsp;of sweet potatoes and sour cream.&nbsp;And can you guess the one&nbsp;Starbucks&nbsp;holiday beverage that is served&nbsp;everywhere&nbsp;around the world? (Hint, hint, everyone loves&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/starbucks-peppermint-mocha-a-love-story/" target="_blank">Peppermint</a>!)&nbsp;

Here's a&nbsp;sampling&nbsp;of the unique flavors&nbsp;you’ll find&nbsp;on Starbucks holiday menus around the world&nbsp;this year.&nbsp;

starbucks-blocks/pull-quote-image

Celebrate the festive season where the weather is warm with a&nbsp;Merry Strawberry&nbsp;Frappuccino. It’s made with white chocolate mocha and blended with a creamy mixture of milk, espresso and ice poured over layers of mocha sauce, whipped cream and strawberry drizzle.&nbsp;Also available&nbsp;hot and&nbsp;iced.

This new holiday beverage is a cutie, made with smooth blonde espresso and dolce cookie sauce, and topped with a chocolate cookie, perfect for the holidays.

Starbucks&nbsp;classic&nbsp;beverage is back for its 13th&nbsp;holiday season, made with&nbsp;signature espresso, steamed milk and rich caramel&nbsp;brulée&nbsp;sauce finished with whipped cream and a supreme topping of even more caramel&nbsp;brulée&nbsp;bits.

The&nbsp;Haenam&nbsp;region in South Korea is known for its sweet potatoes, and this new beverage pays tribute to its heritage&nbsp;with a&nbsp;decadent black tea-based beverage made with&nbsp;Haenam&nbsp;roasted sweet potatoes&nbsp;topped with sour cream and caramel.&nbsp;Available hot and iced.

Based on two favorite flavors of the season – hazelnut and caramel – this holiday treat is made with espresso, freshly steamed milk and hazelnut syrup. It's topped with whipped cream, swirls of caramel sauce and a dash of cinnamon.

A new twist on a holiday classic, the chocolatey beverage is made with rich biscuit (cookie) syrup&nbsp;finished with mocha whipped cream, mocha drizzle and a chunky fudge sprinkle topping for that ultimate melt-in-the-mouth brownie experience.

This smooth&nbsp;and rich new holiday beverage&nbsp;is made with caramel flavors and&nbsp;steamed&nbsp;almondmilk, topped with whipped cream and&nbsp;swirls of&nbsp;caramel sauce.&nbsp;

This rich, buttery sweet&nbsp;drink&nbsp;is made with toffee nut syrup combined with signature espresso, steamed milk and topped with whipped cream and a toffee nut flavored topping.

Here, the Toffee Nut Latte comes with a little crunch, with a&nbsp;sprinkle of toffee nut crunch topping. You can also order a Toffee Nut Crunch Cold Brew,&nbsp;made with toffee&nbsp;nut&nbsp;cold&nbsp;foam&nbsp;layered perfectly on top of&nbsp;icy&nbsp;cold&nbsp;brew&nbsp;and&nbsp;dusted with&nbsp;crunchy&nbsp;toffee nut topping for a&nbsp;refreshing pick-me-up.&nbsp;Available hot, iced and blended.

Espresso and steamed milk are perfectly combined with white chocolate mocha sauce and whipped cream&nbsp;with a&nbsp;swirl of cranberry drizzle and&nbsp;sprinkle&nbsp;crystallized cranberry sugar. Available hot, iced and blended.&nbsp;

A<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/starbucks-peppermint-mocha-a-love-story/"> holiday classic since 2000</a>, Gingerbread Latte is made with Starbucks signature espresso, steamed milk and gingerbread syrup topped with gingerbread flavored whipped cream and a delicious wafer topping. In Europe.

Caramelized white chocolate mocha sauce meets espresso and steamed milk with the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2122482/hot?parent=%2Fdrinks%2Fhot-coffees%2Fmochas" target="_blank">Toasted White Chocolate Mocha</a>, which is then finished with whipped cream and a celebratory topping of holiday sugar sparkles and crispy white pearls. Available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino blended beverage.

Although&nbsp;it shares a name with the holiday drink&nbsp;first&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;in&nbsp;2017, this new&nbsp;beverage in Japan has a flavor all its own.&nbsp;The&nbsp;beverage&nbsp;features rich espresso, white chocolate syrup and steamed milk, topped with&nbsp;whipped cream with&nbsp;white chocolate coated marshmallows, toasted baked white&nbsp;chocolate&nbsp;and a sparkling golden sugar.&nbsp;Also available blended.

