Starbucks is an American coffee company founded in Seattle in 1971. It grew rapidly in the 1980s and 90s under the leadership of Howard Schultz, who brought Italian cafe culture to the US by selling espresso. Starbucks focuses on quality coffee, customer experience in its stores, and has a global presence through over 30,000 locations worldwide. It differentiates itself from competitors through its coffeehouse atmosphere and customer loyalty programs.