1.

Starbuck Coffee Company Expanding into India VAIBHAV KHANNA INSIDE: The paper
analyses the entry prospects of Starbucks Coffee into India. The analysis is based on the
learning and insight of framework provided during the International Marketing course.
2. Table of Contents Contents Executive Summary
___________________________________________________________ 1
Introduction________________________________________________________________
_ 2 Company
Overview__________________________________________________________2 Project
Scope ______________________________________________________________3
Research
___________________________________________________________________ 4
Customer Perception
________________________________________________________4 Methodology &
Analysis ________________________________________________________ 5 PESTLE
Analysis____________________________________________________________5 VRIO
Analysis ______________________________________________________________9
Customer Survey
Analysis____________________________________________________11 SWOT Analysis
___________________________________________________________15 Competitor
Analysis________________________________________________________16
Recommendations
___________________________________________________________ 17
Bibliography________________________________________________________________
18 Appendix
__________________________________________________________________ 19 City:
Delhi |Location: Connaught Place (CP) ______________________________________19
City: Gurgaon |Location: Ambience Mall
_________________________________________20 City: Delhi |Location: Greater Kailash
(GK) _______________________________________20 City: Delhi |Location: IGI
Airport_______________________________________________20 City: Delhi |Location:
Saket ___________________________________________________20 City: Delhi |
Location: Vasant Kunj ______________________________________________20 City:
Mumbai |Location: Colaba________________________________________________20
City: Mumbai |Location: Goregaon
East__________________________________________20 City: Mumbai |Location: Mumbai
Fort ___________________________________________20 City: Mumbai |Location: Powai
________________________________________________20
3. Pg. 01 Executive Summary Executive Summary PESTLE While all factors seem favorable
but India seems to be in a situation on doldrums in terms of its political scenario. Economic
scenario is highly favorable and consumption rate of coffee is increasing at a rate of 8%,
which is a higher CAGR as compared to other global market. VRIO The strategic core
competencies of Starbucks lie within its globally recognized brand, its corporate leadership &
vision, its relationship with its coffee growers (Tata, 2009) and its propensity for innovation.

The customer experience is still unmatched in comparison to its customers in India and
global which adds to the companys core strategic competencies. Customer Feedback The
overall feedback is positive but there seems to be inconsistencies in some outlets of
Starbucks causing dissatisfaction among customers. Also, customers by large dont seem to
enjoy the hot beverages and eateries in Starbucks Got something very important to point out
to your readers? Use a sidebar to make it stand out.
4. Pg. 02 Introduction Introduction Company Overview Starbucks Corporation is an
international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the
largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 20,891 stores in 62 countries, including over
13,279 in the United States, over 1,300 in Canada, 989 in Japan, 851 in China, and 806 in
the United Kingdom. Starbucks has always been a place to find the worlds best coffees. But,
to reach this size the company has gone a long way from its birth in 1971, where the
customer would have had to travel all the way to the only store in Seattles historic Pike Place
Market to now where it caters to 31% of the total 192 countries in the world. This enormous
size of Starbucks is achieved through its continuous pace of global expansion in different
regions and cultures of the world. Expansion into New Markets The first Starbucks location
outside North America opened in Tokyo, Japan, in 1996. Starbucks entered the U.K. market
in 1998 with the $83 million acquisition of the then 65-outlet, UK-based Seattle Coffee
Company, re-branding all the stores as Starbucks. In September 2002, Starbucks opened its
first store in Latin America, at Mexico City. In October 2002, Starbucks established a coffee
trading company in Lausanne, Switzerland to handle purchases of green coffee. All other
coffee-related business continued to be managed from Seattle. In April 2003, Starbucks
completed the purchase of Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia from AFC
Enterprises for $72m. In September 2006, rival Diedrich Coffee sold most of its companyowned retail stores to Starbucks. This sale included the company-owned locations of the
Oregon- based Coffee People chain which were further converted to Starbucks In August
2003, Starbucks opened its first store in South America in Lima, Peru and in 2007, the
company opened its first store in Russia, ten years after first registering a trademark there.
Within a span of 40 years (1971 to 2011), the company stores expanded substantially,
picking up pace after 1992. The graph shows the growth trajectory of the company.
Starbucks global reach. (As of July 2013)
5. Pg. 03 Introduction On October 2012, Starbucks opened its first store in Mumbai, India
and on February 2013, Starbucks opened its first store in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Products Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold
drinks, coffee beans, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, panini, pastries, snacks, and items
such as mugs and tumblers. Through the Starbucks Entertainment division and Hear Music
brand, the company also markets books, music, and film. Many of the company's products
are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are
also offered at grocery stores. Project Scope The report covers various tools and frameworks
from International Marketing course and evaluates the Starbucks current position within the
Indian market and suggests recommendations based on 360 degree analysis from Macro
business factors, company core competencies, SWOT and customer feedback.

6. Pg. 04 Research Research Customer Perception Having already opened its stores in
India, Starbucks has entered the Indian market with an aim to create an impression of
differentiation amongst the existing competitors such as Caf Coffee Day and Barista. The
research is done by combining customer feedback as recorded by Zomato. Zomato is an
Indian website providing information related to restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, and events
at such establishments in cities of India, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Qatar, the
United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The site has an Alexa rank of 2,553 in the
world and 204 in India as of January 2013. The research was conducted to obtain an
accurate understanding of Starbuckss position in the market. This research provided a basis
for analysing customer observation and sensitivity towards their visit to Starbucks. The
customer feedback (Appendix) was collected from different Starbucks stores in Mumbai and
New Delhi. The rating of Starbuck is given by 2147 customers based on their experience in 4
Mumbai and 6 New Delhi stores. The feedback collected is from the limited customers who
were willing to provide reviews for in-depth feedback about their experience and choice food
and beverage at the store. The analysis would entail combining customer opinions and
reviews from individual stores and developing into a macro study of Starbuck experience.
This would bring forth the companys successful and shortcomings towards the
implementation of its International Marketing strategy in India.
7. Pg. 05 Methodology & Analysis Methodology & Analysis Due to the limited word length of
the document, the methodology and analysis are blended to form a robust case to determine
Starbucks positioning in the market. The analysis shall combine different marketing
principles, frameworks and tools to thorough the analysis and bring out key learning for the
coffee company. PESTLE Analysis The company has already entered the Indian market, but
it is important to understand the road ahead. Having opened 15 stores in the country, it is still
at its nascent stage of becoming a market leader. Starbucks competitors enjoy the know
how of the Indian market and most of them have now been in the country for a decade.
While the journey ahead for Starbucks might be erratic, it is important to find out means to
make it as predictable as possible from an opportunistic view. Political Below is the current
political scenario of the Indian governance that needs consideration. PESTLE Factors
Severity Type: Impact: High - H Medium - M Low - L Undetermined - U Positive + ve Negative
-ve Unknown ~ Increasing Decreasing Unchanged Political Trading policies H ~
Home market lobbying/pressure groups H ~ International pressure groups M - ve
Government policies H ~ Elections H ~ Inter-country relationships/ attitudes L + ve
Terrorism H - ve Governmental leadership H ~ Internal political issues H - ve
Potential Impact:
8. Pg. 06 Methodology & Analysis The political scenario is in the doldrums, while the recent
government has opened doors for 100% FDI in food and beverage, which might seem a
huge opportunity for the company with the opportunity of moving away from 50-50 stake
holding with Tata group to a sole ownership option, the business analyst perceive a tough
scenario ahead. Analyst have criticized current government policies and political scenario
resulting in slowed growth and indecisive bureaucracy. With Central government elections
nearing 2014 and opposition government not much in favor of FDI the investors are deciding
to pull out of India. Analyst such as Warren Buffet have already pulled out investments and

