Because Apparently, We Still Need More Places to Wi-Fi and Complain About Wi-Fi
Mexico’s long-standing love affair with frappuccinos, “personalized” cups that never spell your name right, and air-conditioned workspaces with exactly three available outlets is going strong. Starbucks just announced that by 2026, the country will hit 1,000 stores. Yep, a thousand. That’s one Starbucks for every person currently trying to finish their thesis in one.
The announcement came on International Coffee Day, which seems fitting since half of us were probably celebrating it at a Starbucks anyway. The company’s partner, Alsea — the same group behind many of our favorite restaurants — has been running the show here for over two decades. Together, they’ve turned coffee time into something more like a daily ritual: a mix of community, creativity, and just the right amount of foam art.
And Starbucks isn’t stopping there. The brand will open 145 new stores across Latin America next year and expand into new cities like Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. They’re even launching something called Casa Bou in El Salvador — their first flagship store in the region, dedicated to art, youth, and, presumably, very slow jazz playlists.
How much gear can you bring to Starbucks to “work”? This guy in Playas de Tijuana said yes to two monitors and a two laptops — and honestly, we respect the commitment. We’ve seen people with full-size printers too and even desktop computers, so the bar keeps rising.
Ricardo Arias-Nath, President of Starbucks Latin America and the Caribbean, said the move shows the company’s confidence in the region’s future and its commitment to creating meaningful connections through coffee. In simpler terms, they’re betting big on the idea that a good cup of coffee can still bring people together — one latte at a time.
And if you need another reason to stop by, Starbucks Mexico is celebrating with a special promo: when you buy any grande or venti drink, you can get a commemorative cup for just 29 pesos. That’s a small price to pay for a piece of coffee history.
Still, the truth is, Starbucks has done what few brands have — become part of Mexico’s urban life. Whether you’re escaping traffic, freelancing for “exposure,” or pretending to read while waiting for someone two hours late, there’s a Starbucks nearby ready to charge your laptop and your wallet at the same time.
From Yucatan to Ensenada, Starbucks has become more than just a pit stop. It’s the place where students finish essays, freelancers find Wi-Fi, friends catch up, and where this writer does a lot of his work — fueled by caffeine, background jazz, and the occasional slice of banana bread.
So here’s to 1,000 stores — and to all those coffee-fueled moments that make life a little warmer, a little busier, and a lot more delicious.