Inspired by&nbsp;Dutch&nbsp;stroopwafel&nbsp;cookies,&nbsp;this new drink&nbsp;combines signature espresso and milk with delicately spiced winter waffle sauce,&nbsp;caramel whipped cream and a&nbsp;spiced caramel&nbsp;waffle crunch topping.

Starbucks new non-dairy beverage is <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/starbucks-newest-holiday-drink-iced-sugar-cookie-almondmilk-latte/">inspired by home-baked spritz cookies,</a> with sugar cookie-flavored syrup combined with Starbucks Blonde® espresso and almondmilk over ice, topped with red and green sprinkles. Canada offers a similar beverage made with oat beverage,Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Latte. Also available hot.

Local beverage inspired by white Christmas trees. A combination of Jeju malcha and sweet white chocolate, as well as refreshing mint chocolate.

Starbucks twist on the popular red velvet confection, this drink celebrates the festive season with a colorful flair. A creamy red velvet syrup is mixed with espresso and freshly steamed milk and capped with whipped cream and a generous serving of red velvet topping. Available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino®blended beverage

A calming and sweet combination of lychee, lemon grass and chamomile with bright notes of&nbsp;youthberry&nbsp;tea. Perfect for the holidays with rosemary and red currant,&nbsp;reminiscent of a&nbsp;holiday&nbsp;wreath.

The&nbsp;beloved&nbsp;beverage&nbsp;begins with espresso and velvety steamed milk,&nbsp;followed by&nbsp;flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices&nbsp;– all&nbsp;topped with a finale of whipped cream and specially spiced praline crumbs.

A new cocoa-filled version of the classic Gingerbread Latte. A new, cocoa-filled version of the classic Gingerbread Latte, picture all the same great taste of the classic but reimagined to add a festive chocolate twist.

This new dessert-inspired beverage is made with a&nbsp;creamy custard-flavored sauce, espresso and steamed&nbsp;milk. The finishing touch is a sprinkle of sugar topping&nbsp;that looks just like the caramelized&nbsp;top of&nbsp;a dish of&nbsp;creme&nbsp;brulée.

More than&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/starbucks-peppermint-mocha-a-love-story/" target="_blank">30 years&nbsp;after it was first created</a>,&nbsp;Eggnog Latte still&nbsp;tastes just like the holidays,&nbsp;with signature espresso combined with creamy, steamed eggnog and a dusting of ground nutmeg.

This holiday innovation combines espresso, freshly steamed milk and the beloved cinnamon dolce flavor. Topped with whipped cream and shakes of nutmeg to bring you specialness in a treat.

Starbucks® Cold Brew&nbsp;is&nbsp;swirled with Irish Cream syrup and topped with a cloud of vanilla sweet cream cold foam and a hint of cocoa&nbsp;in this&nbsp;creamy classic.&nbsp;In Canada,&nbsp;customers can enjoy a hot&nbsp;version with Irish Cream Americano, featuring&nbsp;rich, caramelly espresso and Irish&nbsp;cream syrup, topped with hot water and steamed milk, and a subtle sprinkle of cocoa.

Inspired by the wintry flavors of roasting chestnuts by the warm fire, this&nbsp;beverage features the flavors of toasted chestnut combined with white chocolate and topped with whipped cream.

This Starbucks classic beverage has been part of the holiday season since it made its&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/starbucks-peppermint-mocha-a-love-story/" target="_blank">delicious debut in 2002</a>. It’s made with Starbucks signature espresso, steamed milk, sweet mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup with a crown of whipped cream. For the finishing touch – a sprinkle of dark chocolate curls in the Americas and a topping of candy cane pieces and swirls of mocha drizzle in Europe and&nbsp;Asia Pacific. Available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino blended beverage.

This&nbsp;colorful new beverage&nbsp;features&nbsp;espresso paired with delicious toasted white chocolate syrup and steamed milk for a subtly&nbsp;sweet concoction. Garnished with luxurious whipped cream and a sprinkle of colorful confetti topping – reminiscent of a freshly-baked cookie. Available as a hot, iced or blended handcrafted beverage. Customers can customize their beverage with oatmilk or&nbsp;almondmilk&nbsp;and plant-based whipped cream.

