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Tag: starbucks

  • Starbucks opens its Coffee Sanctuary in Bali

    Starbucks opens its Coffee Sanctuary in Bali

    Starbucks has opened its largest Southeast Asian location in Bali. The 20,000sqft Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary builds on 16 years of innovation in design, customer experience and community impact for the brand in Indonesia, where there are 370 Starbucks outlets nationwide. Customers can enjoy Starbucks handcrafted core and Reserve beverages within the store’s locally-inspired design that celebrates Indonesian tradition.

    The store pays tribute to the role that Indonesia, the fourth largest Arabica coffee-growing region in the world, plays in the Starbucks business. Sumatran coffee has been a staple offering at Starbucks since 1971.
    “We began sourcing Indonesian coffees more than four decades ago and have always been struck by the sense of community and care for the coffee journey at every step,” said Starbucks Coffee Company CEO Kevin Johnson.

    View the gallery of the new outlet below (8 images) :

    “The Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary amplifies our passion for the coffee journey, our ongoing commitment to Indonesia’s rich coffee culture, and our tireless pursuit of fostering moments of connection between our partners and customers. The Coffee Sanctuary marks the 10th Starbucks Reserve Bar store in Indonesia, one of 185 stores around the world, with the majority in Asia. This is Starbucks at its best, and we are proud to open the doors of this unique experience in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets.

    Visitors enter the store through an arabica coffee farm, try their hand at coffee bean de-pulping and washing during harvest season, dry and rake green coffee beans, visit budding seedlings in the nursery, take in the store’s locally-inspired design featuring traditional Balinese craft and Indonesian art, and enjoy the more than 100 Dewata-exclusive handcrafted beverages, food and merchandise, including the Lavender Latte.

    The  Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary store’s expansive interior is inspired by traditional Balinese houses with free-flowing, connected rooms designed to promote discovery from one space to the next.

    “Bali has an envied reputation as one of Asia’s top travel destinations and Indonesia is one of coffee’s most extraordinary coffee origin regions,” said Starbucks Indonesia director Anthony Cottan said.

    “So we’re excited to invite customers here to ignite their senses and explore the seed-to-cup coffee journey at this unique Coffee Sanctuary. We’re very pleased to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Starbucks and [licensee] PT Sari Coffee Indonesia with this truly one-of-a-kind Starbucks store, inspired by and filled with the finest examples of Indonesian art, design and craftsmanship.”

    To support the future of coffee, Starbucks Indonesia has committed to donating 100,000 coffee seedlings to farmers annually.

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  • Starbucks’ Lucky Bags entice customers in Korea

    Starbucks’ Lucky Bags entice customers in Korea

    Lee Min-joo, a 43-year-old cram school teacher, made it a point to be at the Starbucks outlet near her house last Thursday at 6 a.m. She wasn’t there for the coffee – she was waiting to buy a limited edition “Lucky Bag.” Lee said she has bought Starbucks Lucky Bags for nine years in a row. She confessed that two years ago, she was in line at 5:30 a.m.

    “I am a collector of diverse Starbucks products,” Lee said. “And I always get curious as to what’s in the bag.”

    This year, Starbucks’ Lucky Bags are bigger than ever.

    Lucky Bags were the most-searched term on the internet in Korea last Thursday and social media was abuzz with people posting pictures of the products they got in their Lucky Bags.

    Four stores near Seosomun, central Seoul, were sold out before 10 a.m.

    Lucky Bags are mystery bags sold at a given price, 63,000 won ($56) this year. The products contained in the bags are unknown to the customers who buy them. The value of the goods inside exceed the selling price.

    Starbucks introduced its Lucky Bags in 2007 and they have become the chain’s unique annual New Year’s ritual in Korea and Japan.

    One of the reasons Starbucks’ Lucky Bags sell out so quickly is their limited supply.

    The total number of Lucky Bags prepared in Korea is 17,000 and each store only get 15 or so -there are over 1,200 Starbucks in Korea.

