Part 3/13:
A Humble Beginning and a Visionary Turn
Founded in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, Starbucks originally sold roasted coffee beans, teas, and spices instead of brewed coffee. It quickly became a beloved local spot for coffee enthusiasts who preferred brewing their own at home. However, everything changed in 1982 when Howard Schultz joined as head of marketing. During a business trip to Milan, Italy, Schultz experienced a different kind of coffee culture—where coffee was more than a caffeine fix, it was a social ritual.