A reader wrote to me that she had been cleaning through some things and discovered a little book of poetry, collected by Starbucks. It is called “Poems from the Land of Coffee.” The little book had been sent to her when she initially received her Duetto card. For those that don’t recall, the Duetto Card was a Starbucks credit card launched in a partnership between Starbucks and Chase Bank. The little book of poems is charming. Coincidentally, Molly of Seattle Custom Framing recently framed for me a Starbucks picture which happens to be the exact picture on the front cover of the Starbucks Poems booklet. A barista had been cleaning up a storage area for his store, and stumbled upon wall art no longer in use, and offered me this picture. The anchor photo for this blog post is wall art from Starbucks. As more and more Starbucks stores are transitioning to the ‘heritage’ or ‘green’ store design, I am seeing this particular picture less often in the stores. I think it represents an older era of Starbucks store wall art.
Selected pages from the little booklet are below. In particular, I love the Ethiopia poem. It is about pages 18 and 19, so be sure to click on it.
Does anyone else remember this booklet? I assume it dates from about five years ago. The Duetto Visa Card is no longer available. I’ve seen a couple of different dates announcing the exact introduction of the Duetto Card but it seems it was initially launched in October 2003, and discontinued in February 2010. An article discussing the discontinuation of the Duetto Visa Card is here.
This is an open thread. Chat about poetry, the Duetto Visa Card, or anything Starbucks-related.
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Melody! You’re coming to my store (friars mission) on Monday! We are so excited and I can’t wait to meet you!
See you soon,
Zack store 527
Melody, you come across the most amazing things! I liked the last Panama poem!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen wall art like the photo on the poem book cover here. But I’ve noticed that a lot of the starbucks stores have started changing their wall art and they’re not all the same anymore.
Maybe you can do a post on wall art sometime 😀
What a neat thread. It is funny you mention wall art because yesterday sitting in a SB store that I don’t often go to but like alot because of their high ceilings and open feeling I looked at the art work and noticed how different it was. I also noticed some stores have totally eliminated art from their walls. It is a shame that the renovation of some stores have left them sterile and lack community. Stores just were at one point more inviting. Also, I never remember seeing this book of poems. I have noticed one SB has been having an ongoing night of poetry readings. Is that common in stores or is it just in this particular one because the manager or DM thought it was something the community would enjoy?
Melody looking forward to hearing your reviews of the SB stores you visit on your CA trip!
What a totally totally cool little booklet, and of POEMS yet! Every time I come across some odd little item or piece of a booklet from Sbux, I am amazed, as I know you are Melody, at actually how VERY much Sbux has changed in a very short time. 2005, 06, even ’07….things were MUCH different. I remember those ways as being much longer ago… and yet, it was almost yesterday!
I can’t pick a favorite poem yet..altho the one for Mexico, ‘winter and the Rio Grande’ was I think maybe the most beautifully written, and the one about the sea. (Indonesia?)
On a totally DIFFERENT (and far less beautiful note): what about Sbux soon to raise their prices AGAIN. ??? Schultz says they have not done so in ‘quite a while’ (or something) and yet I clearly remember quite a jump last Nov. 17th. less than a yr ago.
And lastly, a quote from the book I referred to about Marshall Field:
“Those who enter to buy, support me. Those who enter to flatter, please me. Those who complain, teach me how I may please others so more will come. Only those hurt me who are displeased but do not complain.”
what a cool thing! Really neat entries in there.
And yes they did raise prices here less than a year ago too…I was surprised to see Pumpkin Spice lattes are close to $5 for a grande.
re: the price increase: I was told by my regular store today (nw suburb of Chicago) that the increase is “regional” and we will not see it. just fyi….
Melody, I have this little booklet too, but I couldn’t remember where I got it from. Thanks for the reminder 🙂 It’s a really nice little book. I also have a Starbucks recipe book. I wonder if you’ve ever seen that?
I used to have that poster above my bed.
Very cool book of poems!
You’re going to have to start a Starbucks museum one of these days! 🙂
The self poem made me laugh. I read or write poetry when I’m stressed, and this just helped me during a stressful moment. Thanks, Melody!
there is my little booklet! 🙂 I am glad it’s getting around to make lots of people amused now!
I do remember when most of the imagery in my local Starbucks was beans and coffee – now it’s all loud colors and words and no real pictures or much framed art. In fact i think some local community art used to be up on the walls.
@purple1 I have heard of some stores having music or poetry nights, but never one of ‘mine’ so i am not sure how common it is.
@denise r. oh no, my coffee (chai tea late to be exact) habit was already more expensive than beer 🙁 now as someone in the food industry i can tell you that market basket (the average of the cost of groceries) has increased, and the cost to keep employees has increased so i can see it being needed (please don’t short the teams more hours) but if they need to cover costs could they do it and keep their spirit (aka keep the call center in seattle, bring back more shift hours, etc) i want to see something positive about a price increase, and not higher salaries at the high ranks.
@GAStarbucksGirl the “starbucks passion for coffee” book?
@AmazonV YES! That’s is 🙂 I’ve never actually cooked any of the recipes. I just thought it was a neat little book like poetry book.
I 100% remember this booklet and wall art. I had the 3 small pictures that went with this promotion for a time period and was going to frame them. The scoop with beans in it being my favorite of the three. I actually found the three pictures in my basement the other day and decided to toss them.
Nice post Melody brings back some great memories.
How long have you been a Starbucks Customer btw?
It is nice to see how these old items all tied into the core of the brand. It will be interesting to see if any of the recent materials stand the test of time as well as the older items have.
There is a huge pic. at my regular Sbux of “Yergacheffe”….. (that’s how it used to be spelled). I am SOOOO hoping that when/if it goes, I get a shot at it. I would LOVE to have this….I have just the place going up a stairwell on a brick wall in my house.
to Jason: obviously Melody will speak for herself about ‘how long a Sbux customer’ but I am pretty sure it will be mid-late ’80’s. (we’ve talked about this…how long it’s been, same for me)
I have this little booklet, too, and think there are some lovely poems in it. I know this is an old post of yours but I was just googling the little booklet. I don’t remember anything about a Duetto Visa card so I don’t know how I got the booklet but I look at the poems every now and then again.
Thanks for finding the blog and commenting. I really think this is sweet little book too. A lot of thought and tlc was put into it by Starbucks.