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Every day, even through times of hardship and temporary store closures, our partners support the communities and neighborhoods we are a part of. 

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Through donations and community spirit, Starbucks partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are helping to navigate COVID-19 and keep human connection remaining at the heart of what they do, creating a reimagined sense of community amid the chaos – at a time when our world needs it most. 

We continue to make our communities stronger thanks to our partners proudly wearing the green apron.

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So far, our UK store partners have given away 200,000 free beverages to NHS staff.

Whilst our UK and EMEA Distribution Centres have connected with local community groups and food banks to donate: 

150,000 Bottles of Juice

50,000 Packets of Biscuits

50,000 Bars of Chocolate

16,800 kg Whole Bean Coffee

30 pallets of beverage components such as Hot Chocolate and other treats

STARBUCKS SHARES A COFFEE WITH The front-line responders of Milan

At the beginning of March, Milan was one of the first cities in both Italy and Europe to face the outbreak of COVID-19. Starbucks partners responded quickly to ensure the safety of both partners and customers and shut stores across the country along with the Reserve Roastery Milano.

Partners next thoughts quickly went to those on the front-line – hospital workers, doctors, nurses, cleaning staff – who, day-in-day-out, are responding to the COVID-19 emergency.

From the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Piazza Cordusio, bags of ground coffee were sent to the city’s hospitals, ready to be enjoyed during the much-needed break from the intense work of a medical professional.

Partners even led a virtual coffee tasting, sharing the perfect brewing techniques along with information on the Roastery’s small-lot Kenya Baragwi Reserve coffee.

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“It’s been intense and emotional to prepare a coffee press together with the nurses”, tells Greta, a Roastery partner. “I was happy to represent all partners on that occasion”.

This small act of kindness was a “message of closeness to the community that we passionately wish to serve”.

Starbucks On The Go gives 500,000 cups of free coffee to front-line responders

Half a million hot drinks are expected to be given away to frontline responders in the UK. Starbucks On The Go is handing out free hot drinks to emergency staff by partnering with petrol channel operators, such as Selecta. Starbucks On The Go has also donated instant coffee to 30 UK NHS hospitals, ensuring healthcare workers are stocked up for their much-needed coffee break.

Update from the Manchester Foundation Trust

To help provide a proper coffee break amongst the madness, several weeks ago we sent cups of Colombian coffee and caramel waffles to the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity - the largest trust in the country that supports ten different hospitals across Manchester and Trafford.

Starbucks waffles were packed up into wellbeing boxes alongside other donated items like fluffy socks and toiletries to help healthcare workers find a little respite after their shifts.&nbsp;The boxes are then handed out to NHS staff as a little pick-me-up, with more than 12,000 boxes being given out so far – almost half of the 25,000 staff working for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Every NHS worker that’s part of the efforts is included, from doctors and nurses to cleaners, porters and security guards.

Partners in Manchester gave the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity staff access to a Starbucks store next to their offices to provide some much-needed extra space, to be used as a little warehouse and store room where they can put all the wellbeing boxes together before distributing them to NHS workers across Greater Manchester and Trafford.

In the Netherlands, Sophia has been using her trusty retro scooter to support Dutch healthcare workers.

A five-year Starbucks partner (employee) and former Barista Champion, when Sophia’s Starbucks store closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, her first instinct was to think of others.

"What can we do, what are the tools and how can we use them?" Sophia asked her fellow partners, the answer was simple, coffee and community. "We came up with the idea of making coffee goodie bags for hospital staff, the people that are working so hard right now".

So she started making coffee goodie bags for hospital staff, packing up nearly 100 bags of coffee and delivering them to her local hospital, HagaZiekenhuis, by hand - via her trusty retro scooter named Iva.&nbsp;

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It was far from straightforward on such a small scooter - "I had two huge shoppers full of coffee bags, my legs were hidden beneath, it was a bit of a puzzle but we made it work" – but Sophia could see first-hand how appreciated her efforts were.

"You could tell that they appreciated it a lot, even from a distance, you could see that they wanted to hug you and everything, that was a beautiful thing. They all waved and we were shouting to each other saying 'enjoy it' and 'thank you!'. To all feel part of one community, it's really nice".

