Barista organizes effort to get Starbucks beans to US troops in Afghanistan

Starbucks employee Crystal White got the idea while watching a holiday special that mentioned troops in Afghanistan. "One of the soldiers they were interviewing had said that they brew coffee over there 24 hours a day, and soldiers love their coffee. And then, like, a little light bulb went off." She got help from colleagues and customers and sent 106 pounds of beans -- with a grinder -- to the troops. (MaineToday.com)

Comments

[James the Barista]

Thats a great idea, our store already sends past date beans to our troops and that is sometimes anywhere from 20-30 pounds of it.

[RC of strangeculture]

I hope they sent Arabian Mocha Java...yummy!

--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com

[Christopher Meisenzahl]

Well-done Crystal! ;-)

[Lauren]

I wish Arabian Mocha Java still existed.

RIP AMJ.

[corporate whore]

this is such a great story! you know, there was a department at headquarters, customer relations i think, that sent 15,000 pounds last december on the USO tour. it really shows how much partners care, so thanks to all who donated.

[Capt. SBUX]

Makes me Proud to be a Mainer! Well done in Waterville. We should do this permantly through-out the nation and let partners and customers never forget those that keep our freedom real!

[CB]

At our store we also felt a certain need to take care of all of our fellow texans serving in Iraq. About a year ago the US activated over 300 reservists from our surrounding communities. For those small Texan towns it was a major impact. Some of them hardly have 300 people in those towns.
At that point we decided, with DM approval, that if a customer bought a pound of coffee for the troops we would comp them two drinks. We also had a weekend that if a customer bought a pound of coffee for themselves our store would match it. In this week long event we ended up sending about 350 pounds of coffee to US soldiers in Iraq.
It makes me proud to be a part of an organization that cares so much about the people in each store's communities.

[Sara]

I was going to say, "Just don't try to send it to the troops in Iraq," based on the following links, but was pleased to see someone already has, successfully.

This, however, is what happened when a small local organic roaster here tried to send some coffee ordered by some of the troops a couple of years ago, to Halliburton's evident displeasure:

Halliburton-Support the Troops! (first part of the story)

Halliburton Coffee - The Sequel

[Jan]

My husband heard yesterday that Starbucks refused to send coffee to our military because they were against the war. I would like to know if this is fact or fiction?

[CB]

I'd like to say Jan that its a fiction, when we sent all of that coffee to the troops in Iraq the company picked up the tab to have it all sent there. 350 pounds doesn't cost much in the Starbucks pocketbook, but still that was just for one store. I'd imagine they'd be willing to do that for any store.

I commend anyone that shows compassion and empathy for our troops. I know of a few stores in Houston, Tx that have sent well over 500lbs each to the troops in the past couple of years....keep it coming.

[Carol]

I have an Arabian Mocha Java Starbucks Mug. How much is this worth?