Starbucks built an empire on lattes, then decided culture is part of the menu. The company touts LGBTQ inclusion, racial bias trainings, and big sustainability promises. If you came for coffee without the corporate sermon, you may leave with a side of activism along with your venti cold brew.
The drinks still sell, but the brand identity often reads like a nonprofit brochure. Internal trainings, Pride messaging, and climate targets get top billing while customers just want something caffeinated that tastes good. If you prefer coffee without the lecture, check our alternatives.
Starbucks shut more than 8,000 U.S. stores to run racial bias education for about 175,000 employees after the Philadelphia incident.
Starbucks promotes goals to cut carbon, water, and waste footprints by 50 percent by 2030, along with packaging pledges and climate projects.
After initially saying BLM attire violated dress code, Starbucks reversed course and encouraged employees to wear BLM shirts and pins.
Starbucks highlights years of same-sex partner benefits, gender transition guidelines, and Pride activity, plus repeated perfect scores on HRC’s index.