LONDON – 25 years ago, England’s famed capital city became home to the first Starbucks store in the United Kingdom – and the first in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Fast forward to today, and Starbucks now spans over 1,200 stores across the country, welcoming millions of customers every year.

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So it is only fitting that London serves as the location for the greatest gathering of the UK’s green apron partners (employees) for the first time ever. This week, over 1,500 store managers from across the UK came together for the inaugural Limitless Conference: A two-day event designed to inspire and capture a unifying vision for the future – embedding Starbucks new mission, while celebrating 25 years of connection over coffee.

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Here are a few of the highlights from the Starbucks UK Limitless 2023 Store Manager Conference, held in East London’s Tobacco Dock.

It’s only the beginning

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On Monday 2 October, the event officially kicked off with a welcome for over 1,500 store managers from company-operated and licensed stores across the UK – plus field managers, regional leaders, and the international senior leadership team.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Starbucks without a coffee tasting to kick off the day. Hosted by Ishan Natalie, Teddy Nzama,&nbsp;and Phuti Mmotla – a.k.a Starbucks South Africa’s Black Apron Coffee Masters Squad - this was a coffee tasting with a twist, featuring a soul-stirring performance by the Gospel Truth Choir. Ishan, Teddy and Phuti shared their mission to strengthen coffee knowledge and passion in their every day, inspiring us all and setting us up for the day ahead.

Led by partners, for partners

Partners heard from Lisa Robbins, vp of Partner Resources EMEA, and Sara Williams, director of PRO UK, who spoke about the importance of improving partner experience so that our partners can thrive – in stores, as individuals and together. Core to this is ensuring that Starbucks is a place where all are welcome, our partners feel a sense of belonging, and they can show up as their authentic self.

At Starbucks, coffee is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring our craft and driving beverage innovation every day. But has this ever been illustrated through the art of ballet?! Partners were blown away by an interactive dance session which brought this to life for our partners by dancers John Michael Schert and Brett Perry.

Celebrating the power of coffee

Day 2 kicked off with a coffee tasting led by master roaster Oscar Manuel Quintana Hernandez, setting the tone for the day, connecting partners, and celebrating the power of coffee.

Michelle Chin, vp marketing, product, digital &amp; sustainability EMEA and Sarah Harris, director marketing, product &amp; digital UK continued with this theme, looking at how we navigate a competitive coffee market, build momentum and trust in the brand; while recognising the importance of Gen Z’s passions – as our future customers and partners. &nbsp;

Giving back more than we take

Jacqui Wetherly, sustainability director UK, then encouraged us to ‘think big and think bigger’ and talked partners through ways we can contribute positively to the communities we serve, and work towards our ambitious sustainability goal of giving back more than we take by 2050. These include initiatives such as opening more greener stores, as well as starting new initiatives with our suppliers and ensuring sustainable futures for our dairy farmers.

The event concluded on Tuesday evening with an inspirational closing led by Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Starbucks. Laxman talked about his big ambitions for the UK business in elevating the brand to reinforce our core experience, and ensuring our stores reflect our core values. He reiterated our need to strengthen and scale our digital offering and digital customer experience, unlock efficiencies, foster our partner culture around human connection, and to think of our business with a truly global mindset.

He closed by noting the importance of courage from our partners, the importance of belonging, in providing warm and welcoming stores, and finally the importance of joy. He wisely reminded us all to feel joy in our day-to-day work and reflect on our limitless opportunities.

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Here’s 25 years of Starbucks in the UK by numbers:

Over 3,000,000,000 drinks served to customers.

More than 2,000,000,000 customers served.

Over 16,000 green apron partners.

Oldham, Greater Manchester becomes the 20,000th Starbucks store to open outside of North America.

Over 1200 stores across the UK and counting!

Celebrating 10 years of Starbucks UK Apprentice Programme and Barista Championships.

Over 1500 Starbucks partners gather in London for a truly Limitless Experience - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Stories EMEA

Over 1500 Starbucks partners gather in London for a truly Limitless Experience

LONDON – 25 years ago, England’s famed capital city became home to the first Starbucks store in the United Kingdom – and the first in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Fast forward to today, and Starbucks now spans over 1,200 stores across the country, welcoming millions of customers every year. So it […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/over-1500-starbucks-partners-gather-in-london-for-limitless-experience/

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Starbucks entered the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region 25 years ago, opening our first store in the UK in 1998 on Kings Road, London.

Our first market in EMEA, and still our largest, Starbucks now welcomes millions of customers every year at more than 1,100 stores across the UK.

From introducing flavours like our iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), to establishing new coffee craft experiences such as <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/coffee-meets-olive-oil-the-story-behind-starbucks-new-coffee-ritual-starbucks-oleato-coffee-beverages/">Starbucks Oleato™</a> - we’re proud of what has been accomplished over the last quarter century. We were even the first major coffeehouse to introduce Cold Brew to the UK high street in 2015, which has since become a staple nationwide.

