www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14105-blue-bottle-coffee-by-bohlin-cywinski-jackson
Blue Bottle Coffee

The height of the World Trade Center space in New York is modulated with millwork ribs.

Photo © Jeffrey Totaro

Blue Bottle Coffee by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Various Locations

Laura Raskin
June 3, 2019
Blue Bottle Coffee

Founded in 2002, Blue Bottle Coffee has developed a network of cafés across the United States, Japan, and South Korea—minimalist oases for urbanites who need a caffeine fix. Initially, there were only a small number, with different plans and a range of aesthetics. In 2016, the company was ready to expand its U.S. operations and engaged Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) to apply a more rigorous approach to the overall café design, with codified specifications and functional layouts and more predictable schedules and budgets.

Additional Content:
Jump to credits & specifications

“Design has always been a key part of our brand identity, and partly what we attribute our success to,” says Lukas Bruggemann, Blue Bottle director of café development. Architects from BCJ’s San Francisco and Philadelphia offices have maintained this strategy by creating more than 20 cafés in six metropolitan areas across the country, keeping pace with the specialty brewer’s growth without sacrificing its standards.

The new cafés are cheerful, light-filled galleries with transparent storefronts that put the performance of coffee making on display in clutter-free spaces. The design emphasizes a common use of humble materials such as plywood and butcher block, combined with thoughtful configurations for brewing equipment, food presentation, and merchandise display. With barista input, the architects for each store also crafted a set of benchmarks early in the design process that standardized certain elements of every café, from bars that open to allow employees to easily interact with guests to dedicated spaces for supplies needed within arm’s reach, and intimate seating nooks.

Simultaneously, BCJ worked with Blue Bottle to design and tweak distinct locations that respond to the surrounding architectural constraints and customer demands. For example, a café in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, features room for strollers, in response to the number of parents in the neighborhood. The space also features a gently curving wall, with vertical wood slats, that choreographs traffic.

The new cafés have increased efficiency and customer loyalty, says Bruggemann. Indeed, by inviting guests to be a part of the coffee-making process, Blue Bottle has improved the experience of both its customers and staff—without sacrificing the quality of the beverages.

Back to Good Design Is Good Business 2019

Credits

Blue Bottle California Street

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits:

Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862

 

Location:

San Francisco, CA

 

Completion date:

December 2017

 

Gross square footage:

600 sf

 

Architect:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Greg Mottola FAIA, Christopher Orsega AIA, Alex Gregor RA, Ashley Hinton RA IIDA, James Kirkpatrick RA

 

Engineers:

MEP: MHC Engineers, Inc

 

Consultants:

Millwork: TJ Hale

 

General contractor:

Eric F. Anderson, Inc.

 

Photographer:

Adam Rouse

 

Blue Bottle Old Oakland

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits:

Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862

 

Location:

San Francisco, CA

 

Completion date:

August 2017

 

Gross square footage:

2,200 sf

 

Architect:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Greg Mottola FAIA, Christopher Orsega AIA, Alex Gregor RA, Ashley Hinton RA IIDA

 

Engineers:

MEP: MHC Engineers, Inc

 

Consultants:

Millwork: Arnold and Egan

 

General contractor:

Bali Construction

 

Photographer:

Adam Rouse

 

Blue Bottle South Park

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits:

Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862

 

Location:

San Francisco, CA

 

Completion date:

Nov 2016

 

Gross square footage:

1,200 sf

 

Architect:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Greg Mottola FAIA, Christopher Orsega AIA, Alex Gregor RA

 

Engineers:

MEP: MHC Engineers, Inc

 

Consultants:

Millwork: Arnold and Egan

 

General contractor:

Alsterlind Construction Inc

 

Photographer:

Matthew Millman

 

Blue Bottle The Exchange

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits:

Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862

 

Location:

Boston, MA

 

Completion date:

May 2018

 

Gross square footage:

800 sf

 

Architect:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Tom Kirk AIA, LEED AP, Ryan Simpson AIA, Sophia Lee AIA, Chris Renn AIA, Daniel Lee AIA, LEED AP

 

Engineers:

MEP: WSP

Structural: Silman

 

Consultants:

Millwork: TJ Hale

 

General contractor:

Starloc

 

Photographer:

Daniel Lee

 

Blue Bottle Williamsburg

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits:

Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862

 

Location:

Brooklyn, New York

 

Completion date:

November 2017

 

Gross square footage:

2,025 sf

 

Architect:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Tom Kirk AIA, LEED AP, Ryan Simpson AIA, Sophia Lee AIA

 

Engineers:

MEP: WSP

Structural: Silman

 

