The World's Largest Starbucks Just Opened in Tokyo
In case you needed another reason to go visit Tokyo: Starbucks just opened its biggest roastery in the world — 32,000 square feet, to be exact.
This isn't your typical Starbucks, either. Like other Roasteries around the world, it features specialty coffees and teas, massive coffee casks, all to "celebrate the romance of coffee," according to CEO Kevin Johnson. It also has the world's largest Teavana bar. I don't know about you all, but it sounds like a coffee lover's paradise to me.
The Roastery itself was designed by local architect Kengo Kuma, complete with an "inspiration lounge" for various events. One of its coffee casks is over 55 feet tall, and has a "series of overhead pipes that shoots beans throughout the building," CNN reports. If coffee isn't your thing (we can't be friends), head over to the cocktail bar. For Starbucks, the bar also serves as an "innovation lab" where drinks are tested out, and are later rolled out nationwide. For example, last year's Juniper Latte was inspired by a drink created at the Seattle Roastery.
Previously, Shanghai held the top spot for the world's largest Starbucks. The company also recently opened a 23,000-square-foot "coffee shrine" with a full bar in New York City.