The American coffee chain Starbucks is opening a store in Milan tomorrow as it spreads its reach over Europe. In a coffee mad country, with coffee drinkers that like to take their time to sip their macchiatos and muse over their cappuccinos how will the American version of coffee be accepted. This week the first Starbucks in Italy opens on Friday morning – the Reserve Roastery in Milan.

Can American coffee culture succeed in the coffee rich of Italy? And if so could it pave the way for more expansion across Europe and even to Croatia. Whilst Starbucks don’t have any current plans to open a store in Croatia this move into Italy could well be a testing ground for further expansion.

There have been rumours about a Starbucks opening in Zagreb for years. Back in 201o it was believed that Starbucks would open a café bar in the capital Starbucks through a Greek partner but these rumours were proved unfounded. In fact, the whole of the region is still without a Starbucks, the closest being Austria and now from Friday in Italy.

In what the company describes as the “grandest Starbucks ever” the Milan store is certinaly eye catching. “The Milan Roastery is housed in a historic former post office in Palazzo delle Poste, a bustling city square along the stylish Piazza Cordusio. Outside its doors, some of Milan’s most postcard-inspiring spots are within a few blocks – the towering Duomo di Milano, the soaring light and glass of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala, the most famous opera house in the world,” quotes the American coffee house.

Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971, and there are more than 30,000 stores worldwide. Will the Italian move mean a further expansion into Croatia?

The grandest Starbucks ever - Photo Starbucks