Fair trade brews every day — at a Starbucks?
Fair trade activism comes from the least expected places. Remember Michael, the San Francisco Starbucks manager who brews Cafe Estima — Starbucks’ only fair trade certified coffee — every day? Well, the guy’s a fucking dynamo.
Michael talked to people in his district about fair trade and Cafe Estima — after which fair trade stickers got posted at the Bush/Van Ness and California/Spruce Starbucks. In fact, Cafe Estima gets special displays in the Fillmore/Sacramento, 123 Mission, and California/Spruce Starbucks.
On top of all that — You may’ve known about Starbucks’ free coffee day last month, on March 17. Most Starbucks offered the coffee of the day; Michael’s store offered Cafe Estima.
The pics are from Michael’s store. Which is to say that — I get that individuals work at various companies for various, personal reasons. When I’m less-than-complimentary about Starbucks, I’m pointing to Starbucks’ corporate policies that still make only a minimal commitment to fair trade, NOT to individual activists who use their positions to encourage fair trade awareness, even at the risk of corporate resistance.
I just hope other Starbucks managers take Michael’s example to heart. It seems that, at the very least, Starbucks offers managers leniency in running their stores. Maybe Michael will be able to encourage others working at the mermaid to do likewise.
just thought you might be interested in this site if you haven’t alreay seen it:
http://www.freecycle.org/
Strangely enough, there is no such group in California.. hmmmm
Cheers to your site, I love it! thanks!
Comment by Severine — March 30, 2006 @ 9:05 pm
Yes, Severine, there are. Check US West Coast.
Comment by Sven Cahling — March 30, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
That’s great. I haven’t found ONE single Starbucks in the DC area that brews fair trade. It’s frustrating.
Comment by mappyb — March 31, 2006 @ 4:14 am
Bravo Michael! He’s what other Sbx managers should look up to…even up to Headquarter.
Comment by Maya — March 31, 2006 @ 8:28 am
So SBUX’s store managers do have some degree of flexibility to provide FT coffee every day if their local community truly wants it. It doesn’t suprise me that a SBUX in San Francisco is on top of Fair Trade. FT issues are very important in San Fran. The SBUX in the UK is also brewing FT every day, because it is important to their consumer base. I feel this is an excellent example of consumer demand that if a product is important to a large segment of customers, SBUX will offer it. To a for-profit business, customer demand equals what is being purchased not what is being “talked” about.
I have read many of the comments on this blog, and I have read, “I never go to SBUX.” or “I hate SBUX.” So my question is why would SBUX listen to any of you if you are not their customer base? SBUX will never please all the people all the time. SBUX’s responsibility is to their customers and shareholders first and foremost. So don’t be suprised if they do not take your rants and raves seriously. If you truly want to make an impact on SBUX become a shareholder or a real customer.
If you do not want to shop at SBUX, that’s great! And you have the glorious oppotunity of freedom of choice. But don’t expect them to give a crap about your concerns. You aren’t spending any money in their stores.
I am heavily involved in FT so I frequent shops and cafes who sell FT products. I have talked to SBUX, and they are interested in dialogue. But honestly, they will only change if a majority of their customers want FT over the latest Frappuccino. Remember SBUX is a business not a non-profit or NGO.
On another note, Siel, I do love reading your blog because you do allow a space for differing opinions. And you are awesome at bringing out the complexities of an issue. Keep it up!! I learn new things every day.
I do have a question for you. Since I am involved in FT, I heard some very upsetting and disturbing news that half the staff (including the COO) at Pura Vida quit for ethical reasons. Have you heard anything? I hope it is not true so I wanted to ask you since you have such a great pulse on the FT community.
I look forward to your next posts!
cmh
Comment by CMH — April 1, 2006 @ 9:31 am
As a former Starbucks barista a little insight to the ‘coffee of the day’ - Each month stores get a coffee of the day calendar with suggested brews, which can be trumped by beans that might expire soon (once coffee in 5lb bulk bags or 1lb bags is opened it must be used within 7 days). So if you go into your local Starbucks and the coffee of the day is not a fair trade blend it probably didn’t meet the above criteria. But that doesn’t mean you can’t request it. You can go into any Starbucks and ask for a fair trade blend to be brewed special for you in a french press. So the option is always there (as long as they’ve got the beans in stock.) And if you are among those who frequent Starbucks or are annoyed that the store near you doesn’t brew fair trade - talk to the store manager, see if there is more they can do to feature the blends more than required by HQ.
Before you start writing evil things about me for working for Starbucks (a girl has got to pay the bills) your words might be put to better work by communicating directly with the company - leave comments, either at individual stores or at Starbuck’s website because customer feedback/consumer requests are taken seriously - start a campaign to innundate comment boxes demanding all Starbucks coffee is fair trade (then take your campaign to bigger coffee people like Foldgers and Maxwell house).
If you happen to be in Seattle, there are quite a few coffee shops serving ONLY fair trade coffees such as a personal favorite Cafe Ladro
Comment by Amy Stodghill — April 2, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
Siel, Thank you for raising these issues and providing a place for extended discussion, its great to see so many people voicing their thoughts and knowledge. I’m also very curious whether you know more about the aforementioned shake-up at Pura Vida.
cheers
Comment by Devin — April 3, 2006 @ 11:56 am
Hey Severine and Sven — I’m a big fan of the freecycle network in LA :) In fact, I gave away a couple books on there today :)
I’m not sure about what’s happening at Pura Vida, but will try to find out –
Amy — writing evil things about you? C’mon now — Did you read the post? I wrote: “When I’m less-than-complimentary about Starbucks, I’m pointing to Starbucks’ corporate policies that still make only a minimal commitment to fair trade, NOT to individual activists who use their positions to encourage fair trade awareness, even at the risk of corporate resistance.”
Comment by Siel — April 5, 2006 @ 10:39 pm