Ring in the cheer, the holidays are here! And no matter where you are in the world, you can enjoy the festive flavors of the holidays at Starbucks

27 Starbucks holiday drinks from around the world

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2021/12/SBX20211202-BeveragesAroundTheWorld-FeatureHorizontal.jpg

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2021/starbucks-holiday-drinks-from-around-the-world/

Ring in the cheer, the holidays are here! And no matter where you are in the world, you can enjoy the festive flavors of the holidays at Starbucks.

Test your coffee knowledge with Starbucks fun facts. In honor of the coffee company’s 50th anniversary, here are ten things you might not know about Starbucks – from the true story behind the Starbucks siren logo, unique store locations, to winning a Grammy and more.

1. The story of the Starbucks siren logo

Co-founders Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zev Siegl opened the first Starbucks in Seattle's Pike Place Market on March 30, 1971. The name was inspired by author Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby-Dick (Starbuck was the name of the first mate on the ship, the Pequod). After settling on a name, next up was to create a logo.

While scouring old marine books a mysterious, nautical figure called to them, a twin-tailed siren. Starbucks has two connections to the seafaring world, Seattle is a port city, and coffee often travels long distances across the water to get to us. Over time, Starbucks has given the Siren a few makeovers, but she remains as alluring as ever. You can learn more about the story of the Siren <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/who-is-starbucks-siren/">here</a>.

2. And the Grammy goes to…Starbucks!

In 2004, Starbucks and Concord Records teamed up to co-produce, market and distribute a groundbreaking album with Ray Charles, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2014/ray-charles-genius-loves-company/">“Genius Loves Company.”</a> At a time when duet albums were not commonplace, Charles was paired with legendary guest artists including Norah Jones, Diana Krall, James Taylor, Elton John, Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt. The landmark album went on to receive eight Grammy® Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year, and was certified multi-platinum with worldwide sales of more than 5 million copies.

3. Starbucks has its own coffee farm

Yes, Starbucks owns a coffee farm and you can take a (virtual) tour! <a href="https://1912pike.com/starbucks-hacienda-alsacia/">Purchased in 2013</a>, Hacienda Alsacia is a 240-hectare coffee farm located in Costa Rica that serves as a working farm as well as Starbucks global Research and Development facility. Costa Rican coffee has been a part of Starbucks core offerings since it opened its doors in 1971. In 2018, Starbucks sold a limited-edition offering of Hacienda Alsacia single-origin packaged coffee to customers around the world.

This year, Starbucks launched an all-new virtual experience that invites partners and customers to explore Hacienda Alsacia. To access the virtual experience, visit <a href="https://coffeeexperiences.starbucks.com/">coffeeexperiences.starbucks.com</a>.

4. The secret meaning behind partners’ aprons

In more than 80 markets around the world, the green apron is a symbol of Starbucks. It signals a warm welcome and expert coffee craft from the more than 400,000 baristas who proudly wear one each day. But did you know there are many types of Starbucks aprons?

Here are a few of the aprons your barista may be donning in stores:

core/list

You can learn more about Starbucks aprons <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2017/story-behind-starbucks-iconic-green-apron/">here</a>.

5. Starbucks first latte was introduced 13 years after opening in 1971

When Starbucks first opened its doors in 1971, its now much beloved brewed coffee was not on the menu – although it was only given as samples. The store sold bulk whole bean coffee, tea, and spices as well as a selection of coffee makers, grinders, and teapots.

That changed in 1983 when Howard Schultz walked the streets of Milan for the first time and immersed himself in the culture of the Italian café. “The Italians had created the theater, romance, art and magic of experiencing espresso,” Schultz recalled. “I was overwhelmed with a gut instinct that this is what we should be doing.” The following year, Schultz convinced the founders to test the coffeehouse concept in downtown Seattle, where the first Starbucks® Caffè Latte was served.

When Starbucks launched its carbonated coffee beverage called Mazagran in 1994, customers were polarized. Some loved it. Some hated it. Not many bought it more than once. But Mazagran is still an important part of Starbucks history, because it launched the North American Coffee Partnership with PepsiCo, and the coffee extract found a new home in 1996 with the game-changing bottled Frappuccino.

