The Starbucks Siren

September 30th, 2010

Since 1971, when the first Starbucks was established in Pike Place Market, the siren has been an icon for delicious coffee. Over the course of their 39 year history, Starbucks has undergone several changes. The company has gone from serving regular coffee and tea products, to introducing the Caffe Latte in 1984 and the Frappuccino in 1995. Furthermore, Starbucks has expanded far beyond their initial Seattle limits. The coffee business successfully moved outside of America when, in 1996, they established a Starbucks in Japan. The company has had undergone major developments, but one that often goes unnoticed is the change to their icon.Originally, the company’s symbol was brown and represented their products on the logo. Underneath the siren image was the words coffee, tea, and spices. The icon itself has changed, too. The first siren was a detailed image, and had two tails and a bare chest.The logo would change again in 1987, when the siren was rendered with long flowing locks and a bare stomach. As for the fish tails, they were still present, but somewhat less visible. Starbucks would use this logo until 1992; it was during this year that the symbol we know would be released.Now the icon has a reduced product list, presenting only the words Starbucks Coffee. As for the siren, she is shown from the waist up and reveals less of her body. The two tails are visible, but only slightly. In-fact, if you didn’t know she was a siren, you might not be sure what the stripy objects on her sides are. The image is less detailed than its original rendering, but the simplicity makes her face easier to see.Maybe you couldn’t tell whether the lady was a siren or a mermaid, but the icon has been infamous for Starbucks coffee for years. You know when you see that lighted green sign, you’re on your way to great coffee.