The Trinidad-based brand Rituals Coffee House is pleased at the response it has been getting from local customers since its first Jamaican outlet became fully operational just a month and a half ago.

"We enjoy quite a bit of traffic," shares Samantha Phillipson, Rituals operations manager, of the new café situated at Shop 5, Village Plaza on Constant Spring Road.

"Because we're on the plaza that affords us a variety of patrons who span all socio-economic levels."

Similar to other coffee houses or cafés, Rituals offers an extensive menu, which includes a variety of sandwiches -- paninis, flatinis, wraps and bagels -- pastries, cakes, shakes and coffee beverages.

"A lot of Jamaicans would be familiar with Starbucks and that's the kind of service we aim to provide for the Caribbean consumer," Phillipson shares, noting that their local presence is set to expand later this month when the second outlet opens in Montego Bay.

She believes that because of exposure to travelling, cable television and an influx of foreign flavours on local shelves, the local cuisine landscape is changing for the better.

"The Jamaican palate is now more open to different things...people want the convenience of fast food, but the benefits of freshly prepared à la carte cuisine," Phillipson adds.

"Everything can be prepared within 10 minutes or less and people have the option of enjoying their meals in a very socially inviting type of atmosphere."

Socially inviting perhaps speaks to the décor that sees wood panels on the walls forming the backdrop for comfy, oatmeal lazy boys and local artwork.

Phillipson says she and her team will continue to tweak Rituals' offerings to suit Jamaicans.

"We are looking at further reshaping the menu to reflect local taste, we might even throw in a jerk pasta."

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