Now, to celebrate our 25th anniversary we’ve launched a Cold Brew with an exclusive new taste – one that combines two quintessentially British flavours to create a celebratory coffee moment that comes together with a unique twist. The Starbucks®&nbsp;Clotted Cream Fudge Cold Brew is a sensational sip of classic British flavours of fudge and clotted cream, both produced in the UK and paired with Starbucks smooth Cold Brew to bring to life our popular iced offering exclusively for British coffee lovers.

In addition to bold product innovation and industry-leading coffee craft, 25 years of Starbucks presence across Europe Middle East and Africa has also been defined by growth and expansion. Today, we celebrate a significant milestone on our journey as we open our 20,000th store outside of North America in Oldham, Manchester, in the UK.

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This mixed-format store features the convenience of a Drive Thru, alongside relaxed sit and stay seating and is certified as a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/starbucks-certifies-first-greener-stores-in-the-uk/">Greener Store</a>, repurposed from a former retail outlet and reflects our commitment to developing new store formats that meet our customers’ needs where they are.

Alex Rayner, General Manager at Starbucks UK, said: “As we celebrate 25 years of contributions and leadership within UK coffee culture, we are proud to build on our coffee craft legacy by welcoming a new, permanent beverage to our menus, and to continue realising our ambitious plans for growth.”

“We’ve seen huge revenue growth in both the UK and EMEA – in part down to new stores in the region, but also by innovating at pace to meet our customers where they're at – investing in digital&nbsp;channels, new store formats, and expanding the Third Place as our customers’ expectations and habits evolve.

“It’s been an incredible 25 years, and it couldn’t have been achieved without our incredible partners. I’m looking forward to the next 25.”

Starbucks has also taken action to secure the future of coffee, including introducing the pioneering <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-sourcing-coffee/">C.A.F.E. Practices</a>, one of the coffee industry's first set of ethical sourcing standards to ensure fairness across our supply chains, establishing <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/starbucks-farmer-support-centers-free-education-and-resources/">Farmer Support Centres</a> around the world, and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2021/starbucks-to-work-directly-with-farmers-to-help-reduce-emissions/">piloting new sustainable dairy&nbsp;sourcing</a> techniques as part of an industry-leading programme, as we commit to giving back more than we take from the planet.

Starbucks celebrates 25 years of coffee in the UK and in the Europe Middle East and Africa region - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks celebrates 25 years of coffee in the UK and in the Europe Middle East and Africa region

Starbucks entered the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region 25 years ago, opening our first store in the UK in 1998 on Kings Road, London. Our first market in EMEA, and still our largest, Starbucks now welcomes millions of customers every year at more than 1,100 stores across the UK. From introducing flavours like […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/25-years-of-coffee-in-the-uk-and-emea/

Jeddah Park Reserve store is first Starbucks Reserve store in the Western Province of KSA

Starbucks has reached a new milestone with the opening of its 400th store in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This new store in Jeddah increases Starbucks presence within a flourishing local coffee culture.

Ever since its debut in the Kingdom in 2000, Starbucks has been committed to serving and connecting with the local communities in Saudi. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the company has been investing heavily in its partners (employees) and in new stores, including the Starbucks Reserve store opening in Jeddah on 4 May 2023. In January this year, the Saudi Ministry of Culture also recognised Starbucks as a key contributor to the success of the 2022 Year of Saudi Coffee. 

Nationalisation, empowerment and increased diversity of women in the workplace are at the heart of Starbucks regional recruitment plan. Through an active recruitment agenda, over half of Starbucks workforce is local talent and female, including its first <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/best-stores-to-visit-in-emea/#:~:text=Coast%20Road%2C%20Kingdom%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia">all-female run Drive-Thru</a> in Saudi which opened in June 2022. This is an ongoing effort, working with the Saudi government to support the broader nationalisation agenda.

Andy Holmes, president, Starbucks Alshaya Group said: “We are proud to mark the opening of 400 Starbucks stores in the Kingdom, which would not have been possible without the hard work of our partners (employees) and the support of the local communities we proudly serve. Reaching this milestone is a testament to our unmatched coffee expertise, commitment to bringing bold new beverage innovations to Arab coffee lovers and evolving our dynamic store concepts to meet our customers’ needs where they are. We have big ambitions to continue our accelerated growth in the Middle East, and this will be driven primarily through our ongoing investment in the recruitment, development and empowerment of young national talent.”

