Despite continuing challenging conditions in the coffee industry, the Japanese coffee brand, % Arabica, continues to expand in the UAE. Their third concept store in Abu Dhabi opened this June, located mere steps from the ground floor entrance of Capital’s Marina Mall, the city’s largest. The clean, modern design of this concept store hints at the brand’s Japanese minimalistic roots.
What makes this % Arabica store unique is that it’s the first UAE location that features the % Arabica Kiosk. These pods have been years in the making. Founder Kenneth Shoji teamed up with award-winning Austrian architect, Christ Precht, to create a design for adaptable and expandable units.
The modular Kiosks are designed so that they can accommodate any size space and task, be it showcasing their stylish merchandise or brewing and serving drinks. The modular, prefabricated structural system is designed to make it convenient to assemble a range of configurations, to suit the particular demands of future % Arabica locations.
But it’s not all about substance, they also exhibit style in abundance. Inspired by the “%” logo of the brand, the half-circled wooden elements of the Kiosks are able to rotate to form a slash design. When locked into this position, the minimalistic interpretation of the brand’s iconic logo offers a sneak peek into the microcosm of fine coffee inside.
Abu Dhabi’s concept store in Marina Mall is the fourth of six planned locations to utilise the % Arabica Kiosk system. The first is in Shanghai, followed by Hong Kong and Kuwait. The space also features a retail wall showcasing % Arabica merchandise.
Customers can purchase original blends of % Arabica beans, directly farmed from their own coffee farm in Hawaii, as well as a wide variety of beans sourced directly from farmers worldwide. % Arabica’s brand concept of “seeing the world through coffee” inspired their travel essentials collection, including portable brewing gadgets. They’re on display alongside a range of tumblers, mugs, tote bags and backpacks.
The success of % Arabica’s ongoing crusade to conquer the world of coffee is a testament to its commitment to innovation and solid brand identity. This newest store displays both in abundance; the ingenious kiosk system adds a touch of futuristic flair while maintaining that crisp, clean, Japanese aesthetic (and fantastic cups of coffee) that fans of the brand know and love.