company such as Wall-Mart is evaluating every move before entering the country at a large
scale. Economic The economic highlights for the country is important to understand why
investors still wish to enter the Indian market. Economic Home economy situation L + ve
Overseas economies and trends L ~ Taxation changes specific to product/services L +
ve Specific industry factors H + ve Disposable income M + ve Job growth/
unemployment M - ve Exchange rates H + ve Inflation M ~ Production level M + ve
Although, the Indian economy is booming with a slower rate than anticipated, but it is still
far from raising immediate or even a near future concern. With no immediate changes
done/anticipated for taxation of coffee/food and beverage industry, the coffee and tea
industry is growing at a steady CAGR of 8 and 3 percentage points respectively. While the
exchange rates raise a concern for the country and rupee is continuously falling, it is in turn
beneficial for companies like Starbucks and Wall-mart to invest and get a better return.
Starbucks alliance with Tata will prove beneficial because of Tatas growing exports of coffee
and its increasing acceptance in developed markets like
9. Pg. 07 Methodology & Analysis US and UK. This alliance can be further utilized by
Starbucks to strengthen its returns in developed economies due to relatively low production
cost in India. Social The social factors shall point out consumption pattern, demographic
factor, ethnic issues, diversity and other similar elements that imbibe within sociological
aspects. Social Consumer attitudes & opinions H + ve Consumer buying patterns H + ve
Brand, company, technology image H + ve Ethnic/religious factors L + ve Advertising
and publicity M - ve Ethical issues L - ve Demographics (age, gender, race, family size,)
H + ve Population shifts M + ve Diversity H - ve Health L - ve Leisure activities H
+ ve Staff attitudes H + ve The consumer attitude and consumption buying pattern has
generally been favorable for the country. With respect to Starbucks, the consumption of
coffee in India is increasing with a CAGR of 8%. Although, predominately belonging to a tea
consuming nation, Indians consumption of tea is growing at a slower rate of 3% Similar to
other developed and developing nations, India has strong affinity towards global reputed
brand, which shall be beneficial to global brands such a Wall-mart, Ikea, Starbucks and other
brands that play to enter the country. Also, in relation to demographics, India is amongst the
youngest population in the world with its citizens ranging from 20-30 contribute towards 60%
of the population.
10. Pg. 08 Methodology & Analysis Technology The technological factors are an important
element in todays era, but with respect to the food and beverage industry, they play a
meagre role relative to other product/service industries. Below are the highlights of some of
relevant aspects to touch upon. Technological Information and communications M + ve
Consumer buying mechanisms/tech nology M + ve Internet M + ve Transportation H - ve
India is amongst the worlds fastest growing internet and mobile usage nations in the
world. In todays era, this definitely proves beneficial for marketers who are moving within the
digital space to increase customer centricity. While these provide a boot in the technological
era, but in terms of transportation and infrastructure development, the country lies way
behind its counterpart BRIC countries. Legal While the country is the largest democratic
nation in the world, its legal environment is powerful but ineffective at the same time. The

highlights below are as follows: Legal Current legislation home market M + ve Future
legislation M ~ Regulatory bodies and processes M + ve Employment law M + ve
Consumer protection M + ve Industry-specific regulations L + ve Pace of
decision making H - ve While the structure and legislation framework is robust, the
country is highly criticized for its pace of decision making in legal matters. With second
largest population, the number of cases to handle outnumber the manageable ratio of
number of courts, judges and lawyers that are required. Also,
11. Pg. 09 Methodology & Analysis with having the biggest constitution in the world provides
ample of opportunities to lawyers to delay the judgments and stretch it for decades to get
justice. It is for the same reason that the country is called Lawyers Paradise. Environmental
The environmental factors shall touch upon aspects such as Environmental issues,
Customer values, Market values, Stakeholder/ investor values and organizational culture.
Environmental Environmental issues L + ve Environmental regulations L + ve
Customer values L + ve Market values L + ve Stakeholder/ investor values L + ve
organizational culture L + ve Staff morale M - ve Global factors M - ve India is ahead of
nations such as USA and UK in terms of Carbon emission norms. But, in terms of Customer
values, market sentiment, investor value, the country has a long way to go. The positive side
of environmental factors is that the country is progressing in terms of business values
especially with the new generation of who ask for change. So, although the country might
rank very high on corruption and dark currency (unethical accumulation of wealth), the
nations youth is strongly pushing the political and legislative system for change and making
individuals accountable for their actions and opinions. The growing staff concern is attributed
to the slow rising of unemployment which is threading concerns for the country. Since the
country is also prone to high trade deficit the global factors do play a very important role to
scuffle up the economy. VRIO Analysis The VRIO framework is part of a much larger
strategic scheme of a firm. VRIO falls into the internal analysis step of company procedures,
but is used as a framework in evaluating resources and capabilities of a firm, regardless of
what phase of the strategic model it falls under. Thus, this model shall bolster towards
analyzing Starbucks-Indias core competencies since the company has already entered the
country but is at its nascent stage of marketing penetration.
12. Pg. 10 Methodology & Analysis VRIO is an acronym for the four question framework you
ask about a resource or capability to determine its competitive potential: the question of
Value, Rarity, Imitability (Ease/Difficulty to Imitate), and Organization (ability to exploit the
resource or capability). The VRIO analysis of Starbucks shall provide a glimpse of
assessment of its India strategy to be modulated in compliance with countrys trend. The
company takes great care in evaluating store locations and implementing the right product
mix, but these factors are easily imitable and might not prove valuable in India, where the
competition already have an established market. What Starbucks does is unique, valuable
and inimitable in terms of its CSR image and buying power, it is still behind its competitors in
terms of number of stores in India, in turn adding to unexploited competitive advantage. The
strategic core competencies of Starbucks lie within its globally recognized brand, its
corporate leadership & vision, its relationship with its coffee growers (Tata, 2009) and its

propensity for innovation. The customer experience is still unmatched in comparison to its
customers in India and global which adds to the companys core strategic competencies.
Unexploited Competitive Advantage Temporary Competitive Advantage
13. Pg. 11 Methodology & Analysis Customer Survey Analysis The feedback collected is
from the limited customers who were willing to provide reviews for in- depth feedback about
their experience and choice food and beverage at the store. The customer feedback analysis
comprises of detailed responses from Starbucks customers. The spread of responses is from
6 outlets in Delhi-NCR region and 4 outlets in Mumbai, encompassing and analysis of 43
respondents. Also, the overall rating given to Starbucks is from 2147 customers in total and
further broken down from individual outlets. The analysis first tries to bring out the common
grounds of importance for Starbucks by encompassing both Delhi-NCR region and Mumbai
and then further dig into individual regions and find common patterns of Strength and
Weakness from customer perception. The word frequency map was formed from all
customer feedbacks to understand the macro patterns for Starbucks India. The below
displayed picture and chart brings out the prominent words as used by 43 respondents when
claiming their feedback. Word Word Frequency Coffee 336 Time 277 Cold 241 Good 212
Seating 177 Ice / iced 172 Waiting 136 Java 109 Frappuccino 78
14. Pg. 12 Methodology & Analysis Re-adjusting and mapping similar word patterns Type of
Product Analysis: The general trend seems to highlight that Indian Starbucks customers
were more inclined towards colder beverages than the typical hot coffee, which is also
evident from mapping word pattern of ice and cold with coffee, leaving out the possibility of
customers replacing/perceiving hot coffee as coffee. Though the season of survey have
an element to play because majority of respondents have tried it during summer,
nevertheless negligible mention of hot seems to indicate a consumption pattern.
Adjective/Verb Analysis: While the only adjective that comes out from the word pattern is
Good connoting a general belief of satisfaction as part of customer. The other words
highlight expression of Waiting, Seating and Time as a concern. A deeper analysis will
bring out if this claim holds validity. Product Analysis: The Java Frappuccino and other
variants Frappuccino of are the beverage that most customers seemed to have tried.
Analyzing Delhi-NCR Region Ratings Assessment: The customers were asked to rate their
experience on a scale of 1-5. The category of segregation is shown alongside. Mathematical
assessment of the overall rating of Starbucks India Delhi-NCR region comes out to be
3.79/5, lying between good and very good category. Number of Votes Rating Multiply
Ambience Mall 15 3.6 54 Connaught Place 751 3.8 2853.8 Greater Kailash 25 3.7 92.5 IGI
Airport 31 4 124 Saket 92 3.8 349.6 Vasant Kunj 45 3.5 157.5 Total 959 3631.4 Delhi-NCR
3.79 Word Word Frequency Coffee 336 Cold 241 Ice / iced 172 Good 212 Time 277 Seating
177 Waiting 136 Java 109 Frappuccino 78 Bad 1 Average Good Very Good Excellent 5
15. Pg. 13 Methodology & Analysis Due to recent opening of some of the outlets, the majority
of ratings come from Connaught Place, which receives very high foot fall and is relatively
older. While the overall experience seems to be positive but the recent stores such as Vasant
Kunj and Ambience Mall show a relative dampening of rating. It is imperative to look into
more detail. Detailed Analysis of Delhi-NCR customer feedback With reference to
(Appendix), individual analysis of outlets is as follows: Connaught Place: The feedback from

