Starbucks. A strong smell of freshly brewed coffee, our daily routine. Misspelled names on the cups, the aroma that fills the store.
The calm atmosphere and the favourite spot of the first influencers. Starbucks is famous for many things, but this time, the big coffee chain is not making news for the chai latte or the iced frappé we love so much, but because of a story that literally hurt.
Sometimes, a small mistake can trigger catastrophic consequences, and that’s exactly what happened in California, where Starbucks was ordered to pay $50 million to a delivery driver after handing him a cup of tea with a poorly closed lid that caused third-degree burns!!!
The incident has shaken the company, not only because of the amount of the fine but also because of the media attention it has generated. We tell you everything.
A poorly closed cup
Michael García was, unfortunately, the protagonist of this story. A delivery driver for the company, he was picking up three cups of boiling tea at the Los Angeles drive-thru.
Everything seemed like a normal delivery day, but one of the cups had a poorly fitted lid and spilled completely on his body. The water was boiling, and that caused severe burns on the driver’s thighs and genitals.
A serious accident
The accident was so severe that García had to be rushed to the hospital and then transferred to the Grossman Burn Center, where he underwent several skin grafts. According to his lawyer, Nick Rowley, “Michael’s life changed forever.”
The verdict
The verdict confirmed that although the damage this worker suffered can’t be undone, it makes it clear that companies must be more careful (since the ruling favoured the delivery driver, thanks to security camera footage showing that one of the cups had a poorly adjusted lid, proving García didn’t make any mistake when handling the drinks).
The trial jury concluded that the fault was Starbucks’, for not properly securing the cup lid, awarding the worker $50 million to offset the emotional and economic impact of the incident.
Starbucks disagrees with the ruling
Despite expressing sympathy for the delivery driver, Starbucks stated it disagrees with the verdict, considering the compensation excessive and announcing it will appeal the decision. A spokesperson for the company stated that Starbucks is always committed to safety standards in stores, including the handling of hot drinks, but… is it normal for this to happen?
It’s not the first time Starbucks faces million-dollar fines
This isn’t the first controversial episode in the brand’s history. In 2023, Starbucks was ordered to pay $25.6 million to a white former manager who was fired after a racism case in which she was not involved. And in 2021, the chain was fined 12,000 euros for handing a Thai customer a cup with a face drawing that had slanted eyes.
These precedents reinforce the perception that, despite its friendly and global image, Starbucks doesn’t always act with the necessary care… And that justice will not always side with the “big one.”
Is safety Starbucks’ top priority?
With this case, it’s clear that details matter, especially when it comes to workers and their physical integrity. The simple mistake of putting a lid on wrong can end up having devastating consequences, like the burns this worker suffered.
For companies like Starbucks, which serve millions of hot drinks every day, it’s necessary to reinforce quality protocols and train staff not to make similar mistakes. And it’s not optional, it’s (very) urgent
This case has reopened the debate on corporate responsibilities and the need to protect the environment of workers (and likewise, the environment of customers). This time they’ll have to pay, but they”ll need to thoroughly review their own system to prevent something like this from happening again and resulting in similar consequences. Because in the end, a bad coffee can be forgotten, but a lifelong burn cannot.
