Is Starbucks Evil?
We’ve all heard the anti-corporation brigade yelling about Starbucks and how it’s turning the world into a giant corporate generic mess, exploiting farm workers in the third world, driving small cafes out of business, and burning their beans to make them look darker. But Starbucks says they’re a model corporate citizen, donating large amounts of money to the third world, rejuvenating neighborhoods and employing thousands as they pay above market rates.
So who is right? Is Starbucks really evil? You decide.
The negatives:
* The Organic Consumers Association says Starbucks is lagging on using Fair Trade coffee, where the grower of the coffee bean itself is paid a living wage, no matter what the going rate of coffee is. “Despite repeated pledges, Starbucks is still buying coffee and chocolate produced under exploitative labor conditions, and in the case of cocoa plantations in Africa, workers who are actually slaves.” According to Global Exchange, Starbucks buys over 100 million pounds of coffee each year, yet less than 1% is purchased from coffee farmers who are guaranteed a living wage. Source: Scotland on Sunday, May 4, 2003
* Starbucks employees aren’t always happy with their bosses, and that’s why they formed the Starbucks Baristas Union. The union, along with fair trade outfit, Global Exchange, want Starbucks to increase the amount of fair trade coffee they purchase from 1% to 5%. Says the union leaders, “We see our struggles for humane wages and working conditions as united [with the coffee growers [-] No longer will Starbucks be allowed to run roughshod over its baristas or coffee farmers.” Source: Inter Press Service, July 7, 2004
* Starbucks was called to task by environmentalists “for failing to adhere to its Environmental Mission Statement by slipping from industry leader to laggard on Fair Trade, and for adopting a patchwork approach to sustainability through its “Commitment to Origins” line of coffees.” Source: The Green Life
* Though Starbucks makes claims of improving workers conditions in the third world, the company will not allow human rights monitors to verify their claims. Critics say that there is little evidence that any improvement programs have been implemented. Source: Biodemocracy News, March 2001
* Starbucks refuses to guarantee that milk, beverages, chocolate, ice cream, and baked goods sold in the company’s stores are free of genetically-modified ingredients, including recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), a Monsanto-produced cow steroid. The substance is banned in every industrialized nation besides the U.S., because it is known to cause health problems in dairy cows, and is “associated with a higher risk of cancer in humans.” Source: Biodemocracy News
April 22nd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
thats wack
June 3rd, 2007 at 1:59 am
Let’s talk about “Fair Trade” coffee for a moment, and this so-called “Coffee Crisis” detailed in another article on this site. Generally, when we speak of a crisis, we are referring to a shortage of the commodity in question, rather than a surplus. If farmers in third world nations cannot make a living wage growing coffee, then they should grow something else. This is how the market works. People engage in activities that make them money. If the money dries up, that labor is put to more productive use in other industries. There’s nothing fair about “Fair Trade” coffee. If the true market price of coffee is fifty cents a pound, why should Starbucks pay (and in reality, you wind up paying more at the counter) more? If the market price of gasoline was too low, would you pay more?
June 12th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
That is the sad fact now frequently coffee farmers also have to farm cocoa and bananas sometimes in the same field due to the poverty induced by N.A.F.T.A. and C.A.F.T.A.. The reason Starbucks is “evil” is simply because they use this to supply their large chains that in fact do put coffee shops out of business you can find up to 20 Starbucks coffee shops in one city where their might be one small business owned coffee shop. Not many people noticed that after especially C.A.F.T.A. is when Starbucks boomed. In America people are vastly uneducated in these matters and care more about themselves and convenience. This is one of the reasons why we have “fast food” and other sorts of fast service bad product business thriving within the capitalist state of the USA. If people cared Which most Americans don’t because they are so far removed from this kind of poverty, which IMO will happen here if things start going the way they are. Personally I only purchase Fair trade Coffee and brew it myself its not hard and if you shop at certain stores like “trader joes” on the west coast and other such stores you can find plenty of varieties of organic fair trade coffee and teas. The sad thing is people think they will have to pay more for fair trade coffee but if the fat cats cut their profit margins to what they should be like some stores do the price of fair trade coffee would be the same. Just think about the man who grows the coffee you drink in your cosy easy chair each morning when he is working 7 days a week just to put a roof over his head and eat once a day. You can be a citizen of the USA and do what effects you and support things like C.A.F.T.A. and N.A.F.T.A. or you can be a citizen of the earth and think wisely about your purchases. Just my two cents so don’t anyone take this personal, just think.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
First of all, the name of a company is merely a name and to subject it to the world “evil” is a bit much. Secondly, it is up to you if you wish to buy coffee from Starbucks. No one is forcing you. So wouldn’t it be the exchange of money from consumer to cashier for this overpriced coffee..that is truly evil?
