Starbucks to close this evening

Starbucks locations are scheduled to shut down nationwide between 5:30 and 9 p.m. tonight as servers undergo training in how to make espressos.

The Seattle-based coffee giant plans to train more than 100,000 servers in “the art of espresso” — to quote the company’s news release — and lock all doors during that time. That may alter a number of people’s day in Newport-Mesa, where the Starbucks website lists 22 locations.

Kimberly Clark, a student at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, stopped at the Starbucks at Harbor Boulevard and Baker Street this afternoon to enjoy a cup before the early closing. She said a number of her classmates might miss their evening coffee.

“We’re very dependent on Starbucks — this one in particular, because it’s down the street from the university,” she said. “A lot of the night classes start after 5:30, so the students are definitely going to miss it.”

So what to do while Starbucks is out of service? The company suggests a number of pastimes on its website, including roasting a turkey, getting a jump on spring cleaning or watching all the Academy Award-nominated short films.

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at [email protected].