Starbucks vs Blue Tokai: which coffee tastes better?

Coffee is loved by many people worldwide as it keeps one energized, alert, and awake. There are different coffee chains worldwide and it is vital to learn how they compare.

Being a coffee lover, I enjoy learning about different coffee chains in different countries. Starbucks has unarguably created its profile worldwide as operates in over 80 countries. Other companies, such as Blue Tokai, are yet to have a diverse market and only operate in one country. This article will help you learn vital aspects between Starbucks and Blue Tokai, and know which has the best coffee.  

What are the differences between Blue Tokai Vs Starbucks?

Features	Blue Tokai	Starbucks
Ambience	Uses the conventional restaurant style, has bright lighting and is suitable for small groups.	Includes warm lighting, it is more welcoming, has art on the walls, and encourages interaction.
Location	Has more than 50 stores and 3 roasteries in 9 major cities in India	Has over 33,833stores in over 80 countries
Menu	The beverage menu is not that diverse Has numerous food options	Includes numerous specialty drinks and even has a secret menu The food options are a bit limited
Price range	Affordable pricing	Most products are expensive
Beverage sizes	It ranges between small (8 oz.) and large (10-12 oz.)	It ranges between 8 ounces and 31 ounces
Environmental consciousness	Uses eco-friendly packing designs for instance its coffee capsules are biodegradable and can be decomposed at home.	Recycles items and uses dishwashers to minimize water usage.

Blue Tokai Vs Starbucks – How they compare

Ambience

Starbucks’ priority is to make all customers feel at home in its stores. You will definitely enjoy Starbucks stores’ ambience because they feature a warm glow of lighting, earthy colors, working desks, charging outlets, strong Wi-Fi, and a seating arrangement that encourages interaction. 

On the other hand, Blue Tokai maintains the conventional restaurant style. Unlike Starbucks, Blue Tokai is mainly designed for small groups. The interior of Blue Tokai has bright lighting. Overall, it looks like a place to simply eat and go. 

Starbucks wins in this category because it provides you with a more welcoming atmosphere. 

Location

At the end of 2021, Starbucks had approximately 33,833 locations in more than 80 countries. It aims to capture an even large segment of the coffee house chain market. Starbucks seeks to continually expand its business internationally. Despite having a large number of stores, Starbucks embraces a consistent theme and ambience in its stores worldwide. 

Blue Tokai has been in the coffee house chain industry for less than 10 years and has approximately 50 stores and 3 roasteries all located in India. However, the 3rd generation coffee house company wished to extend its dominance in India and open stores in other countries around the world. 

Starbucks wins in this category because it has more locations than Blue Tokai. 

Menu

Starbucks is renowned for its large number of specialty and secret menu drinks. You can order all kinds of beverages from Starbucks. The long list includes; coffees (hot, cold, and iced), teas (hot and iced), frappuccino blended beverages, and cold drinks. Additionally, Starbucks serves seasonal beverages that are available during holidays or seasons for a more unique experience. 

Apart from ordering beverages prepared with the conventional recipe, Starbucks allows you to customize them according to your liking since it offers different flavors and add-ins. 

Feel free to order food Staffs available on the Starbucks menu. The company offers you hot breakfast (sandwiches, wraps, and Sous Vide Egg Bites), bakery (bagels, cake pops, cookies, brownies and bars, croissants, loaves and cakes, Danishes and doughnuts, and muffins and scones), lunch (warm sandwiches and protein boxes), snacks and sweets, and oatmeal and yogurt. You can order the food items alongside your favorite Starbucks beverage. Look at the list of food items available at Starbucks and you can help but notice that the company has limited food options. 

On the other hand, Blue Tokai classifies its drink menu into five categories; brewed coffees, cold brew cans, seasonal drinks, juices and smoothies, and other beverages. Some drinks on the menu include cappuccino, Latte, Americano, and Flat White. However, notably, unlike Starbucks, Blue Tokai does not offer you a drink customization tab. The customization tab allows Starbucks customers to customize the drinks to their preferences and taste. 

Blue Tokai also has Suchali’s artisan bake house which offers you bakery items that you can order when hungry. The items include; croissants, savory, Suchali bread, and other baked items. 

Blue Tokai has a wide variety of food items that will leave you wanting more. The food items include; sourdough pizzas, wraps, burgers, waffles, pancakes, all-day breakfast, sides, sandwiches, salads, mains, and sweets. The company does not have a wide variety of items to cater to people with specific dietary needs. 

Though Blue Tokai has a slightly wider variety of food items, Starbucks wins in this category because it has many beverages (customizable). 