October 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
drarkham5:
It isn’t that simple. Read Uncommon Grounds by Pendergast and get a scholarly look at the complexities of coffee. I have lived in a coffee producing region and can tell you first hand that the little campesino lives on the edge of existence in absolute dirt poor conditions. They work very hard. It is no exageration that a person pays twice as much for a latte than what one of these coffee farmers makes in a day of work. It isn’t a simple market. Fair Trade makes eminent sense and it really doesn’t cost that much. C’mon, we are talking about maybe a nickle per cup to see that these coffee sweatshop workers get enough earnings to buy FOOD for subsistence. If you need more justification, just go and see for yourself. I’ll show you where to go. Don’t be greedy. Starbucks is greedy; evil? I for one will be buying Fair Trade coffee because it is such a small concession that will help lots of people.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Wow! What a biased article. I was assuming that where there was a subheading “negatives” there would also be one for “positives”. You ask people to make a decision as to whether Starbucks are evil yet you are only giving one side of the story.
I work for Starbucks. I have done for 2 1/2 years, it’s not what I went to university for, neither of my degrees are in coffee/customer service, but as far as crap retail jobs go Starbucks is pretty decent. I have always been a proponent of environmentally friendly, fair trade products and when I first got hired at Starbucks I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to work there when I’d heard so many negative things about the company but I had to pay rent so I figured it would do in the short-term. I was surprised by what I found out. Starbucks is nowhere near the evil corporation that it’s made out to be. It was the first company in North America to offer part-time workers full benefits. They work closely with CARE International. After Hurricane Katrina, Starbucks bought a hotel for all its partners and their families to live in until they could move back to their own homes and guaranteed their jobs would be there for them. How many other large companies did that?
One of the reasons that most of Starbucks’ Coffees aren’t certified Fair Trade or Organic is that the farmers have to pay around $30,000 for the certification. As most of these farms are small, family-run operations they cannot afford to.
I realise that I will get dismissed as having been brain-washed by corporate propaganda but I am capable of thinking for myself and while I certainly don’t agree with some of the things Starbucks does, and I believe we’re turning into the McDonalds of coffee, I don’t think it deserves the reputation of ‘evil’.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I’ve always hated coffe so of course im going to say starbucks is EVIL! though, my friend doesn’t think so because she is a J.p. loving Cycopath who never cleans her room and is gay!
December 8th, 2007 at 1:01 am
Fair Trade certification that costs $30K isn’t very fair. But that fact alone won’t make me avoid FT coffee. Organic? I don’t care. Most coffee is organic, just not certified. I agree with Barista that SB isn’t evil. The whole question is wrong. But SB is not one of my favorites and I only go to SB when a friend is going there or if I can’t get coffee anywhere else. Given a choice I wouldn’t go there (just like McDonald’s). I can’t remember the last time I went to SB and I’m a coffee geek extraordinaire. As for Barista being a Cycopath, anybody who’d post something like that is probably running the same risk.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Scizen, I’m all for freedom of choice. I respect your decision to buy coffee elsewhere, especially if you’re buying Fair Trade.
‘Me’, I hope that wasn’t me you were referring to as a psychopath. Sociopaths have way more fun…..
December 11th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I don’t know if I was referring to ‘me’ or you, but Whoever was poking fun of you (Barista) for being a j.p. loving cycopath (psychopath I presume) who never cleans her room and is gay. As for sociopaths having more fun that psychopaths, what is the difference really. Both are nuts.