Starbucks is committed to creating unique and inviting spaces for customers to connect and enjoy their favourite beverages and food through distinctive store design, featuring brighter colours, dynamic material palettes, modern artwork, and harmonious lighting. The store aesthetic is constantly evolving throughout the region, leading the way in store design and innovative new store concepts. 

The 400th store opening milestone was celebrated at an event in Starbucks Jeddah Park Reserve store on Monday 10 July. This is the first Starbucks Reserve store to open in Jeddah and the Western Province, joining an exclusive number of Reserve stores in the Kingdom, such as the iconic Riyadh Boulevard Starbucks. Reserve offers coffee connoisseurs a bespoke coffee craft experience, with baristas displaying their coffee craft and expertise through an array of coffee brewing methods, infusing coffee into surprising beverage creations with rare and extraordinary coffee beans.

Starbucks mission captures its commitment to local communities: with every cup, with every conversation, with every community – we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection. 

The Jeddah Park store will exclusively have our newest, most innovative beverage – <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/starbucks-oleato-arrives-in-the-middle-east/">Oleato</a> ™. Launched in May in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait, this alchemy of Partanna ™ extra virgin olive oil and arabica coffee is sure to delight customers in Jeddah with its lush velvety texture.

Starbucks Celebrates Opening 400 Stores in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Celebrates Opening 400 Stores in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

Jeddah Park Reserve store is first Starbucks Reserve store in the Western Province of KSA Starbucks has reached a new milestone with the opening of its 400th store in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This new store in Jeddah increases Starbucks presence within a flourishing local coffee culture. Ever since its debut in the Kingdom in 2000, […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/400-stores-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia/

Eighty Starbucks partners (employees) from Europe, the Middle East and Africa visited Rwanda in May, as part of the 2023 Origin Experience. The goal? To immerse in the story of coffee on the farms where it’s grown.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Similar Origin Experiences occurred earlier this year in Costa Rica, for North American partners, and Indonesia, for those in Asia Pacific. In total, 929 partners company-wide participated in Origin Experience in 2023. Since the program started in 2010, 3,344 partners have visited Origin.

The partners in Rwanda represented a variety of roles and perspectives within the company, from baristas to manufacturing to operations leaders, in both company-owned and licensed markets. They met farmers, agronomists, exporters and buyers; planted coffee seedlings and harvested coffee cherries; and saw how coffee is grown and processed.

See what they experienced, through this photo essay, and hear from partners about what they’re taking away.

The lessons begin at Dukundakawa, a farming cooperative where partners learn about the different stages of the coffee plant: how a seed sprouts into a “little soldier” and then a “butterfly” before it’s planted in the ground to become a tree that will bear fruit in 2-3 years.

They harvest cherries from trees that Origin Experience partners planted in 2019.

Later that day, at Abakundakawa, a different cooperative,&nbsp;they see how the coffee is washed, processed and graded in the traditional manner – pushed by paddles along narrow canals – and dried on long, raised beds that stripe the lush green hillsides of Rwanda, a country nicknamed “the land of a thousand hills.” The coffee grown in Rwanda will eventually be used in Starbucks blends worldwide – Siren’s Blend, Green Apron Blend and Cold Brew Blend – as well as in high-end Starbucks Reserve selections like Rwanda Sholi and Rwanda Hingakawa.&nbsp;

Smallholder, subsistence farmers in Rwanda don’t have enough money for all the fertilizer they need, and often, the only way to get it is by having a cow. Cows make manure, which provides the raw material for compost, which helps coffee farmers improve their production. In the village of Musasa, Origin participants meet Faustin, a farmer who Starbucks gifted with a cow 10 years ago. Since then, he’s increased his yield – from 1.5 kilograms of coffee per tree to 4 kilograms per tree – and he’s used the extra income to pay for his children’s schooling, make improvements to his house and reinvest in his farm. 

In communities like Faustin’s, tradition means gifting the first-born female calf to a neighbor in a public ceremony, and partners witness one such heartfelt exchange between families. “If I give you a cow, by default, you’re my friend forever,” says Arsene Mustafali Bin Uwihoreye, an agronomist at the Rwanda Starbucks Farmer Support Center who works with farmers in Musasa to improve yields. “It unites people.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The next morning, partners visit RWACOF, the largest exporter of coffee in Rwanda and Starbucks biggest coffee supplier in the country. After the coffee is processed on the farms and the cooperatives, it’s brought here by truck to the RWACOF dry mill and warehouse to be hulled and sorted – both by hand and a buzzing assembly line of machines. The quality is re-inspected in a lab, where test batches are roasted and screened for taste and issues like Potato Taste Defect. Then it’s all bagged for delivery on container ships.

Partners also visit the Starbucks Rwanda Farmer Support Center to learn how the team helps coffee producers throughout east Africa grow and deliver the best product. 