7. Investing in communities

To provide economic opportunities in underserved and rural communities across the globe, Starbucks created the Community Store Program. These stores focus on hiring from the community, partnering with nonprofits and working with local artists, and serve as a space for community events and programs. Starbucks has invested in 19 Community Stores with most recent store dedications in Carbondale, Illinois and Tampa, Florida. The company plans to open 100 Community Stores by 2025.

To learn more about how Starbucks Community Stores are making a positive difference in the communities it serves, see this <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/starbucks-opens-community-store-in-watts-neighborhood-of-la/">story</a> about the Watts neighborhood Community Store in Los Angeles.

8. Unique Starbucks stores

With over 33,000 stores across the globe, each Starbucks store offers something unique to the community that it serves – from locally inspired art and merchandise, to store designs and experiences that set it apart. Starbucks has opened several one-of-a-kind locations over the past 50 years, including:

If you’re looking to hit the road this summer, here are a few more <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/hit-the-road-with-these-unique-starbucks-stores/">must-see stores</a> from around the U.S.

9. The world’s largest Starbucks

Did you know that Starbucks largest store is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago? Here all the coffee served in the store is freshly roasted on-site (the coffee roaster is the first thing visitors see when they enter the Chicago Roastery). The Chicago Roastery boasts five floors and 35,000 square foot store celebrates the company’s heritage in coffee roasting and the craft of coffee.

Since 1971, Starbucks has been obsessed with the fine art of roasting and proud to showcase this expertise in six <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-reserve-roasteries-around-the-world/">Roasteries around the world</a>. Starbucks Master Roasters tailor a unique roast for each coffee lot to unlock maximum flavor and nuance. The Chicago location also boasts an on-site Italian bakery, cocktail bar, curved elevator and a 56-foot steel cask (the company’s tallest), a sculptural blend of form and function, where coffee beans go to rest and de-gas after being roasted. Learn more about the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/top-10-things-to-know-about-starbucks-chicago-roastery/">here</a>.

10. Before there were Sharpie pens

In the days before writing drink customizations on cups in Sharpie pens, the position of a cup on the bar would tell the barista how to make the beverage. It could be with the logo facing forward for whole milk, and away for nonfat. Maybe upside down for decaf. It varied from store to store. But no matter where you were, a strong breeze could blow them all over.By the mid-90s, using a Sharpie made the beverage customizations experience easier for Starbucks baristas and customers, and eventually lead to baristas personalizing the experience even further with the addition of customers’ names on cups. 

Black-and-white Starbucks Pike Place original store exterior

In honor of the coffee company’s 50th anniversary, here are ten things you might not know about Starbucks.

10 things you didn’t know about Starbucks

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2021/07/SBX20210714-Fun-Facts-FeatureHorizontal-2.jpeg

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2021/10-things-you-did-not-know-about-starbucks/

Coffee is at our core. We are committed to sourcing coffee responsibly, for the betterment of people and planet, so we can ensure a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/building-a-sustainable-future-for-coffee-together/">sustainable future of coffee</a>.

ETHICALLY SOURCED COFFEE

Goal: Committed to 100% ethically sourced coffee in partnership with Conservation International From 2015 to 2019, 99% of Starbucks coffee was verified as ethically sourced as measured by C.A.F.E. Practices, our ethical sourcing verification program developed in partnership with Conservation International. Measuring farms against economic, social and environmental criteria, the C.A.F.E. Practices program is designed to promote transparent and sustainable coffee growing practices while also helping protect the well-being of coffee farmers and workers, their families and their communities.

In FY20, due to restrictions caused by COVID-19, auditing teams were unable to complete all the necessary in-person, on-farm audits of our coffee production, resulting in expiration for farms whose verification ended in FY20 and were not audited. This resulted in 98.6% of our coffee coming in FY20 from C.A.F.E. Practice-verified farms.

50 Million to Date, 10 Million in FY20

Goal: Provide 100 million trees to farmers by 2025 In FY20, we distributed 10 million trees to farmers in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. Over the past five years as part of our 10-year, 100 million-tree commitment, Starbucks has donated nearly 50 million coffee trees to farmers. These new trees are bred to be resistant to coffee rust, a disease associated with climate change, and they’re replacing trees declining in productivity, which can, in turn, help farmers improve the quality and yields of their harvest and improve their revenue.

