Starbucks apologizes to La. teacher for barista's Satanic designs drawn in her coffee foam

Starbucks has apologized to a Louisiana teacher who complained that a barista drew Satanic symbols in her coffee foam.

Megan Pinion posted photos of two beverages she bought at a Baton Rouge coffee shop on her Facebook page, one showing a star and another with the number 666 drawn in the foam.

She said the star appeared within the cup’s circular rim as if it were Lucifer’s pentagram, and the three-digit numeral refers to the Antichrist foretold in the Book of Revelations.

Pinion said the star might simply have been in reference to one in the company’s logo, which some say contains occult symbols itself.

A spokesman for Starbucks said the company became aware of Pinion’s complaints, which were shared by about 1,800 people, through the social media service.

“We reached out to her through social media and apologized,” said company spokesman Tom Kuhn. “We’re taking the complaint seriously. We’re not sure who served her or what kind of beverage it was. It looks kind of caramel-ish in the photos.”

Pinion said a male employee drew the devilish designs in her beverage.

“I unfortunately can't give the young man’s name who served it, because I was so appalled that I could not bring myself to look at him,” Pinion wrote in her post. “I am in no way judging his beliefs or dis-meriting his beautiful artwork, (but) I am however judging his lack of professionalism and respect for others.”

She said the barista displayed a double standard that shuts out her faith-based beliefs.

“I am a teacher in the public school system and if I were to present a child of atheist or pagan believers with a Christian art project I could be sued in a heartbeat,” Pinion said. “I am of Catholic faith and would love to share in my beliefs daily. Fortunately I have enough common sense to present myself with professionalism and follow an ethics code. Perhaps that could be suggested to that particular location.”

Pinion declined to comment or share her photos with The Daily Advertiser newspaper.

Kuhn said the incident could change company policy on foam art.

“I don’t know; I guess it could,” the spokesman said.

[Image: A teenager holding two disposable cups with blank sleeves via Shutterstock]