Few People Know The Real Reason Behind Seattle Becoming The Coffee Capital Of The World

It's no secret by now that Washingtonians are particular about their coffee. This innocuous snobbery has grown into a regional stereotype; a carefully-tuned espresso palate is a surefire indication of your deep local roots. But did you know the full story of how the Evergreen State spearheaded today's caffeinated culture? The true history of coffee in Washington will amaze you.

The story begins with Starbucks, the second-largest company headquartered in Washington after Amazon. Though today, this espresso behemoth is as ubiquitous as sliced bread, there was a time when it was the best thing since sliced bread, too. Believe it or not, Americans didn't always know what a latte was.

In the beginning, there wasn't an inkling that one humble beverage would come to determine people's schedules and moods the world over. In 1971, Starbucks' flagship store debuted at Pike Place Market. The founders had no aspirations for global domination; they focused on selling roasted espresso beans, teas, and spices to market-goers.

It was New York native Howard Schultz who nurtured these visions of grandeur. When he visited the coffee shop on vacation, he was enchanted by its take on what before had seemed a bland morning staple: drip coffee. He was convinced of espresso's potential to change the world. He traveled to Milan, Italy, where he saw firsthand the city's love affair with coffee and returned to take the business's helm.

By 2000, Starbucks had spread across the globe. Today, it boasts 35,000 locations— including one in Milan— and serves over 10 million customers daily. Its success inspired a coffee renaissance, with other companies adopting its model and millions of small businesses cropping up with distinctive personalities and offerings of their own.

Becoming ubiquitous hasn't come without controversy, however. As Starbucks scaled up, it's received its share of allegations. For example, some watchdog groups have reported that Starbucks doesn't source its beans ethically.

More recently, it's been embroiled in labor negotiations, with baristas from numerous stores going on strike.

Regardless of whether you're a fan or a critic, there's no denying that Starbucks played a singular role in popularizing espresso. Without the company's innovation and foresight, today's coffee culture might not exist at all and Washington's unique relationship to this drink wouldn't exist either.

If you love coffee, you'll love learning about the history of coffee in Washington, and whether or not you're a fan, Starbucks is crucial to that story. I always recommend checking out some of our state's local shops. Admittedly, though, there are so many that visiting them all would qualify for a state-wide coffee pilgrimage.

Let me know if you've ever road-tripped from coffee shop to coffee shop. Next time, I might just join you.