Many of us in India, especially Gen Z-ers, might find it difficult to imagine life before their white coffee cup with the green mermaid design. But that really was the case a decade ago, when Starbucks arrived in India. I too recall the serpentine queues around the chain's first outlet in Mumbai's plush commercial district of Fort. From there on out, the way coffee was consumed across the country changed completely. Whether it was because of the Instagram-able quality of cups adorned with one's names, the seasonal beverages that everyone clamored for or the fact that work or play could be done at ease in the coffee shop, Starbucks was a game-changer. But they aren't ones to rest on their laurels.
After entering India 10 years ago almost to this very day, the brand that changed the face of coffee in India is levelling up. Starbucks is opening India's very first Reserve store in Mumbai and as a nod to their beginnings; it is at their first outlet in the country at Mumbai's Horniman Circle. The Reserve store is unlike what you've experienced at any other coffee shop in India. Present in over 300 stores globally, the concept has finally made its way to Mumbai.
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Customers can expect a multi-sensory coffee experience with two bars available in the store. While the main bar offers all of the core and seasonal handcrafted Starbucks beverages, the specialized coffee bar will offer six different brewing methods, including pour-over, Black Eagle espresso and Nitro Cold Brew. Those particular about their coffee blend can pick from the Starbucks Reserve Bolivia Sol de la Manana, Starbucks Reserve Rwanda Sholi and the Starbucks Reserve Sumatra Kerinci. But if it's just a delectable drink you're interested in, then the line-up of beverages include a Smoked Butterscotch Latte, Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha, Sparkling Espresso with Mint and a Cortado. And that's just to do with the coffee!
When it comes to the food menu at the at the new Starbucks Reserve store in Mumbai, expect the usuals like the Tandoori Paneer Sandwich, Red Velvet and Orange Cake as well as the always delicious Chicken Salad Sandwich. Along with them, the new Reserve menu includes the favourite Bagel with cream cheese and Scones while also featuring the Butter Croissant, Cranberry Twist and Herbed Chicken in Multigrain Croissant as part of their Bake-in specialties.
Once more, a decade later, Starbucks is set to make sure that sipping a cup of coffee is never going to be the same again.
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