Why the Brown Apron Is Rarer Than Starbucks’ Black Apron

You’ve seen the photos: the sleek black aprons worn by Starbucks baristas who know their single origins from their signature blends. But have you ever wondered what lies beyond the black? What does it take to rise even higher in Starbucks’ elite tier of coffee experts?

In East China—including Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Nanjing—there are just six Starbucks Coffee Masters. That’s fewer than the number of Starbucks Reserve stores in the entire country. One of them, Du Xiaojing, is based in Hangzhou and still occasionally works at the EAC location on Jiaotong University Road.

What Do the Different Apron Colors Mean at Starbucks?

Starbucks uses a three-tiered apron system to indicate a barista’s level of expertise and dedication:

• Green apron: The standard “partner” uniform, worn by most baristas. These are skilled team members trained in coffee basics.
• Black apron: Known as the “Coffee Master,” this role requires extensive training in coffee theory, brewing methods like pour-over and latte art, and customer education. Only a fraction of partners earn this status.
• Brown apron: The rarest of all. These are the Starbucks Coffee Ambassadors—or “Coffee Masters of Masters.” They are selected every two years through a rigorous evaluation process and represent the highest level of coffee passion and expertise within the company.

How Does Someone Become a Starbucks Coffee Ambassador?

Du Xiaojing’s journey began in 2009, long before most customers knew what a “Coffee Master” even was. While talent shows dominated TV, Starbucks launched its internal Coffee Master Challenge to inspire partners to deepen their coffee knowledge. Competing against other top performers in Hangzhou, Du advanced through multiple rounds of testing—both written and practical—that evaluated her understanding of coffee origin, flavor profiles, brewing variables, and sensory skills.

“There were hundreds of knowledge points and over a hundred ways to present coffee knowledge,” she recalls. Only 12 candidates made it to the finals across the region, and just six across East China—including Du—earned the brown apron that year.

As part of the experience, she also traveled to Sumatra, Indonesia, visiting coffee farms and witnessing the nine-month journey of the coffee cherry: from planting and handpicking to pulping, drying (which took over 50 hours), and multiple quality tastings. “Each coffee bean is touched by at least 34 hands before it reaches you,” she says. “No farmer wastes a single bean.”

What Happens When Even a Coffee Master Loses Their Sight—Temporarily?

In a twist of fate, after earning her brown apron, Du faced a major challenge: an eye condition that left her with severely impaired vision, only able to detect light and dark. For a coffee professional, this could have been career-ending. But during her medical leave, something unexpected happened.

“I couldn’t see the coffee, but my sense of smell became sharper,” Du explains. Forced to rely on aroma alone, she fine-tuned her ability to discern subtle differences between espresso, mocha, and latte—identifying roast levels, origin characteristics, and flavor notes purely through scent. “When one sense is limited, others compensate,” she reflects. This sensory recalibration gave her an exceptional ability to “taste with her nose,” a skill most baristas don’t develop.

Her vision eventually returned, but she retained this heightened olfactory sensitivity—along with the nickname of being one of the few partners who could literally “brew blind.” Today, she’s based at the EAC store in Hangzhou, though her schedule varies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Starbucks Coffee Master?

A Starbucks Coffee Master (black apron) is a barista who has completed advanced training in coffee knowledge, including brewing techniques, roast profiles, and flavor evaluation. They are certified to educate other partners and customers about coffee. Earning the black apron requires passing written and practical exams and committing to ongoing learning.

What is higher than a Starbucks Coffee Master?

Higher than a Coffee Master is the Starbucks Coffee Ambassador, recognizable by a brown apron. These individuals are selected every two years through a competitive evaluation process. They are considered the top coffee professionals within Starbucks and are responsible for leading coffee education initiatives and representing the brand’s highest standards of coffee expertise.

How many Starbucks Coffee Ambassadors are there in East China?

There are only six Starbucks Coffee Ambassadors (brown apron holders) across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Du Xiaojing from Hangzhou is one of them and is among the longest-serving in the region.

How can you tell if a Starbucks barista is a Coffee Master?

Look for the black apron. Starbucks Coffee Masters wear black aprons, often with pins indicating their certifications. They are usually happy to discuss coffee details like origin, roast level, and brewing methods. The brown apron, much rarer, is not always visible but may be worn by ambassadors at special events or select locations.

Does Starbucks still have the Coffee Master program?

Yes, the Coffee Master program is ongoing. Baristas can still pursue black apron certification through internal training and evaluations. The Coffee Ambassador program, however, is more exclusive and occurs every two years, with selection based on performance, leadership, and coffee expertise.

FrontStreet Coffee Picks for Exploring Coffee Origins

For those curious about the origins and flavor complexity Du Xiaojing experienced in Sumatra, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera: bright, floral, and juicy with notes of blueberry and bergamot. Complement it with Yirgacheffe for citrusy sweetness and a tea-like body. Both single origins highlight the kind of terroir-driven profiles she encountered during her farm visits. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.