Starbucks Juice Bar: Rumors Fly After CEO Howard Schultz Poaches Liquiteria Employee [UPDATED]

Starbucks has made a lot of changes since it hit rock bottom in 2008, when it closed 600 stores across the country. The coffee chain introduced free WiFi, new food items and a new signature blend of coffee. It's started selling coffee for Keurig coffee makers and as an instant powder. As a result, the company's revenues have gone from tumbling to soaring. But Starbucks' biggest change may still be ahead.

Soon, Starbucks could dedicate half of each outpost to, of all things, cold-pressed juices. According to the New York Post, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz became obsessed with the juices after visiting East Village juice bar Liquiteria. He got so excited about the idea that he hired veteran juicer Yohana Bencosme away from the dispensary and flew her out to Seattle to train his employees in the ways of fresh juices.

So far, the whole affair remains, for all intents and purposes, the stuff of rumor. Starbucks representatives refused to give comment to Page Six, and has so far not returned calls to the Huffington Post. Still, MSN Money reports that Jamba Juice stocks took a tumble following the rumors. Starbucks stock prices have, so far, remained relatively quiet -- possibly because investors' wariness about the profitability of fresh-pressed juices has been overshadowed by the news that the coffee chain is expanding into the Indian subcontinent in a big way.

UPDATE: A representative from Starbucks called the Huffington Post to issue a statement on the rumors. "I can confirm that Yohana has joined Starbucks, and we're very excited to have her," he said. "Everything else, though, is really rumor at this point, and I can't comment on it."

Comments

[Al Schrader]

05:22 AM on 10/15/2011

Or, they could have asked me. I knew about fresh juice about 15 years ago. It's fantastic especially mango/peach.
Then I invented split waffles, breakfast pizza (gooey mozzarella cheese, crispy bacon, sausage, topped with over easy eggs), warm apple crisp with struesel topping blueberry relish and powdered sugar, and on and on. Have a yum day!!! Al-

[lopsidedly]

12:37 AM on 10/15/2011

i think they should sell blood cocktails for all the enthusiastic vampire fans after dusk

[bmitche]

12:11 AM on 10/15/2011

Starbucks has become more of a status symbol. With a Starbucks cup in one hand and a cell in the the other, you are "in".

[wsa999]

09:34 PM on 10/14/2011

I can only imagine what they will charge for this stuff.

[juabdib]

09:22 PM on 10/14/2011

I love my iPhone and my Starbucks venti latte. Ha ha...nah nanny nah nah!

[nitza417]

06:47 PM on 10/14/2011

$5 for a half filled cup of coffee,... never again... Seattles Best or Dunkins Turbo made to my at home and to my liking... and filled to the rim....

[narwhalmagic]

01:54 AM on 10/15/2011

Starbucks owns Seattle's Best. Keep spendin'!

[nitza417]

09:11 PM on 10/15/2011

my point is that I rather spend 7 bucks on a bag of coffee that will last me about a month.. rather than paying 5 for a cup that they only fill half way... not all starbucks baristas can brew a good cup of joe...

[BinghamLofts]

05:35 PM on 10/14/2011

i see people getting into their suv and drive TWO BLOCKS to get Starbucks every morning.

[Ihearyou777]

09:44 PM on 10/14/2011

...and wait in line for 20 minutes!~

[BinghamLofts]

05:33 PM on 10/14/2011

what a stupid headline. i thought i was reading a foreign language.

[narwhalmagic]

01:55 AM on 10/15/2011

It's rough to not know what words mean :(

[Razorsharp1234]

02:57 PM on 10/14/2011

I am sorry STARBUCK but your coffee sucks. I like Dunkin Doughnuts way better. It's all that stupi image, I need to have my STARBUCKS, half of it will be thrown away anyway, and you are pretty expenvsive. I don;t cry if you leave. Bye

[PG812]

10:22 PM on 10/13/2011

For the Keurig, buy the whole coffee beans at Starbucks or your coffee of choice--A&P 8 o'clock coffee was also good--grind it fresh yourself and put it in the reusable filter to make coffee at your own strength. K-cups often produce weak coffee. It's much cheaper and more earth-friendly since those k-cups don't look like they'll decompose anytime soon.,

[Combat Marine]

08:56 PM on 10/13/2011

Starbucks has most of the people hypnotized. My son and his family live 2 miles from one. Every morning he gets up, drives there and brings home 2 cups of coffee. They don't even have a coffee maker at home. It would be easy to say it's their business but a year ago when their home was repossessed I'm the one who had to pay out all the bucks to get them into a rental. Money I'll never get back. Thanks for that Starbucks and friends.

[msm0207]

11:22 PM on 10/13/2011

You did not have to pay to get them into a rental. You chose to pay. What did they do with all the money (besides Starbucks) that they didn't use on their mortgage? They should have been hoarding it for moving expenses. You've been had grandma!!! I'll bet it is not the first time either.

[Combat Marine]

11:32 PM on 10/13/2011

You don't know squat about nothing. When your son, his wife and 4 children are on the sidewalk, you have to pay to get them a rental. You re a jack *ss. You just love telling people off because it makes you feel superior. And for the record, I'm Grandpa. Stupid!

[zhirow]

02:19 AM on 10/14/2011

Well, actually, you opened yourself up to critism by complaining, we didn't know your issue and didn't ask, you offered your story. For the record, perhaps being a grandpa has adled you a bit, you're entire post blames Starbucks. Examples:

"Starbucks has most of the people hypnotized­." This is implying that Starbucks is coercing someone in some way to get something without their knowledge and/or consent.

"It would be easy to say it's their business but a year ago when their home was repossesse­d I'm the one who had to pay out all the bucks to get them into a rental. Money I'll never get back." That was your choice, unless you have a contract that entitles your son and his family to rent and/or housing payments from you. I'm sure you love your family but your love shouldn't be confused with your responsibility to pay for someone else family or not. If anything your son seems incapable of making important life changing decisions. If that was your point then there was no reason to post here because that's not the point of this article.

[coolcat 6651]

07:50 PM on 10/13/2011

I can get a better tasting and much less expensive cup of coffee at McDonald's, but I go to Starbucks to see and be seen.

[poorboots]

08:20 PM on 10/13/2011

Enjoy your Miller beer too.

[Wattdidusay]

08:51 PM on 10/13/2011

McDonald's coffee? Worst tasting crap there is.

[msm0207]

11:23 PM on 10/13/2011

Au contraire. I'll bet you've never had any. A large group of us prefer the cost and taste (not as bitter) of McD's to Starbucks. I get a senior cup. I also drink my coffee black and that makes a big difference. None of the lattee, frappe, "CRAP" for me!

[inexiledeo]

06:58 PM on 10/13/2011

I would love for Starbucks to do a juice bar. I would also love it if they did natural, healthy juices-- not things loaded with sugar or artificial flavors.

[Food Review 101]

05:55 PM on 10/13/2011

http://www.foodreview101.com/ Eh why not, they've already done everything else.

[marymrevis]

04:36 PM on 10/13/2011

I used to LOVE getting my "venti" cappuccino from Starbucks with 4 sugars and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top..BUT at nearly 4.00 a cup, I said to hell with it. I now fill my Starbuck coffee mug, with Maxwell House International cappuccino "cinnamon dulce". I love it as much as I did the Starbuck. I pay 3.64 for the can and it gives me 18-20 cups of cappuccino. Live and learn I guess.