You've probably never noticed it, but the Starbucks logo has a tiny, hidden detail. Here's how to spot it.
Some like their coffee bold and black, while others take it sweet and sugary. No matter your preference, you’ve probably glanced at the iconic green Starbucks logo and had a craving for caffeine (or maybe one of those Starbucks Refreshers). Catch sight of the siren with long, wavy hair, and you’re instantly transported to latte-with-extra-whipped-cream heaven. But before you gulp down that entire venti latte, look closer: Did you spot the Starbucks logo’s hidden detail?
There are many secret messages in company logos you may have missed, and Starbucks is no exception. Logo designers like to incorporate clever visual tricks or less-obvious details into their work. And according to the team that redesigned the Starbucks logo in 2011, one last-minute decision made all the difference.
Read on to learn all about the fascinating history and the hidden meaning of the Starbucks logo—along with the teeny detail you may have missed.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more fun facts, humor, cleaning and travel all week long.
The Starbucks logo’s history and evolution
Reader's Digest
You’re no doubt familiar with the ubiquitous green symbol of the coffee chain, but a lesser-known Starbucks logo secret involves the woman’s true nature. For starters, she’s not a woman at all. Now, you may have guessed that she’s a mythological creature. But what many guess is a mermaid in the center of the Starbucks logo is actually a siren.
How did the coffee shop land on this iconic image? “The name Starbucks comes from the author Herman Melville’s Moby Dick novel, but the famous siren logo was discovered while scouring old marine books,” says Starbucks representative Tyler Krivich.
In 1971, when the founders of the coffee chain decided on the name Starbucks, the nautical being stood out. A memorable maiden from Greek mythology, the siren had a twin tail and was known to entice seamen with her bewitching songs. Since the original home of Starbucks is the port city of Seattle and coffee beans typically travel overseas on large container ships, the siren seemed most appropriate.
The change from brown to iconic green
The Starbucks logo has undergone several updates over time, including changing its color from brown to green. This color change happened in 1987, when Starbucks’ name and assets were sold to Il Giornale. The Italian-style coffee company was the brainchild of Howard Schultz, a former Starbucks employee who would go on to become its CEO.
The company’s logo designer, Terry Heckler (who also designed the original logo in 1971), came up with a new design to merge the two companies’ logos and acknowledge the acquisition. The original brown color of the Starbucks logo gave way to the iconic green that we now know and recognize.
A more modern adaptation followed in 1992, when Starbucks became a publicly traded company.
The modern logo
Nineteen years after its second design update, Starbucks’ logo got another makeover, this one coinciding with the company’s 40th anniversary. The 2011 logo ditched the words Starbucks Coffee—by then, people saw the siren and immediately associated it with the coffee chain. In addition, the siren’s hair became a little more modern-looking, and she had some work done on her face.
Nothing about this siren is “perfect,” however. The coffee chain’s employees may not tell you this, but there’s a hidden meaning in the Starbucks logo related to the siren’s imperfections. It easily slips past most people, but once someone points it out, you can’t unsee it.
So what, exactly, is this Starbucks logo Easter egg? Read on to find out.
The Starbucks logo’s hidden detail
NurPhoto/Getty Images
Just like the secrets of the Baskin Robbins’ logo, the Starbucks logo’s hidden detail is something that most people tend to miss. It has to do with the design team’s attempt to make her more human and relatable.
During the siren’s makeover, which smoothed out all her imperfections, her face became more symmetrical. But after several attempts at refining the design, the team was still not satisfied. “As a team, we were like, ‘There’s something not working here, what is it?’” global creative director Connie Birdsall told Co.Design. “It was like, ‘Oh, we need to step back and put some of that humanity back in. The imperfection was important to making her really successful as a mark.”
Although you might not see it right away, there is a slight asymmetry in the siren’s face to this day. Look closely: You’ll notice that the right side of her face has a bit more shadow, and her nose dips slightly lower on the right than on the left. “It felt a bit more human and felt less like a perfectly cut mask,” design partner Bogdan Geana said.
Even if you still get confused by the Starbucks coffee cup sizes, you at least now have a handle on the mystery of their iconic logo. Now go treat yourself to a latte!
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices.
