Starbucks is on a mission to caffeinate the world. Not only is the Seattle-based coffee company aiming to have 6,000 stores in China by 2022, the company has just opened its very first in the birthplace of espresso: Italy.
The new 25,000-square-foot Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan is one of the company’s three roasteries across the globe, and the first where customers can get an up-close look at the manufacturing process. (Starbucks first roastery opened in Seattle in 2014; the second, last year in Shanghai.) “During my first trip to Milan in 1983, I was captivated by the sense of community I found in the city’s espresso bars,” said Howard Schultz, the company’s chairman emeritus. “The opening of the Milan Roastery is the story of Starbucks coming full circle.”
The store is designed to reflect Milan’s rich heritage and status as Italy’s fashion capital: vibrant colors permeate the entire space, the main wood-fronted bar features classic Italian fluting, and hand-chiseled palladiana floor tiles cover the floors. But perhaps the roastery’s most striking feature is its 22-foot-high bronze cask, which occasionally unfolds, allowing customers a peek into a chamber where coffee beans are roasted. “We have spent the past year living and breathing the city of Milan, working closely with dozens of local artisans to bring to life our most beautiful experience that engages each of our customers’ senses,” said Starbucks’ chief design officer Liz Muller.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan will open its doors to the public on Friday. The company plans to bring more cafes to the city later this year.
Video courtesy Edelman
