One Man’s Mission To Visit Nearly 20,000 Starbucks Locations (So Far)

Like a handful of other global brands, Starbucks has become ubiquitous across the U.S. and around the world. In some locations, two or more of the chain’s cafes are located within walking distance of each other.

If you’re a fan of the company, you probably have your favorite beverage, location, and barista … but you might think that there’s not that much difference from one Starbucks to another. But one uniquely focused globetrotter has been proving that assumption false for nearly 30 years.

Winter’s tale

Since 1997, a resourceful tourist named Winter has been pursuing his goal of visiting every Starbucks on the planet. So far, he has made it to locations in every U.S. state and 70 nations for a total of 19,511 cafes and counting.

On the surface, it might seem that Winter is simply a superfan of the brand. And while that might be true, there’s something deeper driving his mission.

Instead of visiting destinations in search of instantly recognizable landmarks, he sets out to explore Starbucks, offering him a different and more intimate look at local communities.

Not only does he get to experience the lives that locals lead in a much more direct way than most traditional tourists, he also sees the unique amenities and menu items Starbucks offers around the world.

Facing challenges

Now in his early 50s, Winter acknowledges that he’ll have to start slowing down at some point even though he wants to keep exploring Starbucks for decades to come. And with new locations opening up all the time, it’s unlikely that he’ll ever be able to cross every cafe off his list.

But he continues his mission, living a nomadic life in pursuit of new Starbucks adventures and a glimpse into the way various communities experience the brand.

Chris Agee August 5th, 2024

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