And finally, they meet with representatives from Rwanda’s <a href="https://naeb.gov.rw/index.php?id=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Agricultural Export Development Board</a> for a formal presentation about the coffee industry.

Throughout the experience, Origin participants learn about how the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/productions/hingakawa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coffee industry helped Rwanda recover</a> from a violent past. They spend one afternoon in contemplation at the Rwanda Genocide Memorial in Kigali, the capital city, that commemorates the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda when Hutu extremists killed an estimated 1 million people. The memorial sits atop mass graves where an estimated 250,000 people are buried. Many participants come out shaken. Later, they hear the testimonies of the Women of Ineza, the victims of sexual violence during the genocide, who formed a support group and sewing cooperative. For all the sad moments, there are uplifting ones as well. Each cooperative greets Origin participants with welcome dances and singing. One night, a dance troop delights the participants back at the hotel with a beautiful celebratory performance.

On the final day, Origin participants visit a small village in the Musenyi sector for a community service project with The Starbucks Foundation and one of the nonprofits it supports, <a href="https://rippleeffect.org/us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ripple Effect</a>. The day’s work options – building a cow shed, planting vegetable gardens, plastering the exterior walls of houses, building bricks or constructing rainwater tanks – will help five women in this coffee-growing community, including four widows. The atmosphere is festive. Pop music blares from speakers on a big central field. Dozens of people from the community join the muddy, sweaty work. And afterwards, everyone dances in a big circle. Laurent Munyankusi, country director for Ripple Effect, tells the Starbucks participants, “For you to come here to Rwanda, it’s a big blessing. The only way to address the problems of this world is through partnership.”

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Follow the journey of three Starbucks&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/barista-championships-2022-milan-winner/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMEA Barista Champions</a>, as they experience Origin for the very first&nbsp;time.

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Starbucks partners (employees) from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa traveled to Rwanda in May to immerse in the story of coffee, on the farms where it's grown.

Rwanda Origin Experience 2023

https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/rwanda-origin-experience-2023/

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Starbucks customers in the Middle East will be able to experience the new Starbucks Oleato™ beverages on Friday May 26 at select stores in Riyadh, followed by Dubai on Saturday May 27, and Kuwait on Sunday May 28.

Starbucks Oleato™ is a new, unexpected coffee ritual, bringing together Starbucks® arabica coffee, deliciously infused with premium extra virgin olive oil. The result is a velvety smooth, deliciously lush coffee that uplifts each cup with an extraordinary new flavour and texture.

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Following the launch in Italy, Japan, and select stores in Chicago, Seattle and New York (US), London (UK) and Paris (France) over the past months, two brand new beverages: Oleato Golden Foam™ Cold Brew and Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso, now arrive in the Middle East. Customers can experience the innovative beverages at selected Starbucks stores across the region.

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Starbucks Oleato™ arrives in the Middle East: Customers in Riyadh, Dubai and Kuwait are the first to enjoy a revolutionary new coffee ritual - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Oleato™ arrives in the Middle East: Customers in Riyadh, Dubai and Kuwait are the first to enjoy a revolutionary new coffee ritual

Starbucks customers in the Middle East will be able to experience the new Starbucks Oleato™ beverages on Friday May 26 at select stores in Riyadh, followed by Dubai on Saturday May 27, and Kuwait on Sunday May 28. Starbucks Oleato™ is a new, unexpected coffee ritual, bringing together Starbucks® arabica coffee, deliciously infused with premium […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/starbucks-oleato-arrives-in-the-middle-east/

The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/the-starbucks-foundation-launches-global-community-impact-grants-initiative/">announced</a> a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world.

In the second year of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/supporting-youth-empowerment-hunger-relief-and-refugees-in-emea/">Global Community Impact Grants</a> program, The Starbucks Foundation awarded grants to 65 nonprofits, all of which were nominated by Starbucks international licensees and will reach communities in more than 35 markets. Between grants and co-investment from international licensees, over $2.5 million has been awarded in 2023 to date for causes aligned to The Starbucks Foundation’s community impact goals, including youth workforce development, inclusion &amp; diversity, social services, hunger relief, economic opportunity, and coffee-, tea- and cocoa growing communities.

In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, The Foundation awarded 22 grants across 12 markets for causes ranging from social services to youth workforce development to inclusion &amp; diversity. Grants were awarded in Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, North Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/global-community-impact-grants/">Learn more</a> about the programme and organisations we are supporting in EMEA and across the globe.

Supporting Social Services, Youth Workforce Development, and Inclusion &amp; Diversity in Europe, Middle East and Africa - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Supporting Social Services, Youth Workforce Development, and Inclusion &amp; Diversity in Europe, Middle East and Africa

The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation announced a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world. In the second year of the […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/global-community-impact-grants-emea/

Supporting Social Services, Youth Workforce Development, and Inclusion & Diversity in Europe, Middle East and Africa

A Starbucks store is certified as a "Greener Store" when it successfully meets 25 required standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impacts areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. The standards were developed in partnership with the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Wildlife Fund</a> and SCS Global Services.