With Starbucks partners and licensees all across EMEA stepping up to show their support, we’ve seen the real difference donations can make, and will continue to do all we can to support communities through COVID-19 and beyond.

Starbucks partner (employee) support for those working on the frontline of COVID-19 has continued over the last fortnight, with a further 50,000 single-serve coffees, 1600 chocolates and 1000 lemonades donated to front line services and key workers in Swansea.

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Starbucks partners handed over the keys to one stores within the same building as the Manchester Foundation Charity Trust to allow staff more space to organise wellbeing packs for NHS workers which included Starbucks goodies donated by Starbucks UK a few days previously. On top of this, 50,000 units of Doubleshot espresso to Midlands NHS.

Starbucks Iberia has continued its efforts in April to donate food and drink to hospitals across Portugal and Spain. Since the beginning of the month 9,500 coffee capsules along with cups and sugar have been delivered to the Quirón hospital in Madrid, and the San José, Curry Cabral Hospital and Pedro Hispano Hospitals in Portugal.

And in France, partners have been donating coffee and pastries to local hospitals and secured special dispensation to be out of the house and reopen two Starbucks stores, specifically to provide coffee and comfort to vital frontline healthcare professionals.

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Starbucks France Supporting the Unsung Healthcare Heros 

Doctors and nurses across the world are supported by an integral network of hospital porters, these vital, yet often forgotten, healthcare professionals keep hospitals moving by ensuring the smooth flow of patients and equipment around a hospital site -- without them, hospitals would literally come to a standstill.

Porters at Georges-Pompidou Hospital in Paris, France, reached out to Starbucks for any support they could offer and the Starbucks France and Benelux Leadership team were quick to act. Within the week, the partners acquired the keys to two Starbucks stores, along with a permit to be out of the house and began providing coffee and comfort to the vital frontline healthcare professionals.

After making all the necessary arrangements over the phone, Majda, one of the eight partners involved in the project, recalls the first delivery the team made: "The first time we met [the hospital porters], they were so happy, we would have liked to hug each other but, of course, during this time we cannot -- it was so frustrating, honestly. It's a small thing but we are happy to do it, to support and recognise those who are doing a great job around the clock."

Preparing the large takeaway containers is no simple feat, the partners meet at 6 a.m. 3-4 times a week, spend up to two hours brewing the coffee before personally delivering. For the "full Starbucks Experience" they also include paper cups, sugar, stirrers and sweet treats from Starbucks bakery selection.

The partners are currently supporting eight hospitals and one care home, when asked how long they would be able to continue this bespoke service, Majda simply said: "as long as we have coffee and hands we will continue".

Our strength as a company comes from our partners, and as a business we are constantly assessing how else we can support our partners manage the crisis as smoothly as possible.

So today, Wednesday 8 April 2020, we’re launching our Global Partner Emergency Relief Fund, a first-of-its-kind initiative to help support our partners who find themselves facing financial hardship during these unprecedented times.

The global programme will see an initial $10million invested in providing support to the extraordinary needs of partners affected by COVID-19 in markets across EMEA, aiming to cover expenses including (but not limited to) loss of household income, urgent travel needs, back-up child care, sudden loss of home, death of a family member or partner and related funeral expenses.

It will be available from Thursday to equity partners across the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, and as a business we are constantly assessing how else we can support our partners and navigate our way through the chaos of COVID-19 together, as smoothly as possible.

To our UK National Health Service (NHS)

NHS workers are at the frontline of UK efforts to combat COVID-19 and Starbucks partners (employees) have been keen to show their appreciation and support.

It started with partners giving away free filter coffee to NHS, council and emergency workers and writing notes of thanks on coffee cups.

Then, when Starbucks UK announced that it would be temporarily closing all stores, partners rallied to distribute as much surplus stock as possible. Hospitals, food banks, shelters and care homes received food and drink donations from us and although stores had closed, partners took this opportunity to connect with their local communities and show their support for key workers.

