Looking for a way to score some free Starbucks? According to the blog Wallet Pop, Starbucks is offering a free cup (size tall) to customers who fill out cards pledging to give five hours of their time as volunteers. This offer will be valid only for four days, January 21st-25th, and is inspired by the inauguration of our new president (who, we here at Latte.us believe, should get free Starbucks for LIFE for taking on our mess of a country). Although I do not see any mention of this offer on Starbucks official site, it was reported on Yahoo Finance and appears to be reputable! The pledge cards can be found at your local Starbucks. I for one will be checking that out today...
Speaking of Starbucks, the coffee giant has begun importing beans from an unexpected source: China. For several years, Starbucks has been working with coffee-growers in the southern province of Yunnan to develop a product worthy of the Starbucks name. No specific mention of whether or not this coffee is free trade...
According to the blog BU Now, only 6% of Starbucks coffee is free trade, and this 6% is only whole beans to be purchased, not the coffee brewed in Starbucks' establishments. In contrast, this same blog claims that all Dunkin Donuts coffee is fair trade (yet still costs less than a cup of Starbucks, therefore invalidating Starbucks argument that switching to fair trade would skyrocket costs for customers. And as any good customer of Starbucks already knows, their drinks are already pricier than your average coffee stand).
Does anyone have any more information about Starbucks' fair trade policies?