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Starbucks customers in the Middle East will be able to experience the new Starbucks Oleato™ beverages on Friday May 26 at select stores in Riyadh, followed by Dubai on Saturday May 27, and Kuwait on Sunday May 28.

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Starbucks Oleato™ is a new, unexpected coffee ritual, bringing together Starbucks® arabica coffee, deliciously infused with premium extra virgin olive oil. The result is a velvety smooth, deliciously lush coffee that uplifts each cup with an extraordinary new flavour and texture.

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Following the launch in Italy, Japan, and select stores in Chicago, Seattle and New York (US), London (UK) and Paris (France) over the past months, two brand new beverages: Oleato Golden Foam™ Cold Brew and Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso, now arrive in the Middle East. Customers can experience the innovative beverages at selected Starbucks stores across the region.

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Starbucks Oleato™ arrives in the Middle East: Customers in Riyadh, Dubai and Kuwait are the first to enjoy a revolutionary new coffee ritual - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Oleato™ arrives in the Middle East: Customers in Riyadh, Dubai and Kuwait are the first to enjoy a revolutionary new coffee ritual

Starbucks customers in the Middle East will be able to experience the new Starbucks Oleato™ beverages on Friday May 26 at select stores in Riyadh, followed by Dubai on Saturday May 27, and Kuwait on Sunday May 28. Starbucks Oleato™ is a new, unexpected coffee ritual, bringing together Starbucks® arabica coffee, deliciously infused with premium […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/starbucks-oleato-arrives-in-the-middle-east/

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The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/the-starbucks-foundation-launches-global-community-impact-grants-initiative/">announced</a> a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world.

In the second year of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/supporting-youth-empowerment-hunger-relief-and-refugees-in-emea/">Global Community Impact Grants</a> program, The Starbucks Foundation awarded grants to 65 nonprofits, all of which were nominated by Starbucks international licensees and will reach communities in more than 35 markets. Between grants and co-investment from international licensees, over $2.5 million has been awarded in 2023 to date for causes aligned to The Starbucks Foundation’s community impact goals, including youth workforce development, inclusion &amp; diversity, social services, hunger relief, economic opportunity, and coffee-, tea- and cocoa growing communities.

In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, The Foundation awarded 22 grants across 12 markets for causes ranging from social services to youth workforce development to inclusion &amp; diversity. Grants were awarded in Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, North Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/global-community-impact-grants/">Learn more</a> about the programme and organisations we are supporting in EMEA and across the globe.

Supporting Social Services, Youth Workforce Development, and Inclusion &amp; Diversity in Europe, Middle East and Africa - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Supporting Social Services, Youth Workforce Development, and Inclusion &amp; Diversity in Europe, Middle East and Africa

The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation announced a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world. In the second year of the […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/global-community-impact-grants-emea/

Supporting Social Services, Youth Workforce Development, and Inclusion & Diversity in Europe, Middle East and Africa

A Starbucks store is certified as a "Greener Store" when it successfully meets 25 required standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impacts areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. The standards were developed in partnership with the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Wildlife Fund</a> and SCS Global Services.

Starbucks has certified its first five Greener Stores in the UK and they are located at Battersea Power Station, Birmingham Selly Oak, Dartford Prospect Place, Beckton Gallions Reach, and Cardiff Capital Shopping Park. 

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Starbucks is committed to certifying 100 Greener Stores in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the end of 2023. These Greener Stores will help reduce Starbucks environmental impact through a performance-based standard that incorporates design and extend throughout the life of a store. 

As of April 2023, Starbucks has certified more than 3,500 Greener Stores globally bringing the company closer to its goal of designing, building, and operating <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-announces-global-greener-stores-commitment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10,000 Greener Stores</a> globally by 2025.

