Origin Experience and beyond:
Starbucks partners on what ‘life changing’ trip to the Costa Rica coffee farm meant to them
By Michael Ko
When she was working as a Starbucks barista, Kelsie pulled hundreds of espresso shots a day and was “constantly interacting with coffee beans” to make coffee for her customers.
But a trip she took in February completely changed her perspective on those many coffee beans – and the story that each of them have to tell. Kelsie was randomly selected to go on the Starbucks Origin Experience to visit Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks coffee farm in Costa Rica. There, last month, along with other partners selected for the trip, she met farmers who grew coffee, dug in the sun-warmed dirt with her hands to plant a cherry tree, picked ripe coffee cherries – and cupped her hands around 25 coffee cherries, the number it takes to make one shot in a store.
“I realized how much goes into just one coffee bean and all the hands that touch it before it gets to me,” said Kelsie, who is now a social media storyteller working at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle. “I realized how many steps go into making my cup of coffee every day – opened up a whole new perspective about how I drink my coffee.”
I realized how many steps go into making my cup of coffee every day – opened up a whole new perspective about how I drink my coffee.”
Kelsie
As of this spring, 5,000 Starbucks partners who completed Coffee Master training at Starbucks have been selected to Origin Experiences around the world, in Costa Rica, Rwanda and Sumatra to learn about “the first 10 feet” of growing coffee.
Kelsie said for her, the trip was “life changing.” Many of those who have gone carry the experience forward with them – bringing the stories of the coffee beans and those who grow them back to their stores, to share with customers and into their own lives. “It opened up a whole new perspective for me about how I drink my coffee,” Kelsie said.
Read on for stories from other partners about the lasting impact of Origin Experience, as well as some of Starbucks other benefits, on their lives.
Kasia – store manager, Arizona
Kasia recently celebrated her 20-year anniversary with Starbucks. She joined as a barista shortly after immigrating to the U.S. from Poland and says, “I grew up at Starbucks.” She attended Origin Experience in 2023.
The trip to Hacienda Alsacia was an incredibly impactful experience for me. Standing on the ground where our coffee begins, seeing firsthand the effort and care that goes into every bean, made me incredibly proud of our brand. But beyond that, it gave me a deeper understanding of how Starbucks is truly connected to the communities and farmers that grow our coffee, and how the work of the Starbucks Foundation helps support them. That was one of the most profound lessons I took away.
When I returned to my store, I had this renewed sense of purpose. I knew I wanted to do more than just elevate the coffee culture in my store; I wanted to expand that vision across the district and beyond. I began running seminars for Coffee Masters and worked to inspire other leaders and partners to not only deepen their coffee knowledge but to continue educating themselves – and share that passion with others. As you know, during the pandemic, we had to pause things like coffee tastings, which were always such an important ritual in our meetings. One of my goals since then has been to reintroduce that meaningful connection to coffee in our stores, and to remind everyone – partners and customers alike – of the artistry and beauty that coffee represents.
[The trip to Hacienda Alsacia] gave me a deeper understanding of how Starbucks is truly connected to the communities and farmers that grow our coffee, and how the work of the Starbucks Foundation helps support them.”
Kasia
I also started networking right after (Origin Experience). I joined the board of the regional Women’s Impact Network (for Starbucks partners), as the communications lead. I help with programming and run some of the events in the Arizona group, like helping a local organization advocating for early detection breast cancer.
Sharing my OE story at multiple events (for partners), gave me an opportunity to connect with various leaders and sparked a curiosity about what could come next for my career. That’s led me to the Accelerated Development Program (which connects retail leaders with mentors and development opportunities) in Arizona, where I’m diving deeper into development options and mapping out what’s next.
I’m more excited than ever about our coffeehouse experience, and even more so about leading quality coffee and espresso tastings with my team throughout the day. It’s about sharing that connection to coffee that began at Hacienda Alsacia and continuing to inspire the same sense of pride and passion in my team and customers.
As for other benefits, our Bean Stock … I was able to move to Arizona and buy a house because of that benefit. I’ve been using Bean Stock to travel with my family. That’s my vacation money.
Jim – barista, North Carolina
An almost 10-year partner, Jim recently finished a fellowship with the Starbucks Planning and Replenishment team. The fellowship is available to Starbucks partners who’ve taken part in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, through which Jim graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Jim went to Origin Experience in 2023.
The Origin Experience trip reinforced the importance of sustainability, community and the human connection behind every cup of coffee. I brought back a deeper appreciation for the supply chain, and it gave me a unique perspective on Starbucks commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability, which I’ve used to inspire my team and educate customers.
Programs like SCAP and the Origin Experience are life-changing opportunities that enhance your career and deepen your connection to the company’s mission.”
Jim
Over the past 10 years, I’ve grown from a barista to taking on leadership roles within my store, such as training new partners and optimizing inventory management. The Starbucks College Achievement Plan fellowship was a significant milestone in my career growth, allowing me to contribute to strategic initiatives at the corporate level.
I encourage every partner to explore and take full advantage of Starbucks benefits. The SCAP program has been the most meaningful benefit for me. It allowed me to earn my degree debt-free while continuing to work and grow within Starbucks. This program has opened doors for me, both within the company and beyond, and has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional growth. I am thankful and grateful to be a SCAP graduate and SCAP fellow. Programs like SCAP and the Origin Experience are life-changing opportunities that enhance your career and deepen your connection to the company’s mission. Don’t hesitate to pursue these opportunities – they’re designed to help you grow and succeed.