More recently, Starbucks UK partners have been in touch with NHS Trusts and charities across the country to determine where the greatest need is for stock that may go to waste in Starbucks distribution centres. This includes donations from Starbucks partners themselves. Known as “mark-out”, all Starbucks partners can take home a weekly free pack of coffee to enjoy, but as stores are closed, partners are now donating their allowance to the NHS instead – with all donations being matched by Starbucks.

Early on 30 March, a delivery of 12,000 packs of Via – equivalent to 144,000 cups of coffee –&nbsp;was donated on behalf of partners from “mark-out” to eight health care facilities across Coventry and Manchester, England. Nearly 40,000 units of biscuits and chocolate, and over 9500 units of juice were donated at the same time.

Donations won’t end there, we also provided 50,000 coffees, 1600 chocolates and 1000 lemonades to front line services, including the NHS, in Swansea.

Partners are continuing to work with local authorities and charities to identify where there is the greatest need and where Starbucks might be able to help.

To our Communities: Partners bring coffee and comfort across EMEA

Throughout the EMEA region partners have been supporting their local communities. 

In the Middle East, Starbucks partners handed out 23,000 beverages on day one of the healthcare and frontline responder giveaway. Those receiving free drinks included scientists from Kuwait’s Ministry of Health carrying out research to better understand how best to tackle COVID-19.

Similarly, partners across the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have been donating coffee and food packages to hospitals and ambulance stations – and for the added Starbucks touch, they too have been adding words of support to their donations to thank emergency workers.

In the Netherlands, Dutch partners have donated 1,260 litres of milk, 38.5 kilograms of oranges and 21 kilograms of coffee to community cafes serving sick, elderly, care workers, refugees and the homeless. Like other markets, Dutch partners also distributed cups of coffee to local healthcare workers and local police forces.

While many Starbucks stores are temperately closed and partners are not seeing each other day-to-day, that hasn’t stopped partners being creative in the way they connect, online.

In Italy partners have created a virtual academy to connect and learn from each other and from partners globally. External speakers have also delivered seminars - such as TED talker Paolo Gallo who spoke on the importance of constant learning.

In Spain to encourage the all-important&nbsp;‘hamaiketako’ (11 o’clock light refreshment), live coffee tastings have been broadcast daily via Instagram. For their most recent “café a las 11” (coffee at 11), Coffee Master Maria shared her top tips for preparing the perfect French Press.

Partners and customers alike have also been sharing pictures of their furry friends in Spain as, for many, their household pets are the only company they have while in lockdown.

And in the EMEA Support Centre, teams have shown ingenuity, creativity and fun in the ways they've chosen to stay connected. From team fitness sessions to virtual pub quizzes.

Behind the Green Apron

Behind the Green Apron Archives - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Stories EMEA

Thank you, partners - Starbucks Stories EMEA

https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/behind-the-green-apron/

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Every day, even through times of hardship and temporary store closures, our partners support the communities and neighborhoods we are a part of. Through donations and community spirit, Starbucks partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are helping to navigate COVID-19 and keep human connection remaining at the heart of what they do, […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2020/thank-you-partners-covid-19/

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Thank you, partners

The individually decorated Mermaids Cookie are now available to buy in participating Starbucks stores across the U.K.

50p from the sale of each cookie goes towards raising a minimum of £100k for charity Mermaids

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With a combination of delicious buttery shortbread, a blue glaze and hand piped purple icing, all made from natural colourings, each hand decorated cookie is a wave of colours and flavours. &nbsp;

To bring you each hand-crafted cookie, Starbucks collaborated with Mermaids on the shimmering design and teamed up with the skilled artisans from family-run bakery, Cakehead. Making your cookie taste even better, 50p from every sale will go towards the £100k donation that will help grow Mermaids’ helpline services, which provide support for young transgender people and their families.

The limited edition Mermaid Cookie is part of Starbucks wider #whatsyourname campaign.

