I really enjoy my job. It’s the kind of job that you’re excited to go to and are constantly wanting to learn more about. There is something about coffee that inspires me and I can’t seem to get enough.
Most people don’t know this, but Starbucks does a LOT for its communities, and even more for the countries where they buy their beans from. People often jump to conclusions about Starbucks because it’s such a big corporation, but really they are very passionate about what they do, and giving back is huge.
Did you know that Starbucks pays for employees to volunteer? I don’t mean the employees get paid, but the places where we volunteer get money for the hours we put in. #extrashotofgood
Did you know that in an effort to ensure a transparent purchasing process, Starbucks developed something called C.A.F.E practice? This ensures that quality of life for coffee farmers is ethical, pay is accountable, quality is high, and all environmental needs are met.
Did you know that on top of paying a premium price for ethical sourcing (giving them high quality arabica beans) Starbucks helps coffee farmers with financial support when funds are low?
I finally took the time to visit the Starbucks Center in Seattle, also known as Starbucks Headquarters. It’s kind of a big deal. I’m fortunate enough to live in the area where Starbucks first started, and visiting this location was just a hop, skip, and a jump across the water.
Unfortunately without being an employee of the actual corporate building, I had limited access to the inner offices. I did get to explore the Starbucks shop, and enjoyed a free cup of “visitor” coffee.
I’m still very much of an equal opportunist, and I adore local and small coffee shops too. I think trying local coffee is one of three great ways to explore new areas, and while I love Starbucks I don’t always go to one when I am traveling somewhere new. Local coffee usually wins.
Seattle is a different story though, being the birthplace of Starbucks.
It was a great experience to visit the place where all the magic happens so to speak. Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to venture behind the “badge entrance only” doors.
Until then I’ll continue making coffee I’m proud to sell, and educate people on the details that go down “behind the scenes.”
Q: Do you “believe in” the story behind place you work?
Blissfulbritt 
41 thoughts on “A Few Pieces of Starbucks Knowledge”
Baby June
This is nice to know! Another way to justify my latte addiction. 😛
Lauren @ Focused To Be Fit
Oh I love seeing this side of things. All are very commendable! I need one of those key chains!
emmahume
Did not know those things! Very cool 🙂
katalysthealth
This is so awesome! What a great company to be a part of. My company is small, so we don’t do anything like Starbucks, but we do FIRMLY believe in taking care of our own, and management treats its employees really well with benefits and retirement and all that. Its nice to be comfortable like that 🙂
Brittany
Amen to great benefits and taking care of employees!! I was so jazzed to start my 401K through Starbucks, it made me feel like an adult.
Rach @ This Italian Family
This is so great! I am a big fan of Starbucks (as you well know) and I’d love to visit the original location! 🙂
Brittany
OHH PLEASE DO, and then we can meet for coffee and donuts. 😉
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
That is so awesome that they pay the place that you volunteer at. I love Starbucks even more now. If only they would pay me to drink their drinks 😉
Shawna
i love that you love your job so much!! this post came at a great time for me, bc i am sitting here NOT loving mine, and it reminds me to be grateful for the good things about it and not bemoan what i don’t love. i have heard that Starbucks is an awesome place to work — i have a friend here in NYC who is a regional manager and he is really happy. glad for you, bloggy bestie.
Life's a Bowl
Haha that visitor mug 😉 And that tower with the Starbucks lady on top is awesome! I’d love to chat with you someday over a cup of coffee when I join the husb on a business trip to Seattle!
Brittany
UMMM WHAT!?! IS this real life, is he really coming to Seattle sometime!? YES YES YES we must get coffee!!
Corrie Anne
Really cool. I love Starbucks, there’s one two blocks away from me, and it’s like a second home.
Life After Swimming
So awesome. Starbucks is amazing (except yesterday when I realized too late that they forgot my caramel in my latte). My aunt loves working in their distribution center, too!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
It’s so great to hear that the company has some good values behind its good coffee… even more reason to enjoy my cup-a-day addiction 😉 And one of these days I -will- make it out to Seattle (outside of the airport!) to check out Pike’s Place and the original Starbucks. I’ll be sure to hit you up so you can show me around 😛
Brittany
I cannot wait for this moment….
Matt @ Runner Savvy
My work doesn’t have any cool stories like this!
