Starbucks Reserve Roastery: the most iconic store in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery is the flagship store where experience dominates the scene, both for your mouth and your eyes.

There are only six Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in the world (namely in Seattle, Shanghai, Milan, New York, Tokyo and Chicago) and their concept engages customers in the world of Starbucks and its coffee – the star of the entire brand universe.

In each Starbucks Reserve Roastery you can test and taste different types of arabica coffees ethically sourced from all around the world: for example, at the time of our visit in Milan, beans of Starbucks Reserve Christmas Vintage 2022 were being roasted for the upcoming festives.

The location in Milan

Each Starbucks Reserve Roastery has been designed with a focus on the connection with the local surroundings: from a design point of view, each store has been imagined by an internal design team and then brought to life in collaboration with local artisans. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Piazza Cordusio is dedicated to Milan, the city that inspired the Starbucks Experience.

The interiors have been conceived to create a storytelling that constantly reminds of the brand’s past, present and future. All in the name of an intriguing game of tradition and innovation.

From a logistics perspective, the interior is organised according to an 'island' service model: upon entering the Milan location, you are welcomed by a merchandising area with a strong local connotation available only on site: currently, alongside the most iconic merch of the brand, an  exclusive collection in collaboration with Marcel Wanders Studio is available in Milan.

On the side is the signature artisanal food by Princi Milano, with both savoury and sweet offerings.

Further inwards coffee is the main character, with different bars focussed on the drink and the diverse brewing and tasting methods.

For example, the Scoop Bar is the area where coffee is sold like in a typical roastery: here customers can choose the coffee they wish to try at home.

Then there is the MainBar, where you can discover different coffee brewing methods, with an evocative city-lighting design – it is indeed inspired by the lights of the Castello Sforzesco. All the bar counters in the Roastery are in Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble and they are heated, giving an all-embracing, comfortable tasting experience.

On the mezzanine, there is the Arriviamo Bar, with its relaxing nuances and elegant notes, where you can discover the mixology offering and bring to life events and guided experiential activities with the passionate Starbucks partners (employees).

Finally, right at the centre is the manufacturing area, which is the area within the Milan Starbucks Reserve Roastery dedicated to the roasting of all Starbucks Reserve coffee consumed not just in Milan but in the entire EMEA region. Here, thanks to the master roasters, it is possible to discover the process of coffee roasting and the distinctive characteristics of coffees cultivated across the world.