Is Starbucks Also Bad In Italy? Let’s Find Out!
On a recent trip to Milan, Italy, I wanted to answer the question: “Is Starbucks Also Bad In Italy?” and you might be surprised by my opinion.
If you have spent any time on this blog, you probably know that I am not a fan of Starbucks coffee. In addition to not wanting to drink one of their Frappuccinos (or any other sugar laden drink), I have found their coffee to be sour. This isn’t the only place where I’ve tasted coffee that seemed like the beans went rancid, but with their sales volume, the beans probably aren’t stale, simply roasted badly.
However, I decided to take one for the team and check out the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano. I was curious if Starbucks had altered their “formula” for roasting to match the tastes in the local country. It didn’t seem like an unusual idea because the coffee culture in Italy is so strong and well defined that outsiders don’t stand a chance (long-term).
Introduction To Starbucks Reserve Roastery
I don’t want to spend much time discussing Starbucks’ regular restaurants. They are well known and I doubt I could add anything new to the conversations. These roasteries are a little different. They are global, and there are only a few. They currently exist in these locations:
- Seattle
- Shanghai
- Milano
- New York
- Tokyo
- Chicago
In addition to offering the coffee that you’ve come to expect, and I assume some of you probably like, these roasteries offer what they refer to as: “Experiences”. These experiences include:
- Milano Roastery Revealed – A guided tour of the Roastery that highlights the artistic and architectural features of the building and the central role of Milan in the history of Starbucks.
- Reserve Coffee Lab – A guided tour in the preparation of a Starbucks Reserve single-origin using two different brewing methods, to appreciate how the same coffee can convey very different sensations based on how it is prepared.
- The Art of Coffee Mixology – Their “expert” mixologists will prepare in front of the guests’ eyes three coffee-inspired cocktails, both alcoholic and spirit-free.
- Espresso Martini Experience – Their mixologists will guide guests in the discovery of Espresso Martinis with flavours like no other, narrating the origins and the secrets of one of the most popular coffee-tails in the world. If you are a 22 year old woman, and it is the 1990’s, then this tour is for you!
- Whiskey Barrel-Aged Experience – Their mixologists will guide guests in the discovery of Whiskey Barrel-Aged Guatemala, their coffee beans aged in oak-wood barrels soaked in whiskey, with a tasting of a non-alcoholic cold brew and American Infusion. I had a friend, who likes whiskey, take this tour and did enjoy it quite a bit.
- Roast with a Starbucks Reserve Roaster – Join the roasting team in the process of transforming green beans of arabica coffee into their aromatic (albeit sour) cup of brewed coffee.
- A Milanese Tradition – Enjoy the most Milanese tradition in their terrazza or in the bar with your favorite aperitivo drink. Based on their pictures, they are probably going to shoehorn their coffee into these cocktails, which isn’t very Milanese (or Italian).
The Atmosphere In The Roastery
We arrived just after they opened, and the atmosphere was calm and not very crowded. The reports from others that visited during the more peak hours of the day spoke of a very different experience. There is a “bouncer” and a velvet rope outside managing the crowds both inside and out. If you don’t want to wait in line, plan your arrival time accordingly: If you think it is a popular time for coffee (all morning, for example), then you should arrive pretty early to avoid it
Inside, the giant coffee bean roaster dominates the space. I would probably characterize the atmosphere as quasi-Steampunk, with the copper piping running throughout the space. The baristas also have a somewhat “retro” look. Add the martini glasses and the whiskey barrels and you get something both lost in time, and very modern.
When you enter, you are immediately greeted with various gifts for purchase. This isn’t a surprise given that this is as much a coffee bar as a tourist attraction. There are also seats mixed into the space. This isn’t the type of Starbucks where you can sit all day and write your novel, but when we were there it also didn’t seem like you were rushed out.
Starbucks Menu Highlights
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary here. The breakfast pastries were Italian focused and much more than you will find in the smaller stores in the US. All the coffees you might be looking for were available, although I stuck to a cappuccino and then an espresso shot.
A couple of noteworthy observations:
- They Had A Cubetto – This is basically a cube shaped cornetto. It was something we tried, but were unable to get at a famous coffee shop when we traveled to Torino.
- Don’t Get A Large Cappuccino – This one is probably on me, but when I ordered a large cappuccino, I thought the coffee and milk would increase in equal proportions, but I was wrong. The result was a huge milky mug with little espresso. Again, probably my incorrect assumptions because I hadn’t ordered a cappuccino from Starbucks in years (maybe decades).
- My Espresso Experience – After my cappuccino misunderstanding, I ordered an espresso shot to get that extra caffeine I was looking for, but also for my “Taste Test”. The result, which was confirmed by my wife, is that their coffee has a very off-putting sour flavor that does not exist in Italian roasted coffee. You probably won’t be able to confirm this flavor in anything other than a simple shot. The milks and sugars mask a lot of crimes committed by Starbucks against good coffee.
Tourist Information
For people that have already experienced Starbucks, the way to order, the selection and the prices shouldn’t be a surprise. Because it is such a tourist spot (and it is in Milan), many of the workers speak English, so communication shouldn’t be a problem.
The shop is found in an old, but amazingly beautiful, post office in Piazza Cordusio.
Their current hours of operation are:
| Monday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
Is It Worth a Visit?
For me, it was worth the visit to confirm that their coffee, even in Italy, is still terrible. I won’t be returning to this, or any other Starbucks Reserve Roastery in the future because they have nothing that interests me.
If you enjoy Starbucks, then I would say emphatically “Yes”! It is a pretty unique experience, even in Italy, and you can get all your favorites. Try some of their “Experiences” and I think it would make a perfect stop for a morning in Milan. I would strongly suggest getting their early, unless standing in line is something you would enjoy.
More Milano Coffee Information
Milan is a great place to enjoy an espresso any time of the day. Strolling amongst the beautiful architecture and shopping lend itself to needing that jolt of coffee any time of day. If you enjoyed learning more about Starbucks Reserve Roasters, check out some of these articles that you might find interesting:
- The Best Coffee Cities In Italy: The Ultimate Guide.
- The Best Pastry Shop In Milan Is Pasticceria Marchesi 1824.
