Starbucks Fair Trade – Is that an oxymoron?
Starbucks, trying to look less like giant, faceless corporate behemoth it is, has made a promise to offerFair Trade coffee if a customer requests it. Read the full details in their press release (PDF).
Since bloggers are the disbelieving argumentative type, many have started holding Starbucks to their word and posting their experiences from making the Fair Trade request.
Local blog Specfuckingtacular is in on the fun, and posted a write-up from visiting the Merchandise Mart ‘buck.
I went into the Glenview Starbucks this morning – the one on East Lake and Waukeegan. The “barista” said that they do not have any Fair Trade coffee brewed right now, that they featured it last week, but would not be doing a daily feature anymore, it will be featured one month out of the year. She also said that they’d press a serving by request, but that it would be a 4 minute wait.
So all in all, mostly by the book. I’m going to keep asking in each location I visit.