Starbucks Reserve Roastery, When Coffee Becomes Art

After years of anticipation, Starbucks Reserve Roastery, the American coffee giant’s first store in Italy, has finally opened in Milan. The store, located in the historic ‘Poste’ (Post Office) building in via Cordusio, pays homage to the Italian espresso culture. The venue features an interactive augmented reality experience that encourages customers to use their mobile devices to uncover more about Starbucks Reserve coffees, the roasting process and the company. Based on the unique Reserve Roastery format, the Milanese store offers small-lot roastings of rare and exotic Reserve coffees, accompanied by tantalizing sweet or savoury treats, provided by Princi, the Italian artisan bakery with whom Starbucks has formed a partnership. In addition to a large outdoor terrace, customers can enjoy the full range of Roastery coffees at the main coffee bar located inside the store, a triumph of marble, vibrant colours and design features.

The showpiece is the first ‘affogato’ station, where ice cream is handmade to order using liquid nitrogen. The mezzanine level hosts the Arriviamo Bar, where a team of mixologists combines the art of coffee making with the Italian aperitivo ritual, offering a vast cocktail menu featuring traditional favourites like the Negroni and the Aperol Spritz alongside cold coffee-based creations. Customers, who want to take a piece of the Roastery experience home, can stop at the Scooping Bar, where they can purchase specially-packaged, freshly roasted Starbucks Reserve coffee beans.