Starbucks Review - My first visit!

Finally the most awaited moment had arrived.

I had thought about it for the last 4 years & it was finally here… the coffee shop I had always desired to step into… the global giant since 40 years… STARBUCKS

I was more excited about being there than I had felt in a long time…

I was finally going to the first ever Starbucks in my life…



I reached the Fort, Mumbai outlet (First outlet in India) at 11 am. Unlike the common notion, I did not come across any queues outside or inside Starbucks.

I was welcomed with a smile by the doorman. As he opened the door to the heaven of coffee, I was taken to a different place altogether.

The rustic ambiance within was a complete contrast to the outside bright & shiny world.

The outlet had a warm, cozy feeling. It was spacious & had interesting interiors. It had sacks of coffee beans displayed on the top of shelves. The walls were adorned by a collection of varied clicks form different parts of India. Also on one of the walls was a Jute map of the world, with Starbucks served nations highlighted.

This outlet had 3 different counters. The Main counter was for order taking, with 3 cash registers. The other counter was for dispensing the customer orders. There were coffee beans of 5 different roasts on 1 large table which was also used for coffee tasting sessions.

There were few people inside. So I got the opportunity to check out the whole place & click as many pics as I wanted. The outlet can accommodate 150 people. Although I did not see sufficient cover set-ups. There is ample open area. The inside room, on the ground floor had a few large tables, where some people were sitting, engrossed in their laptops.

The upper deck, overlooks the ground floor, making you a part of the hustle-bustle going down below.

There was a gorgeous Christmas tree on the top. The whole place had a warm festive feeling to itself. The curtains were red, with wreaths hanging below them at each window. There were red cups on the counters & the special x-mas beverages were also displayed on the walls.

I went to order our drinks & the Partner was quite helpful (as there was nobody waiting behind me), to explain the possible drink combinations & about the loyalty card (which is free). But the menu is not as extensive as the other outlets globally. Also, they did not have the Trenta cup, and the Partner was not even aware of it (I felt good about my Starbucks knowledge).

Having placed the order, I waited at my table till he called out my name, when our drinks were ready: a Cappuccino & a Java Chip Frappuccino. I enjoyed the hot brew & relished its new taste. Along with it, I had the chocolate chip muffin, which was tasting good with my cuppa. The Java Chip Frappuccino was also tasty (it seemed to be a never-ending drink) & very filling.

Lucky for me, one of the Partners approached me regarding a Coffee tasting session. I readily agreed. He called some more customers & we all sat down to taste the special Christmas brew. The brew was a combination one, with some of the coffee having been imported from Indonesia. It was a medium brew, with which he gave a cinnamon cookie. He then told the steps to coffee tasting: Smell, Slurp & Sip.

I was on top of the world, relishing every moment of the 2 hours that I was in the outlet. I could not have hoped for a better & more wholesome experience.

For the wonderful time that I had during my first visit to Starbucks, I would like to thank:

My Hubby, for his continuous support, in realizing all my crazy wishes.

Michael Gill, for writing “How Starbucks saved my Life” & providing me insight into the world of the Seattle Coffee giant.