At Starbucks, we have always aspired to be a different kind of company. We are driven by our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.starbucks.co.uk/about-us%2Fcompany-information%2Fmission-statement">mission</a> – to inspire and nurture the human spirit; one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Since our beginnings, Starbucks has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-pride-a-long-legacy-of-lgbtq-inclusion/">values-led company</a>&nbsp;and we continue to work towards creating a warm and inclusive&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/use-of-the-third-place-policy/">Third Place</a>. A place where members of the community can gather, feel welcomed and experience a deep sense of connection. We work to bring our mission to life by creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture: in our workplace, our communities, and in our stores.

Taking a customer’s name, writing it on a cup and calling it out is a symbol of our warm welcome. It is part of the&nbsp;Starbucks Experience&nbsp;and creates a moment of connection between our baristas and customers.

Starbucks&nbsp;#whatsyourname&nbsp;campaign celebrates this signature act and the significance it can have for some transgender and gender diverse people as they use their new name in public. The advert, created in partnership with creative agency Iris, was inspired by real life experiences of people who were transitioning. We discovered that they found Starbucks stores to be a safe space, where their new name was accepted, and they could be recognised as who they are.

We were moved to discover that individuals find our stores a safe space to try out their new names when transitioning. The recognition by Channel 4’s Diversity in Advertising Award provides us with an ideal platform to demonstrate how moments of connection can have real impact, while also helping to address the transgender community’s lack of representation in UK advertising.

As part of this campaign, we also saw this as an opportunity to leverage our scale to help expand the vital support services needed within the transgender community and their families. Therefore, we are partnering with the charity&nbsp;<a href="https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/">Mermaids</a>&nbsp;with the aim of raising at least £100,000 for their helpline through the sale of a special edition Mermaid Cookie in our stores.

The organisation has seen over a 600% increase in demand for its helpline service in the past five years, and our support will help grow this service, allowing the charity to employ an additional helpline operator and extend its webchat service.

Susie Green, CEO of Mermaids, said: “The funds raised through&nbsp;#whatsyourname&nbsp;will allow us to make a meaningful change to our helpline that supports young trans people and their families who are so desperately in need of access to information and reassurance.”

As part of the&nbsp;#whatsyourname&nbsp;campaign, ‘Moving Portraits’ celebrate real life stories of how people chose their new names.

News

News Archives - Starbucks Stories EMEA

https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/news/

Starbucks new limited-edition Mermaids Cookie is making a splash! - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks new limited-edition Mermaids Cookie is                     making a splash!

The individually decorated Mermaids Cookie are now available to buy in participating Starbucks stores across the U.K. 50p from the sale of each cookie goes towards raising a minimum of £100k for charity Mermaids With a combination of delicious buttery shortbread, a blue glaze and hand piped purple icing, all made from natural colourings, each […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/17/2020/02/Cookie_PNG.png

Starbucks new limited-edition Mermaids Cookie is           making a splash! - Starbucks Stories EMEA

https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2020/whatsyourname-starbucks-mermaids-cookie/

Starbucks welcomes you, whoever you are and whomever you want to be.

At Starbucks, we have always aspired to be a different kind of company. We are driven by our <a href="https://www.starbucks.co.uk/about-us%2Fcompany-information%2Fmission-statement">mission</a> – to inspire and nurture the human spirit; one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Since our beginnings, Starbucks has been a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-pride-a-long-legacy-of-lgbtq-inclusion/">values-led company</a> and we continue to work towards creating a warm and inclusive <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/use-of-the-third-place-policy/">Third Place</a>. A place where members of the community can gather, feel welcomed and experience a deep sense of connection. We work to bring our mission to life by creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture: in our workplace, our communities, and in our stores.

Taking a customer’s name, writing it on a cup and calling it out is a symbol of our warm welcome. It is part of the Starbucks Experience and creates a moment of connection between our baristas and customers.

Starbucks #whatsyourname campaign celebrates this signature act and the significance it can have for some transgender and gender diverse people as they use their new name in public. The advert, created in partnership with creative agency Iris, was inspired by real life experiences of people who were transitioning. We discovered that they found Starbucks stores to be a safe space, where their new name was accepted, and they could be recognised as who they are.

