8.03.2005 ET

(CSRwire) SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2005-- Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) today announced the official launch of Ethos(TM) Water in its U.S. Company-operated stores. Additionally, to highlight Starbucks long history of integrating a social conscience into all aspects of its business, the Company announced a contribution goal of $10 million over the next five years, through Ethos Water, to help children and their communities around the world get clean drinking water.

Ethos Water, which was acquired by Starbucks in April and founded in 2002 by Peter Thum and Jonathan Greenblatt, was born out of Thum's personal experience. While working in South Africa in 2000 and 2001, he witnessed, first-hand, an example of the severity of the world water crisis. This experience made him realize that people take access to clean drinking water for granted. Thum conducted research and learned that the lack of clean water was one of the world's greatest health problems and that in some regions approximately $25 would enable access to an adequate amount of clean water for one person. Thum joined with Greenblatt, his business-school friend, who had also seen similar conditions overseas through his U.S. government work. Together, they founded Ethos as a means to raise awareness and funds to bring clean water to children around the world, under the simple principle "water for water."

With the launch of Ethos(TM) Water in nearly 5,000 U.S. Company-operated Starbucks stores, Starbucks hopes to inspire and empower customers to play a personal role in helping children and their communities around the world get clean water. By purchasing Ethos(TM) Water, customers can be part of a unique opportunity to help make a difference. Five cents from the sale of each bottle of Ethos(TM) Water will support Starbucks goal of donating $10 million over the next five years to non-profit organizations that are helping to alleviate the world water crisis.

"We see the significant opportunity to make a difference by coupling our belief in integrating a social conscience into all aspects of Starbucks business with Peter and Jonathan's unwavering commitment to educating the U.S. public about the world water crisis,"
said Jim Donald, Starbucks president and chief executive officer. "We believe that Starbucks brand awareness and relevancy, strong and loyal customer base, and broad reach will help Ethos Water realize its vision in a larger and more impactful way."

Through the Ethos Water mission, Starbucks is currently making a difference by supporting efforts to bring clean water to children and their communities in developing countries through support of non-profit organizations such as UNICEF, CARE, WaterAid and WaterPartners International. Starbucks hopes to help raise awareness about this work and become a productive and significant collaborator in support of solutions to the world water crisis, and will continue to leverage Company initiatives and efforts so that they complement efforts already under way by these and other organizations.

"Our vision to empower millions of people to make a difference is now a reality as the result of the launch of Ethos(TM) Water in Starbucks stores and our goal of contributing $10 million over the next five years," said Thum and Greenblatt, Ethos co-founders and Starbucks vice presidents. "It is exciting when you consider how Starbucks can scale this vision and expand Ethos reach to build a community of engaged consumers across the country to help more children around the world get clean water."

Starbucks has a long history of giving back to communities where it operates through social and environmental programs and projects. In addition, the Company has received numerous awards for its leadership in sustainable business practices. In January 2005, Starbucks was awarded the World Environment Center's award for C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) Practices, Starbucks coffee buying guidelines. Additionally, Starbucks recently released its fourth annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, the full text of which is available on Starbucks.com.

For more information about Ethos Water, please visit http://www.ethoswater.com.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 9,500 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business. Its recent acquisition of Ethos(TM) Water highlights Starbucks long history of integrating a social conscience into all aspects of its business. In addition to its retail operations, the Company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino(R) coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot(R) espresso drink, and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships, and Starbucks Coffee Liqueur(TM) through a marketing and distribution agreement. The Company's brand portfolio provides a wide variety of consumer products -- innovative superpremium Tazo(R) teas and exceptional compact discs from Starbucks Hear Music(TM) enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products. The Seattle's Best Coffee(R) and Torrefazione Italia(R) coffee brands enable Starbucks to appeal to a broader consumer base by offering an alternative variety of coffee flavor profiles.

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