The coffee shop Starbucks opened its doors in 1971. Its logo shows a picture of a siren, the legendary deadly sea creature that lured sailors to their deaths with her sweet song. Today, this logo appears on Starbucks coffee served in more than 42 countries.
Inspiration
The first Starbucks logo was inspired by a Norse woodcut from the 15th century. This image shows the siren with two tails.
Second Revision
Howard Schultz bought Starbucks in 1985, and in 1987 the logo underwent a change. It evolved from a brown cigar-style logo to a cleaner, corporate green logo. Additionally, the breasts of the siren were covered by her flowing hair.
Third Revision
In 1992, the image was changed again, and the siren was shown close up; her belly button and mermaid's tails were no longer visible.
New Blend
In April 2008, Starbucks introduced a new roast blend, Pike Place. With this new flavor came the return of the original logo. The logo has not been replaced on other offerings, but the vintage logo can be seen on all bags of Pike Place coffee.
Siren's Name
The name of the siren featured in the Starbucks logo is Melusine. She is a two-tailed mermaid seen on some German coats of arms during the Middle Ages.
Tags: Pike Place, Starbucks logo