    In 2016 the bags sold out in just five hours nationwide. In 2017, that time was shaved down to 4 hours and 40 minutes.

    Each customer is only allowed to buy one Lucky Bag.

    Lucky Bag devotees have now become a tribe with their own nickname. They call themselves “Sudeok,” which combines the first Korean syllable of the chain’s name as pronounced by Koreans, “Su,” with “deok,” a shortened version of deokhoo, Korea’s own version of otaku, Japan’s term for a person with obsessive interests.

    The Sudeoks who purchase Lucky Bags even swap items to get the items they really want.

    In 2007, the Lucky Bags were sold for 28,000 won and the price has continued to climb. The value of the things inside is said to be more than 100,000 won.

    The bags often have tumblers, water bottles and coffee mugs, as well as gift coupons. This year, 1,000 Lucky Bags contained four additional free coupons.

    “It’s a good marketing strategy that combines a limited edition appeal and the emotional appeal of winning a jackpot,” said Lee June-young, a professor who studies consumer trends at Sangmyung University.

    But not every Lucky Bag fan is satisfied with their haul.

    On social media, one disappointed fan posted a message reading, “It is not a Lucky Bag, it is an unlucky bag.” Another wrote, “The only lucky one is Starbucks.”

    “I have been buying the Lucky Bags for three years, but this year I decided not to because of the 60,000 won price tag,” said Lee Hyun-jeong, a 29-year-old office worker.

  • 2018 : Alibaba’s news about F&B, starting from Starbucks’ partnership

    2018 : Alibaba’s news about F&B, starting from Starbucks’ partnership

    Starbucks launched its first virtual store in China powered by technology from Alibaba Group, providing a unified, one-stop digital experience across the Starbucks app and mobile apps within the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Tmall, and Alipay. The first-of-its-kind virtual store leverages an online management hub developed specifically for Starbucks by Alibaba. It provides consumers integrated access to Starbucks’ digital offerings, including “Starbucks Delivers,” “Say it with Starbucks” social gifting and merchandise available from Starbucks’ Tmall flagship store.

    Alibaba’s technology streamlines the shopping process, pulling offers that were available in multiple digital apps into a single access point. Adopting a centralized approach to its mobile presence enabled by the Alibaba ecosystem, Starbucks now has a complete overview of its consumers’ actions online. Moreover, the integration of membership between Starbucks and the range of Alibaba apps is expected to fuel strong growth in Starbucks Rewards membership in China.

    The new virtual store steps up the collaboration announced by Alibaba and Starbucks in August 2018, when the companies agreed a deep, strategic “New Retail” partnership. Ele.me, China’s leading on-demand food delivery platform, owned by Alibaba, provides Starbucks delivery service for 2,000 stores across 30 Chinese cities.

    In October 2018, Starbucks also piloted its first “Star Kitchens” within two FRESHIPPO (previously known as Hema) supermarkets in Shanghai and Hangzhou. As the first retail brand to establish a dedicated back-of-house presence in FRESHIPPO locations, each Star Kitchen utilizes the distinct fulfilment and delivery capabilities on-site to complement the handcrafted beverages offered through existing Starbucks stores.

    The launch of Starbucks’ virtual store is also the latest example of how the so-called “Alibaba Operating System” empowering traditional retailers. After years of development in this digital age, Alibaba has created a unique system to support enterprises in the process of digital transformation that covers critical areas such as retail, marketing, finance and logistics.

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  • Starbucks to open two stores in Macau Airport

    Starbucks to open two stores in Macau Airport

    International cafe chain Starbucks will open two outlets at Macau Airport by Lunar New Year next February. The two stores, which will each open on either side of the customs area, add to the total of 17 Starbucks coffeehouses already in the territory – comprising seven on peninsular Macau and 10 in Taipa and Cotai. A spokesperson for Macau International Airport Company Limited said Starbucks has been committed to inspiring and igniting Macau customers’ love for coffee with the finest Starbucks experience. “We are thrilled to be launching two Starbucks stores at the Macau International Airport”.
    “We are thrilled to be launching two Starbucks stores at the Macau International Airport”.

