Tell us more about the company’s initiative with the hard-of-hearing (HoH). Is the Bangsar Village branch still staffed with ASL-trained employees?

The Starbucks branch in Bangsar Village is, in fact, the world’s first Starbucks Signing Store. Its success here has led to the US and China replicating the concept, and further empowering deaf communities around the world.

Our HoH partners are trained in Malaysian Sign Language, which the non-deaf team also has to learn—we're constantly thinking of new ways to help the former feel more integrated in our operations.
 
While these Starbucks Signing stores provide employment and development opportunities for the deaf, they are also hubs for raising awareness and improving accessibility. We provide complimentary workshops at our stores, including sign language classes for the public, professional and development talks by the deaf community, as well as empowerment and awareness workshops for deaf youths.

Kudos to Starbucks Malaysia for offering an RM2 discount to whoever supplies his or her own Starbucks flask.

Thanks! Speaking of firsts, we were also the first coffee chain in our nation to introduce the ‘bring your own tumbler' programme.

Did you know it is free to request used coffee grounds at any of our stores? Customers can take them home for gardening or composting.

Since 2018, we switched all our single-use straws to biodegradable plastic. We also offer reusable straws for as low as RM1 each, and will continue to provide more plastic alternatives whenever possible.
 
Last year saw the launch of our Green Outreach Program with EcoKnights. Proceeds from our reusable cups were directed towards building edible gardens for at-risk communities and funding complimentary green workshops (on DIY soaps, composting, gardening, and more).
 
This year we collaborated with YWCA to repurpose our coffee bean sacks by turning them into purses and pouches. We are currently collecting more used sacks from our stores and sending them to YWCA’s vocational training school, where women in the B40 community can match them with excess cloth before sewing them into bags. We hope to start retailing these bags from next year onwards, and to channel the proceeds back to YWCA and the B40 women.

Baristas form the face of Starbucks, but can you give a shout out to other significant personnel?

Not many are aware of what goes on at the Starbucks Support Center, which is what we call our corporate office. Everything we do there serves to support our retail store partners and to leave a positive impact on local communities. We at Starbucks Malaysia, as well as our parent company Berjaya Food Berhad, strongly advocate equal opportunities. More than 50% of our senior leadership team and key decision makers are women.

Lastly, what is your favourite drink, dessert or dish to order at Starbucks Malaysia?

I have always enjoyed a simple Americano, but since we introduced almond milk last year, a combination of the two has become my go-to beverage.