When people think of coffee, the first name that comes to mind is usually Starbucks. Pike Place Market, located in downtown Seattle, is home to the first Starbucks. The doors of this cafe were opened in 1971 by three graduates of the University of San Francisco. The establishment was later purchased by Howard Schultz in 1987. His vision was to bring an Italian-style coffee shop to the United States. There are currently more than 18,000 Starbucks stores in more than 62 countries. The average price of specialty coffee is five dollars per cup. Most would say this is an outrageous price to pay, but millions of people pay it daily. There are many factors that explain why this company has been so successful despite its high prices. Location is one of these factors. Starting from a small coffee shop in downtown Seattle, there are now numerous Starbucks locations in every major city. Airports, malls, and Target stores often have a Starbucks. The company has now expanded to Africa, South America, Asia, Europe, North America, Central America, the Caribbean and many other countries across the world. The more locations they have, the more people see their iconic logo and flock for that morning cup of coffee. Starbucks doesn't just serve any ordinary cup of coffee. They source and roast only high-quality, hand-picked coffee beans from Latin America, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Starbucks purchased their own coffee farm this year, allowing them to experiment and produce bold new coffee flavors in the future. Over the years, the company has found ways to become environmentally friendly. They have recycling units in their stores. They also produce many styles of coffee cups for sale, hoping...... middle of paper...... food pantry at Jefferson Edison Elementary School, in Davenport, Iowa, on 23 November 2013. Many people don't realize that Starbucks is involved in their community. The once small coffee shop in Seattle, Washington has now become the largest coffee company in the world. Some would say a visit to Starbucks is a treat, others it has become a daily ritual. She was able to become such a successful business because of the experience she created for every customer that walked through her doors. Offering a variety of high-quality coffee to people around the world and providing them with a home-like atmosphere. By staying true to their company's mission statement, "To inspire and nourish the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time," they were able to stand out more than any other company and ultimately achieve success..