If you look closely, you’ll notice one small imperfection in the iconic Starbucks logo.
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 green Siren with her long, wavy hair, and you’re instantly transported to latte-with-extra-whipped-cream heaven. But there is a surprising hidden detail on this famous logo—and you’ve probably never noticed it before. There are many secret messages in company logos you may have missed—including the Baskin Robbins logo and the 7-Eleven logo—and Starbucks is no exception. According to the team that redesigned the image in 2011, one last-minute decision made all the difference. Then, read up on the interesting history of the Pringles man and how he became their mascot.
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The history of the Starbucks logo
That mythological creature that resembles a mermaid in the center of the Starbucks logo is actually a Siren. According to Starbucks representative Tyler Krivich, “Starbucks’ name comes from the author Herman Melville’s Moby Dick novel, but the famous Siren logo was discovered while scouring old marine books.”
In 1971, when the founders of the coffee chain decided on the name Starbucks, the nautical being stood out. 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 logo has gone through changes over time, including its color (from brown to green) in 1987, followed by a more modern adaption in 1992 when Starbucks became a publicly traded company. But the most prominent change of all happened in 2011.
The Siren received a full makeover. Her hair became a little more modern-looking and she had some work done on her face. The words “Starbucks Coffee” were also removed from the logo, as people saw the Siren and immediately associated it with the coffee chain. However, nothing about this Siren is “perfect.” Keep up with your Starbucks knowledge and check out these things Starbucks employees won’t tell you.
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The hidden detail in the Starbucks logo
During the Siren’s makeover, which smoothed out all of her imperfections, her face became more symmetrical. But, after several attempts, 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 toldCo.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 the left. “It felt a bit more human and felt less like a perfectly cut mask,” design partner Bogdan Geana said.
So, there you have it. Even Starbucks says that imperfection is beauty. Now go treat yourself to a latte! But before you go, make sure you know the difference between the Starbucks coffee sizes so you can order like a pro.
Sources:
- Starbucks: “Who is the Starbucks Siren?”
- My Recipes: “The Starbucks Logo Is Actually Asymmetrical, Just as Its Designers Intended”
FAQs
She'd been around since the very first Starbucks location in 1971. The double-tailed mermaid appears to be a reference to an Italian medieval character Starbucks has claimed as “Norse”–but in any case, the imagery, born from a maritime book, inspired its founders to make her the logo of the Seattle coffee shop.
What is the deeper meaning of the Starbucks logo? ›
The idea behind the logo was that it was believed that sirens lured sailors with their beautiful voices to a shipwreck off the coast. Drawing on this as inspiration, the founders wanted to give off the idea that Starbucks seduces coffee lovers.
What is the controversy with the Starbucks logo? ›
The Starbucks 1971 logo showing a siren in a bare torso stirred up controversy. So, the 1987 logo redesign covered it up to avoid controversy and look more appropriate. Starbucks features customizable drinks and secret menus.
What is the thing on the Starbucks logo? ›
The Meaning Behind Starbuck's Famous Logo Design
As an inspiration, he sorted out old marine books and based the two-tailed siren design off of a 16th century Norse woodcut. For many years, this siren was mistaken for being a mermaid, yet it was later confirmed that the symbol was, in fact, a siren.
What is the mistake in Starbucks logo? ›
Actually, the unsymmetrical shadow was only added in 2011, when Starbucks decided to make the siren more human and approachable. Whereas the previous iteration (from 1992 onwards, find it below) was completely symmetrical, the added imperfection makes her more intriguing and less 'perfect'.
Why is the Starbucks logo a siren? ›
While scouring some old marine books, something stood out. A mysterious, nautical figure called to them, as sirens do. “They really loved the look of it and it kind of tied into what they felt Starbucks stood for,” Steve said. “So we took inspiration from that and created the logo from there.
Is the Starbucks logo a mermaid or siren? ›
From its small beginnings in 1971, the Starbucks logo design has always been a two-tailed mermaid. These days, we call her by her proper name – the siren, even though the newest logo design doesn't explicitly show that she has two tails.
Who is the girl in the Starbucks logo? ›
The lady in the Starbucks logo is the Siren, a mythical creature inspired by a 16th-century Scandinavian wood carving of a twin-tailed mermaid. The logo was designed by Terry Heckler and has undergone several changes since its introduction in 1971.
Why is Starbucks being boycotted? ›
The American coffee giant became embroiled in boycott calls on TikTok after it sued Workers United, a union of Starbucks employees, in October for trademark infringement over a since-deleted social media post from the union's account that retweeted an image of a bulldozer breaking through the barrier between Israel and ...
What is a twin-tailed siren? ›
The siren(mermaid) is typically depicted with long, wavy hair and a crown, and she is holding her tails, which are often intertwined. From European myths and alchemy, her two tails represent dualities, such as earth and water, or body and soul.
A twin-tailed mermaid, sometimes called a Melusine or a siren, and is commonly portrayed as being half-serpent/fish and half-human. They are a symbol of transformation (specifically relating to alchemy) and also symbols of unity that link earth and water, and body and soul.
Who owns Starbucks? ›
Starbucks (SBUX) Ownership Overview
The ownership structure of Starbucks (SBUX) stock is a mix of institutional, retail and individual investors. Approximately 44.32% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 2.42% is owned by Insiders and 53.27% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.
Who is CEO of Starbucks? ›
Laxman Narasimhan (born 15 May 1967) is an Indian-American business executive and the chief executive officer (CEO) of Starbucks. He was previously chief commercial officer (CCO) of PepsiCo, and CEO of Reckitt. He joined Starbucks as interim CEO in October 2022, and succeeded Howard Schultz as CEO in April 2023.
Is there a hidden message in the Starbucks logo? ›
The Origins Of The Siren
The double-tailed mermaid appears to be a reference to an Italian medieval character Starbucks has claimed as “Norse”–but in any case, the imagery, born from a maritime book, inspired its founders to make her the logo of the Seattle coffee shop.
Why did Starbucks change their logo? ›
Realizing just how strong and successful their brand had become, Starbucks dropped many of the familiar design elements from its logo—giving it a very modern look and feel, with minimalism leading the charge.
Why is it called Starbucks? ›
While researching names of mining camps on Mt. Rainier, one of the best known landmarks near Seattle, Terry came across “Starbo,” which eventually led the team back to where they'd started. In “Moby-Dick,” the name of the first mate on the Pequod was, you guessed it, Starbuck. A brand was born.
Who is the lady on the Starbucks symbol? ›
The lady in the Starbucks logo is the Siren, a mythical creature inspired by a 16th-century Scandinavian wood carving of a twin-tailed mermaid. The logo was designed by Terry Heckler and has undergone several changes since its introduction in 1971.
What does the Starbucks logo mean in Greek mythology? ›
The Story behind the Logo:
The mermaid in the logo is inspired by Greek mythology, specifically the siren—a creature that lured sailors with its enchanting voice and appearance. The founders chose the mermaid to represent the alluring and seductive nature of coffee.
What does the two-tailed siren mean? ›
From European myths and alchemy, her two tails represent dualities, such as earth and water, or body and soul. ( source)
How does the Starbucks logo relate to coffee? ›
The Starbucks logo underwent a significant redesign, adopting a green color scheme to symbolize freshness and growth. The siren's hair now covered her breasts, and the focus of the brand narrowed to “Starbucks Coffee,” dropping “Tea Spices” from the logo.