Starbucks has certified its first five Greener Stores in the UK and they are located at Battersea Power Station, Birmingham Selly Oak, Dartford Prospect Place, Beckton Gallions Reach, and Cardiff Capital Shopping Park. 

Starbucks is committed to certifying 100 Greener Stores in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the end of 2023. These Greener Stores will help reduce Starbucks environmental impact through a performance-based standard that incorporates design and extend throughout the life of a store. 

As of April 2023, Starbucks has certified more than 3,500 Greener Stores globally bringing the company closer to its goal of designing, building, and operating <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-announces-global-greener-stores-commitment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10,000 Greener Stores</a> globally by 2025.

Starbucks certifies first Greener Stores in the UK - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks certifies first Greener Stores in the UK

A Starbucks store is certified as a &#8220;Greener Store&#8221; when it successfully meets 25 required standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impacts areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. The standards were developed in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and SCS Global Services. Starbucks has certified its […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/starbucks-certifies-first-greener-stores-in-the-uk/

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Italy has always been a special place for Starbucks. It was four decades ago that Howard Schultz first walked the cobblestone streets of Milan, Italy and <a href="https://archive.starbucks.com/record/inspiration-in-italy">experienced the romance of its espresso bars</a>. That visit spurred him to bring the Italian coffeehouse experience to Starbucks and to America, which would grow from just 11 stores to more than 36,000, serving millions of handcrafted beverages each day around the world.

Now Schultz and Starbucks have found inspiration in Italy again, this time in the sun-kissed olive groves of Sicily with the introduction of a new line of beverages, Oleato, Starbucks coffee infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil. The new beverages are making their debut tomorrow (Feb. 22) at the <a href="https://www.starbucksreserve.com/en-us/locations/milano">Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan</a> and in Starbucks stores in Italy, followed by Southern California in the United States this spring.&nbsp; Later this year select markets in Japan, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom will launch the beverages. The five Oleato beverages served at the Milan Roastery are Oleato™ Caffè Latte, Oleato™ Iced Cortado, Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew, Oleato™ Deconstructed and Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Espresso Martini. Starbucks stores in Italy will offer Oleato™ Caffè Latte, Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso and Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew.

Schultz, currently in Milan for the launch of Oleato, noted how his journey with Starbucks has come full circle with the two milestone moments, one toward the beginning of his career at Starbucks and the other as he is about to step down next month after serving for the last 10 months as Starbucks interim chief executive officer. &nbsp;

“In 1983, I took my first trip to Italy and discovered the extraordinary relationship that the Italian people have with the Italian coffee bar, and specifically espresso. I raced back to the United States with a vision and a passion to bring that to Starbucks,” Schultz said.

Last year, Schultz was traveling in Sicily when he discovered something equally dynamic and interesting. After being introduced to the Mediterranean custom of taking a spoonful of olive oil each day, he soon began enjoying a spoonful of Partanna extra virgin olive oil as part of his daily ritual in addition to his morning coffee, and soon he had the idea of trying the two together. What he discovered was a delicious and unexpected alchemy of Starbucks coffee beverages infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

“I was absolutely stunned at the unique flavor and texture created when the Partanna extra virgin olive oil was infused into Starbucks coffee,” Schultz said. “In both hot and cold coffee beverages, what it produced was an unexpected, velvety, buttery flavor that enhanced the coffee and lingers beautifully on the palate.”

Making beverage history

Excited by the potential, Schultz brought the discovery back to Seattle and the Starbucks beverage development team. From there, Amy Dilger, principal Starbucks beverage developer, took on the task of creating beverages for Starbucks customers. Dilger was uniquely qualified for the challenge, having spent a decade in Europe as a patisserie chef and then more than 20 years on the Starbucks food and beverage team, creating customer favorites like <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2014/starbucks-chestnut-praline-latte/">Chestnut Praline Latte</a> and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/starbucks-roastery-inspired-beverages/">Smoked Butterscotch Latte</a>.

Her first step was learning about olives and their deep connection to Italian culture. Of the hundreds of varieties, Partanna’s blend of extra virgin olive oil created for Starbucks includes one of the most coveted – Nocellara del Belice olives (also called Castelvetrano), which are known for their vibrant and buttery flavor. Dilger spoke with the family farmers behind Partanna extra virgin olive oil, who have nurtured these ancient olive trees in their rich Sicilian soil for four generations. She learned how the olives are picked and cold-pressed within hours to preserve their extraordinary flavor.