As part of this campaign, we also saw this as an opportunity to leverage our scale to help expand the vital support services needed within the transgender community and their families. Therefore, we are partnering with the charity <a href="https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/">Mermaids</a> with the aim of raising at least £100,000 for their helpline through the sale of a special edition Mermaid Cookie in our stores (Winter/Spring 2020).

The organisation has seen over a 600% increase in demand for its helpline service in the past five years, and our support will help grow this service, allowing the charity to employ an additional helpline operator and extend its webchat service. 

Susie Green, CEO of Mermaids, said: “The funds raised through #whatsyourname will allow us to make a meaningful change to our helpline that supports young trans people and their families who are so desperately in need of access to information and reassurance.”

As part of the #whatsyourname campaign, ‘Moving Portraits’ celebrate real life stories of how people chose their new names.

Every Name's a Story #whatsyourname - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Every Name&#8217;s a Story #whatsyourname

Starbucks welcomes you, whoever you are and whomever you want to be. At Starbucks, we have always aspired to be a different kind of company. We are driven by our mission – to inspire and nurture the human spirit; one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. Since our beginnings, Starbucks has been […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2020/whatsyourname/

Every Name’s a Story #whatsyourname

As we head into a new decade, we take a look back at some highlights from Starbucks in 2019 across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

South Africa’s Teddy Nzama was named the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/south-africa-scoops-the-title-of-2019-emea-barista-champion/">2019 Starbucks Barista Champion</a> in EMEA – beating out 30,000 of his global peers to claim top honours.

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The island nation became <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-welcomes-first-customers-in-malta/">Starbucks 80th global market</a>, opening a stunning first store on Malta's historic Valleta Waterfront.

12 Winners of the NextGen Cup Challenge Announced

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Introduced the Starbucks Degree Achievement Plan

Starbucks UK announced a programme that sees <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-degree-achievement-plan/">100% tuition coverage</a> for online university degree programmes with Arizona State University (ASU) for eligible partners (employees).

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, what your background is or who you are, you’re always welcome here”. Meet London Barista Sam, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/get-to-know-your-barista-sam/">here.</a>

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First Ever<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-launch-reusable-cup-trial-at-gatwick-airport/"> Airport Reusable Cup trial</a> at Gatwick Airport in London

Saudi Arabia's first Female Coffee Master and National Barista Champion

When asked what it takes to become a champion, Najeeba, from Saudi Arabia, stated: "you need passion first, your heart, your team and — practice, practice, practice. Passion can make miracles.”

Spain became the fifth country to launch Action Against Hunger Food Waste Initiative

35 Million Paper Cups will be recycled through the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/uk-cup-fund-boosts-recycling-by-35-million-paper-cups-per-year/">UK Cup Fund</a>

EMEA Went Wild for the Scarily Good <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/the-new-starbucks-phantom-frappuccino-is-scarily-good/">Phantom Frappuccino</a>

Top 12 Moments from the Past 12 Months - Starbucks Stories EMEA

As we head into a new decade, we take a look back at some highlights from Starbucks in 2019 across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). EMEA Barista Championship 2019 South Africa’s Teddy Nzama was named the 2019 Starbucks Barista Champion in EMEA – beating out 30,000 of his global peers to claim top honours. Malta […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/top-12-moments-from-the-past-12-months/

Top 12 Moments from the Past 12 Months

After an intense three days of competition, 30 finalists – each of them already National Champions in their home markets – battled through coffee skills tests and demonstrated their deep passion for coffee.

Only one could take home the grand prize, and that prize was taken by Teddy Nzama from South Africa. As winner, Teddy will be invited on the trip of a lifetime to visit the Milan Roastery and to join fellow partners (employees) for&nbsp;an annual trip to&nbsp;coffee farms in Rwanda where he’ll see first-hand how coffee is grown and processed, and will&nbsp;meet&nbsp;farmers who produce some of Starbucks coffee 

As the competition draws to a close, and after a nerve-racking final, here is a look back at the past three days of the 2019 Starbucks EMEA Barista Championship Finals. 

