Introduction
Starbucks started in 1971 as a single store in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. It offered fresh-roasted whole bean coffees in the store. There is a group of coffee lovers which shared a passion for quality coffee and exotic teas included English teacher Jerry Baldwin, history teacher Zev Siegel, and writer Gordon Bowker, they put investment and finally opened a store called “Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spice” in Seattle, WA. In 1981, Howard Schultz (Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer) noticed that a little company in Seattle, WA, was placing orders of a certain coffeemaker, in larger volumes than the big US store Macy’s; he decided to pay them a visit to see what was going on. Gordon Bowker, the magic, mystery, and romance man, must have shared his passion for quality coffee and tea with Howard Schultz at this time, because he got hooked right away.

This Starbucks store that Schultz visited was more than just a regular coffee shop; it had a soul, a passion and authenticity. People there were educated to quality coffee, and they in turn were educating their customers.

Right after trying cup of Sumatra (one type of coffee), Howard was drawn into Starbucks and the seeds of the Starbucks Corporation were planted there: deep knowledge of the product and service, trust and credibility. Schultz understood that something is needed by Starbucks which is creating an atmosphere and bonding with customers around a cup of coffee. In 1980's, Howard Schultz joins Starbucks in 1982. In 1990's, the demand for great coffee allows Starbucks to expand beyond Seattle, first to the rest of the United States, and then further afield.
Currently, Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 20,,891 stores in 63 countries, including 13,279 in the United States, 1324 in Canada, 989 in Japan, 851 in China, 806 in the United