The grand opening of the world’s most recognizable brand of coffee shops will take place in May, and it is looking for 30 new employees to join its ranks.

As expected, the first Starbucks will open in Avenida Escazu, on the ground floor of the new complex of upscale shoppes next to the Residence Inn Hotel. This is the only location that has been confirmed thus far.

The Seattle-based coffee retailing giant is looking for baristas and store supervisors. Those who are interested are invited to submit their CVs (resumes) to the Starbucks Central American office in El Salvador. You may also want to join them on Facebook.

Starbucks isn’t the only trendy cafe hoping to lure Ticos away from the traditional sodas for their lengthy morning and afternoon coffee breaks. Trendy coffee shops like Espresso America and Café Barista are beginning to emerge across the country, leading some experts to believe that the market is starting to become a little crowded.

The barista concept of a skilled and passionate person, who specializes in all gourmet aspects of the coffee experience, is widely accepted to have been established by Starbucks.

In the last few years, Costa Rica has seen a burgeoning interest in barista and cafe culture that goes beyond growing and exporting. At the Tour Coffee Experience, for example, visitors can also enjoy an exhibition by expert baristas.

Source: Apetito en Linea, Starbucks.com, El Financiero, La Nacion, Bloomberg, and Radio Reloj.