TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE) Starbucks recently celebrated the opening of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, a four-story tribute to premium coffee quality, innovation and human connection. This will be the fifth Roastery globally, which pays tribute to the important role that Starbucks Japan has played in shaping the foundation of the Company’s international growth.
The Roastery introduces customers to more than 100 unique coffee and tea beverages and merchandise, as well as a menu of artisanal Princi Italian fare for the first time in Japan. It also celebrates the Japanese culture of connection and craftsmanship through the first AMU Inspiration Lounge – from the Japanese “amu,” meaning “knit together”– to host community gathering events and is planned to become Starbucks first Specialty Coffee Association certified training location in Japan.
“As the first international market outside of North America, Starbucks Japan has contributed 23 years of innovation for the company globally,” said Kevin Johnson, ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company. “The opening of the Tokyo Roastery will further amplify what Starbucks Japan has done across all stores in the market for more than two decades—innovating and delivering the finest quality coffee one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.”
Located in Tokyo’s vibrant and creative neighborhood of Nakameguro, the Roastery’s design was inspired by the famous cherry blossom trees lining the Meguro River. The building’s glass walls and terraced floors seamlessly fold into the fabric of the neighborhood, bringing visitors eye-level with the cherry blossoms and the four seasons of the river to reflect the natural beauty and sense of harmony found across Japan.
Upon entering the Roastery, customers are greeted by the world’s largest Starbucks Roastery coffee cask, four-stories and over 55 feet of blush-tinted copper adorned with hand-crafted copper cherry blossoms, which changes hues throughout the day in different lights. The expansive cask was built using the technique of tsuchime, a tradition of copper beating, where each person involved in the building of the Roastery was offered the chance to hammer a portion to create its texture and pattern. The cask’s unique color is balanced against the light wood which has been carried into the interior to give the store a brightness found throughout traditional Japanese architecture.
Throughout the Roastery, local craftsmen and women were brought together to incorporate their expertise and traditional craft into the design elements. The wood-tiled ceiling was inspired by the art of origami, providing a stunning visual experience. The light and airy space carries the lightwood used on the exterior to the inside, giving the experience an enchanting aura. The wood, sourced locally, has been treated throughout with a traditional technique which prevents it from aging, ensuring the brightness is maintained inside and outside in the years to come.
The Reserve Roastery serves the freshest cup of coffee and it is here on the first floor that customers can taste Reserve coffee beverages such as Barrel-Aged Cold Brew. The Princi bakery serves handcrafted, authentic artisanal Italian fare that is baked fresh in the Roastery throughout the day. For the first time in Japan, customers can enjoy freshly-baked breads, cornetti, focaccias, pizzas, salads and more.
An airy staircase leads to the second floor, where customers will be transported into the tradition of Japanese tea at the world’s largest Teavana Bar. Exclusive tea beverages, such as the Pop’n Tea Sakura Jasmine, featuring a vibrant hibiscus and cherry popsicle atop a floral jasmine tea, will delight customers with their charming appearance, Japanese ingredients and unique flavor combinations, modernizing the tea experience.
On the terraced third floor, Starbucks Japan’s first cocktail bar, Arriviamo™, puts innovation, mixology and cocktail craft on full display. The two walls of spirits bring together the Arriviamo menu, featuring coffee and tea-inspired cocktails only available at the Tokyo Roastery, including the Nakameguro Espresso Martini made with chestnut liqueur, crème de cacao and espresso, then paired with decadent chocolate from Nakameguro’s “green bean to bar CHOCOLATE” brand. Wine, beer and classic mixology beverages will also be available.
