Starbucks is set to update its barista dress code with the new uniform rules designed to better show off the brand’s “iconic green apron,” the coffeehouse chain announced this week.
A statement on the company’s website on Monday unveiled the planned changes, which will begin taking place from mid-May.
Newsweek has reached out by email to Starbucks seeking further comment.
A barista makes a drink at a Starbucks counter during the Interscope and Capitol Records Coachella Party on April 12, 2025, in Palm Springs, California. A barista makes a drink at a Starbucks counter during the Interscope and Capitol Records Coachella Party on April 12, 2025, in Palm Springs, California. Rich Polk/Getty Images
Why It Matters
Starbucks is the world’s largest coffee shop chain, according to number-crunching website Statista, with the brand owning branches on every continent except Antarctica. There were more than 38,000 stores worldwide as of last summer, according to the article.
New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who took the role in September 2024, is planning to revamp the company, including plans to strip back the menu in the hope of speeding up customer service. The new uniform plans, which will offer fewer clothing options and a reduced color palette, seem to align with his oft-stated goal of simplification and getting back to basics.
What To Know
Starbucks was founded in Seattle in 1971 and the baristas’ green aprons have been a part of the uniform since 1987.
Now, bosses want there to be a greater focus on the apron and plan to bring in tweaks to the dress code from next month in order to showcase it.
The company said: “Our partners are the face of our brand, and our iconic green apron has always been a special part of what makes us unique… That’s why, starting May 12, we’re evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America.”
The “more defined color palette” for the uniform to be worn beneath the aprons, will include solid black crewnecks, that can be short or long-sleeved. Black collared or button-up shirts can also be worn. For pants, “any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms,” are allowed.
Starbucks revealed they also plan to distribute two new branded black T-shirts to staff for free.
Currently, staff are allowed to wear pants that are gray, brown, or navy, and tops that are white, or have subdued patterns or muted colors.
What People Are Saying
An official statement by Starbucks on the company’s website says: “By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners, which means they can focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers.”
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol previously said in an open letter released in 2024: “Today, I’m making a commitment: We’re getting back to Starbucks. We’re refocusing on what has always set Starbucks apart—a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather, and where we serve the finest coffee, handcrafted by our skilled baristas.”
What Happens Next
The new dress code will be rolling out in branches across North America from May 12.
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