Starbucks is an American coffee company and cafe chain. Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971. As of the beginning of 2019, the company has more than 30000 branches around the world.

Starbucks has been described as the main representative of "second wave coffee", a kind of retroactive movement, which popularizes handmade coffee, especially dark roasted coffee. Since the 2000s, the third wave of coffee makers has targeted quality conscious coffee drinkers with handmade coffee based on lighter roasts, while Starbucks now uses automated coffee machines for efficiency and safety reasons.

Starbucks branch provides hot and cold drinks, whole bean coffee, micro powder instant coffee called via, espresso, latte coffee, including the whole package and loose leaf tea of twaana tea products, evolution fresh juice, star bingle beverage, La Boulange pastries and snacks include items such as chips and biscuits; some products, including their pumpkin flavored lattes, are seasonal or store specific locations. Many stores sell prepackaged food, hot and cold sandwiches and drinks, including cups and glasses. Choose "Starbucks night" to serve beer, wine and appetizers. Starbucks branded coffee, ice cream and bottled cold coffee drinks are also on sale at the grocery store.

Starbucks made its first profit in Seattle in the early 1980s. Although the initial recession extended to the Midwest and British Columbia in the late 1980s, the company's entry into California in the early 1990s experienced a renaissance. In 1996, Starbucks opened its first location outside North America in Tokyo; now, overseas properties account for almost a third of its stores. The company opened an average of two new locations per day between 1987 and 2007. In 2010, the company started a Starbucks reserve program for single source coffee and high-end coffee shops. As part of the program, Starbucks operates five roasters with tasting rooms and 43 coffee bars.

On December 1, 2016, Howard Schultz announced that he would step down as CEO from April 2017 and be replaced by Kevin Johnson. Johnson became chief executive on April 3, 2017, retired Howard Schultz, effective June 26, 2018, and became honorary chairman.