A Shared Journey To Origin: Where Sumatra’s Coffee Begins
Starbucks partners from across Asia Pacific, China, and Japan came together for the Starbucks Origin Experience in Sumatra, Indonesia.
In 2026, over 130 Starbucks partners (employees) from across Asia Pacific, China, and Japan came together for the Starbucks Origin Experience in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Over several immersive days, partners visited coffee farms, processing facilities, supplier sites, and the Starbucks Farmer Support Center, learning directly from the people who grow and shape Starbucks coffee long before it reaches coffeehouses.
From cherry to green bean
Walking alongside smallholder farmers, partners followed coffee through every stage of its journey. Many experienced Sumatra’s traditional wet‑hulled (giling basah) processing method for the first time, seeing firsthand how precision, timing, and craftsmanship influence quality.
For Lisa a district manager from Starbucks New Zealand who is originally from Medan, Indonesia, the experience felt both professional and deeply personal.
“Learning about the lives of smallholder farmers and witnessing the journey from planting to picking my own coffee cherries are moments I will cherish for the rest of my life,” said Lisa. “The care, judgement, and patience involved are at a scale I had never imagined. Seeing it firsthand gives you a whole new respect for the journey behind every bean,” she added.
For partners who work with coffee every day, the process brought fresh perspective.
Aleks, a senior manager from the Hong Kong Support Center, reflected:
“We work with whole bean coffee every day, but being here shows you what those beans represent before they ever reach a bag or a shelf.”
Supporting farmers, strengthening communities
At the Starbucks Farmer Support Center, partners learned how Starbucks works with farmers to support quality, sustainability, and resilience – today and into the future. Through agronomy training and locally tailored guidance, farmers are supported in building stronger livelihoods.
Partners also experienced first-hand, through a volunteering activity with Corus International, on how grants from The Starbucks Foundation support coffee growing communities with education, clean water, hygiene, and healthcare.
For Sudhakar a partner with TATA Starbucks India, the impact was deeply personal.
“It’s not just a place, it’s a source of knowledge, support, and hope for farmers,” said Sudhakar. “You can see the pride as farmers talk about their crops. It’s not just about coffee, it’s about a better future for their families,” he added.
Built on trust
Across farms and supplier visits, one theme was clear: great coffee is built on trust. Long‑term relationships rooted in transparency, respect, and shared purpose help protect both quality and livelihoods.
Sudhakar reflected on what sustains Starbucks coffee over time.
“These partnerships go beyond transactions. They are built on trust, honesty, and empathy,” said Sudhakar. “Because behind every bean are people and their livelihoods and those relationships grow stronger with time,” he added.
Carrying the experience forward
For many partners, the Origin Experience changed how they see their role in coffee’s story.
For Aleks, returning to everyday work in the Hong Kong Support Center came with renewed meaning.
“Now, when I think about the coffees we develop and share with customers, I see the people and places behind them. It changes how you approach every decision,” said Aleks.
For Lisa, the journey brought her back to where it all began. “Coming back to Sumatra felt like a full‑circle moment; reconnecting with my roots and sharing how much we value Sumatran coffee in New Zealand.”
She summed up the experience in a single word: “Fulfilment.”
As partners returned home across Asia Pacific, they carried more than memories. They carried stories, responsibility, and renewed pride. From Sumatra to coffeehouses across the globe, coffee is a shared commitment to people, place, and the future of coffee.
