Starbucks Coffee Company

I have to admire the commitment to making coffee purchasing feel like an escape room. Two weeks ago, I called this Starbucks location. The automated phone system said they were open. I showed up. They were closed. Fast forward to today. My wife and I returned from a trip to Japan and had one last chance before flying home tonight to visit the original Starbucks. We arrived around 4 PM. The store was clearly open. Lights on. Employees inside. Customers visible. A queue outside. Perfect, right? Wrong. After waiting, we were informed that despite the store being open and people being inside, we could not enter, could not purchase anything, and could not be accommodated in any way. Apparently there’s some reservation or timed-entry system involved, except nobody seems interested in making that obvious before you arrive. So let me make sure I understand the customer experience: * The phone system says you’re open when you’re closed. * The store appears open when you can’t enter. * There is no clear warning that you need some special process to get inside. * Staff offer no solution beyond “come back tomorrow.” Tomorrow? That’s adorable. We’re getting on a plane tonight. The most surprising part wasn’t being turned away. It was how little anyone seemed to care. We were polite, explained our situation, and got the customer service equivalent of a shrug. If the goal is to make customers feel unwelcome, congratulations. Mission accomplished. I’ve spent money at Starbucks for years. After this experience, the original Starbucks somehow managed to make me leave wanting absolutely nothing from Starbucks at all. That’s almost impressive.

Visiting the first Starbucks in Seattle was such a cool experience! The atmosphere has a classic, old-school vibe that takes you right back to where it all began. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the coffee tasted amazing — definitely worth the hype. It’s great to see the original logo and vintage design still preserved. Even though it can get busy, it’s absolutely worth stopping by for the history and the energy of the place. A must-visit spot in Seattle for any coffee lover! ☕️

Line was extremely long. Took about thirty to forty minutes to go and order. When I got inside, the service was very friendly and it didn’t take too long to receive my order. I got a caramel ribbon crunch and it was the best coffee I have ever tasted. It was creamy and refreshing. They put a lot of caramel and whipped cream. Truly amazing. The atmosphere inside was very nice and authentic. So wonderful to visit the first Starbucks.

I finally made it to the original Starbucks at Pike Place — and it was way better than I expected. We went on a Sunday evening around 7 PM, and the line was surprisingly short. We only waited about 5 minutes, and by 7:40, people were walking straight in. So if you’re hoping to avoid the long daytime lines, evening is honestly the best time to go. The store still has its old-school charm — it’s small, cozy, and full of history. You can feel that this is where it all started. The staff were super friendly, and despite how busy they usually get, they still took the time to answer questions and chat a bit. I was really excited to see that they’re offering a Cantaloupe Milk Tea right now — and it’s only available at this location. I had to try it. It’s light, refreshing, and not too sweet. Definitely something different from your usual Starbucks drinks. They also have exclusive merch you can’t find anywhere else. I picked up two limited-edition mugs, both with the classic Pike Place design. Some of the popular styles do sell out, so it’s smart to browse the shelves early. All in all, this was one of the highlights of our Seattle trip. We got great drinks, cool souvenirs, and a bit of Starbucks history — without the insane line. Worth a visit, even if you’re just a casual fan.

First I would like to say how amazing the baristas were every single one of them! My son has autism and he loves starbucks. And he has a little barista apron hat and name tag. He was all dressed up and they welcomed him with open arms. Amazing people. He had such an amazing experience. He was very happy. We all had an amazing experience. He got to mix his own strawberry refresher. Want to thank everyone there for giving my son the best experience as a little barista in training.

I waited in line for an hour and a half under the hot sun to get here. The prices for merchandise were very high, but I bought something anyway — I’m a big Starbucks fan. I went on a Monday, so it wasn’t as crowded since weekends always have long lines. If you love Starbucks like me, be ready to wait in line, but the drinks are definitely worth it. Welcome to the club!

It is an iconic Starbucks, a must visit place in Seattle, not just for the coffee but also for its vibe. Needless to say, it is very crowded especially on good weather days, but it keeps moving. The souvenirs with the first Starbucks logo are available only at this location which is a nice collectible if you are a fan of Starbucks. It has pretty much the same menu as others.

This was such a cool experience to be able to visit the very first Starbucks! I felt honored to be able to step foot in the very first Starbucks store! I have always been a huge Starbucks fan and so I felt very touched and happily emotional to be in the store,!! The line was extremely long and it took a very very, very long time to get my drink in order! The line wraps around outside the building down the street! Be prepared for a very, very long line! nonetheless, It was an exquisite experience, though! they had a lot of cool pikes place merch on the inside, which I thought was very unique and a delightful touch! The long wait time was very worth it once I was able to experience that first sip feeling😂! there was not any seating areas so I would recommend planning around that! It was also quite crowded! But overall, I had a superb time and even though the wait time was quite long, I still really enjoyed the overall experience and I thought the quality of my drink was very nice and superior! I would recommend this place as a fun excursion stop but maybe not for a quick coffee run! I would recommend maybe a less busy or less touristy Starbucks for just a quick coffee run! But you should totally go to the Starbucks as I feel like it is essential to understanding the Starbucks mission and upcoming background!! It was a super cool, tourist stop and I’m so glad I went!

Whenever I visit Seattle, make it a point to drop by Pike Place Market. While I don’t always get coffee here, I occasionally find myself standing in line to enjoy a pour-over coffee. However, I tend to visit the Starbucks Reserve Roastery more often. I prefer the relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to sit back and enjoy my coffee there. That said, sometimes I see the line of people waiting at the original Starbucks store and wonder why they’re doing it—and then feel the urge to join them. So, I ended up queuing and getting coffee again. There's something about the charm of the very first store of a major chain, with its original Starbucks logo and the quotes from Howard Schultz on the wall,that feels inspiring. It’s like recharging my energy. Perhaps, it’s worth visiting at least once.

So nice to see one of the first stores. Fun merchandise too, though I wish the coffee cup also came in something less breakable than ceramic.