Starbucks clerks’ aprons come in 7 colors. Does it have any special significance?

If you regularly go to Starbucks for coffee, you should remember that their clerks wear aprons. However, have you noticed that their aprons are different colors? Typically, Starbucks employee aprons actually come in four colors: green, black, brown, and purple. This is actually a hierarchy within Starbucks.

The green apron is the first layer of apron, and all ordinary store clerks wear green aprons. Although this green is the color of Starbucks, it is the most common base color in employee clothing. Anyone who works at Starbucks can wear the coffee chain’s brand colors. However, there are differences between different green aprons.

The black apron is a symbol of Starbucks’ internal identity. You need to learn a lot about coffee, be familiar with the origins of various coffees, understand the taste of coffee beans and the stories behind them, and know how to introduce the culture and knowledge of these coffees to guests. Simply knowing this is not enough. Starbucks has strict level examinations every year, including written examinations and interviews. The clerk needs to pass this test to get a black apron. This identity is called "Coffee Master".

If the barista you’re serving is wearing a black apron, it means they have successfully graduated from Starbucks’ Coffee Master program. You can sit down and chat with them about coffee beans and various coffee drinks. Additionally, many Starbucks flagship stores around the world are "all-black apron stores." All employees in these stores must wear black aprons. The Baking Workshop opened in Shanghai last year is just such a store.

Brown aprons are very rare. Starbucks holds a coffee ambassador competition every two years. Competitions include latte art, coffee tasting, creative drinks, blind tasting, professional knowledge assessment, etc. The brown apron can only be obtained when you win from the competition. The competition is global, with each region sending its own representatives, so each region can only receive a single-digit brown apron each year, and the apron is only valid for two years and cannot be inherited permanently.

Purple aprons are not only rare, they are also regional. If you see a purple apron, you're the winner. To earn a purple apron, employees need to participate in and win the EMEA Barista Championship. EMEA is the abbreviation of Europe, Middle East and Africa, also known as Europe, Middle East and Africa. Therefore, this color cannot be seen in China.

Here’s the secret behind the color of Starbucks’ aprons. This management method has gained a reputation in the industry for its success in converting employee levels into a process of upgrading monsters, not only making many employees interested in their jobs but also increasing their self-esteem. At the same time, the knowledge and good mood accumulated by employees in the process will also be transformed into the services they provide to guests.