starbucks
New hanok-inspired Starbucks in S. Korea goes viral for its breathtaking design
- A new Starbucks store in Daegu, South Korea, has gone viral on social media for its stunning architecture and interior design.
- Based on traditional homes called “hanok,” the Starbucks Daegu Jongro Goteak store features an open layout, ground seating, natural decor and traditional paintings.
- The outlet also pays homage to Daegu, a UNESCO City of Music, with a dedicated music space developed in partnership with Danish manufacturer Bang & Olufsen.
- The new location is being praised on social media for its beauty and tribute to history, with one Twitter user calling it an “ideal global development.”
A new Starbucks branch in Daegu, South Korea, has gone viral for its stunning architecture based on traditional homes called “hanok.”
The location, which opened on Thursday, primarily draws inspiration from the city’s rich history and culture. Daegu, the third-largest city in the country, is designated as a UNESCO City of Music, serving as an open hub for both classical and contemporary acts.
Starbucks chooses Indian-born CEO to lead company as it faces inflation, unionization
- Laxman Narasimhan, the former CEO of multinational consumer goods company Reckitt, has been chosen as the next CEO of the global coffee chain Starbucks.
- The 55-year-old executive hails from the Indian city of Pune, where he completed a degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) in 1988.
- "Starbucks commitment to uplift humanity through connection and compassion has long distinguished the company, building an unrivaled, globally admired brand that has transformed the way we connect over coffee," Narasimhan said in a statement.
- Narasimhan will join Starbucks as “incoming CEO” on Oct. 1 before fully taking over on April 1, 2023, from outgoing chief executive Howard Schult.
- Narasimhan is the latest among the growing number of CEOs of Indian descent to head leading U.S. companies, including Twitter’s Parag Agrawal, Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, Deloitte’s Punit Renjen and FedEx’s Raj Subramaniam.
Starbucks named Indian-born Laxman Narasimhan its next chief executive officer on Thursday.
“Starbucks commitment to uplift humanity through connection and compassion has long distinguished the company, building an unrivaled, globally admired brand that has transformed the way we connect over coffee,” Narasimhan said after the announcement.
Viral TikTok reveals Starbucks U.S. is testing out ‘coffee popping pearls’
- Starbucks confirmed they are testing a new product called “coffee popping pearls” at two franchises in California and Washington state.
- Unlike typical tapioca balls from bubble tea, these coffee pearls burst when bitten and contain liquid coffee inside.
- Similar Starbucks products have previously debuted in other markets, but this appears to be the first test in the U.S.
Starbucks is testing a new coffee topping, “coffee popping pearls,” which burst into liquid coffee when bitten, at two West Coast locations.
The topping, which resembles boba, was reviewed in a viral TikTok in which the taste was described as “okay, but weirdly salty-sweet.” Unlike the solid tapioca balls usually found in bubble tea, these pearls seem to be mostly liquid and contain Brazilian coffee.
Starbucks apologizes for selling expired food in some China stores
Chinese health officials reportedly uncovered more food-safety concerns across several Starbucks branches after the American coffee chain issued an apology for concerns flagged by state media the day before.
The apology: Starbucks apologized on Monday after state-run The Beijing News newspaper published a report detailing some of the health safety concerns found in two of the American chain’s stores in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, during an undercover investigation, according to Reuters.
Starbucks Pays $14,000 to Thai Woman After Employee Drew ‘Slanty’ Eyes on Cup in Ireland
A Starbucks branch in Dublin, Ireland compensated a female customer of Thai descent €12,000 ($14,600) after one of its employees drew a smiley face with “slanty” eyes on her cup.
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication officer Kevin Baneham forced Atercin Liffey Unlimited trading as Starbucks Tallaght to pay Suchavadee Foley for the Jan. 12 incident, according to The Irish Times.
Target Barista Writes ‘ISIS’ on Muslim Woman’s Cup, Organization Calls for Employee to Be Fired
Editor’s Note: A Starbucks spokesperson told NextShark that this branch is licensed by Target which operates and employs the baristas. This article has been updated to correct the headline.
A Muslim woman felt “belittled” and “humiliated” after a barista from Target Starbucks wrote “ISIS” on her cup.
BTS and Starbucks Are Partnering to Help Needy Children in Korea
Starbucks Korea is teaming up with K-pop supergroup BTS for a good cause.
The “Be The Brightest Stars” campaign will feature exclusive Starbucks x BTS items, including limited-edition beverages, food and merchandise.
Starbucks Malaysia Opens Second Cafe Staffed With All Deaf, Hard of Hearing Workers
Starbucks Malaysia recently opened its second outlet run by a staff of deaf employees.
Following the success of its first “Signing Store” in Kuala Lumpur which opened in 2016, Starbucks has unveiled another store of its kind in Penang.
Starbucks Japan Now Has a Pen That Gets You Coffee
Starbucks Japan is now selling pens.
It is no ordinary pen, however, as it has the built-in ability to pay for your lattes and other items at Starbucks. The pen, which is designed like a drip coffee machine, can write like an actual pen with its “coffee brown” gel ink, reports The Verge.
Starbucks Releases New Drink in Southeast Asia With ‘Coffee Boba’
A new frappuccino with what can only be described as the closest thing Starbucks has to boba is now available in several Southeast Asian countries.
The drink, Dark Caramel Coffee Sphere Frappuccino, was released in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines (which calls it Ultra Caramel Coffee Sphere) just recently, along with a fruity companion called Watermelon and Lychee Aloe Frappuccino.
First Ever Sign-Language Starbucks Opens Up in China
Starbucks China has opened up its first-ever signing store in Guangzhou, Guangdong province that is dedicated to offering employment and career advancement opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
The Starbucks branch opened its doors at the Oriental Wende Plaza in Guangzhou city’s Yuexiu district on Sunday, which was also the 29th anniversary of China’s National Day for Helping the Disabled, according to Shanghaiist.
Starbucks Japan is Now Selling Royal Milk Tea Frappuccinos, is Boba Next?
In celebration of the beginning of the Reiwa Era, Starbucks Japan has released a limited-edition frappuccino especially made for milk tea lovers.
The new drink, called the Royal Milk Tea Frappuccino, comes in an inviting hue of tea and is topped with whipped cream sprinkled with shortbread bits and honey drizzle.
