[relbeek2]

its not the coffee you are buying, its the experience.

[LunaSea]

It's Starbucks, there's no experience

[boyter]

In China it is/was.

Its very expensive for the average Chinese person and is considered fairly fancy or upscale. At least it was when I lived there.

Same rule applies to Pizza Hut.

[relbeek2]

You've clearly never gone to a Starbucks Roastery before. Its a night and day difference between the standard cafe and a roastery.

[delroth]

It's Starbucks Reserve, so yes, you're absolutely paying for the experience.

[brailsafe]

It's Starbucks Reserve, there's still no experience and the coffee still sucks.

[okr]

Compared to what?

[brailsafe]

I can't think of a time I've been to a Starbucks Reserve location and felt that the difference amounted to more than slightly bougier interior decorating. Same as any other Starbucks otherwise, and generally the coffee isn't better

Their roastery in Seattle is quite different though and worth visiting since they do have good coffee, interesting merch, interesting architecture, etc.

[crazygringo]

"Slightly" bougier? It's worlds away:

https://www.starbucksreserve.com/en-us/locations/new-york

That photo doesn't look anything like your average Starbucks interior.

[bobthepanda]

kitsch is an experience. "good" is in the eye of the beholder.

[hulitu]

I see Microsoft's marketing got exported. /s