Comments on: But my barista told me…

By: Shane Franklin

Shane Franklin — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:53:32 +0000

I am a Starbucks partner and absolutely support making a french press for anyone who wants a special coffee. Right now, cafe’ Estima and (if I remember right) our Pike Place is fair trade. (I’ll get back with you on that).
So ask away. They should give you a grande coffee for a grande price even if it is pressed!!

By: Siel

Siel — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 03:46:23 +0000

Hey David — It seems we agree on much more than we disagree on. Clearly, we both think that fair trade is better than CAFE practices!

It seems that what you most dislike is what you see as my assertion that many Starbucks baristas are taught the Starbucks line (CAFE rocks while fair trade does not) — and buy it wholesale. However, it also seems that you agree that many baristas DO buy Starbucks’ line totally. It’s certainly what I’ve run into in my experience.

I guess I’m a little confused as to what you’re saying. I wrote that I talked to a lot of Starbucks baristas, who thought that CAFE was way better than fair trade — and wrote a post reporting that. You feel that wasn’t fair — but I’m really not sure why. I think it’s important that people know that Starbucks has been very successful in convincing many of its employees that CAFE is best — and that many baristas haven’t bothered to research whether or not that’s true.

Certainly, you don’t fall into that category. Yet it seems we both agree that many do –

By: David

David — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:23:05 +0000

I actually am largely in charge of training at my store and any argument that baristas are trained that way is wrong and to imply that Baristas can’t distinguish what they are being taught is rather belittling to me and many of my friends. Starbucks does not in any of its training materials state or imply that many of its uncertified coffees are grown and bought to FT standards. What they are guilty of is promoting C.A.F.E. practices in such a way that it appears to put FT to shame. When in reality that is far from true. Baristas are taught that Fair Trade certification standards are too time consuming and hinder farmers that are fair trade from becoming fair trade and that C.A.F.E practices is their solution to this “problem”. Which isn’t true or admirable. Just because you can walk into a starbucks and find a barista that doesn’t know what they are talking about doesn’t mean you should write an article about it presenting it as factual evidence. Starbucks is not the humanitarian or environmentalist it claims to be but then again you aren’t writing true articles either.

By: Johan

Johan — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:40:28 +0000

with the huge of amount of bad will behind the nestle name one would have hoped they would behave better but alas not much signs of improvements there.

one a different note: while nestle still is not a big name on corn flakes and mil products in sweden they absolutely dominate corn flakes (and choc flakes) and condensed milk in portugal.

when the fair trade label and system still is not well known to everyone companies that in part make or sell fair trade products will claim that the company is fair.

maybe the label itself should emphasize that it is the product (and its production) that goes under a fair trade certified project and not the company itself.

By: Siel

Siel — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 20:52:58 +0000

Hey ~o. I’m not saying baristas are told all Starbucks coffee is fair trade CERTIFIED, I’m saying they’re told that most of it is not certified, but is “pretty much fair trade” — as seen in the barista quotes above and by challenger experiences all over the world.

By: ~o

~o — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 17:24:15 +0000

ummm.
No they don’t. I’ve been through the training. They are quite clear that only a select blend of beans are fair trade certified.

By: Siel

Siel — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:12:17 +0000

Thanks Ian! I think I look happier in this one. Drunker, but happier.

Maya — Congrats on the loan! Looking forward to seeing the pics as the store gets going –

CH — Totally agree. And what’s worse is that the baristas who are ALREADY aware of FT are told Starbucks just hearts FT all the way…

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:56:02 +0000

Hi Siel: Of course, Nestle’s sins go back decades, to the times they were trying to foist malnourishing and tainted infant formular on third world mothers. Their transgressions are legend. BTW, like the new photo on your bio page. Cheers, Ian

By: City Hippy

City Hippy — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 16:30:58 +0000

Hey Siel

Good post…

Personally I think Starbucks using the term ‘fairly traded’ is misleading at best.

Worst case scenario is that they are using it on purpose to pass off ‘fairly traded’ as Fairtrade and also to weaken a certification process they cannot control ie Fairtrade, as opposed to their own in-house ‘fairly traded’ certification which they commission themselves.

Of course I could not for a minute believe they would do something like that.

My recent post highlighted the fact that a UK Barista told me that Fair Trade coffee was:

’something to do with Fairly Traded African coffee’

It just breeds so much confusion. Great post.

Namaste

By: Maya

Maya — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 07:44:33 +0000

I agree..Starbucks should just be fair about their advertisement because customers will emphatize actually that they’re trying to hold on and to get to their promises and their mission. I’m reading your blog regularly and being informed a lot of stuffs Starbucks…Thanks Siel. Excellent work..keep it up :-)