March, 2023
Starbucks was founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker. It began as a place where people could buy coffee beans, coffee brewing equipment and condiments. These three friends wanted a cozy space for coffee lovers to meet and enjoy a good cup of coffee.
Starbucks is one of the most recognizable brands in the world today. With 52 years of history, the company has established itself as a leader in the coffee industry with more than 35,000 stores worldwide.
The original logo, consisting of a mermaid with two tails, was conceived by Heckler. In Greek mythology, this mermaid lured sailors to the shores of an island named Starbuck. So they used the image of the siren to attract coffee lovers to come and drink their coffee.
The logo changed dramatically in 1987 when the company changed from Starbucks Coffee Tea and Spice to Starbucks Coffee. The logo was changed to an uncluttered design and the green color was introduced to represent both freshness and prosperity as the company was acquired by Howard Schultz.
The third version of the logo, reworked in 1992, was even more sophisticated. The siren's navel disappears as it is closer to the frame.
In 2011, the current version was adopted. Even more refined, the words Starbucks and Coffee were completely removed, as was the black color. While maintaining the company's heritage, the new logo offers more flexibility to think beyond coffee.