Starbucks (Florida Road) — Restaurant in Windermere

As a self-proclaimed Starbucks fanatic, my expectations for any of their locations are undeniably high. My adoration for the brand particularly orbits around their Reserve coffee - a unique offering that had me hooked at the Melrose Arch location in Johannesburg. Upon relocating to Durban a year ago, discovering a Starbucks Reserve on Florida Road sparked a familiar excitement. Eager to indulge in this premium experience, I visited the store five times over the past year, each at different intervals, hoping to savor their Reserve coffee.

Unfortunately, my experiences have been marred by consistent disappointments. Despite the anticipation of trying the distinguished Rwandan blend, I was met with the recurring obstacle of their Reserve coffee being unavailable. The reason provided? Load shedding. However, this excuse puzzles me, as the rest of the shop's operations appear unaffected. Even more bewildering was my latest visit; despite there being no load shedding in Durban for the last 2-3 weeks due to the eThekwini strike, the Reserve coffee machines were reportedly non-operational.

This recurring issue leads me to question the store's commitment to its Reserve offering. If a product cannot be consistently provided, perhaps it should not be offered at all. It's disheartening, as each visit leaves me with unmet expectations and unanswered questions, diminishing the premium experience Starbucks Reserve is known for.

Given these experiences, I find myself hesitant to return to the Starbucks on Florida Road. While the brand holds a special place in my heart, this particular branch falls short of delivering the full Starbucks Reserve experience, attributed to both the unavailability of Reserve coffee and the staff's lack of concrete explanations.

Therefore, I rate Starbucks Florida Road three stars. This rating reflects my mixed feelings: appreciation for the brand's potential to offer exceptional coffee experiences and disappointment in this location's failure to fulfill...

21 October 2025 | Updated review

Starbucks Florida Road is the only store in KZN that serves Reserve Coffee 👌🏽 Starbucks is a partner of the FNB eBucks rewards programme which allows qualifying customers to enjoy a R50 off voucher on any purchase of R75 or more.

My previous review below still stands.

Previous review | What a very pleasant surprise 😁 ... I have to admit to having to eat humble pie ... you see I've never been a Starbucks fan ... and seeing as I'm coming clean I may as well tell you ... the only reason I have visited Starbucks overseas is because even though I paid dearly in South African Rands for a cappy that tasted like dishwater imho ... I got free WiFi 😜 Win! Don't judge me when you see the exchange rate you'll understand ... the struggle is real.

So being dragged, kicking and screaming I joined the to see and be seen set ... and the queue!

It didn't take long to get to the front ... and it gave me time to click away on my phone so you can see what's on offer.

Two Regular Cappucinnos please ... that will be Grande said our server ... oh hope so 😉! The regular drill ... names? ... Cindy ... is that spelt Sindi ... that'll do thanks 🤗

Cappucinnos served and off we go to find a table in the outside area where the sun is shining. Durban really knows how to show off.

R33 for a Cappucinno ... puts it at roughly R5 a cup more than most competitors.

Starbucks is a welcome addition to the Florida Road precinct ... and with lots more eateries and various outlets opening, it's not difficult to see why Florida Road is the jewel in the crown of Durban ... but don't take my...

I have a long history of supporting Starbucks from living overseas and know the entire menu intimately. The staff at this branch know me very well as they prepare my first coffee of the day, made a specific way.

They see me driving past or crossing the road and before I even walk through the door they've started preparing it, just one of the many reasons I tip generously; they know I want to get in, grab a Great coffee and get on the road before the traffic hits.

This morning I decided to be a little sneaky and pretended to be curious about trying something different. They didn't fuss that what they had made already was now technically 'wasted'. What I also discovered was that the team at this branch despite having a lot of love for people and attention to detail, also are really really knowledgeable on their coffee. Well done guys, you made my day just like you do whenever I come through, it's mostly about the coffee, but you add your personal flair to the moment and I Love that.

If you're new to coffee or were to genuinely probe them for more detail when trying to make a decision about trying something different, they can handle it with ease. If you want a genuine, WORLD CLASS, Starbucks Experience then make sure to stop in here!

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