“As I learned about Partanna extra virgin olive oil, I kept seeing things that reminded me of Starbucks coffee, specifically how the terroir, the origin, and the varietals contribute to the unique flavor and texture,” Dilger said. Although she had never tried combining extra virgin olive oil and coffee before, she thought of other dishes that highlight olive oil, like Greek yogurt with a drizzle of olive oil, olive oil and sea salt ice cream – and of course, olive oil cake.

“One thing that’s special about the Castelvetrano olives is that they are sweet and really buttery,” Dilger said. “I think of all the buttery caramels that we mix with our coffee. That buttery smooth richness combines so well with our coffee.”

‘A luxurious, textural experience’

Next, she started experimenting in her beverage development kitchen, infusing the Partanna extra virgin olive oil with some of her favorite coffee beverages to create an experience that was revelatory and entirely new.

“The infusion is really important. When you infuse Partanna extra virgin olive oil by steaming or shaking it with oatmilk, it creates this luxurious, textural experience that’s similar to whole milk,” said Dilger. To find the coffee that would pair perfectly with the extra virgin olive oil, she experimented with a variety of Starbucks high-quality arabica blends and chose not one, but two Starbucks espressos. For the lineup in Starbucks stores, Dilger found the Partanna extra virgin olive oil infusions paired beautifully with Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, which has smooth well-rounded flavors that are delicious both hot and iced. For the Starbucks Reserve Roastery beverages, she used Starbucks Reserve Espresso, and added an iced cortado beverage with a hint of orange. And for the name, the team settled on Oleato, a play on the Latin word for “olive” and Italian word meaning “with oil.”

Fittingly, customers in Italy will be the first to try to the new Oleato beverages starting tomorrow at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan and in Starbucks Italy stores.

Schultz said, “Now, there's going to be people who say, ‘Olive oil in coffee? But the proof is in the cup. In over 40 years, I can't remember a moment in time where I've been more excited, more enthused that demonstrates the pride, the quality, the passion, the heritage and the craft of what Starbucks can do.”

Starbucks stores in Italy will offer three Oleato beverages:

Starbucks Oleato™ Caffè Latte

The Starbucks Oleato™ Caffé Latte is simple and elegant, made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast and Partanna extra virgin olive oil steamed with creamy oat dairy alternative to create the most luscious of lattes.

Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso

Sicily’s farmer’s markets are filled with an abundance of locally grown almonds, pistachios, walnuts and chestnuts – this was the inspiration for the nut flavor in the Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso. The beverage features layers of subtly sweet Starbucks Blonde Roast Espresso, hazelnut syrup and creamy oat dairy alternative shaken with Partanna extra virgin olive oil and ice.

Starbucks Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew

The Starbucks Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew is capped with a layer of Golden Foam, a silky infusion of Partanna extra virgin olive oil with vanilla sweet cream foam, which slowly cascades through the beverage to create a smooth, yet rich, texture.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan will serve its own portfolio of Starbucks Oleato beverages, made with exquisite Starbucks Reserve® coffee:&nbsp;

Starbucks Oleato™ Caffè Latte: Starbucks Reserve Espresso and creamy oat dairy alternative infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil create a velvety, luscious latte.

Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Cortado: Starbucks Reserve Espresso, demerara syrup, and a dash of orange bitters and oat dairy alternative is infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil. It is then served over <a>ice</a> and finished with an orange peel.

Starbucks Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew: Starbucks Reserve Cold Brew is lightly sweetened with vanilla syrup and finished with Partanna extra virgin olive oil infused cold foam, creating an inviting aroma and subtle sweetness.

Starbucks Oleato™ Deconstructed: An ode to the Italian tradition of combining olive oil with a squeeze of lemon. This beverage pairs Starbucks Reserve Espresso and Partanna extra virgin&nbsp;olive oil infused with a luxurious passionfruit cold foam.

Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Espresso Martini: Starbucks Reserve Espresso, vodka and vanilla bean syrup topped with golden foam – a fusion of fior di latte (sweet cream) and Partanna extra virgin olive oil. &nbsp;

Introducing Oleato™, the story behind a new line of Starbucks® coffee beverages infused with Partanna® extra virgin olive oil making their debut at the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Milan and Starbucks Italy stores.

Coffee meets olive oil: The story behind Starbucks new coffee ritual—Starbucks Oleato coffee beverages 

Coffee meets olive oil: The story behind Starbucks new coffee ritual – Starbucks Oleato coffee beverages 

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/coffee-meets-olive-oil-the-story-behind-starbucks-new-coffee-ritual-starbucks-oleato-coffee-beverages/

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Starbucks proudly offers an extensive apprenticeship program from intermediate to degree level (L2-L6), meaning partners (employees) can progress from a Barista to a Bachelor in areas such as HR, tech, marketing, and finance.