Connaught Place customers is very positive and were enthusiastic for a return. Overall they
enjoyed the coffee and were amazed with the interiors. Customers specially criticized the
long queues and wanted better management in this regard. What comes out from the survey
is that people preferred cold beverages over hot and some did not enjoy the hot coffee at
Starbucks. Customers rated the eateries to be average. Ambience Mall: The testimonial size
is small to make an acute conclusion, but what did come out is that customers liked cold
beverages better and rated hot beverages as average, although special appreciation is given
to the interiors. Greater Kailash: Overall a very positive response. Customers are happy to
come back. The key take away from feedback is customers loved the ambience and cold
beverages. When feedback from Connaught place is combined with Greater Kailash, it
comes out that some eateries are not being heated properly and customers are complaining
about the chicken being hard. Not a good sign for a pioneer in world class service company.
IGI Airport: Overall a good response. Customers didnt mention about coming back. The cold
beverages as in other outlets are liked by customers and they enjoyed the overall experience.
Saket: The feedback from Saket customers is very positive, they seemed to have enjoyed the
overall experience and assured a return. What did come out here was long queues, a replica
of Connaught place. Customers rated the food as average while some suggested not to buy
at all, but they were amazed with the cold beverages they quite enjoyed. Vasant Kunj:
Customers were just not happy with the experience, some assured a no return while others
suggested a return in case of unavailable option. A huge blow for Starbucks. Feedback in
line with other outlets about snacks being average. Analyzing Mumbai Region Ratings
Assessment: Mathematical assessment of the overall rating of Starbucks India Mumbai
region comes out to be 3.88/5, lying between good and very good category.
16. Pg. 14 Methodology & Analysis Due to recent opening of some of the outlets, the majority
of ratings come from Mumbai Fort. While the overall experience seems to be positive but
Goregaon East show a relative low rating. It is imperative to look into more detail. Detailed
Analysis of Mumbai customer feedback With reference to (Appendix ), individual analysis of
outlets is as follows: Colaba: Customers enjoyed visiting the Colaba outlet. As always the
service and interiors are highly appreciated. Majority of customers assured/showed signs of
return. Here too, the customers seemed to relish the cold beverages with no mention of
like/dislike on hot coffee. Goreagon East: While mixed responses from customers indicate
inconsistent quality for this outlet, unlike any other store. The feedback highlights extreme
experience. Some customers enjoyed the Starbucks beverages and promised a return while
other pointed it as overrated. A critical point mentioned in some feedback is the hot coffee
being extremely bad, a tinge of something which was also seen from Delhi reviews.
Customers didnt point out the place being placed in too noisy area. Mumbai Fort: Overall a
good response from customers. They seemed to have enjoyed visiting the place and their
coffee too. Some mention of queues, but overall a positive take away for Starbucks. Powai:
Customers enjoyed their coffee and the interiors. Quite contrary to other outlets customers
relished their ordered food and snack and exclaimed their please with both beverages and
eateries. A positive sign for Starbucks. Number of Votes Rating Multiply Colaba 101 4 404
Goregaon East 115 3.4 391 3.88 Mumbai Fort 865 3.9 3373.5 Powai 107 4.1 438.7 Total
1188 15.4 4607.2 Mumbai

17. Pg. 15 Methodology & Analysis SWOT Analysis The proposed SWOT analysis is done by
evaluating feedback / survey results and industry analysis: SWOT Analysis for Starbucks
18. Pg. 16 Methodology & Analysis Competitor Analysis The evaluated positioning of
Starbucks in relation to its competitors is as follows: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx While
Starbucks is perfectly able to position itself through differentiation at a higher quadrant
among its competitors but what it lacks is the number of store location. As also evident from
VRIO model and customer feedback. The positioning of Starbucks is apt in the market with
no major changes required. Low High
19. Pg. 17 Recommendations Recommendations From PESTLE analysis it is evident that
Starbucks needs to carefully look at the political scenario and should start lobbying internally
across different party line. The economic situation seems robust as evaluated on 6th of
August. The consumption of coffee is rising at a CAGR of 8% which is favorable to the
company. What comes out from the customer feedback is that Starbucks need to strongly
concentrate on its hot coffee, which seems to disappoint customers in India. The food and
eatery is also taken very well with Indian consumers. As Starbucks goes ahead it needs to
careful of maintaining its service and product standard which seems to withering away at
certain location. Moving ahead it is imperative to maintain its standard and brand with its
product consistency because the competition is already intense and competitors such as
CCD and Costa already have a substantial market.
20. Pg. 18 Bibliography Bibliography 1. http://businesstoday.intoday.in/ 2.
http://businesstoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8395&issuei
d=56 3. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2222110.cms?prtpage=1 4.
http://ibef.org/PrintThisArticle.aspx?artid=16795&pgno=0&totalpage=0 5.
http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/28/news/fortune500/starbucks_india/index.htm 6.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/17784-starbucks-india-strategy-looks-promising 7.
http://store.businessmonitor.com/countries/asia 8. http://www.asia-monitor.com:- Economic
Outlook-India, South Asia-April 2009 9. http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/countryprofiles/south- asia/india/backgroundinformation/ print?no_cache=1&print=1 10.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/16555452/ 11. http://www.cnbc.com/id/19946005/ 12.
http://www.doingbusiness.org 13. http://www.eiu.com 14. http://www.financialexpress.com
15. http://www.financialexpress.com/printer/news/255801/ 16.
http://www.indiacoffee.org/coffeeinindia/default1.htm#consumption 17.
http://www.livemint.com/Articles/PrintArticle.aspx?artid=3E832EA6-2295-11DD-80BA000B5DABF613 18. http://www.managingip.com/Article/1257403/Starbucks-wins-copycatcoffee-row.html 19.
http://www.mhhe.com/business/management/thompson/11e/case/starbucks-1.html 20.
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/India.html 21.
http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Starbucks_to_enter_multibucks_indian_cafe_marke t
21. Pg. 19 Appendix Appendix Customer Feedback City: Delhi |Location: Connaught Place
(CP) Name: Ishika Review: Visited a couple of times. Definitely love it. The croissants, the
quiche are excellent, imo. Didnt much like the muffins though , a bit too dry for my taste.
being a espresso drinker, starbucks is of course a great option for a cup of espresso & a
croissant. So if u love some italian coffee and some high quality breads, this is the place to

