Starbucks, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is one of the world’s largest coffee chains and is known for its high quality of coffee, cleanliness, and exceptional customer service. The chain’s popularity is primarily attributed to its distinctive coffees, but it also has a number of other products including bakery items and drinks.
The first Starbucks was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. The three founders wanted to sell fine coffee beans, which they roasted themselves, instead of the mass-market, low-quality brew that most American customers were used to.
They started out by selling coffee from Peet’s, a gourmet coffee company in Berkeley, California, but soon they began roasting their own. Their commitment to a high-quality product, their passion for it, and their determination to make Starbucks a successful business changed public perceptions of what a cup of coffee could be.
While some of the original stores sold only coffee beans, others offered a variety of drinks made with those beans. In the early 1980s, Howard Schultz joined Starbucks as director of retail operations and marketing, and he helped change the company’s focus to coffee drinks by the cup.
As a result of his ideas and enthusiasm, Starbucks quickly expanded to include espresso bars. This was a major shift for the company, but it was not without some challenges.
Some of the founders believed that Starbucks was better off focusing on selling its own beans rather than coffee drinks, but this was not how Schultz saw it. He argued that the best way to get people interested in Starbucks was by introducing them to a variety of coffees and educating them about their differences.
To achieve this, he launched a program called Starbuck’s Rewards that allows users to earn stars on their cards that can be redeemed for free coffee, food, and other products. These stars are added automatically to your account.
After achieving 25, you can redeem the stars for a free item, and after 50 you can earn a $10 coupon for your next visit. You can also earn free Starbucks coffee through their Happy Hour program.
The rewards program is free to join. It requires no minimum monthly spending and can be activated by clicking on the link provided in your card’s email.
While the program isn’t available for everyone, it can be worth it for a quick coffee fix and a chance to save money on your favorite beverage. It’s especially useful if you’re a loyal Starbucks customer.
For a limited time, you can sign up for the Starbucks Credit Card and receive a free drink through the end of 2022. The credit card also offers a discount on your purchase.
Unlike many other credit cards, the Starbucks card comes with an automatic bonus reward: after you make your first purchase of $20 or more in a calendar year, you’ll get another free drink through the following year.