    Starbucks has expressed interest in seeking further opportunities to expand within Macau.

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  • Starbucks opens immersive coffee destination in New York

    Starbucks opens immersive coffee destination in New York

    “We designed the Roastery as the pinnacle experience around all-things-coffee, and there is nothing else like it in the world. With premium coffees, teas, mixology and the iconic Milanese Princi Bakery, it serves as a Starbucks brand amplifier and a platform for future innovation,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO, Starbucks. “Beverages such as Draft Nitro, Cold Foam and the recent launch of Juniper Latte all began at the Roastery and have since been introduced to Starbucks locations around the world. It is the ultimate Starbucks Experience and an unforgettable way to connect with our customers.”

    Starbucks has a long history in New York. In 1994, Starbucks chairman emeritus, Howard Schultz, who was born and raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, opened the first Starbucks store in the city on Broadway and 87th Street on the Upper West Side. Nearly 25 years later, there are 350 Starbucks stores across the five boroughs in the city where Starbucks employs approximately 5,000 partners (employees). The Roastery employs nearly 300 people, including roasters, baristas, commessas and mixologists.

    “Like most people I first experienced Starbucks as a customer, where I would go to my store at 195 Broadway in the Financial District in New York City and order a tall latte which was the perfect way to start my day,” said Raul Adorno, Managing Director Reserve Roastery New York. “I look forward to welcoming my fellow New Yorkers and visitors from all around the world when we open the Roastery on Friday. You will be amazed.”

    At its core, Starbucks Reserve Roastery New York is a working coffee roastery, where every day Starbucks Master Roasters, who have trained for years in the craft of coffee roasting, will be small-batch roasting Starbucks rarest single-origin coffees and blends called Starbucks Reserve. Those coffees then get served fresh at the Roastery or shipped to select Starbucks stores around the world. That functional purpose, as well as the history of industry and manufacturing in the meatpacking district, is reflected in the design of the space.

    “New York is a hub to the world,” said Liz Muller, Chief Design Officer of Starbucks. “It’s an unbelievable place with such history. The meatpacking district has a fantastic history of industry, and the neighborhood has an electric energy; it is alive. We’ve designed a space where the excitement and dynamic activity of the neighborhood is mirrored in the Roastery. We want our customers to come in and feel very inspired.”

    Unique Food and Beverages

    Coffee Bars – There are two coffee bars at the Roastery, which in total offer seven brewing methods, including pour over, Chemex, coffee press, siphon, espresso, Clover and cold brewing.

    Upon entering the Roastery, visitors can visit the coffee bar on the main level, where baristas, called coffee masters, are crafting classic espresso beverages such as cappuccino, latte, cortado and specialty drinks such as whiskey barrel-aged cold brew, sparkling citrus espresso, nitro hopped apricot cold brew and rotating specials like the cardamom latte.

    Arriviamo Bar – For the first time in the U.S., Starbucks will debut the Arriviamo Bar inspired by the Italian tradition of aperitivo. This craft cocktail bar is located inside the Roastery where expert mixologists will serve cocktails and spiritfrees curated by award-winning mixologist Julia Momose featuring coffee and tea. Specialty cocktails include the Nocino Notte, made with cold brew coffee, barrel-aged gin and black truffle salt, and the Triomphe, made with Teavana/MC Darjeeling de Triomphe Tea, gin, dry Riesling, aquavit, passionfruit sparkling water and orange saffron bitters. The Arriviamo Bar will also serve a selection of beer, wine and classic cocktails

    Princi – Inside the Roastery is the Milanese boutique bakery Princi from founder Rocco Princi, with on-site baking of fresh breads, Pizzas, cornetti, focaccias, desserts and more.

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  • Alibaba powers Starbucks virtual store launch in China

    Alibaba powers Starbucks virtual store launch in China

    Starbucks launched its first virtual store in China powered by technology from Alibaba Group, providing a unified, one-stop digital experience across the Starbucks app and mobile apps within the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Tmall, and Alipay.