head to :) Name: Ruchi Sehgal Review: Well yes I simply loved it! When we listen from our
friends living in some other country about the various hangouts, foods and other stuff they
do, we marvel what they say and simply hope to try the same some day, or may be, we don't
even think about trying it because we know its a landmark of that country and is supposed to
be there only...for example, the Eiffel Tower and the French vineyards! But when some outlet
is in almost (not all, but almost) every country....there is a deep yearning to sample the glory
of that place practically and not just in the virtual world of what is being told by others!
Starbucks is one such place...which was bestowed to the Indians after a very long wait! One
question was always in the mind of most of the Indians who knew about global eat-outs that
if Pizza Hut, Mc Donald's, Domino's, KFC, etc took no time in coming to India then what is
taking so long for Starbucks to hit the Indian markets! And when the wait was over, Indians
accepted it with fervor...the response was so good, that with the initial plan of just one
Mumbai outlet, within less than an year...there are more than one outlets in the capital city
itself!
22. Pg. 20 Appendix Coming down to my Starbucks experience, well since it was my first
visit, I was in a complete awe by the fact that Starbucks is in Delhi too! The next big
astounding thing was the decor of the cafe...I am sure if you will enter the cafe, you will ask
yourself, am I in the 21st century? Or stepped down the time machine! But then there is
Indian staff to make things familiar for you : I wasn't surprised by the mob and queues
because its a new experience for most of us. And also, isn't it part and parcel of Starbucks
anyway? Something which is quite remarkable about the cafe is that despite the exalted
global standards, the pricing of the menu is just in accordance with the Indian pocket. No
wonder, Starbucks is the next favorite hangout these days! Since you can get coffee
anywhere and almost everywhere from your local general store to the uptown cafes....I
preferred to have something I haven't tried ever! White chocolate coffee was one such thing!
Also, because I crave and drool for white chocolate...my mocha experience was heavenly!
My cold coffee partners preferred the caramel frappe and highly recommended Java
chip....well quite ironically both are extreme opposites! One is sweet and the other bitter....so
for those who like to get absorbed in the bitterness....try Java Chip. Its not too bitter though,
but give the perfect strong coffee taste! Caramel frappe is for those who live in the sweet
valley! As a side order with your coffee, there is so much on the salver to resist!!! It was hard
for me to decide between the finely cut slices of cake and the enormous cookies and well of
course the sugary doughnuts...and then finally I zeroed in on the crumble cookie! Never in
my life I have ever had such a large cookie...and baked as if just out of the oven! One thing is
for sure, the moment you will have your snack, the coffee loses its sheen! So its advisable, to
enjoy your coffee to its full potential, avoid having your coffee and snacks together! More than
anything, the best part of this cafe is the ambiance, which makes up for a tiring day! I rate
this place a whooping 4.5....well you deserve it Starbucks! Name: Sandy Review: Seeing the
long queues stretching almost half a block, I resisted the temptation to visit this place almost
for an entire month hoping that the initial hoopla would've died out by then. But to my
amazement, even after a month, the scenario hadn't changed much. Guess I underestimated
the star power of Starbucks. Finally the temptation overcame my resistance one day and I
found myself standing in THE LINE. The line was crawling at a speed at which even snails

would've laughed at :P Getting frustrated and thinking of leaving, starbucks then scored their
first brownie points. Out came a server offering free shots to those waiting in line. That li'l
gesture showed that they valued their customers. Color me impressed :)
23. Pg. 21 Appendix Entering it, I quite liked the seating arrangement at the ground floor. As
it was full we moved on to the first floor. Now came the letdown. Not only were all the seats
taken, there were more than 10 people hovering over tables to swoop upon them as soon as
persons sitting on them finished. Almost an hour waiting outside & now this. Not good. Not
good at all. What infuriated me even more was that most of those seating were only there to
put a "check-in on FB". I mean 4 people sitting with ONE cup of coffee on the table. What the
....!! Finally getting a seat, we decided upon what to order. Caramel Macchiato and a White
Chocolate Mocha alongwith some burger (whose name I don't remember now) were
selected. Burger was okay-ish. Way to costly for its taste. But one sip of the coffee and you'll
forget all this and more. It makes you remember the true purpose of coming here and makes
you realize why starbucks is a worldwide phenomenon. White chocolate mocha esp. was out
of this world. Caramel macchiato was pretty impressive too. The taste. The aroma. Just loved
it. No wonder I was there for a second time within a weeks time. White Chocolate Mocha
ordered AGAIN. ObviouslY :D So forget about the long queue, forget about the waiting for
seats, forget about the interiors which are more suited for a bar than a coffeehouse, ignore
those FB-wannabes loitering around and just remember what you are really there for. Smile
and enjoy. Name: Swati Bhamboria Review: Have been to Starbucks for 3-4 times now and
my experience has been amazing everytime. As people say about the waiting procedure,
well I have never been to this phase. Probably it may be because of weekday afternoon
visits. So the conclusion comes, better to visit in weekday afternoon hours. The aroma of
coffee can be sensed as you enter the lane which does intrigue a person to taste some
coffee. The moment I entered the cafe I was impressed by the interiors, with the indian touch.
Amazing work has been done with the ambience. The staff...OMG...they are so courteous
and friendly. The greeting with that big wide smile on their face and the service too was fast.
We got our order in mere 2-3 minutes. When it comes to coffee I would personally
recommend cold coffees, hot coffees aint that good. And DO NOT go for sides, the food is
not at all upto the mark. Other con about this place is the seating. The place is always
overcrowded, one has to hunt to settle down. Overall a good place to sit around with friends
over a cup of coffee.
24. Pg. 22 Appendix Personal Recommendation: White Chocolate Mocha and Java Chip
Frappuccino. One can also try Caramel Macchiato incase they like it hot! Name: Shambavi
Ganju Katoch Review: I am writing my second review on starbucks in CP. I was so ecstatic
when finally Starbucks came to our very own delhi. I was in CP over the weekend, catching
up with with a friend and I went to starbucks, yet again. There was almost a stampede, and
people getting on top of one another. All i can say again is "For those who like to drink coffee
while hangingout, this one of the best places in CP"`. I am floored by its world class
ambience and the Good athmosphere to hang out. the coffee is good and so are the snacks.
I got confused choosing from wide variety of hot and blended coffees to serve along with
come chai's as well. A wide snack menu which looks exciting as well, but personally I think
the prices of snacks are a little over the top. Staff is polite and friendly as well, I ordered a

