Card 1 of 3
Beans, not drinks
The first Starbucks sold coffee beans to take home, rather than drinks. In 1971, three friends opened the shop at Pike Place Market in Seattle. Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker were its founders.
What You'll Discover
Beans, not drinks
The trip to Milan
Buying the company
Learn & Explore
A short read in three cards.
Card 2 of 3
The trip to Milan
Howard Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 and visited Milan, in Italy, in 1983. He saw espresso bars where people met over coffee and wanted Starbucks to offer something similar. The owners didn't want a café chain.
Card 3 of 3
Buying the company
In 1987, Howard Schultz bought Starbucks, which then had about six shops. He made it a café chain, selling drinks and offering somewhere to sit. A founder starts a company, but someone else can build it.
Key Takeaways
- Three friends founded Starbucks in 1971, selling coffee beans.
- Howard Schultz bought it in 1987 and made it a café chain.
- Investors watch who builds a company, not only who started it.