Starbucks certifies first Greener Stores in the UK - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks certifies first Greener Stores in the UK

A Starbucks store is certified as a &#8220;Greener Store&#8221; when it successfully meets 25 required standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impacts areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. The standards were developed in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and SCS Global Services. Starbucks has certified its […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/starbucks-certifies-first-greener-stores-in-the-uk/

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Italy has always been a special place for Starbucks. It was four decades ago that Howard Schultz first walked the cobblestone streets of Milan, Italy and <a href="https://archive.starbucks.com/record/inspiration-in-italy">experienced the romance of its espresso bars</a>. That visit spurred him to bring the Italian coffeehouse experience to Starbucks and to America, which would grow from just 11 stores to more than 36,000, serving millions of handcrafted beverages each day around the world.

Now Schultz and Starbucks have found inspiration in Italy again, this time in the sun-kissed olive groves of Sicily with the introduction of a new line of beverages, Oleato, Starbucks coffee infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil. The new beverages are making their debut tomorrow (Feb. 22) at the <a href="https://www.starbucksreserve.com/en-us/locations/milano">Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan</a> and in Starbucks stores in Italy, followed by Southern California in the United States this spring.&nbsp; Later this year select markets in Japan, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom will launch the beverages. The five Oleato beverages served at the Milan Roastery are Oleato™ Caffè Latte, Oleato™ Iced Cortado, Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew, Oleato™ Deconstructed and Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Espresso Martini. Starbucks stores in Italy will offer Oleato™ Caffè Latte, Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso and Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew.

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Schultz, currently in Milan for the launch of Oleato, noted how his journey with Starbucks has come full circle with the two milestone moments, one toward the beginning of his career at Starbucks and the other as he is about to step down next month after serving for the last 10 months as Starbucks interim chief executive officer. &nbsp;

“In 1983, I took my first trip to Italy and discovered the extraordinary relationship that the Italian people have with the Italian coffee bar, and specifically espresso. I raced back to the United States with a vision and a passion to bring that to Starbucks,” Schultz said.

Last year, Schultz was traveling in Sicily when he discovered something equally dynamic and interesting. After being introduced to the Mediterranean custom of taking a spoonful of olive oil each day, he soon began enjoying a spoonful of Partanna extra virgin olive oil as part of his daily ritual in addition to his morning coffee, and soon he had the idea of trying the two together. What he discovered was a delicious and unexpected alchemy of Starbucks coffee beverages infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

“I was absolutely stunned at the unique flavor and texture created when the Partanna extra virgin olive oil was infused into Starbucks coffee,” Schultz said. “In both hot and cold coffee beverages, what it produced was an unexpected, velvety, buttery flavor that enhanced the coffee and lingers beautifully on the palate.”

Making beverage history

Excited by the potential, Schultz brought the discovery back to Seattle and the Starbucks beverage development team. From there, Amy Dilger, principal Starbucks beverage developer, took on the task of creating beverages for Starbucks customers. Dilger was uniquely qualified for the challenge, having spent a decade in Europe as a patisserie chef and then more than 20 years on the Starbucks food and beverage team, creating customer favorites like <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2014/starbucks-chestnut-praline-latte/">Chestnut Praline Latte</a> and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/starbucks-roastery-inspired-beverages/">Smoked Butterscotch Latte</a>.

Her first step was learning about olives and their deep connection to Italian culture. Of the hundreds of varieties, Partanna’s blend of extra virgin olive oil created for Starbucks includes one of the most coveted – Nocellara del Belice olives (also called Castelvetrano), which are known for their vibrant and buttery flavor. Dilger spoke with the family farmers behind Partanna extra virgin olive oil, who have nurtured these ancient olive trees in their rich Sicilian soil for four generations. She learned how the olives are picked and cold-pressed within hours to preserve their extraordinary flavor.

“As I learned about Partanna extra virgin olive oil, I kept seeing things that reminded me of Starbucks coffee, specifically how the terroir, the origin, and the varietals contribute to the unique flavor and texture,” Dilger said. Although she had never tried combining extra virgin olive oil and coffee before, she thought of other dishes that highlight olive oil, like Greek yogurt with a drizzle of olive oil, olive oil and sea salt ice cream – and of course, olive oil cake.