South Africa scoops the title of 2019 EMEA Barista Champion - Starbucks Stories EMEA

South Africa scoops the title of 2019 EMEA Barista Champion

After an intense three days of competition, 30 finalists – each of them already National Champions in their home markets – battled through coffee skills tests and demonstrated their deep passion for coffee. Only one could take home the grand prize, and that prize was taken by Teddy Nzama from South Africa. As winner, Teddy […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/south-africa-scoops-the-title-of-2019-emea-barista-champion/

Out of the 15,000 partners (employees) that entered this year's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Barista Championship Final, 16 remain.

The barista named best, across Starbucks EMEA's 44 countries, will have their name engraved on the coveted trophy, a golden milk steaming pitcher, and will take home an extremely rare purple Starbucks apron - only presented to EMEA Barista Champions.

Ahead of finding out who will be crowned overall Barista Champion from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, we asked the final 16 what it takes to become a National Champion. In alphabetical order, their answers were as follows:

Could a Champion Barista be pulling your next shot at Starbucks? - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Could a Champion Barista be pulling your next shot at Starbucks?

Out of the 15,000 partners (employees) that entered this year&#8217;s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Barista Championship Final, 16 remain. The barista named best, across Starbucks EMEA&#8217;s 44 countries, will have their name engraved on the coveted trophy, a golden milk steaming pitcher, and will take home an extremely rare purple Starbucks apron &#8211; […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/could-a-champion-barista-be-pulling-your-next-shot-at-starbucks/

Today in London, the home to the Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, baristas from across the region are settling in ahead of the biggest multi-country championship the company has ever hosted. All with one goal, to be crowned best barista across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

The Starbucks Barista Championship were born in EMEA and 2019 sees the most countries competing, ever! It’s a record year for the most nationalities in one Starbucks Barista Championship - from Saudi Arabia, to Spain, Sweden and South Africa - these are just four out of the 30 nations competing.

Each barista is already a champion, having been crowned as National Champion of their home country. The search has taken nearly nine months and involved approximately 15,000 Starbucks baristas who entered this year’s competition. 

Over the next two days, each Barista Champion will share their knowledge of Starbucks ethically sourced coffee along with showcasing their coffee craft. The competition will be whittled down by &nbsp;almost 50% on Thursday before heading into Friday, when the final 16 will battle it out in the nail-biting latte art throw-down. The latte art throw-down was invented in Seattle, the birthplace of Starbucks, and sees competitors go head-to-head – only the best latte art, created with perfectly steamed milk, makes it through. 

The latte art throw-down will determine the final four, then a panel of experts will decide the overall champion and name 2019’s best barista from over 30,000 Starbucks partners (employees) in EMEA.

Starbucks EMEA Barista Championship 2019 in numbers:

Stay up-to-date with all the action by following <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emeacoffeeteam/">@EMEACoffeeTeam</a> on Instagram and, share you own content using the hashtag #StarbucksEMEA

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Starbucks brings together 30 countries to compete in this year's EMEA Barista Championship Finals - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks brings together 30 countries to compete in this year&#8217;s EMEA Barista Championship Finals

Today in London, the home to the Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, baristas from across the region are settling in ahead of the biggest multi-country championship the company has ever hosted. All with one goal, to be crowned best barista across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Starbucks Barista Championship were […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-brings-together-30-countries-to-compete-in-this-years-emea-barista-championship-finals/

Starbucks brings together 30 countries to compete in this year’s EMEA Barista Championship Finals

“Being here means love, family, new experiences and new goals.”

It’s been one year since Starbucks <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-celebrates-one-year-in-milan-plans-to-open-in-more-italian-cities/">arrived in Italy</a>, and ever since, partners (how the company refers to its baristas) at the Reserve Roastery Milano have been sharing their deep passion for and knowledge of coffee with customers from around the world. The partners at Roastery have been a part of Starbucks journey in Italy since the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2018/starbucks-meets-future-employees-in-italy/">very beginning</a> – from an intensive three-month coffee training and brand immersion, through last September’s <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2018/starbucks-comes-to-italy-an-opera-verismo-in-seven-acts/">grand opening</a> – and creating beautiful coffee beverages for customers ever since.

