Chicago, a city of great things, is one of the biggest in the United States. There is stunning scenery, architecture, diverse culture, good food, and unique dining experiences. Obviously, you will have regular options that you see everywhere such as McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Starbucks, but as of Nov. 15, 2019, Chicago added a Starbucks Reserve Roastery, the largest Starbucks in the world. With only seven Starbucks Reserve Roasteries around the world and three in the United States, we are lucky to have one here in Chicago. The other reserves are located in New York, Seattle, Shanghai, Milan, and Tokyo. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery has different options than a regular Starbucks location, including different flavors of croissants, cakes, brownies, and drinks.
When I went to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, I was handed a free sample of a Mexican brewed coffee. The sample had a perfect amount of coffee, and I was able to add oat milk in my cup at a side counter. The roastery has four stories. On the main floor, you are able to watch in real time the roasting process of the coffee beans. On the top floor is a martini bar for those of age to consume alcohol. There is seating and tables on all floors, giving enough room for everyone. You can find a tiny gift shop on the bottom level selling shirts and cups, which is pretty cool. The customer service was excellent, and everything was efficient. Since it is one of the busier Starbucks locations, you will get a beeper to tell you when the coffee and food is ready. I waited about six to seven minutes.
I ordered a hot vanilla latte, and it came in a small, black mug with a beautiful design on top. If you aren’t able to stay and enjoy the coffee, you are able to get it to-go, which comes in a black to-go cup. The coffee itself was decent. I would’ve enjoyed it better with a more vanilla taste. It was hot and steamy and the perfect temperature to drink. To pair with it, I got a chocolate tart, which was absolutely delicious. The chocolate crust of the tart was perfect and crumbled right inside my mouth. If you are a chocolate lover like myself, this would be the perfect thing to snack on. It came with a square piece of chocolate on top, and it was very good. The workers will give you silverware to eat with or you can pick it right up and eat it as it is. My boyfriend, Nathan, got a toffee nut latte, which—according to him—was really good since the toffee nut added so much flavor. I enjoyed the toffee nut latte as well, more than my own coffee even. It was so delightful and had the perfect taste to it. Nathan also got a pistachio raspberry tart. I’m not a fan of pistachio, so I did not get to try this. He said the pistachio complimented the raspberry very well, and it was more like a raspberry jam. This overall cost us about $40 all together, which is a little on the pricey side for two coffees and two desserts, but what can I say, Starbucks has always been selling us overpriced coffee drinks.
In my opinion, I liked the Starbucks Reserve Roastery more than a regular Starbucks. I enjoyed all the different types of bakery options and types of coffee beans they used. The experience was super fun, and it was interesting to walk around the entire building. I recommend you go to Chicago with some friends and check it out, even if you’re grabbing a coffee to-go. You can find this store at 646 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL. The parking was not bad either since there’s a public parking garage on the street behind the Starbucks. Overall, this experience was delicious, and I had a really good time.