Anyway, I’ve been researching FT more, and I find it an revolutionary way for us to make a difference among the ‘dirt poor’ some of whom are my friends. I have seen dirt poor coffee farmers in the highest most remote mountains of Mexico feed me one of their last chickens and honor me just for walking to their village. Its humbling. They get nothing for their work and nobody gives a damn. FT may not be perfect, but if it gets hyper consumers who pay $4 for a latte to pass on a nickle to Juan Valdez who makes $2 a day, then I’m all about it. The usual market corrections of free enterprise capitalism (which I’m for) just doesn’t work because of numerous factors. See Pendergast’s work on coffee. FT gives socially minded people a chance to pitch a nickle in Juan’s tip jar. If your are a Barista, and you love coffee, please get on the bandwagon and ask for FT coffee, because without all the Juan’s we won’t have good coffee. Happy farmers will grow better cherry. Better cherry will make better crema in your espresso. FT-Everybody wins. Think about it.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:58 am
If coffee is grown in a naturalized environment then it’s not likely that farmers can simply switch crops, like soy to corn, when a surplus of coffee hits the market. So, argument #2 is simply a bust except for the big farms stripped of trees. Fair Trade is one answer to equity. The bigger truth is that quality coffee is becoming more expensive through demand auctions, like the Cup of Excellence auctions in many coffee regions or the higher price paid for high-quality organic. This is the coffee you get at a good specialty coffee shop. What we read generally about low commodity coffee prices is the C price in New York (the middle of five grades). That stuff has enough imperfect (nasty bitter!) that it would make you spit if you are used to true specialty coffee. If you buy at a gas station or grocery store old brands, then this is what you’re covering up with that non-dairy French vanilla creamer and two or three packs of sugar.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:40 am
I am going to quit my job, sell my possessions and donate it to the $1 a day worker who is being exploited by the $4 day worker who is being exploited by the $5 cup of coffee drinker who is paying the taxes to help the people who have nothing. Wait that is me now. All trades are fair by definition the rest we call slavery. Then again, someone sitting behind a computer drinking “fair trade” coffee really gives a crap about fair or trade. Given the chance or skill he/she would be as greed driven as the rest. The rest is fear
January 31st, 2008 at 6:45 am
eyealter,
Look anybody can spout off cynical tirades, but cynicism isn’t going to help anybody, including the cynic. Fair Trade coffee (or other products) isn’t perfect, but it really does help some very poor people. I do know some of them. I used to live with them when I spent a whole year of my life working for $0 in community development among Mexican coffee farmers. Now, please understand that FT doesn’t mean more expensive coffee. It just tries to cut out profiteering middle men and pay more of the going market price directly to the farmer. That’s the goal. What is the harm done? WHy the cynicism? Sure, exploitation will continue, but should we therefore stop trying to reduce it? Should we stop trying to reduce corruption too?
eyealter, for your own sake, try not to be so cynical.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Why hate a company that makes millions and millions of people happy everyday? For all you nay sayers out there, I encourage you to talk to your local starbucks store manager over a french press of Cafe Estima (our fair trade coffee), do some legitimate research, and read “Pour your Heart Into It”. Clearly Starbucks and Howard Schultz is how this economy will be able to improve itself. Hugs and Mugs!!!!
-Sarah (Quad grande americano w/ cinnamon and nutmeg on top)
-
February 24th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
people are starving, do you really think that they havent thought about growing other crops? are you implying that these extremely poor people are only in that situation through their stupidity? Starbucks is making millions and refuses to pay higher wages. Do you prefer that people get paid terrible wages so you can pay one dollar less at the local coffee shop?
February 24th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Sarah,
Concerning “why hate a company that makes millions happy everyday?” First, i don’t think anybody here is saying we should “hate” Starbucks, just that some of their practices are ruthless toward the entities set out in the initial article. Plenty of companies make millions “Happy” everyday, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting many others, especially those who are completely out of the minds and vision of consumers: the lowly coffee farmer on the world market. The average Juan Valdez is completely at the mercy of voracious forces that constantly leave him screwed.
Concerning anonymous’s comment: It is hard to read what you mean, but consider this: The little coffee farmer has little option but to continue raising coffee even when prices are very low. There aren’t many other legal cash crops especially when you consider climate and sustainability. His poor land won’t grow other crops. Besides, it takes considerable effort and patience to get a coffee tree to produce. Our country has hundreds of laws to protect small farms, dairies, ranches, etc. But the Third World Coffee farmer isn’t protected by anyone. For all reading, please support Fair Trade or other responsible programs that help PEOPLE. If you love coffee, then let’s care for those who grow it for us. BTW, a Fair Trade coffee will only cost a consumer about 4 cents or less per cup of coffee. Think about it.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
my sister devloped keyorie from the caffine
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 am
[...] for my belt, bad for my wallet, bad for my breath, and according to some, bad for the growers, and bad for America (something about all successful businesses being intrinsically evil was how it was explained to [...]
