DUFFINGATE: London Bakery Claims Starbucks Ripped-Off ‘Duffin’ Recipe

If you thought Starbucks UK’s “duffin” pastry was just another trendy, corporate sham, you may have hit it right on the money. London bakery Bea’s of Bloomsbury has accused Starbucks of ripping off their original Duffin recipe, leading to a social media storm on Twitter.

Wow woke up to find @starbucksuk jacked the duffins! Thanks y’all for setting record straight 🙂

— Bea’s of Bloomsbury (@beas_bloomsbury) October 4, 2013

According to the local bakery, which has four locations in London, Bea’s published the recipe in their 2011 cookbook and has been selling the jelly-filled treats long before Starbucks claimed to invent them. Yesterday, the bakery took to Facebook to explain their frustrations:

I understand that Starbucks UK wants to cash in on this hybrid dessert craze–I get that. But to make a product that uniquely contains buttermilk, nutmeg, and raspberry jam, and to have the name duffin, not doughnut muffin, and to have claimed that their team of ‘bakers’ came up with it magically on their own, seems a bit odd to me, particularly when the British baking lexicon isn’t heavy on nutmeg or buttermilk.

The scandal has since inspired supporters to rally under the #Duffingate hashtag on Twitter.

@j0annepsi @beas_bloomsbury @StarbucksUK No more Starbucks for me, but then I never liked their coffee or ethics anyway!!!

— Chef Dave Griffith (@Chefdgrif) October 4, 2013

#duffingate Bea Vo @beas_bloomsbury is the creative genius behind the ‘duffins’ @StarbucksUK wants to trademark. Shameful + Dishonest #fail

— Priyanka Gill (@priyankagill) October 8, 2013

Apparently, Starbucks supplier Rich Products trademarked the term “duffin,” which could prevent Bea’s from selling their pastries under the sane name. However, Bea’s stated that Starbucks will soon release a statement allowing Bea’s to sell goods under the “duffin” name. Of course, the “magnanimous” gesture did not go unnoticed.

Apparently @starbucksuk plans to release a statement saying I would be allowed to sell #duffins. How magnanimous of them. #duffingate

— Bea’s of Bloomsbury (@beas_bloomsbury) October 8, 2013

Upon reaching out to Starbucks for a comment, a representative stated in an email to Foodbeast.

Since launching the Starbucks Duffin we have discovered there are other Duffins out there. Rich Products, who created our Duffin have trademarked the name in the UK, however neither Starbucks nor Rich Products has at any time suggested that we will attempt to stop Bea’s of Bloomsbury, selling their own Duffins.

PicThx Starbucks