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Starbucks Canada won’t be serving booze this patio season, but alcohol and coffee options are plentiful

romantic couple drinking beer in plastic cups at outdoor bar

Sorry Starbucks fans, if you were hoping to enjoy a stiff drink on a Starbucks patio this summer, you’re going to be disappointed.

Earlier this year, Starbucks Canada announced that it would be bringing wine, beer and fancy snacks to select locations across Canada by the end of 2015. The program has been tested and found success in major U.S. cities over the last year of the pilot program.

Starbucks Canada did not give specific dates about when the new menu would roll out, leaving many people hoping that their city would receive the new offerings sooner rather than later.

However, a spokesperson from Starbucks Canada says its evening menu, which includes alcoholic beverages, will not be available in Canadian locations until much later this year.

If sipping a more adult beverage in the comfort of your local coffee shop sounds like your idea of a good time, however, you still have some options. In fact, many coffee bars and cafés across Canada have been serving alcoholic beverages for several years.

Aroma Espresso Bar, a large espresso and coffee chain with locations across southern Ontario, has had alcoholic drinks on their menu since 2010. At Aroma, you can order beer, wine or an Irish Cream Latte in several of their licensed locations.

“We’ve actually had specialty alcoholic drinks at Aroma Espresso Bar for some time,” said Daniel Davidzon, director of Marketing at Aroma Espresso Bar. “About 30% of our locations have liquor licenses and serve our Spiked Signatures menu.”

It’s not just the corporate coffee chains that are serving up the hard stuff, either.

Take Five Café, a franchised café with 9 locations in Vancouver, added alcohol to their menu in select stores back in 2013.

Marissa Evans, Marketing Communications Manager of Take Five Café, says the company chose to license locations in urban settings that have a strong neighbourhood community.

“Take Five Café decided to include alcohol as part of an expanded café culture, reminiscent of European cafes where you can grab a small bite to eat with a glass of wine in the late afternoon, or spend the evening catching up with friends over a beer or coffee,” said Evans.

It makes sense for coffee shops to expand their offerings — especially since sales of hot brewed coffee have been slowly declining over the years.

According to a recent press release published by The NPD Group, out-of-home coffee consumption has declined due to changing consumer preferences, combined with the popularity of in-home brewing devices. Nabob is one company that has targeted the takeaway coffee industry with its latest marketing campaign.

The rise in popularity of Tassimo and Keuring single-serve coffee systems has also had an impact, making it easier for coffee drinkers to get their fancy beverages at home, for a fraction of the price.

This change in purchasing habits has influenced some companies to add alcohol and other non-coffee alternatives to their menus.

Davidzon disagrees, however, denying any decrease in Aroma’s hot brewed coffee sales. He says stores that offer alcoholic beverages give customers a reason to stay in one place.

“It’s a more elegant way to enjoy time in the neighbourhood with friends and have a drink without having to visit a noisy bar.” said Davidzon.

But some independent coffee shops believe that in order to truly satisfy customer needs, companies need to do more than just slap alcoholic beverages on their menu.

John Baker is the co-owner of Boxcar Social, an independent coffee and wine bar in Toronto that offers an assortment of curated alcoholic beverages. He believes that Starbucks chose to add alcohol to their menu simply because of an alleged decline in coffee sales.

“Their decision is reactionary to an industry that has become more transparent on the coffee side, where customers are becoming more reluctant to pay such a premium for an inferior product, and the company sees itself losing market share,” says Baker.

Unlike traditional coffee shops, Boxcar Social puts equal emphasis on both their caffeinated and alcoholic offerings. The company is known for its tasting flights of brewed coffee, as well as its beer, wine and whisky lists that are changed weekly.

“Where our passions, experience and knowledge lie in both coffee and in each of the alcoholic beverages we offer, Starbucks is offering alcohol products strictly for monetary reasons,” says Baker. “Today’s customer is typically able to see through that.”

Starbucks Canada did not give a direct answer when questioned about declining coffee sales, but the company says that its medium roast brewed coffee, Pike Place Roast, continues to be its top selling beverage nationwide. As for the evening menu, the company says it’s all about providing a better experience for customers.

“The Starbucks Evenings platform is really a reflection of our continuous innovation within the café space to further enhance the customer experience,” said the spokesperson of Starbucks Canada. “We want to meet customers where they are and provide them with an experience that suits.”

Starbucks Canada says that it is committed to launching the new menu in select stores by the end of 2015.

Is patio season still too far off? Satisfy your caffeine and alcohol cravings now by making an Affogato – a drink that leans heavily towards being a dessert.

Affogato

Ingredients:

1 scoop vanilla ice cream

1 shot of espresso (or 3 tbsp hot brewed coffee)

1 splash your favourite liqueur (e.g. Bailey’s, Amaretto or Grand Marnier)

1 tsp dark chocolate, grated (optional)

In a shallow glass or cup, add the scoop of vanilla ice cream. Top with espresso (or coffee), and add a splash of liqueur. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, sprinkle on a little grated dark chocolate. Enjoy immediately.