April 16th, 2008 at 12:17 am
It is always easy to say: hey, poor people, why don´t you learn to do something else? Hey, not everybody has the opportunity to decide in such a simple way. The market works like that: where there is money, there you have to work. Well, it is good you have the living you want and the freedom of choosing the job you always dreamed about. Poverty is not always a matter of choice.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:46 am
It does bother me a little bit that Starbucks is still being targeted for supposedly buying milk that is not guaranteed to be free of rBGH hormone. It seems that some people are under the impression that Starbucks has its own dairy farms that actively employ the hormone used to increase milk yiels. In fact, Starbucks only buys milk from local dairy producers in each of its markets. So, in fact, the milk used in a Starbucks latte, for example is the very same milk that is on the supermarket shelves in that particular city and already in the fridges in the homes of the people that live there. It seems that it’s all too easy to target a big company like Starbucks in this type of situation, when the truth is that all consumers of milk could be doing more to correct the problem. I believe Starbucks in the US have Organic Milk available upon request for a modest surcharge. I wonder how many consumers would be willing to pay 50c for the organic milk. Probably not very many, and yet it seems that Starbucks has taken a lot of criticism on this issue.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Of course they’re evil, they burn their coffee! I was a barista through high school and undergrad, back before Starbucks had taken over the world. I went up to Yakima WA to visit some friends and had some really good coffee at a place called starbucks, and had some great coffee called Seattles Best that a local McD’s was serving (for some weird reason- and that was milleniums b4 Starbucks took SeattlesBest). Sure, it was all a little darker roast than I was used to- but it wasnt the carbonized slag served all over the place now…. I know, I know- they gotta do it to make a homogenized product, but maybe if you gotta ruin your coffee by roasting a few hrs past second crack
maybe it’s time to focus back on the product. I now buy FT from a local roaster who was mentored by Alfred Peet for a few years. For those starbucks fanboys/girls who swear by SBs, see if you can find a local shop that roasts their own FT. If they are good at their craft, you’ll never go back to SB’s. I’m gonna lose coffee cred here- but I found a single pot sample of Yuban (of all things) at the store the other day, and I gotta say, a cup of that Yuban, with a mere dash of cream and sugar (a dash, to complement the coffee), was one of the best cups of coffee I’ve had in AGES……
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 am
Starbuck is Evil! They paid their barista at minimum wages, just like Mc Donald. They hire those so called “barista,” but unable to pour out a good cup of Joe. Their coffee as always taste watering…like shit. Perhalf they should come to New Zealand or Italy to learn how to make good coffee. Watch out,this giant copporate will drive as many local cafe out of business.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
DEAR SIR
I AM TUNISIAN MAN I AM LOOKING FOR STURBUCKS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITE IN TUNISIA BUSINESS SETUP
May 28th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Hasn’t anyone twigged yet to the benefit of Starbucks?
Starbucks does not attract traditional coffee house patrons, you’ll find most of their patronage are ‘new’ customers. Now once these ‘new’ customers become attracted to coffee, they will want to explore newer experiences, hence they will go to more intimate local coffee houses.
So if coffee houses are closing in your area, it is probably because their service or their product is crap & is unable to even compete with a bland product that is the hallmark of the Starbucks Corporation
June 5th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
When we started our coffee shop we spent a lot on training, brining in a barista trainer who was a judge at the last WBC.
When I visit indie shops the lack of training is too frequently immediately apparent — most often in the form of an 8 second double shot!
Yes, bad quality and poor service is why indie shops bust.
Starbucks has to be credited with introducing America to espresso and specialized coffee. We can argue about the other issues. I know there are regional exceptions but for the most part SB paved the way.
The best line I hear at our shop is: “This is so much better than …”
That translates into word of mouth support from customers as they tell their friends.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
“If farmers in third world nations cannot make a living wage growing coffee, then they should grow something else.”
I’m pretty sure it’s that easy in a 3rd world country.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 am
Jon,
As it turns out coffee is about the best cash crop out there, except for obvious illegal substances. But what crushes little coffee farmers and raises the need for Fair Trade and other programs is that they are at the mercy of so many hostile market forces. From the local buyers, coops, an international forces, the little Juan Valdez gets very very little. I know. I lived and worked with these people. They cant just “grow something else” that has any cash crop value.
