Does Starbucks Own Seattle Coffee?

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Given Seattle and Starbucks go hand in hand, some believe Starbucks owns every coffee brand under Seattle's name. The belief that Starbucks owns Seattle Coffee is among the most often misunderstood ideas. Actually, the reality is rather different. Starbucks owns the brand with its own history and character, Seattle's Best Coffee. It doesn't run a business under the name Seattle Coffee. Confusion results from similar names, past acquisitions, and the general link between Seattle and fine coffee.

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The Confusion Between Seattle Coffee And Seattle's Best Coffee Has Led To Many Assumptions

Given their similar sounds, many think Seattle Coffee and Seattle's Best Coffee are the same company. Though Seattle Coffee is a well-known brand having a sizable portion of the coffee market, the name does not refer to any one specific business. Years ago, Starbucks bought Best Coffee from Seattle. It does not run a business under the name Seattle Coffee.

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The History Of Seattle's Best Coffee And How It Became A Starbucks-Owned Brand

Originally a little ice cream and coffee shop in Coupeville, Washington, Seattle's Best Coffee first opened in 1969. Jim Stewart started it with an eye toward roasting first-rate coffee beans. Over time the company expanded and then changed its name to Seattle's Best Coffee in 1991. The brand became known for offering consistent, well-balanced coffee tastes.

AFC Enterprises purchased Seattle's Best Coffee in 1998 in an attempt to broaden its profile. Seattle's Best Coffee was purchased from AFC Enterprises in 2003 for $72 million by Starbucks, thus strengthening Starbucks' presence. This move enabled Starbucks to serve consumers who sought coffee that was reasonably priced but still maintained good quality.

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Starbucks Also Acquired Torrefazione Italia But Took A Different Approach With The Brand

Along with Seattle's Best Coffee, Starbucks purchased Torrefazione Italia, a luxury coffee shop known for their quality blends. First launched in 1986, the brand was well-known for its Italian-style coffee. Unlike Seattle's Best Coffee, which stayed open under Starbucks's ownership, all 17 Torrefazione Italia cafés closed by the end of 2005. Starbucks kept the brand name but focused more on coffee sales than on running cafés under that name.

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The Term Seattle Coffee Is Often Mistaken For Multiple Brands That Are Not Connected To It

Sometimes the term Seattle Coffee is used carelessly, which leads to uncertainty. Since Starbucks is based in Seattle, many local coffee shops have become well-known and people have started to believe that Starbucks owns every coffee brand connected to the city. In 1998, Starbucks bought a 60-location British chain known as Seattle Coffee Company in the United Kingdom. After the purchase, though, that brand was rebranded into Starbucks outlets and completely different from Seattle's Best Coffee.

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Starbucks Strategically Acquired Seattle's Best Coffee To Expand Its Market Reach

Starbucks has always concentrated on providing a range of coffee experiences to serve different consumers. Purchasing Seattle's Best Coffee helped Starbucks to create a brand with high-quality coffee for a lower price point than in their flagship stores. This helped Starbucks to maintain its flagship Starbucks brand with premium coffee while targeting a broader market.

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The Connection Between Starbucks And Seattle-Based Coffee Brands Has Caused Some Misunderstandings

Though that is not the case, many people feel that every coffee brand associated with Seattle has to be related to Starbucks. Though it owns Seattle's Best Coffee, Starbucks does not own a company called Seattle Coffee. While Seattle's relationship with coffee culture has generated some questions, Starbucks' business behavior has always been deliberate. Every purchase served a purpose, helping the company to maintain its global coffee leadership reputation and expand into several markets.