chicken kathi. I ordered My favorite is java chocochip frappuccino, which I love coz ita simply
super simply amazing with cream on top and a swirl of chocolate sauce in awesum ice
blended coffee. The chicken kathi roll was better than the one we had last time. I loved my
hot favorite frappuccino as ever. I have been a big fan of starbucks while I have been to
singapore and Europe and I am happy that the outlets in India do match up to the
international standards and live up to the brand promise. Me and my friend had a great time
chatting over the frappuccino while enjoying the grand ambience. My friend also couldnt
resist the urge of picking herself starbucks goodies. SHe purchased a starbucks mug for
herself. I will definitely go back again and again to starbucks for the ambience and definitely
for the coffee. City: Gurgaon |Location: Ambience Mall Name: Vivek Katarva Review: The
'glorified' coffee shop comes to Gurgaon with its first outlet opening in Ambience Mall. They
have erected an awe-inspiring setup in the mall, one that goes beyond its air-cooled
boundaries to an area in the open. It's lavish, and it reciprocates well with the both the
associated brand in the venture. I had an experience not living up to the name at Starbucks
in CP. What is life without giving some mediocre hyped places another shot at another
location? So there I was on a Sunday evening to see if it's any better this time.
25. Pg. 23 Appendix Starbucks enjoys a clear 'coffee-shop monopoly' in Ambience mall.
Having no better option that the Cafe Coffee Day on the third floor (that too with seating in
the Food Court) or a humble Costa on 4th, it's either Starbucks way or no-caffeine way. It
was surprisingly not fully occupied, and there was no waiting queue at the ordering counter.
The immaculate standards of the place were clearly visible from the moment I set foot in the
cafe. Everything went smoothly from ordering my Grand Chai Latte, Tall Mocha Frappuccino
and a Chicken and Vegetable Lattic(e?) to collecting it from the final counter (and in a pretty
decent time too). I didn't have the heart to go Venti this time around, and I am glad I didn't.
We were able to easily occupy seats inside which were huddled close, given the limited
room. It was a discarded extension inside, so I had to specifically attract the attention of the
cleaning crew to clean the table up for us. So far, so good. The Mocha Frappuccino, their
most regular cold coffee, tasted too sweet. Something that I did see coming after having a
saccharine Java Chip at CP. No worries, it still tasted good with a distinct flavor of the beans.
The Chai Latte was spiced with Cinnamon, thick and rich, and tasted wonderful. The Chicken
and Vegetable Lattic tasted quite good. It had generous chunks of chicken with fine grated
vegetables, all seasoned beautifully. What I had at Starbucks (a coffee and a few bites) filled
me up quite decently. It was priced very reasonably too (though there is always a margin to
have a little more at a little less). There is a specific "Service Tax on 'For Here'" included in
my bill. Given it's a self-service there, that amount is technically for occupying their table for a
certain time and for cleaning up afterwords. Didn't really like that bit. Overall, Starbucks is a
decent coffee shop if one does not sway his/her expectations based on the brand name. It
has limited collection, good preparation for hot beverages, average (but certainly not average
for the sugar) for the cold ones with relishing bites. The next time I am going there, I am
specifically asking them to tone down the sugar in my cup. It's worth a try to stop me from
not-liking Starbucks eventually. City: Delhi |Location: Greater Kailash (GK) Name: Manitasha
Review: Starbucks GK is very different from Starbucks CP in terms of ambiance and seating.
Unlike the CP outlet this one has a very clean and its easier to find the sitting space. It was

not as crowded as the CP outlet so there was lesser waiting for the food. So it was the same
Starbucks food in a better ambiance and a more relaxed feeling.
26. Pg. 24 Appendix I started with the Chatpata Parantha. It was a spinach wrap with paneer,
tomato and onion rolled inside it. It was very tasty and filling. With that I had Java Chocochip
Frappuccino. It was a cold coffee with loads of cream and chocolate sauce on the top. It was
so rich and thick. I was feeling so full after that. But the Mango Oreo Cheesecake looked
tempting enough for me to stuff myself more. It looked beautiful and tasted heavenly. I walked
out of there with a smile of satisfaction. Though Starbucks is more expensive than your
regular coffee joint, but it is worth it once in a while. Name: Preet Mendiratta Review: Finally,
after all that build up and hype, I take my first visit to Starbucks. I have to admit, the place is
quite nice. The staff was very kind and quite inviting. What I really liked was the taste in
music these guys have. There was straight up Jazz that was playing! I can't tell you how
happy I was, that's what I call a greeting, unlike other cafes where you have to bear the
boisterous and appalling music that this generation is cursed with! Anyway, I requested the
person who attended to me at the counter to suggest me on what my first taste of Starbucks
should be and he recommended the Caramel Macchiato. Honestly, I just wasn't impressed. It
was quite lifeless if you ask me. I certainly plan to come back though, will go for a classic
Espresso or a Cappucino perhaps. Hopefully that should tend to my satisfaction! Name:
Shambavi Ganju Katoch Review: Imagine, I am writing a review on starbucks. Finally
Starbucks came to my very own GK, M block, yippie, near my offive and Finally my long wait
was over. Finally yesterday I had my first coffee at Starbucks in GK in my very own Delhi,
near my office. All i can say is "For those who like to drink coffee while hangingout, this one
of the best places in M block"`. Well, what can i say. Its Starbucks coffee, almost all people
know it and at least will try it once, so even I did. Well! all starbucks outlets worldwide are the
same besides the pricy coffee, what are they really sell is the ambience and the Good
athmosphere to hang out. the coffee is good and so are the snacks. But the place can really
get crowded, especially on weekends. They have a wide variety of hot and blended coffees
to serve along with come chai's as well. A wide snack menu which looks exciting as well, but
personally I think the prices of snacks are a little over the top. This outlet is smaller than the
one in CP.
27. Pg. 25 Appendix Staff is polite and friendly as well, but little confused than the CP outlet,
they gave me a reshmi kabab roll instead of a murgh kathi. I ordered My favorite is java
chocochip frappuccino, which I had even when I was in CP simply super simply amazing with
cream on top and a swirl of chocolate sauce in awesum ice blended coffee. But the
disappointing part was the chicken kathi roll. It was cold, not properly heated, chicken inside
was still hard coz it was frozen and the wrap was not roomali or paratha, but it was a tortilla
wrap which had hardened like a crisp biscuit in their attempt of heating it in the microwave.
but I will definitely go back to starbucks for the ambience and definitely for the coffee. Name:
Shanty Review: A welcome addition to the numerous eateries already there, Starbucks is
understandably one of the hottest destinations in GK 1's M-Block market at the moment. If
you've been to the other outlets in Delhi, you're likely to see some familiar smiling faces
behind the counter, not to mention people from the area who earlier had to make the hike to
Saket or Vasant Kunj to get their Starbucks fix. While I'm not the biggest fan of their coffee

