With over 38,000 stores globally, Starbucks is one of the most recognizable food and drink brands in the world. While the company is known for its ability to churn out a cup of coffee, along with various other products, in a quick and consistent manner, it is not often associated with specialty coffee. Starbucks set out to change this in 2004 when it launched a series of single-origin coffees — which often taste stronger than blends — under the name of Black Apron Exclusives.
In 2010, this project morphed into Starbucks Reserve, a premium brand that offers high-end coffee products and related experiences at a handful of specially designed roasteries and stores. Given that both Starbucks and Starbucks Reserve are owned and operated by the same company, customers are often shocked by how much the products and experiences provided by the two brands differ. In this article, we highlight exactly how and why they're so different, providing you with all the information you need to decide whether it's worth sticking with your plain old Starbucks or if it's better to invest your time and money into experiencing something a little more special.
Starbucks Reserve locations sell exclusive food and drinks Starbucks is not what you'd describe as a high-end chain, and its menu reflects this; food doesn't get much more adventurous than a ham and Swiss cheese baguette, and coffees, while consistent, are not made with the care and exactitude present in specialty coffee shops. This stands i.
