Discover a new way to step inside Starbucks
Ever wondered what it’s like to wear the green apron?
We’ve just launched our new @inside.starbucks Instagram channel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), where we invite you behind the bar for a rare glimpse of life inside the coffeehouse.
The channel is brought to life by a growing community of green apron partners (baristas). With support and training, they’re honing their creativity and content creation skills so they can capture real moments from their day and share them in their own voice.
We caught up with some of the partners behind @inside.starbucks to find out more about the new channel and why they’re excited to welcome you into their world.
Secrets of the craft
While you might see a flat white, our partners see high-quality beans, carefully dialled espresso, and milk steamed to the perfect texture, poured with precision.
“An incredible amount of craft and detail goes into everything we do,” explains Isabel, from Germany. It’s exactly this attention to detail that @inside.starbucks hopes to capture – inviting you to see the craft behind each cup.
“From dialling in espresso to understanding different brewing methods – there’s a lot more skill and learning behind the bar than people expect. That’s what I love most about being a partner – the combination of coffee knowledge and human connection. I enjoy diving deeper into the coffees – like the origins, brewing methods and flavours – but what really makes it special is sharing that experience with customers and partners every day.”
Ella, from the UK, adds: “People don’t really see how much passion goes into the coffee. You learn about the craft and the origins behind it, then bring that knowledge into every cup you make.”
Stories worth sharing
Beyond the coffee, Starbucks is a place where everyday connections take shape and friendships are forged – across the counter and behind it. @inside.starbucks documents some of these moments.
I’ve met so many amazing people here who have changed my life.”
“What I love most is human connection, because it stays with you,” says Caroline, a partner based in France. “The regular customers, the small conversations, the unspoken routines — you become a part of someone’s day in a simple but real way.”
Oktay, from Turkey, agrees: “The thing I love the most about being a partner is the people — both my team and our customers. It’s rewarding to make someone’s day better, even in a small way.”
And for many, those connections extend beyond the coffeehouse. “The friendships you make stay with you,” adds Ella, “I’ve met so many amazing people here who have changed my life.”
“Starbucks has genuinely shaped who I am”
More than the apron
@inside.starbucks celebrates the journey our partners are on. From a regular shift to big career moments and everything in-between. Each partner is shaping their own unique path — and you’re invited to watch as their stories unfold.
Owen’s journey began at 16 as a barista. Based in the UK, he’s now an assistant store manager leading teams and supporting partner development. “Starbucks has genuinely shaped who I am,” he says. “Along the way, I’ve had opportunities I never expected. from becoming a Coffee Master to representing Starbucks at pop-ups and partner experiences.”
For many of our baristas, the green apron starts as something part-time alongside their other interests — such as university studies. But what starts as a Saturday job often grows into something more: a space to learn, grow and turn what they’re passionate about into a career.
Hannah, from the UK, studied film production at university. Now at Starbucks she’s found opportunities to explore her interest in content creation:
“I had the chance to attend the Barista Championships as their media creator,” she says, “It was a lot of fun for me as I got to combine two things I love: being creative and the craft behind being a barista!”
But as April, also from the UK, points out, some of the most valuable experiences can come from the other side of the counter: “you meet new people from every walk of life. You can learn new things from anyone who walks through the door.”
Welcome to our world
For many of our partners, their favourite part of the job is sharing their passion with customers. They see @inside.starbucks as another way to do that.
“Behind every drink there’s a partner with their own story, energy and way of connecting with customers,” says Caroline, “this feels like a way to share my reality and highlight what makes my work meaningful.”
For Owen, it’s a way to reflect on how far he’s come. “It’s the perfect way to share that growth and show what’s possible when you put on a green apron.”
And for some partners, like Karen from Spain, it’s also about connecting with each other. “What motivates me is the opportunity to meet partners from other countries, learn from them and create connections – because I like to be wherever the most interesting things are happening,” she says.
If you’ve enjoyed this taste of @inside.starbucks, there’s plenty more to come. Grab a coffee and head over to our Instagram to meet the people behind the apron.
