From the time we poured our first Starbucks® Caffè Latte in 1984, we envisioned our stores as a third place for customers to gather between home and work. But we never dreamed that our coffeehouses would someday be a place to also connect virtually with friends, family and coworkers.

We introduced paid Wi-Fi to our stores in 2002, and then two hours of free access for Rewards members in 2008. In 2010, we made it free to everyone. This gave people another reason to linger in our stores –  and, in the process, helped change the way they think about their workspaces. Today, millions all over the world use our stores as makeshift offices.

Today Wi-Fi’s everywhere, but over the years we’ve found other ways up our digital game. Our Coffee Passport is now available as a web app, and customers can order and pay for their cup from the palm of their hand.

Milestones

• 2002: We begin offering Wi-Fi in stores, though customers have to pay for access.
• 2010: We begin offering free Wi-Fi in stores.