    The first-of-its-kind virtual store leverages an online management hub developed specifically for Starbucks by Alibaba. It provides consumers integrated access to Starbucks’ digital offerings, including “Starbucks Delivers,” “Say it with Starbucks” social gifting and merchandise available from Starbucks’ Tmall flagship store.

    Alibaba’s technology streamlines the shopping process, pulling offers that were available in multiple digital apps into a single access point. Adopting a centralized approach to its mobile presence enabled by the Alibaba ecosystem, Starbucks now has a complete overview of its consumers’ actions online. Moreover, the integration of membership between Starbucks and the range of Alibaba apps is expected to fuel strong growth in Starbucks Rewards membership in China.

    The new virtual store steps up the collaboration announced by Alibaba and Starbucks in August 2018, when the companies agreed a deep, strategic “New Retail” partnership. Ele.me, China’s leading on-demand food delivery platform, owned by Alibaba, provides Starbucks delivery service for 2,000 stores across 30 Chinese cities.

    In October 2018, Starbucks also piloted its first “Star Kitchens” within two FRESHIPPO (previously known as Hema) supermarkets in Shanghai and Hangzhou. As the first retail brand to establish a dedicated back-of-house presence in FRESHIPPO locations, each Star Kitchen utilizes the distinct fulfilment and delivery capabilities on-site to complement the handcrafted beverages offered through existing Starbucks stores.

    The launch of Starbucks’ virtual store is also the latest example of how the so-called “Alibaba Operating System” empowering traditional retailers. After years of development in this digital age, Alibaba has created a unique system to support enterprises in the process of digital transformation that covers critical areas such as retail, marketing, finance and logistics.

  • Herschel teams up with Starbucks for launch in China

    Herschel teams up with Starbucks for launch in China

    Does a new new designer collaboration revealed this week represent growing Starbucks fashion cred? Accessories and apparel brand Herschel has created a capsule collection inspired by Starbucks China’s Sumatra coffee blends.

    It follows the release of two seasonal ranges of homewares designed by Los Angeles label Ban.Do in the coffee company’s Asia-Pacific stores, the first of them on sale in July last year.

    Vancouver-based Herschel established a headquarters in Shanghai this year and is currently working on expansion plans within the territory along with retail partners nationwide. A permanent store location will open in the third quarter, and 15–20 Herschel Supply stores are are expected to be open before the end of next year.

    Cofounder Lyndon Cormack said: “Coffee is significant in one aspect or another in just about every part of the world. Of course, it’s a huge part of our culture in Vancouver, here in the Northwest, just a few hundred kilometres away from Starbucks’ birthplace in Seattle.

    “To work with one of the most globally recognised brands and collaborate with them directly is an incredible opportunity to bring both of our stories to life in a unique and meaningful way. We’ve also been active in the market for years and certainly experienced robust growth.

    “To receive the stamp of approval, so to speak, from the Starbucks China team shows us we’re off to an amazing start and that there’s a lot of opportunity for us to expand in the territory.”

    The Starbucks fashion-influenced range, which is currently sold exclusively at Starbucks locations within China, includes carryalls, mugs and a Starbucks card featuring a custom Sumatra Cherry Woodland Camo print.

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  • Cafe Amazon preparing Coffee Shop concept to challenge Starbucks

    Cafe Amazon preparing Coffee Shop concept to challenge Starbucks

    Thai oil company PTT plans to spin off its Cafe Amazon division and build a coffee chain it says will one day rival Starbucks. The company says it will open 20,000 cafes globally, nearly 10 times the current network of 2300 outlets in Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Japan.

    PTT will invest US$1.3 billion in the Cafe Amazon brand over the next five years to develop the franchise business.

    “We aim to build the Cafe Amazon into a top 10 global brand over the next five years,” said PTT Oil and Retail CEO Jiraporn Khaosawas.

    The move signals PTT’s turn towards the retail business at a time when it stands poised to be floated next year, initially into China and the Middle East via franchise partnerships.