Nine Farmer Support Centers, 200,000 Farmers Trained

Goal: Train 200,000 farmers by the end of 2020 More than 40,000 farmers were trained in FY20, enabling us to reach our goal of training 200,000 farmers by the end of 2020. Starbucks operates nine Farmer Support Centers worldwide, where agronomists and quality experts work alongside coffee farmers – whether they sell to Starbucks or not – to share tools and information to help increase the productivity, quality and profitability of coffee on their farms and improve their livelihoods. In FY20, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we incorporated online training tools and resources to continue these efforts while supporting the health and safety of our partners, suppliers, farmers and their communities.&nbsp;

Goal: Strengthen our coffee communities In FY20, Starbucks launched a new initiative in Guatemala focused on providing safe spaces for local and migrant workers’ children to continue their education during the coffee harvest season. Five new centers opened during the 2020-21 harvest season, with co-investment from coffee suppliers and implementation by FUNCAFE and Coffee Care. Starbucks also established a $100,000 Capital Improvement fund to support initial and on-going childcare center improvements, along with preparing childcare center locations to open in a safe and welcoming way.

&nbsp;$42.9 Million to Date

$2.8 Million in FY20

Goal: $50 million in farmer loans by the end of 2020 The Starbucks Global Farmer Fund was founded to improve supply chain resiliency and ensure a long-term supply of coffee by addressing the unmet financing needs of farmers. As of FY20, we have invested $42.9 million in the Fund, partnering with <a href="https://rootcapital.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Root Capital</a> and <a href="https://www.responsability.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ResponsAbility</a> to provide coffee businesses and farmers with access to low-interest loans in regions where traditional banks are not an option due to high interest rates. Loans allow farmers to plant new trees and improve their infrastructure.&nbsp;

In addition, we have continued our Emergency Farmer Relief Fund for a second year to further support farmers who were negatively impacted by low global coffee prices. These secondary payments go directly to smallholder farmers in Central America to subsidize their income, helping to offset low prices compared to cost of production. Although market conditions were slightly better than in FY19, we distributed more than $2.8 million to farmers in Guatemala and Nicaragua in FY20.&nbsp;

STARBUCKS DIGITAL TRACEABILITY

Launched for Consumers, Testing Among Farmers

Goal: Create connection between coffee farmers and coffee consumers; empower farmers and support coffee farm communities As a continuation of our ethical sourcing commitment, in FY20 we launched the new <a href="https://traceability.starbucks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Digital Traceability</a> web tool, which provides a way for customers to engage directly with their coffee and learn more about its journey, from bean to cup. Customers can use the traceability tool to scan a bag of their favorite coffee at a Starbucks store, discover the global origin of their beans, and read about the farmers who grow it. We are continuing to explore how digital tools can empower farmers and best support farming communities by leveraging the traceability technology and platform to give farmers the ability to trace their coffee beans, so they can see where their beans go and the final product they become. In FY20 in Rwanda, we piloted a call-in platform for farmers to get agronomy tips and green coffee price information for their local markets. More than 19,000 farmers used the service over three months.

Tea: 99.7% in FY20, Cocoa: 100% in FY20

In FY20, we sourced 99.7% of tea from Rainforest Alliance certified farms. For cocoa-based beverage ingredients, 100% of cocoa beans are ethically sourced from either COCOA Practices-verified supply chains or UTZ certified farms. The UTZ program is now part of the Rainforest Alliance. We continue to strengthen our approach, programs and partnerships for sustainably sourcing tea and cocoa.

Read more and see fiscal 2021 updates on our progress in the full report.

core/buttons

starbucks-blocks/story-grid

We are committed to sourcing coffee responsibly, for the betterment of people and planet, so we can ensure a sustainable future of coffee.

Starbucks 2020 Global Environmental and Social Impact Report: Coffee

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/34/2021/04/SBX20200319-2020_GESI_Report_Coffee-FeatureHorizontal-2.png

https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2021/gesi-report-2020-coffee-3/

Coffee & Craft

This Valentine’s Day have a coffee date with a twist

Brew Your Best Cup of Coffee: Top tips and tricks from this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Championship contestants

Let’s raise a mug for this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Champion, Camila from Argentina!

Meet our 21 Champions: Get to know our green apron partners participating in this year’s Starbucks LAC Barista Championship!

Working to create a more sustainable future of coffee for all

27 Starbucks holiday drinks from around the world

10 things you didn’t know about Starbucks

2020 Report: Coffee

Starbucks 2020: The year in pictures

The most romantic Starbucks stores around the world

Brewing 101: Which brewing method is right for you?