This year, Starbucks celebrated our 10-year apprenticeship anniversary, which has so far provided fee-free education, up-skilling, and clear career pathways to over 1800 UK partners, with 20% of apprenticeships going on to receive in-work promotions.

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2023, we're proud to introduce you to three of our Starbucks UK partners who have taken up an apprenticeship this year. Meet Tam, Aylin, and Johanna, who give us an insight into their life at the Starbucks UK Support Centre (head office).

For more information about our apprenticeship programs, please visit: <a href="https://www.starbucksemeacareers.com/en/Apprenticeships" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.starbucksemeacareers.com/en/Apprenticeships</a>

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Starbucks UK - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Starbucks UK

Starbucks proudly offers an extensive apprenticeship program from intermediate to degree level (L2-L6), meaning partners (employees) can progress from a Barista to a Bachelor in areas such as HR, tech, marketing, and finance. This year, Starbucks celebrated our 10-year apprenticeship anniversary, which has so far provided fee-free education, up-skilling, and clear career pathways to over […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/celebrating-national-apprenticeship-week-with-starbucks-uk/

On Wednesday 7 December, Starbucks will be offering free Tall beverages to all NHS staff in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to say an early festive thank you for the third consecutive year.

NHS staff can order any handcrafted Tall beverage of their choice from Starbucks stores across the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) when they show their work identity care in store. This one-day offer is part of an ongoing partnership between Starbucks UK and NHS Charities Together, which sees each Starbucks store across Great Britain paired with one of over 230 local NHS charities, to help support staff, patients and communities across the UK.

Alex Rayner, General Manager at Starbucks UK, said, “We hope this small gesture gives all NHS workers the opportunity to take a moment to enjoy this festive period and demonstrates our huge appreciation of the NHS for all that they do, all year round. There is more to come from our partnership with NHS Charities Together to help us give back to the local communities we serve, including NHS staff, with exciting new projects coming soon that we are incredibly proud of.”

This holiday season, Starbucks introduced its largest range of <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/create-your-own-magical-moments-with-starbucks-emea-holiday-merchandise/">reusable merchandise collection</a>, giving customers more options for receiving their drinks in reusable cups and offering a 25p discount the next time they bring their cup into the store. NHS staff are also encouraged to make the switch by using a reusable cup to drink their free Tall beverage.

Starbucks UK offers NHS workers an early festive thank you this holiday season with a free Tall beverage - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks UK offers NHS workers an early festive thank you this holiday season with a free Tall beverage

On Wednesday 7 December, Starbucks will be offering free Tall beverages to all NHS staff in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to say an early festive thank you for the third consecutive year. NHS staff can order any handcrafted Tall beverage of their choice from Starbucks stores across the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/starbucks-uk-offers-nhs-workers-an-early-festive-thank-you/

As the warm midday heat envelops the roastery&nbsp;on a particularly sunny October day in Milan - Ottobrata, as the Italians call it - Milanese locals and Starbucks partners&nbsp;alike gathered in the city's iconic Roastery for the EMEA Barista Championship Final 2022.

The city that inspired Starbucks, ten finalists from stores all across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have spent the past two days competing in complex coffee challenges to be crowned this year's winner, and just moments ago, Phuti Mmotla was announced the 2022 champion.

After whittling down the national champions to a final three, Phuti beat out Fiona from UAE and Veronika from Italy for the top spot, surrounded by runners-up Richard McKeever from Ireland, Julius Gradavsky from Austria, Fraser Gold from the UK, Alexandre Fleurentin from France, Victor Nascimento from Spain, Niko Krhkanko from Germany, and Vendy Panchartkova from the Czech Republic.

The best barista in 42 markets, Phuti and his fellow finalists were put through their paces to test their knowledge and ability of all things coffee.

First, a coffee tasting and presentation, taking the judges through their favourite coffee, its tasting notes, origin, and what it means to them.

Next, a latte art throwdown, as each finalist went head to head steaming milk and presenting their own personal milk patterns, which saw Veronika from Italy master the seahorse, and Fiona from the UAE opt for a tulip to show off her trademark design.

Finally, onto the signature beverage round, where each contestant developed their very own, coffee-first Starbucks beverage. Fraser from the UK presented an Autumnal apple and cinnamon Frappuccino, Niko from Germany designed an intriguing mix of fruit and coffee with a perfectly paired Peach Sunset Cold Brew that offered just the right amount of sweetness, while Veronika from Italy introduced a fresh Citrus Cold Brew with lime for a pop of sourness, inspired by the Italian aperitivo.

A dairy-free, iced-forward take on Starbucks popular Cappuccino, Richard developed a beautifully textured Espresso Foam Cold Brew, turning the coffee into a light, airy but flavourful foam, topped on a base of slightly sweet soy milk.

