Starbucks Reserve Universe: 6 Impressive Premium Coffee Havens
You know that part of the story of Starbucks was that the founder of starbucks went to Italy to a regular coffee and became inlove of the italian coffee culture and starbucks was born to emulate that coffee culture.
Starbucks Reserve, was born to emulate that and to have a more sofisticated coffee to compete with the more gourmet cafes.
Starbucks Reserve is a premium coffee program by Starbucks that focuses on offering rare and high-quality coffees, often single-origin varieties. This initiative began in 2010 as a way for Starbucks to compete in the upscale coffee market against brands similar to Stumptown and Blue Bottle Coffee. The program encompasses unique locations, including roasteries, bars, and stores that specialize in emphasizing the coffee experiences beyond what a regular Starbucks Store offers today.
Types of Locations of the Starbucks Reserve Program
There are different types of locations, where you can find a complete Reserve Store, or there are other “normal” Starbucks where you can find a Reserve Bar or the Store. The differences are:
Reserve Bars
- Traditional Starbucks locations that feature a selection of Starbucks Reserve products.
- These bars provide an elevated coffee experience alongside the regular menu.
- There are 43 Reserve Bars locations, all of which include the regular Starbucks menu, and also have a coffee bar for a similar experience to the coffee bars in the roasteries.
Reserve Shops
- Smaller retail spaces that sell merchandise and food items alongside Starbucks Reserve coffees.
- These Reserve Stores, can be found in several Starbuck coffee shops around the US and worldwide.
Reserve Roasteries
- Large facilities that serve as both coffee shops and production sites.
- Currently, there are six roasteries globally, located in Seattle, Shanghai, Milan, New York City, Tokyo, and Chicago.
- These locations offer an immersive experience with coffee tastings, cocktail bars, and the opportunity to observe the roasting process.
Where can you find the Reserve Roasteries ?
Currently there are 6 roasteries, which are located in speciphic places in the world, being New York, the only city that has two of this stores.
What can you find in a Starbucks Reserve Coffee? Unique Offerings
In these special stores that Starbucks call Reserve, Statrbucks focuses on sourcing only the top 3% of the world’s finest coffee beans. Each year, customers can experience around 17 different selections of Starbucks Reserve coffee, which are often available for a limited time. This exclusivity is part of what makes the program appealing to coffee enthusiasts.
Foto de Peter Muniz en Unsplash
Besides this coffee experiences, Starbucks Reserve locations offer a variety of unique drinks that are not available at regular Starbucks cafes. Here are some standout options:
Unique Starbucks Reserve Drinks
These are drinks that you will only find in Starbucks Reserve but not somewhere else. (You can book a Signature Experience and learn how to prepare them)
- 1. Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini:
- A seasonal favorite combining Starbucks’ signature espresso with pumpkin spice flavors, topped with pumpkin spice-flavored whipped cream.
- 2. Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew:
- Cold brew coffee aged in whiskey barrels, offering a rich and complex flavor profile.
- 3. Sparkling Sakura Allure:
- An alcoholic beverage featuring hints of warm vanilla and zesty lemon, served in a champagne flute with a bright, reddish-pink color.
- 4. The Melrose:
- A cocktail made with Starbucks Reserve cold brew, sweet Demerara syrup, cherry bitters, and garnished with a maraschino cherry.
- 5. Starbucks Reserve Boulevardier:
- A twist on the classic cocktail, incorporating Starbucks Reserve coffee, vanilla bean syrup, lavender bitters, bourbon whiskey, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- 6. Hot Honey Espresso Martini:
- An espresso martini infused with hot honey and topped with a spicy-sweet cold foam.
- 7. Toffeenut Bianco Latte:
- Espresso mixed with steamed milk and flavors of toffeenut and white chocolate mocha, finished with a sprinkle of salted brown butter.
- 8. Hot Honey Dirty Chai:
- A blend of aromatic chai spices and sweet honey heat combined with Starbucks Reserve espresso and steamed milk.
- 9. Orange Coffee Tonic:
- A refreshing drink made from cold brew coffee, chai spices, tonic water, and lemon-orange cordial.These drinks highlight the creativity and premium offerings of the Starbucks Reserve program, making each visit a unique experience for coffee enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike
Starbucks Reserve locations offer a variety of special events and tastings that enhance the coffee experience for guests. Here are some notable offerings:
Signature Experiences
Hey, you want to live the full Signature Experience? You can book one and learn how to do it on your own. This is a very special treat made by Starbucks, as you can do your own toasting of the coffee and see by yourself what does it mean to obtain the percet toast of the coffee.
You can do tastings of coffees, where you can try different coffees from around the globe and feel the differences between regions, heights, textures, etc.
The three experiences available now are:
- Art of the Espresso Martini:
- A master class where participants learn to craft the signature Starbucks Reserve Espresso Martini alongside expert mixologists. This experience includes tasting a flight of globally-inspired espresso martinis.
- Oleato™ Tasting Experience:
- An immersive tasting that focuses on the unique pairing of coffee and olive oil, featuring Starbucks Reserve Espresso infused with Partanna® extra virgin olive oil. Participants taste different components and learn about the flavors and techniques involved in creating these beverages.
- Coffee Lab: A Journey of the Senses:
- This experience allows guests to explore various brewing techniques and taste different coffees, enhancing their understanding of coffee’s complexity and flavor profiles.
Private Events
Starbucks Reserve locations also cater to private events, offering curated experiences such as:
- Barista-led tastings of unique coffees.
- Private tours of the facilities.
- Themed events that include thoughtful take-home gifts for guests
What is the Difference between a Starbucks Reserve and a Normal Starbucks?
Comparison Table between a Normal Starbucks and a Starbucks Reserve
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Conclusion
Overall, I have to say that Starbucks raised the bar with their new iconic stores, in various ways:
The Locations are marvelous, the places are designed or hand picked with a sense that enlightens and reinforces the coffee and all the work that is behind a roastery. Starbucks Reserve locations create a distinctive atmosphere that prioritizes quality, education, and an immersive coffee experience to give even the non-experienced customer an inmersive tour in the coffee world.
For those seeking an enriched coffee journey, visiting a Starbucks Reserve can be a worthwhile experience.
Foto de BRUNO CERVERA en Unsplash
John Tolley
John Tolley is a seasoned writer with over 20 years of experience. He has contributed to various platforms, including McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and the Big Ten Network. His writing interests include culinary history, the hospitality industry, and spirits. Currently, he is working on a book that explores the cultural food landscape of Western Michigan. This book explores unique regional dishes, including the Wet Burrito and Olive Burger. The author, John, previously managed the literary webzine ‘Girls with Insurance,’ where he wrote a series called ‘Lunches’ that chronicled his everyday meals in Chicago’s Loop. He also contributes to starbucks-menu-with-prices.com .