As the Roastery team celebrates its first anniversary in Milan, we caught up with some of our Italian partners, asking them, “What has the last year meant to you, being a part of Starbucks journey in Italy?”

Marco de Mitri, barista:

“I love the idea that I’m part of a something bigger. It’s important to me to be part of a team, be connected with [coffee] farmers. By studying coffee, I can feel a part of them. I feel like I am working for them - I’m very honoured to transform the coffee they grow into something special for customers. I have a goal in this company to grow and specialise in coffee.”

Christian Orsini, roaster operator:

“It’s meant being an ambassador for a different way to experience and drink coffee in a country that created the culture of espresso. It’s been a year of discovering again my country: I left it as a student and came back as a worker – a great change of perspective and a great opportunity. I’ve also observed changes: my peers becoming friends, my leaders taking new paths and my future opportunities getting broader.”

Federico De Palma, barista:

“Starbucks was everything for me, everything. Every time I had the possibility to travel outside Italy my “safe place” was always Starbucks. And I had the best feeling with all the baristas... it was a magic love story, a love story of 12 years, since my very first cup of coffee in a little Starbucks Store in Barcelona, and now I’m here, in the most beautiful Starbucks store: the Roastery. I decided to move from my hometown to be part of it, to make my dream come true; to give back what Starbucks gave me through all these years, make it true in my country. So Grazie Starbucks.”

Mirko Barzaghi, barista:

“You know you are going to something great, you go to work everyday, and you don’t know what the day will bring; it is unique. You don’t know who you will meet. To be a partner, our journey is to stimulate our lifeblood because it gives you emotion in what you do but what we feel is that we are living.”

“Being part of the future, we create something new. I am a part of something big. I’m proud to be part of something unique and opening up a new world of possibility for the new ways of working; it’s a new world of innovation.”

“This year has been: fresh air. After a long time waiting for Starbucks [to arrive in Italy], it is now reality: working with amazing people. I never thought it would be possible in Milan, and here we are; I never thought I would represent Starbucks in Italy.”

Rosana Gamboa, barista:

“Being here means love, family, new experiences and new goals. I have learned knowledge about coffee. Now I truly know that coffee is complex and the meaning of connection behind it.”

“We understood the impact and reputation of Starbucks in the world, and it’s been an adventure, every day to represent Starbucks in Italy. It’s an honour to be able to explain the Italian people what coffee can mean.”&nbsp;

Partners reflect on one year of coffee, connection and opportunity in Milan - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Partners reflect on one year of coffee, connection and opportunity in Milan

“Being here means love, family, new experiences and new goals.” It’s been one year since Starbucks arrived in Italy, and ever since, partners (how the company refers to its baristas) at the Reserve Roastery Milano have been sharing their deep passion for and knowledge of coffee with customers from around the world. The partners at […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/partners-reflect-on-one-year-in-milan/

Starbucks marks the second anniversary of its Community Café Programme, helping support over 2,300 people across the UK every week.

This August marked the second anniversary of the Starbucks Community Café Programme and Starbucks continued commitment to the communities close to its stores.

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Launched in 2017, in partnership with Neighbourly, the Community Café Programme supports 20 dedicated local community spaces up and down the UK, with product donations of café essentials such as coffee, tea, biscuits and syrups. Neighbourly connects each Community Café with a local Starbucks store team, the team then work directly with the not-for-profit to facilitate the product donation, helping sustain their integral community space.

To mark the date, we recently visited one of the first cafés to be supported by the scheme, the <a href="https://www.neighbourly.com/K9Project/information">K9 Community Café</a> in Ely. Led by Chris Kent and her dedicated team of volunteers, the K9 Café welcomes all members of the local community, from children to young people and families. Since 2008, the café has acted as a friendly and safe space to socialise as well as seek support for range of challenging situations.

The ‘K9’ element of the café emerged as some local residents enjoyed bringing their dogs to the café. Now, the dogs provide important support to those living with physical and mental learning difficulties and those suffering from social isolation. For many, coming to the café helps alleviate loneliness and their love of dogs helps to unite the visitors. 

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