Founded in 1971 by three coffee aficionados—Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker—in Seattle, Starbucks has brewed up a storm of caffeinated culture ever since. Initially just a quaint coffee bean shop, it evolved under Howard Schultz into the global java juggernaut we know today, boasting a valuation north of $120 billion. Starbucks’ defining moments include its 1992 IPO and its ambitious foray into the “third place” concept between home and work. Its menu innovations like the “Pumpkin Spice Latte” have made headlines, though not without their fair share of controversies, such as the company’s anti-union stance and the occasional barista meltdown. Under CEO Laxman Narasimhan, Starbucks navigates global markets and coffee trends with the same meticulousness as a barista crafting your macchiato, all while grappling with both admiration and ire from coffee culture critics.