Isabel – district manager, Ontario, Canada
Isabel is a 14-year partner. When she attended Origin Experience in Costa Rica in 2023, she’d been a store manager for five years. She was promoted to district manager in February 2025.
Right when I got back from Origin, I created a plan with my district manager, Amanda. She went to OE in 2014. She is a 20+ year partner, and she inspired each of us in the district to push our passion for coffee. We curated almost like an OE Ted Talk Series, that we hosted in our district, and invited other areas to come over as well. We did coffee experiences, coffee trivia sessions and created a regular cadence of Coffee Master certification. With my peer Hannah, who also went to OE, we reached out to our regional director and spoke about our experiences in their meetings with district managers and store managers and really revived coffee passion.
Going to OE, those three days were some of the most memorable days of my career at Starbucks. The trip was a pivotal moment for me. It elevated not only my personal experience but also my influence on my team, my district, my area. This experience made me believe that this company is a place where I want to grow.
This experience made me believe that this company is a place where I want to grow.”
Isabel
The most important piece I brought back from OE that had a significant change and impact on my leadership is the value of craft and belonging – a huge appreciation for our coffee, our product, the way that we craft that perfect cup of coffee. I thought what I had going on within my store and my community was special but seeing how it all started at the first 10 feet in Costa Rica … made me realize, this is my calling. I can truly say that I am proud to be a partner.
Zach – store manager, Florida
A four-year partner, Zach was a brand-new store manager when he went to Origin Experience in 2023. He’s now opening a new store with a team of shift supervisors who are all certified Coffee Masters.
When I went to Costa Rica, I was two weeks into my role as a store manager. Coming back, I really had a fire lit under me to really inspire this passion for craft and the first 10 feet of the business, so my team could replicate that experience for our customers. I recertified all my shift supervisors as Coffee Masters, so they could speak to C.A.F.E. Practices (Starbucks ethical sourcing guidelines) and I assigned them tasks – to do coffee tastings for customers, sampling initiatives, brewing methods.
At Origin Experience, I also got exposure to a lot of district managers across the country, and heard their approach to the role. It made me see that being a DM could be more than what I thought it could be. I went home with a lot of inspiration, seeing those great leaders. I joined the company for SCAP, I have about a year left. I came in as a shift supervisor, worked up as an assistant store manager, store manager and now I’m working on district manager development.
I’m part of a company that’s elevating coffee farmers and coffee agriculture around the world.”
Zach
Being out at the farm (in Costa Rica), hearing from a farmer about how our agronomy support saved his multigenerational farm from ruin, that was a moment of inspiration. I’m part of a company that’s elevating coffee farmers and coffee agriculture around the world.
(As a partner, there are a number) of benefits I’ve used, like Lyra mental health, during my early days as a store manager, when I was navigating those sink or swim situations. (Eligible Starbucks partners and family members can have up to 20 free therapy or coaching sessions a year.) It was great to have that as a resource and vent and have that professional help to decompress in a healthy way. Also, the fitness benefit (that pays for entry fees to events): we’re bringing a bunch of people from our district to all do a 5K together to help raise money for a food bank we partner with.
Lynn – supervisor, York Roasting Plant, Pennsylvania
Lynn started at Starbucks in 2002 as a manufacturing partner. She’s now an operations supervisor, overseeing the second shift at one of Starbucks five roasting plants in the U.S.
I am one of the inspiring stories that you don’t hear enough of. I started as a manufacturing partner and worked on perfecting my job, then became a trainer, then applied to move to the roasting department. I totally loved roasting coffee and the challenge of roasting the finest coffee. There too, I became a trainer. I continued on the leadership path. Being an operations supervisor is not for the faint of heart – it’s hard work – but I do it for the partners and the company because I believe they do the right thing.
I continue to tell anyone that would like to listen about our benefit package, especially being chosen to go to Costa Rica. What company does that? Ours does! I believe it changed my life.”
Lynn
I went to Origin in 2012. If I had to pick just one impactful experience from Origin, it would be how hard the farmers work on caring for the coffee cherry. It is amazing how much work is put into making a cup of coffee. I continue to tell anyone that would like to listen about our benefit package, especially being chosen to go to Costa Rica. What company does that? Ours does! I believe it changed my life.
Our 401K and SIP are other meaningful benefits. This continued to help in so many ways for our family with paying for schooling or a project around the house when we needed extra funds.
Adrian – shift supervisor, Oregon
Adrian, a five-year partner and shift supervisor in Oregon, will represent North America at the upcoming Starbucks Global Barista Championship this June. He attended Origin Experience this year.
(The most impactful thing I learned at OE) was definitely the hard work and dedication that it takes to make coffee. It’s a whole process to go from the plant to the shot we’re pulling. There was one moment, where somebody placed the coffee beans in our hand representing one shot – I probably pull hundreds of shots a day for customers. To see how much work is put into that one shot gave me more pride in how I work as a barista.
There was one moment, where somebody placed the coffee beans in our hand representing one shot… To see how much work is put into that one shot gave me more pride in how I work as a barista.”
Adrian
(I’ll be participating in the Global Barista Championship) for every single person I met and every single farmer who’s dedicating their lives to get us a bag of espresso. I want to make sure their story is heard and seen. I get to spread that message, our mission to ensure great quality. I still have a year left on my Starbucks College Achievement Program journey. I’m majoring in business administration. And I want to go into managerial accounting.
In the last five years, I’ve learned how to be more patient. We’re a people company that just happens to sell coffee, and so I think it’s having that sense of welcoming. I think working at this company has allowed me to do that, it’s made me a better person.
