By: Karinda Jagmohan

The world’s largest coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, is finally bringing its coffee-delights in South Africa. This American owned coffeehouse will open its first store in Johannesburg, next year.

According to Media24, SA management group, Taste Holdings, announced on Tuesday that it has signed an exclusive deal with Starbucks Coffee to open traditional Starbucks coffeehouses in various South African cities. Taste Holdings, who recently brought Domino’s Pizza to South Africa, explained that the coffeehouse would stock the full range of Starbucks’ foods and beverages, especially including its ethnically sourced Arabian coffees.

The company believes that due to the popularity of Starbucks in Western media, the products will be well received, and this proves to be true for a coffee-lover at the Durban University of

Technology (DUT). Chemical Engineering student, Sunara Ramphal, said, “Coffee helps me focus, especially late at night when I’m studying. I’m really excited for Starbucks to come here because I tasted it once on holiday in India and it was delicious!”

Ramphal described the Café Latte that she ordered as “smooth and creamy.” She felt that it was different from South African coffee with more flavour than sweetness, however she emphasised that the items on the menu were highly-priced. Ramphal’s friend, Jamy-Lee Simons, added, “So then it can’t become a study habit because I can’t afford so many cups of Starbucks! I’m fine with tea and rusks.”

The Johannesburg Starbucks coffeehouse will be the first in sub-Saharan Africa, and with it, may bring competition to the South African coffee-market. Manager of hotel coffee shop, La Mercy Beach restaurant, Melvin Luthuli, welcomed the foreign arrival as he remains certain that the franchise will not affect his local business.

“Our guests want to feel at home so they will enjoy their usual coffees and teas. Starbucks is very expensive so it will only be popular at the beginning and then only cater to those who can afford it. Personally I prefer the local coffees but if it [Starbucks] brings in jobs and money to the economy then I will also buy one or two cups from there.”

Although the coffeehouse will only reach South African shores in mid-2016, you can still prepare for the American relish by visiting the Starbucks website http://www.starbucks.com/ to choose between a Frappuccino or a Caramel Macchiato, and learn how to brew your own Starbucks-quality coffee.