Price range 

Blue Tokai offers cheaper products than Starbucks. Though Blue Tokai products are more affordable, its coffee is not as good as Starbucks’. 

Starbucks procures the coffee beans it uses to create its coffees from all 7 continents. As a result, Starbucks coffees have a unique taste profile. On the other hand, Blue Tokai procures the coffee beans it uses to create its coffee from India. Therefore, Starbucks’ coffee is expensive but is worth it. 

Blue Tokai wins in this category because it has cheaper products. 

Beverage sizes 

Starbucks allows you to select your preferred drink size when placing an order. You can either order a short (8 oz.), tall (12 oz.), grande (16 oz.), venti (20/24 oz.), or tenta (31 oz.). 

Blue Tokai also allows you to order drinks in different serving sizes. The large serving ranges from 300 ml (10 oz.) to 350 ml (12 oz.). However, Blue Tokai has not specified the amount of drink its small cup holds. 

Starbucks wins in this category because it has bigger beverage sizes than Blue Tokai. The latter does not have a grande, venti, and tenta serving. 

Environmental consciousness

Starbucks has different strategies in place to protect the environment from non-degradable materials. For instance, the company encourages its customers to recycle their coffee cups by deducting a small amount of money from the drinks cost if the customers bring their recycled Starbucks cups or mug when ordering. Additionally, Starbucks uses dishwashers to reduce water wastage.

On the other hand, Blue Tokai has adopted some eco-friendly strategies, such as its coffee capsules that are biodegradable and can be decomposed at home.

This category is a draw since although the company uses different strategies to protect the environment from pollutants, both are environmentally conscious. 

Blue Tokai Vs. Starbucks – A Comparison Overview

Blue Tokai Overview

Blue Tokai was founded by Matt Chitharanjan, Shivam Shahi, and Namrata Asthana in 2013. It is based in Delhi, India. 

After sighting a market niche in the Coffee & Cafe Chain Market, the three embarked on a journey to offer the Indian people high-quality coffee, tea, food items, and other products offered in the Coffee & Cafe Chain industry. 

Currently, the company has more than 50 physical locations and 3 roasteries in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Gurugram, India. Many of its stores (17) are located in Delhi, India. Apart from the physical locations, Blue Tokai also sells roasted and ground coffees, cold brew bags, cold brew cans, and easy pour through its website as well as online retailers such as Flipkart, Amazon, and others. 

Blue Tokai specializes in selling coffee. It is a full-stack coffee company. Blue Tokai is present throughout the value chain; from the coffee farm to the coffee cup. It is this strategy that sets it apart from other Coffee& Café chain companies in India. 

Starbucks Overview

Starbucks was launched in 1971 in Seattle by its founders, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. Up to 1987, Starbucks was a coffee bean company and offered its customers freshly roasted coffee beans, spices, and tea.  

However, in 1987 after being acquired by Howard Schultz, Starbucks changed from a coffee bean company to a coffeehouse. Over the 30 years period it has been in existence, Starbucks has managed to become a pioneer in the coffeehouse chain industry. As it grew, Starbucks acquired other coffee retailers and started selling specialty drinks. Currently, Starbucks has more than 33,833 physical locations in over 80. 

The company’s specialty is coffee. Additionally, it sells food items, at-home coffee, merchandise, and gift cards in its stores and online on its website and through online retailers such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, and others. Starbucks is famous not only due to its many physical locations worldwide but also due to its authentic coffee experience. Additionally, it accommodates people with different dietary needs. 

Final Verdict: So, Which is Better? – Blue Tokai Vs. Starbucks

Starbucks is better than Blue Tokai. Though the former is more expensive, it is better than the latter because it offers its customers a more welcoming atmosphere, a wider range of beverages, premium quality beverages, and is more accessible because it has more physical locations worldwide. 

Additionally, Starbucks outperforms Blue Tokai because it caters to the needs of all its customers, including those with specific dietary needs. At Starbucks, it is possible to customize your favorite drink to your liking by choosing your preferred flavors and add-ins before making the order. Though Blue Tokai has cheaper drinks, you will get more value for your money at Starbucks. 

FAQ Section

Is Blue Tokai coffee stronger than Starbucks coffee?

Starbucks has stronger coffee than Blue Tokai and has a more extensive menu.

Is Starbucks more popular than Blue Tokai?

Starbucks is more popular than Blue Tokai due to its worldwide presence.

Is Starbucks bigger than Blue Tokai?

Starbucks is bigger than Blue Tokai and has more locations across the world.