A drink inspired by her Philippines heritage, current home in the UAE and with an Italian twist, Fiona created a cool, but spicy macchiato-based drink. Alex from France used coconut milk, strawberry acai, chai tea and a shot of espresso to create his Sun-Chai, while Victor from Spain made a white mocha-cased strawberry cream coffee using Blonde Roast, combining his favourite roast with his favourite Spanish dessert - fresas con crema.

Vendy's summer lemon cold brew creation was the perfect antidote to the current Ottobrata Romana, Julius from Austria based his own creation on traditional local cuisine, with a luxurious Viennese Iced Coffee, while champion Phuti chose a coconut biscuit cold brew, based on one of his favourite childhood memories.

After each finalist had presented their drinks, it was time for the judges to deliberate, and nominate their top three for 2022: Phuti from South Africa, Fiona from UAE, and Veronika from Italy. Minutes later, Duncan Moir opened the golden envelope to announce Starbucks EMEA's 2022 Barista Champion... South Africa's Phuti Mmotla.

And what better way to celebrate, than with the winning prize - a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Rwanda on Starbucks Origin Experience. Visiting the coffee farms, meeting our producers, learning about sustainability, and discovering how the beans are processed, bringing together those who grow coffee and those who sell, serve it

South Africa sweeps the 2022 Barista Championship title, as Phuti Mmotla takes the trophy - Starbucks Stories EMEA

South Africa sweeps the 2022 Barista Championship title, as Phuti Mmotla takes the trophy

As the warm midday heat envelops the roastery&nbsp;on a particularly sunny October day in Milan &#8211; Ottobrata, as the Italians call it &#8211; Milanese locals and Starbucks partners&nbsp;alike gathered in the city&#8217;s iconic Roastery for the EMEA Barista Championship Final 2022. The city that inspired Starbucks, ten finalists from stores all across Europe, the Middle […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/barista-championships-2022-milan-winner/

Over the past 51 years, Starbucks has been dedicated to coffee leadership and innovation – celebrating great coffee and the human connection that comes with it.

Each year, partners from over 4,000 stores across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) epitomise the Starbucks Experience at the annual EMEA Barista Championships.

Seeking to identify the leading barista talent, partners compete against each other in a months-long span of extensive coffee challenges to be crowned the 2022 Barista Champion. And where better to do so than at the heart of Starbucks coffee journey – the Starbucks® Reserve Roastery in Milan, the city that inspired the iconic Starbucks Experience and Starbucks first store in Italy.

Here, coffee heritage and innovation take centre stage against a backdrop of stunning design and immersive discovery, serving as a place where Italian customers can come to discover the art and science of coffee in a breath-taking environment that is both an homage to the city of Milan and a celebration of everything Starbucks has learned about coffee in its 51-year history.

Before heading to the Roastery for the first day of the finals, the champions took a quick city tour, stopping by the famous torino mosiac for a spin of good luck – legend has it that if you twist around on the spot of the dancing bull mosiac three times, it will bring you good fortune!

Next stop was none other than the Camparino Bar – a historic, authentically Milanese haunt, dripping in belle époque detail and complete with a carved wooden bar – where Howard Schultz had a coffee on the terrace during his first trip to Milan in 1983, and in that moment, had the idea of ​​opening his own coffee bars offering the very same quality and friendliness he had experienced in Italy.

Here, our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/starbucks-names-its-top-baristas-who-are-heading-to-milan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ten finalists</a> showed the bar's team their impressive coffee craft skills on the espresso machine, before trying their hand at making a classic Campari spritz.

And then it was on to the Roastery itself, a 25,000 square-foot space which offers customers unprecedented visibility to all aspects of the craft and science of Starbucks coffee, as well as acting as a complete innovation centre for developing the coffee beverages of tomorrow.

Each of the finalists names were up in lights, Roastery-style, on the store's stock exchange-inspired clacker board, designed as a reference to the building's previous function when it was used by the Italian Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana.

The inspiration for the Roastery’s design focuses on the intersection of this heritage and innovation, presenting a fully transparent, 360-degree look into the roasting and manufacturing process, where guests can walk around the entirety of the equipment, from the roaster to the cooling tray, de-gassing chamber and packing line, before seeing the finished beans packaged up for distribution all across Europe.

Expanding Starbucks Third Place even further out of the physical space and into the digital world is an floor-to-ceiling bronze crafted wall, that customers can scan for an interactive, augmented reality experience. Visually representing Starbucks history and its coffee, the wall itself was engraved in brass by local craftsmen, and emphasises the community connection that Starbucks has always created.

For two days, the ten finalists from Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Ireland, South Africa, Austria, Germany, UAE and the UK have been battling it out in the Roastery in a series of different competition rounds. And the wait is almost over...

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