Toronto not getting high end Starbucks tasting rooms

What do you do when you're a massive corporation, and a bunch of pesky small businesses start cutting into your market share? Show everyone how ultra-super-authentic you can be; it worked for Shock Top (except not really), Second Cup is trying out a new "boutique" feel, and now, it's the next big move for Starbucks.

The coffee giant is about to launch a franchise of high end roasteries and tasting rooms as well as a new single origin line of beans called Starbucks Reserve in a bid to compete with indie (third wave) coffee shops.

The first North American Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room just opened yesterday in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, nine blocks away from Starbucks' original store in Pike Place Market. In 2015, the company plans to open 100 of these stores across the US in key markets such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C..

There are no current plans for a Toronto location which may be surprising considering we Canucks lead the world in per-capita Starbucks locations, though, we probably won't have to wait long. Until then, avail yourself of our vibrant local coffee scene, hug your barista tight, and tell them it's all going to be OK.

Photo via Starbucks.