(with the possible exception of the Caramel Frappuccino), they do a great job of my favourite
order - the Iced Green Tea Latte. Last night, I sampled their Iced Lemon Green Tea, along
with a Salmon & Cheese Croissant. The drink was refreshing, and the croissant was nothing
short of a revelation. Flaky on the outside, with delicious smoked salmon, cream cheese, and
melted cheddar on the inside. Perfect for a light, but satisfying dinner. Combining the great
food, snappy service, free WiFi, and the fact that they play jazz pretty much all the time, I
imagine it'll be appearing a lot on my credit card statement in the future. City: Delhi |Location:
IGI Airport Name: Prateek Agarwal Review: Had about extra 30 minutes in hand before
boarding & was wondering what to do - when a starbucks guy with a tray in hand greeted me
right at the entrance for gates. He offered me a caramel coffee to taste, which was fantastic
& I decided to have something more... the outlet was just around the corner & almost empty!
28. Pg. 26 Appendix The attendant was very warm & smiling & helped me make my choice
by giving me small samples of "cold tea" (not ice tea - but cold tea with milk)! It was great, as
you expect from starbucks. The service was quick. Overall worth the money. This outlet will
now become my stopover for each visit to Airport. Name: Maneck Khanna Review: Ever
since Starbucks opened I have wanting to visit one of the outlets but never did get a chance.
Now while travelling, I made it a point to check in early and spend sometime at the Starbucks
which was worth the while. As soon as you walk towards the gates this one is standing right
at the entry to greet you and you cannot miss it, even if you want to. The same international
feel has been retained to the Starbucks counter and though I have walked across some of
the outlets in Delhi, this was one of those which could be anywhere in the world. The staff
was happy and courteous and I had a nice chat with the guy at the counter. They enjoyed
talking about the food and their coffee. Service is not much you can talk about at a selfservice joint but these guys are quick and efficient and I loved how they put your names on
the take-away coffee cups when you order. On suggestion of trying something cold I had the
Tall Java Choco-chip Frappucino which was an excellent choice and a great accompaniment
to the Reshmi Kebab roll which however was a little dry. I will try their cappuccino soon on
the next visit. As for the terminal 3 outlet I suggest if you have a long walk to your boarding
gate, buy a coffee and enjoy your walk. Name: Devdarsh Jain Review: Quite impressed ! The
outlet is tucked in the corner as you head to the gates so it is one of the last pit stops one can
make before getting on the flight. It was meant to be our first tryst with the famed coffee chain
in India.
29. Pg. 27 Appendix The outlet is not large but very reminiscent to a Starbucks elsewhere we
would have seen. There is seating for around 10-15 people. The outlet is designed and run
much similar to Starbucks elsewhere. The main question in our mind was - Would the
Starbucks in India be able to replicate the same passion, consistency and effortlessness with
which they deliver their coffee one after the other everywhere else. Well, we must admit that
although the staff still needed to be oiled and gain in confidence, they were pretty close to
perfect. We ordered a Hot Cafe Mocha and it was delivered pretty as much as it would be
done in any Starbucks outlet around the world. We did not have the time to grab one of the
snacks but the menu has been certainly "Indianized". And on a positive note too. We were
also expecting the prices to be steeper than what they are ! So all in all a delightful
experience in welcoming one of the most iconic brands of coffee to India. City: Delhi |

Location: Saket Name: Tanmeet Review: My second vist to starbucks was here while waiting
for a movie show at pvr saket ,the first one was at the CP outlet . the saket 1 is definately
better that the CP . good interiors and spacious . Found a que while ordering but it was
managed well by the staff , order were being taken and after waiting name os the person was
being called to pick up the order . we ordered caramel macchaiato and java chip( both iced) .
pretty nice portion size , i found java chip a little bitter , but the other 1 was very refreshing
and good . The only problem i felt with this place was the sitting was arranged so that more
tables could be shared with other guest , the comfort goes down a little . other wise a nice
experience . WORTH A TRY Name: Ankush Mohanty Review: The first time I had gone to
starbucks in Delhi, I was really disappointed with the coffee and the desserts however this
time I made a conscious effort to enjoy what the entire world seems to enjoy.I ventured into
the newly opened outlet at Select City Walk mall. The purple interiors are quite striking and
with the comfortable seating arrangement, this outlet definitely scores above the CP one. We
decided to have their Red Velvet cake on offer with a wild mushroom pocket and white
chocolate frappe.
30. Pg. 28 Appendix The red velvet cake was smooth however not as smooth as the one you
get at Elma's (HKV). The icing here lacked that creaminess which you get at every bite at
Elma's. The mushroom pocket was good till the time I reached the bottom half of sandwich.
The bread was so thick that you felt that you have reached the end of a pizza crust. The
filling was good though. The coffee was as sweet as it was earlier. But you can ask for that
extra strong bit in your latte. Overall, a better experience than my first visit. Hope to keep
improving it time to time. Name: Varun Kochar Review: So my second tryst with starbucks
last week. Before I write my review I need to show my dissatisfaction on never able to get a
seat in saket. I have crossed this outlet so many times weekdays or weekends it just never
seems to be empty. Always a queue. I cannot blame starbucks for this because the current
fad is to have coffee at starbucks and even I would grab a seat at this place if I ever saw it
empty but I wait for the day to get a seat coz the day I would I will not leave it for at least an
hour - by god ki kasam ! So here I am in the queue with no intention of waiting and sitting.
This time I just wanted a cold coffee - grab it and leave for the dlf mall next door because that
is where my car is parked and this cold coffee would be my companion for the next 10
minutes. My chance came and the server asked me what would I like and I replied a simple
plain cold cofee and I usually am always asked further questions at any outlet - silly things
like hazelnut or cream or ice cream or nuts or onions etc etc. And I am a bit of a cheapskate
because the last thing I want is to double the price of an already expensive coffee. So this
time I was surprised when upon completing my sentence of a simple plain cold coffee he
said ice and milk blended something for which I Paid 160 something for a mighty glass which
I think was a medium. It was delicious just the way my cold coffee should be.So my second
try was good. Now only if I get a seat sometime soon ! Name: Bharat Sharma Review: A
wonderful place to be at! From the amazing coffees to the cool interiors, if you're here with
friends, or on your own to work, Starbucks is the place to be. Almost always full, the staff is
courteous and serve you with a smile. The interiors are also different then any other cafe.
Anybody who said, 'may you live in intersting times' was talking about Starbucks, but only
problem is once to get in one has to wait as it has long que all the time.

31. Pg. 29 Appendix we visited the store and was really impressed with the service and
quality of coffee. The aroma of the freshly made coffee and Mocha Java Chip is out of the
world..very live environment. People of all ages enjoy a good time here.The variety of hot
and cold beverages is a lot.. and the taste is unbeatable. just love it everytime i visit there.
Name: Sonali Gupta Review: Well, I don;t intend to be biased, but I have been a fan of
Starbucks for quite some time now. I don't know whether it is the yummy-licious frappuccinos
or the ever-so soothing Caramel Machiato (must must must have) or simply the enthusiasm
of the staff, but there is somethign about the place that lifts my mood. And hey-ho, it hold true
for Starbucks India too! The preperations have met my expectations everytime I have visited
this place (about 5-7 times now). The crowd is a little bothersome, but hey, it is not
uncommon for Starbucks to have huge lines elsewhere too! So grab your coffee, and window
shop your way through the mall! (Infact, the CP is a little disheartening in this aspect) I don't
think it is the right place for a meal, which is why I have not tried and do not expect much
from the food bit. But some of the usual coffee accompaniments - muffins, croissants meet
the standards, though not exceptional. City: Delhi |Location: Vasant Kunj Name: Dr.
Amarpreet Singh Review: Well, first things first , do starbucks gives u the best coffee
Answer:: NO DO starbucks give the strongest coffee Answer : yes Thats about it guys. Plus
those side orders like danish breads were all crap. I had high hoped from starbucks. I have
had better coffee at italian cafes than here. Just like italian pizzas are more authentic than
the likes of pizza hut n dominos, similarily coffee at italian cafes is way superior. Still going
with 3.5 , because better than many other common cafes like CCD. Name: Mehek Review: I
wont say this place is SPECIAL. But if i were too describe it in 3 words i would say : IT IS
STARBUCKS. Be it in the high streets of manhattan or the busy lanes of London, Starbucks
is the same everywhere and this one is no different. If you like emptying out your pockets for
an average cup of coffee, then THIS is the place.
32. Pg. 30 Appendix If you want a cozy date then this isn't the place to go but yes, if you want
to impress a client, then this is your spot. Honestly its like any other cafe but with a big name.
Conclusively, you should go in here expecting a BRANDED cup of coffee with nothing
extraordinary but its title. Name: Megha Review: My first Starbucks experience in India was
at CP which was funny and disastrous at the same time! huge queues, no seating, bad
coffee etc. This outlet is again just another coffee shop at the mall. 1. Over rated coffee &
other beverages 2. Very average stuff to eat - nothing authentic 3. Not well stocked (specially
the sweet bites :>) 4. decent service though 5. little value for money 6. ambiance & decor nothing less, nothing more as compared to other coffee giants in the city. Its time you realize
that Starbucks is neither the best coffee in town nor is it a 'must try out' place at all. Can
easily skip it. Name: Kranti Mishra Review: Hip young crowd. Nothing more. With an average
setting, available-anywhere coffee and just-ok snacking options, its not all its' cracked up to
be. Strangely enough, the people behind the counter found my name to be much too
amusing to keep a straight face and made we wonder about the rationale behind the whole
"Starbucks" tradition of writing the customers name on the coffee glass. Buggin'. Would any
day rather go a Costa Coffee outlet, enjoy good snacking options and get value for money.
Name: Varun Kochar Review: So here is my review on this much awaited place. I was
walking by this in Ambience and since there was a mental rush at Selct City Walk all the

