Coffee is now not only a beverage. It is a life-style. It fosters neighborhood. But typically, it could possibly really feel intimidating to be a part of this neighborhood, as a result of there may be a lot to be taught. Over 70 nations worldwide develop, roast, and produce their very own coffee. Coffee can style totally different based mostly on the place and at what elevation it’s grown, how lengthy it’s roasted, how it’s floor, how it’s brewed, and even how it’s served.
But what if there was an area the place the nuances of this easy wanting bean are dissected and defined? An area the place studying about coffee is an expertise. That is the premise of Starbucks’ latest launch in Chennai; Tamil Nadu’s first experiential store, and solely the fifth of its sort in India, which opened this week in Abhiramapuram.
“This is the only store in Chennai that has 15 different roasts that you can buy, and they are from different parts of the world. There’s a beautiful Black Eagle coffee machine that allows the baristas to make personalised crafted cups of coffee for you. There’s a brew bar which allows discovery with brewing styles and methods,” mentioned Mitali Maheshwari, head, Product and Marketing, Tata Starbucks, on the opening of the store.

Coffee at Starbucks Chennai’s experiential store
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Beyond the machines and roasts, the store brings the coffee expertise to life with a curated menu unique to this location, which incorporates sandwiches and lunch meal bowls. Guests can discover India-inspired drinks just like the cinnamon jaggery latte, Malabar coconut cream latte, cocoa chook’s eye chilli latte, and tamarind pink peroo shikanji chilly brew, making every go to as a lot concerning the tasting and discovery as it’s concerning the drink itself.
“At Starbucks, we source coffee from more than 40 countries, and each geography brings its own unique flavour,” added Vibhor Mishra, coffee ambassador, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific and regional director, Operations, Starbucks India. “Different roast profiles bring out different notes, which means every time you brew a cup, a new array of flavours can come to the surface.” As visitors sampled the line-up, it grew to become clear that some drinks have been geared toward black coffee loyalists, whereas others leaned sweeter for these easing into the ritual.

Starbucks Chennai’s experiential store
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
By design, the store isn’t just a spot to order a latte and go away. It invitations prospects to decelerate and ask questions. With tasting classes, personalised brews, and storytelling constructed into each nook, the house goals to make coffee tradition more accessible. “Once every month, there will be an Introduction to Coffee workshop over the weekend, where guests can learn all about brewing methods, grinding, origins and more,” mentioned Vibhor.
For a metropolis that has lengthy prided itself on its filter coffee tradition, the expertise centre provides one other dimension to the dialog. It doesn’t change the acquainted ritual of stainless-steel tumblers and frothy decoction, however as a substitute opens a window into the broader world of coffee.
Starbucks’ experiential store at Abhiramapuram is open day by day from 8am to 11pm.







