Venue: Huda City Centre
Date: 1 October 2016

We were praying for a miracle for years. We were hoping that Starbucks would manage to overcome the proverbial Indian red tape and open outlets here. We felt so primitive in front of our cousin’s from abroad or the colleague/friend/neighbor who was hopping countries and telling us how great their Starbucks experience was.

It was therefore no surprise that, year 2012, people had no qualms while queuing up in front of the first Starbucks in Delhi in CP.

After the initial euphoria, we feel we have been shortchanged.

Starbucks outlets in USA and other first world cities provide much more than what we get in India.

For example there are atleast three or four varieties of milk that are available in other countries (2% / 1% /half and half). Here milk is available on request and we don’t have a choice on the type. Honeysticks are kept with other sweeteners in Starbucks all over the world. In India if we don’t want sugar, our only option is the chemical smelling artificial sweetener sachets. Add on flavours such as vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, Choco late etc are always available abroad at the sugar counter. During our recent visit to Starbucks at Huda City Center Metro Station, chocolate and cinnamon powders were provided on request. If one buys a muffin at a Starbucks in USA it comes with a serving of butter. No such side is provided in an Indian Starbucks. Moreover during our recent visit to the aforesaid outlet we were surprised that the doors were kept open and the AC was hardly working.

The only consistency seems to be the prices. On an average we pay around 200/- with taxes for a standard late or cappuccino in India. This is approximately $4, the average price of a cup of coffee at Starbucks abroad.

Given the costs, Starbucks in India is a disappointing experience and gets no star from us.