PNWRunner
I’ve always heard amazing comments about how Starbucks is constantly giving back to it’s community and employees.
Ellie
The place I work is a model success story and still retains a local, small town feel. Collegetown Bagels originally began as one coffee and bagel/sandwich shop about forty years ago. The four founders (who I know and still own/work there today) expanded to four other locations in my city. My boss sponsors so many events in the Ithaca area like a summer music concert series, a chili cook-off, and chowder festival and gives back in whatever ways they can. I feel so lucky to work for suck a great business! Oh and the answer your question (I might be biased working for a local coffee place) but small shop all the way!
Brittany
Wow, what a GREAT story! I love this, and I am so glad you found an amazing place to work.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I think working for a company you believe so strongly in and with a subject you feel so passionately about is one of the greatest things. Good for you Britt. Enjoy it.
ahellams
I love it; now I can justify even more my decadent cup of coffee when I indulge, I can just tell myself I am helping give back!! Wooo Hooo…bring on the coffee!
Ashley
I knew there was a reason I love Starbucks! Lots of people cut it down just because it’s such a huge corporation without actually knowing what the company does behind the scenes. I really wish I could say I “believe” in my workplace but…not so much haha! The station I work for is owned by a larger corporation though and I have a lot of respect for what the company believes in as a whole even if my particular workplace doesn’t exactly match up to that ideal.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
The story behind the place I work… AH HA HA AH AHA HA HA AHA HA HA AH AHA! Uh, yes, I believe in the story of me being born and living. LMFAO! 😉
Brittany
I believe in a thing called love, just listen to the rhythm of my heart.
Choc Chip Uru
I didn’t know starbucks was so awesome, I really should go there more often 😛
I felt like I went behind the scenes 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
jessielovestorun
Not that I plan on becoming employed by starbucks anytime soon, but I would love to know if they offer the same benefits internationally. I think it’d be cool to learn a little bit more about how Starbucks works overseas.
Brittany
Starbucks is known for being universal with most everything despite location, so I would assume it’s very similar internationally!
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
Im super envious! If I had to pick a part time job it would be in somewhere like Starbucks or a health food store – super cool!
http://www.journeysthroughmeadows.com
Davida @The Healthy Maven
It’s totally awesome to love your job, eh?! Well I work for myself and I completely believe in myself ( uhhhh more like 50% of the time) so yeah I guess I believe in my workplace lol
Amy @ A Desert Girl
It is so important to buy in to your workplace’s vision and mission. I think being able to go home each day, proud of your work and with your integrity intact, is so incredibly good.
An Unrefined Vegan
Thanks for the Starbucks lesson! I also prefer to visit local coffee shops when in other cities, but it’s nice to know that I can always get a good soy latte at Starbucks when needed!
rika@vm
I’m happy to hear that you are enjoying your job and I can imagine smelling coffee everyday if I work at Starbucks. I like their vegan fraps and iced tea selections to go! Their Mocha Frap was pretty good without the cream & milk!
Missy
I got nothing against starbucks,They seem like a stand up company. But I kind of feel like I am an anomoly. Most people are either obsessed and addicted to it or are “too hip” for “;the man’s coffee” <– LOL.
I'm just like.. cool. Meh. I'll go if I have a card.
It might be that I'm not a coffee person.
What a great job to have as you continue on in school!
Brittany
I still love ya man! I didn’t fall head over heels for Starbucks until I started working there, and even now I stick to coffee black as night and steer clear of the sugar bombs Starbucks has made a name for themselves with. Garbage if you ask me!
Melanie
Starbucks sounds like a wonderful place to work and I had no idea that Seattle was the birthplace. Cool!
apartmentwife
ah, what a great post – i feel like it would be written on buzzfeed or good or something — an inside look at a major corporation. awesome to know that starbucks does so much for local & international communities 🙂
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Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
I learned so much about SBucks in this post! Thank you for bringing all of their positive qualities to light!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
I read an amazing novel ‘How Starbucks saved my life’ – it gave me an insight into the company and one which truly reflected it’s nurturing style. Big props to you!
Mellie Dee
yay yay yay! Love that you finally visited the headquarters! my brother bough me a tumbler from there when he got to visit. And thank you for sharing about Starbucks. Definitely did not know all of that good stuff they do!
Luv What You Do
Yes! I recently switched to a small family owned business and I LOVE it!