The Unicorn Frappuccino may be gone (for now, at least) but Starbucks is still full of surprises. Today, the coffee chain announced that it will be bringing a Starbucks Reserve Roastery to Michigan Avenue in 2019, taking over 646 N Michigan Ave—a building that is currently occupied by Crate & Barrel.
The four-story, 43,000 square-foot Starbucks Reserve Roastery will be Starbucks' largest store to date, promising "a fully sensorial coffee environment dedicated to roasting, brewing and packaging rare, small-batch Starbucks Reserve coffees from around the world." The location will also feature freshly baked bread from Italian baker Rocco Princi.
The Chicago-based Reserve Roastery will be the chain's third roastery in the U.S., joining the original Seattle outpost and a New York City location that is scheduled to open in 2018.
Starbucks Reserve's Magnificent Mile location won't be Chicago's introduction to the chain's upscale offerings—the Wicker Park Starbucks (1588 N Milwaukee Ave) recently reopened as a Reserve bar and locations in West Loop and Wrigleyville are scheduled to begin brewing in the coming year. Targeting millennials and coffee aficionados, these high-end shops specialize in small-batch roasts that can cost as much as $10 a cup.
For anyone who geeks out about brewing methods and "coffee mixology," the Starbucks Reserve Roastery sounds like a great place to indulge in some fancy caffeinated creations. For everyone else, it should at least provide an interesting backdrop for Instagram photos of your lattes and Frappuccinos.
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.