times I passed them, seeing this half empty thought it'd be a good idea to try this out. I have
never tried Starbucks ever in my life. Even when I have traveled through europe. Its always
been small cafes and costas for me.
33. Pg. 31 Appendix I am a bit old fashioned and just like a simple cappucino or a cold coffe.
Its a bit of a job for me to read all the varieties of coffees listed there. So I politely asked the
guy there to give me a normal cappucino and a plain cold coffee with no add ons. He did not
ask me if I wanted any hazelnut or other crap or cream unlike CCD and barista. this was
refreshing for a change. Coming back to the coffee it was average at the most and I could not
see any reason why everyone is flocking here. Its your average cofee shop with a name.
Depauls has better cold coffee in my opinion for a fraction of the price. They did write my
name on the glass with a marker which was a bit weird. Never seen that or maybe its a
starbuck thing. I will go here again only if there is nothing else around the corner. But then
they probably have too many youngsters to keep themselves full. City: Mumbai |Location:
Colaba Name: Neha Wasnik Review This place is always full to the brim primarily cause of
its location even though its tucked in the backyard corner of The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai.
The salad here is overpriced and not so well done... the famous Starbucks coffee is just
about right doesn't feel original though. The Mushroom Cheese Pocket is yummy very light
and delicately seasoned...do try it. Name: Sabina Rangwala Review Mind blowing Coffee
served at even mind blowing price....But the taste and the flavours are really exceptionally
good. Try the cafe Mocha which is espresso served with bitter sweet chocolate sauce. I liked
the caramel frappucino too. I might visit this place despite the high prices. Its a unique
experience in itself. The classic international coffees which one doesnt find at most coffee
shops, the service, the atmosphere, the satisfaction are what counts to make a perfect
flawless & starbucks coffee matches all these parameters fully. Food-4.5 Ambiance-4
Service -4 Name: Aboli K Review And it finally arrived. The last time I had a Starbucks'
sandwich and Frappe was in Japan, so one would know the satisfied feeling of it coming in
India.
34. Pg. 32 Appendix Anyways, unlike the stalls in Japan, this Starbucks is quite big, very
spacious, well lit and good servicing (though its self-service, the orders arrive on time). It has
taken over the same boring CCD so now the hip place to hangout now is Starbucks and you
can sit here for hours together, takes pictures, enjoy sipping your coffee minding your own
business or have fun with friends. This place gives freedom to do whatever you want. I
specially love LOVE the Java Chip and you would enjoy the espresso as much.The
sandwiches are just great but god the dessert section is so tempting. You'll enjoy there alot.
Happy Eating. Name: Raj Arora Review Starbucks, finally arrived here. Just admit I am still
hoping that they would open one at parel or bandra side but maybe sometime soon. The
service and experience is just how it is abroad, service with a smile. All staff helpful, polite
and friendly. Calling out your name fir your order. Everything was great. We tried out the
mawa elachi croissant which was just toooo sweet and my all time favorite the hazelnut hit
chocolate. There us also free wifi service. Name: Rahul Sheth Review Was eager to visit
Starbucks, and finally landed there last night... Ambience- Nicely done interiors...Spacious
seating...the place has a homely feel which is very comforting. Food- Coffee was good...Try
the Java Chip Frappucino....Its really nice....The Caramel Macchiato wasn't good...Give it a

miss.. Service- Its really professional....With a smile...:) Prices- Both the coffees cost Rs.
309...The Machiatto was definitely not worth it.. Verdict- It was good...The crowd is
good....The vibe about the place is very pleasant. Do try Starbucks!
35. Pg. 33 Appendix City: Mumbai |Location: Goregaon East Name: Jay Review Coffee is
served best in a cozy and relaxing environment. And coffee is not supposed to be a part of
the mall attractions. It is not a commodity but something more like a relaxing massage that
cannot be weighed. Sadly, this Starbucks is one of those places that gets clients because of
the brand name and not an intrinsic effort from the management. The place is cramped and
the coffee is not the greatest. We had ordered two drinks and both came luke warm. Luke
warm coffee??? And the sandwiches were also sub par. Starbucks in this mall, Oberoi, will
thrive simply because it has a name and sadly if there any good coffee shops, they will be
ignored. Name: Parin Review Located on the ground floor at Oberoi mall, I have seen this
place to be crowded whenever I had a chance to visit Oberoi. The place looks alluring from
the outside, the seating inside is planned well, for large groups and small and lone rangers,
however, it does look cluttered. If you are looking for a quiet coffee place to read or be by
yourself, this is not the place to be. The place is clean and I really like the decor, bare
minimum, but the stuff that is there is endearing. The staff is attentive. The coffees are priced
way higher than say CCD or Barista, however, the quantity is generous. We had some pastry
for which I don't remember the name, it tasted well. Worth a visit once, and then you switch
back to your local coffee place! Name: Manali Godbole Review This was the second time I
was visiting Starbucks. The first time I visited the outlet was the one near Colaba, which is
behind The Taj Mahal Palace, and due to all the hustle and bustle of Starbucks opening up in
Mumbai, the waiting in line for almost 30 mins just to place your order had been a major
setback of my experience. So now, as the hype has been cooled down to normalcy, I can say
when I visited the outlet at the Oberoi Mall, Goregaon this time, I was pretty happy about the
service being comparatively quicker and prompt. Nothing can be as annoying as being made
to wait to get your coffee.The ambiance of Starbucks is been done to match some uptown
chic cafes and it feels quite nice and warm,what will all the bouquet of the freshly ground
coffee. Ah, its heavenly.
36. Pg. 34 Appendix So I ordered the Caramel Frappuccino and a Double Chocolate Chip
Muffin. I think the Frappuccino has been one of the best things I've had at Starbucks. It was
really nice. The Chocolate Chip Muffin was quite decent sized and tasted good too. All in all,
a good experience. Wouldn't mind visiting this place frequently as its not that pricey
compared to the other coffee shops in the city. Name: Neha Singh Review After all the Hype
and Hoopla for Starbucks cooled off a bit and people stopped making a beeline for an entry, I
chanced upon Starbucks one night post a good dinner at Oberoi mall. To tell you the truth- I
was kind of Anti-starbucks in my head and used to wonder WHY-0-WHY such insane levels
of madness for a Coffee? Well, I realised- not just about coffee it is. It is an Experience. My
US return indian friend seemed a perfect company to take cues of Starbucks out there in the
phoren land and India-(considering mixed reviews from people saying this one is no-good).
Hmm..so we entered to be greeted very nicely by the staff.I could not help but gaze around at
the good decor-it is brownish-wooden-interior with a rustic feel to it.I was really keen to knowWhat is it about Starbucks? My friend handed me the answer as he handed me a dark coffee

