Starbucks Gets an Upgrade at Its New Reserve Stores

Starbucks has rolled out several changes within the past year, from introducing cold-pressed  espresso to its menu to serving freshly-baked Italian fare at the new morning-to-night bakery and café, Princi. And just last month, the coffee empire marked another major point in its coffee-brewing game: the first Reserve Store, which opened in Seattle’s SoDo ‘hood, inside the company’s HQ building.

It’s the first of 1,000 specialty cafes that will open nationwide, where coffee aficionados will be offered a host of delights in a marketplace-style setting, including small-lot premium coffees, specialty beverages (like Spiced Ginger Cold Brew) on tap, artisanal pastries, salads and pizzas from Princi, and a mixology bar that will serve aperitif-inspired cocktails, beer, and wine.

The cafes will have design elements in line with Starbuck’s aesthetic (think: dark wood, comfy leather), but will also be impressively “different and unique,” according to Christian Davies, VP of Creative Global Design & Innovation. In Seattle’s new shop, that translates to hand-carved doors, a massive copper art installation, and a central, floor-to-ceiling fireplace. And if coffee’s what you’re coming for, order yours at the long, dark-stained walnut craft bar, where baristas will tinker with a host of brewing methods, from siphon to Chemex to pour-over.