Eugene Gologursky / Getty Images for Fast Company Starbucks CEO Defends Paying $9 For Cup of Coffee: 'It's Less Than $10 and I Get a Really Premium Experience' CEO Brian Niccol is facing heated backlash for the "out of touch" remarks, though he does have some supporters. By V. Saxena May 4, 2026
Matt Slocum / AP Starbucks Workers Launch Strike on Chain's Biggest Day of the Year The coffee chain is already known for its infamously liberal culture. Now, it's becoming known for another holiday tradition, too. By Joe Saunders November 13, 2025
Matthew Horwood / Getty Images Starbucks Fires Employee Who Wrote Hateful Message to Customer Who Ordered Charlie Kirk's Signature Drink An employee working at a Starbucks was fired after she wrote a message on a customer's cup that accused Charlie Kirk of being racist. By Randy DeSoto September 23, 2025
David McNew/Getty ImagesCommentary Straight Starbucks Manager Faced Relentless Harassment from LGBT Coworkers, Higher-Ups Refused to Act: Lawsuit A self-described heterosexual man filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, his employer, claiming he faced discrimination from his LGBT colleagues. By Ben Zeisloft March 8, 2025
Etienne Laurent - AFP / Getty ImagesCommentary Starbucks Learns Its Lesson, Reverses Policy It Implemented to Appease Woke Mob Starbucks will reverse a policy allowing anyone and everyone to use the bathrooms or linger in stores without buying any items. By Ben Zeisloft January 14, 2025
Matt Rourke / AP Photo Starbucks Leaves Customers Enraged After Staffing Changes Lead to Delayed Orders, with Some Waiting 40 Minutes "Nobody involved, in my observation, including me, the other customers, and even the staff seemed to be happy." By George C. Upper III May 29, 2024
Mohd Rasfan - AFP / Getty Images Over 100 KFCs Forced to Shut Down as Pro-Palestinian Protests Skyrocket Escalating pro-Palestinian protests are making life hard on American brands and franchises around the globe. By Jack Davis May 1, 2024
@foxnews / X screen shotCommentary Woman Goes Viral with Story of How Her 'Christian Conservative Values' Got Her Fired from Starbucks Her post went viral, and many commenters shared similar experiences at Starbucks or expressed support for the young woman. By Rachel M. Emmanuel March 29, 2024
Gene J. Puskar / AP PhotoCommentary Starbucks Baristas Heroically Turn Tables on Violent Robbers, Get Ugly Surprise from Employer Right After "I just wanted to do the right thing as a person and as an employee," one of the baristas said in a statement. By George C. Upper III January 27, 2024
City of Roseville, California, Police Department / FacebookCommentary Woman Arrested After Apparently Getting Caught Up in Stanley Brand Cup Craze - Cops Only Had to Take One Look A woman faces potential prosecution after cops busted her for alleged theft of $2,500 worth of Stanley cups in California. By Robert Jonathan January 27, 2024