Starbucks has opened a new reserve roastery in Milan, Italy, 18 years after chairman emeritus Howard Schultz first visited the city.
The company described the new roastery as “the crown jewel of its global retail footprint,” and a place where Italian customers can “discover the art and science of coffee in a breath-taking environment that is an homage to the city of Milan and a celebration of everything Starbucks has learned about coffee in its 47-year history.”
“During my first trip to Milan in 1983, I was captivated by the sense of community I found in the city’s espresso bars – the moments of human connection that passed so freely and genuinely between baristas and their customers. The opening of the Milan Roastery is the story of Starbucks coming full circle,” said Mr Schultz.
“Everything we have experienced, since that first moment of inspiration 35 years ago to now being a daily part of millions of people’s lives around the world, we bring with great respect to Italy. On behalf of the 350,000 partners who wear the green apron and millions before them, I am so proud and humbled to bring our Italian customers an experience that is the very best of Starbucks.”
Starbucks arrival in Italy – the company’s 78th global market – is unlike any other market opening in its history. Milan marks the first time Starbucks has established its retail presence in a new country with the roastery format, of which only two others exist, the Seattle roastery, which opened in 2014, and a roastery in Shanghai, which opened in 2017.
The new roastery is in Milan’s Palazzo della Poste on the Piazza Cordusio, a few streets away from landmarks such as the Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala.