Starbucks India’s newest brand film puts the spotlight where it rarely goes – on espresso itself, the foundation behind every cup the coffee giant serves.
Titled This is Espresso. This is the heart of Starbucks, the 80-second ad opens with a soundtrack that echoes the unmistakable riff energy of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck – not the actual track, but close enough in spirit to set an electric, high-craft tone right from the first frame.
The film borrows its structure from the “day in the life” format popular on YouTube, following a barista as she prepares the very first espresso shot of the day, well before the morning rush begins. From there, the narrative expands, tracing espresso’s journey all the way from coffee plantations to the final cup, while weaving through the wider range of beverages available at Starbucks India.
The core message is refreshingly simple: every latte, cappuccino, or Starbucks classic begins as espresso first. For the brand, that’s exactly where the craft – and the story – starts.
By centering the film on process rather than product, Starbucks India shifts the spotlight onto the people and precision behind the counter, positioning espresso not as a mere ingredient but as the brand’s philosophical core.
This is Espresso arrives as another entry in Starbucks India’s growing playlist of craft-led storytelling, reinforcing that behind every cup is a ritual worth romanticizing.