Hey, if you don’t care about the farmer, then buy Fair Trade for your own good! Happy well-fed farmers will have incentive to grow better coffee for you to enjoy.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:36 am
drarkham5:
yes, with capitalist, western world, so-called ‘privileged’ ideals, one chooses a path in life that would bring in the most income. For the most part, the growers and farmers would be living in destitute conditions, with no education, a responsibility to family and little or absolutely no other options than a usually inherited farm. To even think that you commented on how the price of our coffees would rise if these workers were paid decently for thier crop, is absolutely disgusting, and really, just not true. High-end starbucks employees are getting billions of dollars from thier overpriced coffee. It is ridiculous to believe that we are paying for what we are getting. it does NOT cost the company $5.00 for the coffees. The majority of that price is profiteering. The reason our world is so screwed up is because of our uncontrollable greed and ignorance. Fair trade coffee, tea, sugar and chocolate are so easy to attain. They are sold in many places, especially wholesale bulk. Exploitation is not okay, even if it does save you 26 cents on your next coffee splurge.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Reasons to hate Starbucks: High prices; pastry that’s often mediocre; limited seating that’s tied up by jerks who hog entire tables for hours and use them as personal desks (and employees say nothing); an absence of customer “rewards” like a lousy free coffee after spending $20 or more on 10 of them; corporate arrogance, the likes of which led Starbucks to sue a small Orthodox Christian monastery because the monks sold their own coffee and called one of their blends “Christmas Blend”, which Starbucks owns the copyright to; neighborhood saturation which drove out mom and pop coffee shops; bogus concerns about the environment and community and people in the face of exploitive business practices that are geared to the almighty buck. Star Bucks that is.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’m inclined to think that *$’s is evil. The reasons are far too many. But what irks me most is the entire Ethiopian Trademark situation they embarked on last year. That….my coffee loving friends is EVIL!
October 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I think it ought to be noted that all of those articles sited above were written during the time period which Howard Schultz stepped down from his CEO management position at the company, when the company made a lot of decisions which it now regrets. Now, in 2008, Howard Schultz re-took over the company, and much of the coffee is fair trade certified and other issues are working on being cleared up.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I think also that it ought to be noted that *$’s is the furthest from fair trade that you can get. 1%-5% of sales are fair trade????? Ummm yeah…..*$’s is now known as one of the single most anti-fairtrade companies around, especially considering the trademark agreement situation….
November 30th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
TalkAboutCoffee needs to finish their homework and include a ‘positive’ section.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:20 am
you people rule i love is starbuks evil
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
You people are insane-SB makes crappy coffee.
Go out and get a real coffee that hasn’t been bastardised by all the rubbish SB put in it.
Ever tried to get a real espresso at SB?
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 am
what makes you think you’re not the one insane? I love my SB coffee and that’s it!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:15 am
Just like Keith Olbermann would say – You sir, are insane. Martin the insane starbucks hater today’s worse person in the woooorld!
Love this site like my morning espresso:)
Merry Christmas Everyone and a very Happy New Year!
December 27th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Look I been a fan of Iron Maiden since I was a kid, who does Metallica think they are calling them selves the pioneers of heavy metal. I look up to Judas Priest before Metallica. So if Lars wants to drink his Starbucks let him, he sold out to the fan i am sure he will do the same for Coffee.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:49 am
As far as the FairTrade argument goes-in fiscal year 2008 SB bought 20 Million Lbs of FT coffee. Has any other US retailer come close to that number? In FY 2009 they have committed to purchasing 40 million lbs of FT. FT’s president was at the SB leadership confrence in Oct. and was very gracious and thankful for SBs participation in FT. Has he sold out now? SB is not the end all be all of coffee but it isn’t the anti-coffee either. How many people in the US would ever have heard of espresso, capucino, or latte w/o Starbucks? Other roasters may roast coffee differently but who comes close to the scale and the impact SB does? I have spoken to coffee workers in origin countries (Costa Rica, Guatemala) who are very grateful for SBs involvement in their community. No corp. is perfect but just because it doesn’t suit your taste or you had a bad experience or series of experiences doesn’t make it evil. Much of the stats quoted above are dated and should be researched for today. Maybe smaller is better but big is not evil in and of itself.