You can find a Starbucks coffeehouse almost anywhere, from Paris, France to Paducah, Kentucky,
from the crowded streets of Thailand to shopping malls in Qatar. With nearly 200 of them in New
York City alone, this coffee retail giant with humble beginnings has become an actor and icon in
the global economy. As we sip our cappuccinos, frappuccinos, and our double half-caf venti low-fat
mochaccinos, many of us wonder if Starbucks is a haven of civilization or a cultural predator,
a good or bad employer, a fair trader or a global menace. In this entertaining and provocative
ramble through Starbucks's ethos and actions, Kim Fellner asks how a coffeehouse chain with
a liberal reputation came to symbolize, for some, the ills of globalization.
Armed with an open mind and a sense of humor, Fellner takes readers on an expedition into the muscle
and soul of the coffee company. She finds a corporation filled with contradictions: between employee-
friendly processes and anti-union practices; between an internationalist vision and a longing for
global dominance; between community individuality and cultural hegemony. On a daily basis Starbucks
walks a fine line. It must be profitable enough to please Wall Street and principled enough to please
social justice advocates. Although observers might argue that the company has done well at achieving
a balance, Starbucks's leaders run the risk of satisfying neither constituency and must constantly
justify themselves to both.
Through the voices of Central American coffee farmers, officers at corporate headquarters, independent
cafe owners, unionists, baristas, traders, global justice activists, and consumers, Fellner explores
the forces that affect Starbucks's worth and worthiness. Along the way, she subjects her own unabashedly
progressive perspective to scrutiny and emerges with a compelling and unexpected look at Starbucks, the
global economy, our economic convictions, and the values behind our morning cup of joe.
About the Author
Kim Fellner is a longtime progressive organizer and communicator. She earned an M.S. in Communications
from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives in Washington D.C.-a short walk from nine coffee joints.
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