Thirty years ago I joined Starbucks in Philadelphia as a manager-in-training, my fourth coffee shop job in four years. I’d work in downtown Philadelphia for a year, then transfer to a Starbucks on Mercer Island, near Seattle, the next summer…. Read More ›
coffee
Starbucks and the plastic valve
The plastic valve is called FlavorLock™. It’s a barely noticeable, plastic disc inside a bag of coffee that lets aromatic gasses out, but prevents oxygen from getting in. I can’t figure out who invented the technology, but it changed everything… Read More ›
Cover Letter
I started in coffee 20 years ago at a small shop called Analysa’s HavaJava. It was the only café in town. I said to the owner, I like it here. Are you hiring? I learned the ropes with the espresso… Read More ›