    PTT announced plans earlier this year to sell off half of its retail holdings, which generate 20 per cent of the group’s profits, including takings of THB10 billion (US$303 million) from Cafe Amazon last year. The firm has declined to reveal how much it expects to raise in the floatation, although experts have valued the firm’s retail unit at roughly THB120 billion ($3.6 billion).

    PTT’s executive VP for the retail oil business Suchat Ramarch said: “We will not only expand Cafe Amazon, but we will also expand our petrol stations and our lube oil retail business. However, Cafe Amazon will be the highlight, with strong potential to grow.”

    Informed estimates suggest it would cost about THB2.3 million ($70,000) to open a Cafe Amazon shop in a PTT gas station, and from $100,000 to $300,000 for a stand-alone outlet.

  • All Starbucks in Korea to get paper straws from yesterday

    All Starbucks in Korea to get paper straws from yesterday

    Starbucks Korea is stocking all 1,225 of its stores nationwide with paper straws in a bid to cut down on its plastic usage. Starting last Monday, Starbucks began stocking all of its stores with white paper straws, which it found during trials to be more popular than green ones. The paper straws will also be coated with soy oil both inside and outside in response to customer complaints that its original trial straws were too flimsy.

    Starbucks trialed paper straws at 100 stores in Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island over the last two months.

    Though all stores now have paper straws, some branches will continue to offer customers plastic ones until they deplete existing stocks.

    Additionally, on Monday Starbucks began stocking all of its stores with plastic cup lids that don’t require straws. These special lids, which resemble those used with hot drinks that come in paper cups, will be provided for take-out orders of regular cold drinks. Paper straws and regular lids will be provided for specialty cold drinks like Frappuccinos and drinks topped with whipped cream that are difficult to drink without straws.

    “We developed the plastic cup lids to minimize disposable waste consumption and also offer an alternative to customers who prefer drinking without straws,” said a Starbucks spokesman.

    Starbucks will also remove the straws and stirring sticks it previously left out for customers and instead place them behind counters and only provide them on request. It will replace all plastic stirring sticks with wooden ones as well.

    Last year, Starbucks Korea used 180 million plastic straws, nearly enough to circumnavigate the earth if laid end-to-end.

    “With the adoption of paper straws we will be able to prevent consumption of at least 180 million plastic straws from next year,” said a Starbucks spokesperson.

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  • Starbucks Tokyo Reserve opening date revealed

    Starbucks Tokyo Reserve opening date revealed

    The planned Starbucks Tokyo Reserve Roastery will open on February 28 next year. The outlet will launch in the Nakameguro district as the brand’s fifth global Reserve Roastery, designed and constructed in partnership with architect/Kuma Lab founder Kengo Kuma.

    Starbucks will build 100 new stores in Japan every year over the following three years, bringing its total stores to 1700 within the territory.

    Starbucks president and CEO Kevin Johnson said: “We continue to thoughtfully evolve within Japan’s elevated coffee culture to maintain a leadership position and achieve profitable growth for the long-term.”

    The firm recently launched a delivery program in Japan in partnership with Uber Eats, as well as a partnership with Japanese social media platform Line that is expected to result in a digital payment system.

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  • Starbucks Coffee Korea boosts cashless store ranks

    Starbucks Coffee Korea boosts cashless store ranks

    Starbucks Coffee Korea is adding 300 more ‘cashless shops’ in addition to the 103 stores currently in operation, starting on Monday. Cashless stores require customers use a means of payment other than cash. The company noted that adding 300 more cashless stores would amount to one-third of the 1200 Starbucks shops in South Korea.

    “Instead of cash, customers will be asked to use credit cards, Starbucks cards, mobile transactions and other means of payment,” a company representative added.

    Over the past three months, Starbucks reduced the ratio of cash transactions at its stores from 3.4 per cent to 0.2 per cent on average. The average number of cash transactions per store dropped from 19 to 1.1 per day.

    “Cashless stores can better focus on customer satisfaction since employees don’t have to spend time going to the bank to balance cash,” Starbucks Coffee Korea said.

