The daily routine of Starbucks' new CEO starts with a 5:45 a.m. coffee — and it's been that way since his Chipotle days

Brian Niccol, CEO of Chipotle.
Brian Niccol is leaving Chipotle to become the CEO of Starbucks. Chipotle
  • Brian Niccol is stepping down as CEO of Chipotle to become the chief exec at Starbucks next month.
  • While at Chipotle, he told Fortune that his days usually started at 6 a.m. with an Americano coffee.
  • Here's a closer look at Niccol's daily schedule and routine.
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Brian Niccol is departing his role as chairman and CEO of Chipotle to take over as CEO of Starbucks on September 9.

He spoke with Fortune in May about his daily routine.

While his schedule will likely include fewer chicken bowls and more Starbucks fare once he takes the helm at the coffee giant, here's a look at what his day-to-day looked like at Chipotle:

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Niccol usually wakes up around 5:45 a.m. or 6 a.m., he told Fortune.

Americano Coffee
Niccol shouldn't have any trouble getting his morning coffee once he joins Starbucks. Supersmario/ iStock

He told the publication that he has coffee, usually an Americano, sometimes with a cookie.

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He'll head out for a workout around 7 a.m.

A woman takes weights from the rack at the Holmes Place gym.
Niccol alternates between strength training and cardio in his morning workouts. Oliver Berg/picture alliance via Getty Images

He alternates between strength training and running or walking when he exercises.

After his workout, he'll have a shake with fruit, oats, peanut butter, and protein powder. He told Fortune he goes back and forth between shakes and eggs and sausage.

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If he's in town, he'll take his youngest daughter to school. Then, he'll head to the office and arrive around 8:30 or 9 a.m.

Homes along the water in Newport Beach, California.
Chipotle is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Dave5957/Getty Images

He started his workday at Chipotle by checking in with his assistant to see what's on the calendar.

At Chipotle, he usually had his first staff meeting of the day at 10 a.m., and it'd run until around noon.

Chipotle logo on storefront window.
Niccol's first staff meeting at Chipotle usually started around 10 a.m. REUTERS

During these meetings, all of his direct reports go over what's happening in the business, he told Fortune.

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They'll break for lunch around noon.

A bowl of food from Chipotle.
Niccol doesn't get Chipotle everyday, but his go-to order is a chicken bowl. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Niccol said he had Chipotle for lunch frequently.

His go-to order at the fast-casual joint is a chicken bowl with white rice, fajita veggies, pico de gallo, and cheese. He usually gets chips and guac with his order, or sometimes opts for a barbacoa quesadilla.

After lunch, it was time for a strategic initiatives meeting from 1 p.m. to around 3 or 3:30 p.m., he told Fortune.

Chipotle.
After lunch, he has another meeting for a few hours. jetcityimage/iStock

He tries to end the day without any meetings or phone calls "so that you can think through what happened throughout the day and what do you think you want to talk about tomorrow or are we working on the right things and are we talking about the right stuff," he told the publication.

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At Chipotle, he usually wrapped up for the day at at 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. and got home by 6:30 p.m.

SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: (L to R) Brian Niccol and Jennifer Niccol at Orange County Museum of Art on October 07, 2023 in Santa Ana, California.
Niccol says the family usually ends up ordering takeout after "the kids complain about what they didn't particularly like that we made." Ryan Miller/Getty Images for Orange County Museum of Art

Niccol and his wife have dinner with their kids around 7 p.m.

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After dinner, it's time for a walk and some TV.

An image from a Whatsapp TV ad featuring the cast of Modern Family
Niccol jokes that he's probably rewatched every season of "Modern Family." Meta

While Niccol told Fortune that he likes SportsCenter, his youngest daughter enjoys "Modern Family."

From there, he'll read for 20 or 30 minutes before calling it a day.

"It's rare that the lights are on past 10," he told the publication.

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