What type of coffee did the first Starbucks store offer?

The first Starbucks store, which opened in 1971 in Seattle's Pike Place Market, originally focused on selling whole bean coffee. This emphasis on whole beans was part of their mission to provide high-quality coffee and educate customers about the various types of coffee available. Customers could buy beans of different origins, allowing them to grind and brew at home.

This approach aligned with Starbucks' goal of promoting a more elevated coffee experience, as opposed to serving brewed coffee or instant coffee on-site. The other options reflect different approaches to coffee sales that came later in Starbucks' evolution as a company, but at the outset, the focus was strictly on whole beans—it was the foundational product that helped establish Starbucks' identity in the specialty coffee market.