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  • Coffee shop in South Korea start closing down

    Coffee shop in South Korea start closing down

    South Korea’s once burgeoning franchised coffee shop market has reached saturation point – and the fallout has become extreme. According to a report, one in 10 South Korea coffee shops closed their doors last year – the equivalent of more than 1000 stores.

    Lee Kyung-hee of the Korea Business Strategy Institute described the situation as “a coffee war”.

    “While restaurants and even convenience stores are adding coffee on the menu to sell, the coffee war is intensifying as now even offices own espresso machines,” he said.

    Citing local corporate tracker CEO Score, the paper reported that the number of franchisees in Korea hit 87,540 as of the end of last year, based on a list of 118 franchise brands registered with the Korea Franchise Association.

    Of those, 11,198 were coffee and beverage stores, representing the third largest sector of the South Korean franchise market behind convenience stores and fried chicken restaurants.

    South Korea coffee franchises are being hit by convenience stores developing takeaway coffee services at prices as low as 1000 won (US90 cents) in the case of 7-Eleven, or about a quarter of the price of a Starbucks coffee. The country’s 1000+ Starbucks stores are not included in the data because they are company owned.

    Local chains have been cutting store networks and staff numbers to remain competitive.

    Seven-year-old chain Cafe Droptop, which has 240 stores, has cut its employee count by about one fifth. Caffe Bene applied for court protection from bankruptcy early this year having struggled in both its home market and abroad and is closing domestic stores.

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  • Starbucks Taiwan Recycled Shipping Containers Shop Opened

    Starbucks Taiwan Recycled Shipping Containers Shop Opened

    Starbucks Taiwan has opened a store made entirely of shipping containers in Hualien Bay Mall.

    The 29 containers have been stacked as building blocks designed to resemble the uneven foliage of a coffee bush at the yet-to-open mall that will launch as a tourist spot with views of the Pacific.

    The new Starbucks Taiwan cafe is constructed following the “Starbucks Greener Stores” initiative for sustainable store building using reclaimable materials and green design principles. The interior features a large mural celebrating the aboriginal Amis people of Hualien.

    According to the brand’s press release, “The stacking of the shipping containers created a much taller space and provides natural sunlight throughout the various skylights found throughout the structure.”

    Starbucks has now opened 40 locations built from shipping containers. This 320sqm structure is the first to be designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, known for his reinterpretation of traditional styles. Kuma has designed multiple iconic locations for Starbucks.

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  • Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment

    Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment

    Following strong consumer demand and internal support, global franchise coffee giant Starbucks has committed to designing, building and operating 10,000 “Greener Stores” globally by 2025.

    The brand has teamed up with sustainable building experts SCS Global Services and World Wildlife Fund to help with the implementation of the new initiative, which focuses on reducing waste, saving water and powering stores through 100 per cent renewable energy.

    The announcement was made overnight at The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, and promises to deliver consumers a new standard in green retailing.

    The latest initiative will see the brand audit all existing company-operated stores in the US and Canada over the coming years, serving as a trial period for the proposed framework, before encompassing all remaining existing stores, new builds and renovations.

    “Simply put, sustainable coffee, served sustainably is our aspiration,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Starbucks.

    “We know that designing and building green stores is not only responsible, it is cost effective as well. The energy and passion of our green apron partners has inspired us to find ways to operate a greener store that will generate even greater cost savings while reducing impact.”

    The move is anticipated to save the company an incremental US$50 million in utilities over the next 10 years, building on the brand’s current decade long commitment to greener practices, which already equates to approximately $30 million in saved annual operating costs.

    Erin Simon, director of R&D at World Wildlife Fund, US praised Starbucks’ decision to open source the framework, enabling other retailers to engage in the initiative.

    “This framework represents the next step in how Starbucks is approaching environmental stewardship, looking holistically at stores and their role in helping to ensure the future health of our natural resources,” Simon said.

    “When companies step up and demonstrate leadership, other businesses often follow with commitments of their own, driving further positive impacts.”