Consultants:

Millwork: Okayama Works

 

General contractor:

DCR

 

Blue Bottle World Trade Center

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits:

Jennifer Varner, 206-256-0862

 

Location:

New York, New York

 

Completion date:

September 2017

Gross square footage:

1,000 sf

 

Architect:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Tom Kirk AIA, Ryan Simpson AIA, Christopher Renn AIA, Daniel Stanislaw RA, Nora Chase, Karolina Kaczmarczyk

 

Engineers:

MEP: WSP

Structural: Silman

 

Consultants:

Millwork: digifabshop

 

General contractor:

Schimenti

 

Photographer:

Daniel Lee, Jeffrey Totaro

Specifications

Blue Bottle California Street

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Interior Finishes

Acoustical ceilings: Armstrong

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: TJ Hale

Paints and stains: Dunn Edwards

Solid surfacing: Corian

Wood Flooring, Wall, and Ceiling Planks: Ashawa Bay Engineered Maple Flooring

Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc

Special interior finishes unique to this project:  Custom Hickory Pastry Case by TJ Hale

 

Furnishings

Tables: Custom Corian window counters by TJ Hale

 

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting: Delray, Tech Lighting, HE Williams

Tasklighting: Aion

 

Blue Bottle Old Oakland

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Hardware

Custom Door pull and door stop manufactured by Arnold and Egan

 

Interior Finishes

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Arnold and Egan

Paints and stains: Dunn Edwards

Wood Flooring: Black Doug Fir Flooring, Sustainable Lumber Company

Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc

Special interior finishes unique to this project:

  • Custom inset redwood butcher block by Tomlinson Woodworks;
  • Custom birch-ply interior storefront by Arnold and Egan

 

Furnishings

Chairs: Custom birch-ply and laminate stools manufactured by Tomlinson Woodworks

Tables: Custom birch-ply and laminate tables manufactured by Tomlinson Woodworks

 

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting: Bruck Lighting, Nuvo lighting, Boca Flasher, GE Lighting, HE Williams

Tasklighting: Aion

 

Blue Bottle South Park

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Interior Finishes

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: custom lattice structure, bar counter, seating by Arnold and Egan

Paints and stains: Dunn Edwards

Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc

Special interior finishes unique to this project:

  • Custom end-grain inset butcher block by Tomlinson Woodworks;
  • Custom stainless steel countertop by Arnold and Egan

 

Furnishings

Chairs: Mattiazzi Solo Chair and Solo Stool

Tables: Custom tables manufactured by Ohio Design

 

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting: Lucifer, Bruck Lighting

Tasklighting: Aion

 

Blue Bottle The Exchange

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Structural System

Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project:

Custom Kiosk Frame by TJ Hale

Interior Finishes

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: custom kiosk frame, infill, and millwork by TJ Hale

Solid surfacing: Corian counter face: Dupont

Floor and wall tile: Ambassador: Daltile

Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc

Custom perforated aluminum paneling by TJ Hale

Custom stainless steel countertop by TJ Hale

 

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting: SLT4 LED pendant: Delray Lighting

Tasklighting: AT 401 led strip: Axion

 

Blue Bottle Williamsburg

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Doors

Special doors: Custom Appleply door by Okayama

 

Interior Finishes

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: custom Appleply and Maple millwork: Okayama Works

 

Furnishings

Chairs: Fiber side chair tube base: Muuto

Tables: Ginger table: Arper

Upholstery: Kvadrat Canvas: Maharam        

 

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting: SLT4 pendant: Delray Lighting

Downlights: Smithfield S pendant: Flos

 

Blue Bottle World Trade Center

by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

 

Hardware

Shelving Supports: Vitra

 

Interior Finishes

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Custom Millwork in European beech: digifabshop

Paneling: custom perforated acoustical paneling in whitewashed oak veneer: digifabshop

Solid surfacing: Corian:Dupont

Special surfacing: Cube acoustical wall paneling: Autex

 

Furnishings

Fixed seating: custom, by digifabshop

Chairs: CH20 Elbow Chair: Carl Hansen

Tables: custom, by digifabshop

Upholstery: Messenger, color “cloud”: Maharam

Stools: CH56 Barstool: Carl Hansen

 

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting:

Dos pendant:Delray lighting

Downlights:

3RE-FD-1 recessed LED:Lucifer Lighting

Tasklighting:

AT 401 linear led cove light:Aion

 

 
 
Lr
Laura Raskin, a former RECORD editor, writes about architecture. She recently moved with her family from Brooklyn, New York, to the Green Mountains of Vermont.