Each cup of coffee has got a very special story!

It was a day of drinking coffee in every form this weekend. Coffee aficionados the world over celebrated International Coffee Day and Starbucks, the uncrowned king of coffee, had a lot up its sleeve.

Although International Coffee Day was conceived to shed light on the plight of coffee bean farmers while expressing the affection for the beloved aromatic beverage, it has now added saving the environment too.

This year also marks the 50th Anniversary of Starbucks which is almost synonymous with coffee across the world. 

Starbucks has always been more than just a coffee place, most people walk in there regularly, some multiple times a day. This means not just a normal coffee run but a relationship with the barista, a relationship with the local Starbucks store.  

It’s all about those special moments, people you meet that is what the Starbucks experience is! Along the same lines is what Ahmed, a self-proclaimed aficionado, says that he had his first cup of cappuccino when was 11 in the US of A. “It’s always been about memories for me when it comes to Starbucks. I spent a lot of time with friends at Starbucks especially during my time at the American University of Sharjah. I especially like their White Chocolate Mocha that I still drink today,” he adds. 

Karan Dhillon a fan of Starbucks for the last 11 years traces his journey, “The first time I visited Starbucks was at YVR Airport, Vancouver in 2010. I was waiting for my cousins to land and wanted to drink something hot. I’d never tried tea or coffee before so I got a hot chocolate for myself and clicked a selfie (the word didn’t even exist then) with a digital camera that I would carry everywhere. I sent that image on email and on Skype to my family to show them that I visited an outlet of the world’s most famous coffee chain.”

He adds that his excitement to try something from Starbucks knew no bounds. He explains, “I’d only seen the world-famous logo and cups only in movies and music videos. The server behind the counter greeted me with a smile, asked for my order, asked to spell my name, and with a smile on his said, “Have a great day. Enjoy your drink.” The friendly service, the warm approach, and the crisp professional attitude is what made me their fan when I spent those first few dollars. I even won a $25 (AED72) Starbucks gift card from my University for a quiz in the first semester and I was on cloud 9.”

Dhillon says that he would get to drink Starbucks’s hot chocolate on special occasions. The experience is what truly made a mark on his heart as it stayed the same with each outlet as the staff had the same level of training and came as the best professionals ever.

His love has only continued to grow, reflected by an overflowing collection of Starbucks merchandise. He adds that it is the first brand he has been loyal to and will continue to be. He has had reunions there and even celebrated his birthday at Starbucks. 

As Starbucks continues its journey to spread smiles while giving back to the planet with its Reusable Cups, we coffee aficionados will continue to stir memories with every sip we take.

Tidbits to go with your cup of coffee:
Set up in 1963 in London, The International Coffee Organisation first declared the day on October 1, 2015. Since then, it has been celebrated all over the world. The first began in Japan and was officially declared as International Coffee Day in 2015. Apart from being the drink that most people start their day with, it is also the most experimented one. From its various types of coffee beans, to the usage of milk, cream, and sugar, it serves as a perfect conversation brewer. It’s the day to give a huge shout from all the coffee-lovers to the beloved beverage.