with zero milk and sugar. He said-this is how coffee is meant to be-around the world'. I
couldn't help but agree when I sampled it. It was bitter, but Pure Coffee in its Richest Form. I
also spotted a Small Board with ' We want to serve you the perfect drink. If it is not, tell us-we
will make it RIGHT'.I could not help but smile with delight at the customer satisfaction motto.
The coffee costing starts from rs.100 to 300 and varies with the drink and the size you orderthe large one is like a treat for yourself (Bada hai toh behtar hai applies here for the glutton
like me :P)Also, they write your name on your coffee- methinks it shows personalisation and
it is Cute!. It is a self-serve outlet and no matter what time you visit you will find almost all the
tables full! And when we were leaving the place- the Staff shouted Bye, Neha..Bye XX.
loudly. Awww, I felt as if I am leaving after meeting an old friend-only to come back again! :)
37. Pg. 35 Appendix Name: Vivek Khandelwal Review I was excited to go to Starbucks
Coffee when it started at Oberoi mall. When I spent around an hour, I felt was that Starbucks
is overrated!! or u can say over hyped!! The cold Coffee that I ordered was filled with watered
local milk with loads of ice or u can say filled with WATER & minimal MILK. It was like m
drinking iced COLD WATER with coffee flavor in it. It got hard to gulp it down after a few sips.
Interiors with good ambiance but beverages are a real WASTE... a NO NO for sure --- only
brand n ambiance rest all is a waste City: Mumbai |Location: Mumbai Fort Name: Purvi Shah
Review If you walk in here expecting the American Starbucks taste, you will leave
disappointed. They use Indian coffee beans & ingredients to make their food & coffee. When
we went after college, the wifi wasn't working. The Caffe Mocha & Mocha Frappuccino are
good options. The hot chocolate at Theobrama is better than the one offered here.
Personally, I feel both the food & coffee are not worth the price. The ambiance is pretty good
& different from the coffee shops here (like Mocha, Barista or Costa). I just wanted to pay it a
visit to see how good it is here but, I won't be going back any time soon. I prefer the coffee at
Gloria Jean's. Name: Srivaitaran Mothukuri Review Star bucks coffee is good . Even though
we can't get the taste of American coffee, Indian coffee has its own taste and flavour . Star
buck. Name: Maitreyee Lawande Review While my experience with Starbucks in India till
now had been restricted to ' Java chip' to-go, this time I bonded with the cafe at Fort for a
longer duration. Just loved the ambiance at the branch, it is different from the usual coffeeshop. A huge huge place, it was really crowded when we got here on a Sunday afternoon but
luckily we managed to get a seat. What I didn't like was that you have to go place the order at
the counter and then get the coffees too, food they get to your table later. I personally prefer
the old-school way of someone coming up to you to take the order esp when it is crowded
and the ordering part ends up taking a lot of time.
38. Pg. 36 Appendix As far as coffee is concerned, I quite like the Java chip frappucino which
has a distinct taste. The cafe mocha was also decent. The variety of munchies here is far
better than other shops. The veggie quiche and tomato basil sub were good but the potato
sub was average. Next time, I would probably try out a few more coffee or tea varieties but till
then for me, it is just the name that overshadows the quality. Name: Kuka Review Star bucks
is Completely Unbeatable in terms of innovation is their Espressos or Lattes or mochas.
Even the herbal tea that they have are different. Just the typical coffee aroma hits your
senses and makes you indulge in their varied coffees. The ambiance at this particular place i
fond very warm, though it has the coffee shop kinda look. Its always thronging with

customers and a minimum wait of 5- 10 mins is always inevitable just to place the order...and
then this is followed by another impatient wait till it arrives. The fellow customers sipping
along makes the wait really difficult. My favourites here are java chip, caramel machiato, and
also the Signature hot chocolate which tastes so amazingly different than the regular ones.
Name: Dineet Singh Review Star Bucks is Star Bucks, and it any day beats our Indian
variants in terms of coffee and varieties they offer. However at a premium, I am not aware of
Star Bucks yet in Bangalore, but I heard that they were opening one in Bangalore too will
definitely Google this up once back home. Rustic Ambience and good coffee is just what was
required to get you going for the rest of the day. Had their Cafe Mocha Grande and it was
quite nicely done. Name: Khusnuma B Review I have been to this place 2 times and both the
times I thoroughly enjoyed my coffee and the cookies I had. The ambiance also is good and
makes you have your coffee leisurely. I love their Frappes, and Capucchino the best. The
mocha also is a good option with choco chip cookie. I have heard about other varieties from
my friends and will come back to savour those too very soon.
39. Pg. 37 Appendix City: Mumbai |Location: Powai Name: Mithun Pj Review Though a little
late on arrival , the billion dollar company has finally established its in India opening many
outlets across Mumbai and Delhi. The weekend visit to Mumbai ended my lifelong craving to
visit the god of all coffee chains. The short drive at night lead to an unplanned visit to
Starbucks Powai. As mentioned , expectations were on the higher side. The outlet was damn
crowded and noisy with people covering all age groups. The ambiance was quite similar to
its Indian counterparts. The ordering system though a bit different were the counter boy
writes the name of the individual on the cups depending up on the order placed. Once the
order is fulfilled they call out the name in the noisy background and we had to receive the
order from the counter. We were a bit confused initially as I wanted to taste the best coffee
out there. After the brain storming , we decided to order a hot & cold combination. I went for
Cafe Mocha where as my friend ordered Caramel Frapuccino. The coffees were good but I
couldn't find that X factor surrounding the hype. The prices are a bit steep as it cost us
around 370 for two coffees. I want to visit other outlets to investigate on why Starbucks is the
most preferred coffee brand in the world. Name: Roshat Adnani Review After crossing
Starbucks at Powai a couple of times and not getting a place to sit I finally got an opportunity
to sit inside and enjoy the coffee one tuesday evening. And it was as usual a great
experience. The ambience is really amazing just as you expect the Starbucks to be. It is big
not as huge as the fort one but can accommodate many people. The ambience is really
something which many restaurant would die to have. The good part about this starbucks is
they have one big round table where many people can just come and sit together. So even if
you come alone you can share a table with other people and not feel lonely. The coffee is as
usual just amazing. Its the same standard as I have found in other Starbucks. I had my usual
white choc mocha which tasted just perfect. Although the ambience however is very noisy it
has a very Indian feel to it! Ambiance: 5/5 Quality: 4.5/5 Quantity: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Repeat
Value: 4/5
40. Pg. 38 Appendix Name: Shubhangi Dixit Review I went here on my visit to Mumbai with
friends. This is the place to go if you want some really good coffee. They offer a big variety of
coffees, and you will love each of it. I loved the food, the beverages, the ambiance and the

service. I had an amazing time with my friends over a coffee in the evening. I absolutely
loved the quantity and the quality. The food was just mind blowing equally. The place was full
of people, and we had to wait for our turn. But, it was totally worth it. The waiters were well
trained and were dealing with a big crowd really quickly and patiently. The place is beautiful
and located in one of the poshest areas of Mumbai, hence not at all quiet. Obviously people
love their coffee in quiet environment. But Starbucks is not to blamed for this. They have a
really well established name world wide and their marketing techniques are very good. They
were also giving out free tasters outside the place to the pedestrians, and everyone loved
them. My overall experience was amazing, and I would definitely like to visit this place
whenever I come to Mumbai. Food- 4.5/5 Service- 4.5/5 Ambiance- 3.5/5 Name: Arpit
Sharma Review While i love indian food and had coffee in CCD , costa coffee and all but all i
want to say is that i took a sandwich named foccacia , it was good but the coffee wasn't really
great. And the environment there wasn't really good too. I love cold coffee and my brother is
a chef but he prepares a really nice cold coffee better than all these coffee brands.

http://www.slideshare.net/vaibhu87/starbucks-slidshare