Starbucks Closes Between 5:30 and 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday to Perfect the Art of Espresso

Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX): WHAT:   Starbucks conducts historic in-store education and training event for more than 135,000 store partners (employees) across the United States. In-store event and media-related details include: -- The company will close each of its nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 26 at 5:30 p.m. local time to conduct a nationwide education event, designed to energize partners and transform the customer experience. -- Stores with evening hours will re-open at 9:00 p.m. -- The comprehensive educational curriculum to provide a renewed focus on espresso standards that will help ensure the exceptional quality of every beverage.   WHEN: Tuesday, February 26 and Wednesday, February 27, 2008 -- Starbucks in-store b-roll footage available on Tuesday, February 26 at 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. EST, C-Band Galaxy 26, Transponder 9 DL 3880 V. -- Espresso Excellence training b-roll footage available on Wednesday, February 27 at approximately 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. EST. Check www.starbucks.com/aboutus/press.asp for coordinates. -- Still photo images of the in-store training will be available on Business Wire after 8 p.m. EST.   STARBUCKS FUN FACTS: -- Starbucks will be closed for 3 1/2 hours. That's 210 minutes or 12,600 seconds. -- Approximately 7,100 Starbucks stores across the country will temporarily shut their doors to the public. -- More than 135,000 baristas in the United States will be trained in a matter of hours. -- That amounts to almost a half a million hours of training in one night.   "12,600 Seconds in Time" - 5 GREAT THINGS TO DO IN JUST 3 1/2 HOURS 1. Thinking of a change in hair color? A full color with highlights takes just about 3 hours. 2. Watch almost all of the nominated short films. 3. When was the last time you made a home cooked meal? You can roast an 8lb - 12lb turkey in 3 1/2 hours. 4. What better time to organize those closets; it's a jump start on spring cleaning. 5. After patiently waiting 12,601 seconds, head to Starbucks to get that espresso!