    As a leader in the retail coffee space, the announcement is set to highlight the importance of sustainability in Australian outlets and competitors, many of whom recently established partnerships and green operations to curb growing consumer demand.

    Starbucks is also encouraging other businesses to get on board with the latest sustainable initiative.

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  • Starbucks Arrives in Milan : The best store in the world

    Starbucks Arrives in Milan : The best store in the world

    Starbucks describes its newly opened Milan Roastery as its “most beautiful store in the world”.

    “During my first trip to Milan in 1983, I was captivated by the sense of community I found in the city’s espresso bars – the moments of human connection that passed so freely and genuinely between baristas and their customers,” said Howard Schultz, chairman emeritus of Starbucks.

    “The opening of the Milan Roastery is the story of Starbucks coming full circle.”

    The “crown jewel of Starbucks global retail footprint” opened in a restored building on Milan’s Palazzo della Poste on the Piazza Cordusio, just a few streets away from iconic landmarks such as the Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala.

    Standing at 2300sqm (25,000sqft), the Milan Roastery marks the first time the coffee giant has made its debut in a new country with the Roastery format. Just two others exist in the world: in Seattle, which opened in 2014, and in Shanghai, which debuted last year.

    Customers entering the Milan Roastery are greeted by a stunning view that spans every aspect of the Roastery experience. Vibrant colours were chosen to reflect the Italian fashion and design community and over the course of the day, the space transforms from the light filtering through the glass ceiling.

    At the heart of the building is a Scolari coffee roaster, manufactured just miles from the centre of Milan. To the right, customers will find the main bar, where classic espresso beverages mingle with innovative new flavours. The wood-fronted bar features fluting, which echoes a motif found in Italian architecture throughout history, and is topped with marble sourced from the world-famous quarries of Tuscany. Upstairs on the mezzanine floor, customers can discover Arriviamo Bar – where mixologists are on hand to create specialty cocktails behind a 10m-long marble bar carved from a single block of Calacatta Macchia Vecchia. To the left, customers will see a Princi Bakery, complete with a wood-fired oven.

    Liz Muller, chief design officer at Starbucks, says her team spent a whole year living and breathing the city of Milan, working closely with dozens of local artisans to bring the store to life. She says the company wanted to engage “each one of our customers’ senses – sight, sound, touch, smell, and of course, taste”.

    “From the palladiana flooring that was chiselled by hand to the bright green clackerboard made by Italian craftsman Solari, everything you see in the Roastery is intentional, offering moments of discovery and transparency.”

    The historic setting and detailed design is complemented by an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience, encouraging customers to use their mobile device to learn more about Starbucks Reserve coffees, the roasting process and the company. The centerpiece of the AR experience is a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall visual representation of Starbucks history and its coffee – engraved in brass by local craftsmen, burnished to an ombre finish and backlit to bring warmth to the story.

    Outside on a terrace, customers can enjoy the full range of Roastery coffees, cocktails and cuisine in a distinctly European environment – that of a street-side cafe. Also adorning the Roastery’s portico is a striking statue of a siren – the symbol of Starbucks steeped in classical lore – completely hand-carved in Carrara marble by Tuscan sculptor Giovanni Balderi.

    The Milan Roastery offers customers a 360-degree walk-around view of the entire roasting process, which starts with green coffee being poured out of burlap sacks, continues through the roaster and sweeping cooling trays, and finishes in a 6.5m-tall bronze cask, with a glimpse offered inside the degassing chamber. From there, coffee beans flow overhead through copper pipes directly to silos at the coffee bars, where customers can enjoy a fresh cup of Reserve coffee, or to the in-house packaging line to be wrapped for distribution in Starbucks stores across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

    Following the opening of the Milan Roastery, Starbucks will bring additional cafes to Milan with licensed partner Percassi beginning late this year. Starbucks says these stores will reflect the unique coffee culture of the Italian market, while also offering Starbucks mainstream food and beverage offer.

    Italy marks Starbucks’ 78th international market and comes 20 years after it opened its first European store in London.

    View the gallery below for more picture :

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