“One thing that’s special about the Castelvetrano olives is that they are sweet and really buttery,” Dilger said. “I think of all the buttery caramels that we mix with our coffee. That buttery smooth richness combines so well with our coffee.”

‘A luxurious, textural experience’

Next, she started experimenting in her beverage development kitchen, infusing the Partanna extra virgin olive oil with some of her favorite coffee beverages to create an experience that was revelatory and entirely new.

“The infusion is really important. When you infuse Partanna extra virgin olive oil by steaming or shaking it with oatmilk, it creates this luxurious, textural experience that’s similar to whole milk,” said Dilger. To find the coffee that would pair perfectly with the extra virgin olive oil, she experimented with a variety of Starbucks high-quality arabica blends and chose not one, but two Starbucks espressos. For the lineup in Starbucks stores, Dilger found the Partanna extra virgin olive oil infusions paired beautifully with Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, which has smooth well-rounded flavors that are delicious both hot and iced. For the Starbucks Reserve Roastery beverages, she used Starbucks Reserve Espresso, and added an iced cortado beverage with a hint of orange. And for the name, the team settled on Oleato, a play on the Latin word for “olive” and Italian word meaning “with oil.”

Fittingly, customers in Italy will be the first to try to the new Oleato beverages starting tomorrow at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan and in Starbucks Italy stores.

Schultz said, “Now, there's going to be people who say, ‘Olive oil in coffee? But the proof is in the cup. In over 40 years, I can't remember a moment in time where I've been more excited, more enthused that demonstrates the pride, the quality, the passion, the heritage and the craft of what Starbucks can do.”

Starbucks stores in Italy will offer three Oleato beverages:

Starbucks Oleato™ Caffè Latte

The Starbucks Oleato™ Caffé Latte is simple and elegant, made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast and Partanna extra virgin olive oil steamed with creamy oat dairy alternative to create the most luscious of lattes.

Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso

Sicily’s farmer’s markets are filled with an abundance of locally grown almonds, pistachios, walnuts and chestnuts – this was the inspiration for the nut flavor in the Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso. The beverage features layers of subtly sweet Starbucks Blonde Roast Espresso, hazelnut syrup and creamy oat dairy alternative shaken with Partanna extra virgin olive oil and ice.

Starbucks Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew

The Starbucks Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew is capped with a layer of Golden Foam, a silky infusion of Partanna extra virgin olive oil with vanilla sweet cream foam, which slowly cascades through the beverage to create a smooth, yet rich, texture.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan will serve its own portfolio of Starbucks Oleato beverages, made with exquisite Starbucks Reserve® coffee:&nbsp;

Starbucks Oleato™ Caffè Latte: Starbucks Reserve Espresso and creamy oat dairy alternative infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil create a velvety, luscious latte.

Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Cortado: Starbucks Reserve Espresso, demerara syrup, and a dash of orange bitters and oat dairy alternative is infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil. It is then served over <a>ice</a> and finished with an orange peel.

Starbucks Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Cold Brew: Starbucks Reserve Cold Brew is lightly sweetened with vanilla syrup and finished with Partanna extra virgin olive oil infused cold foam, creating an inviting aroma and subtle sweetness.

Starbucks Oleato™ Deconstructed: An ode to the Italian tradition of combining olive oil with a squeeze of lemon. This beverage pairs Starbucks Reserve Espresso and Partanna extra virgin&nbsp;olive oil infused with a luxurious passionfruit cold foam.

Oleato™ Golden Foam™ Espresso Martini: Starbucks Reserve Espresso, vodka and vanilla bean syrup topped with golden foam – a fusion of fior di latte (sweet cream) and Partanna extra virgin olive oil. &nbsp;

Introducing Oleato™, the story behind a new line of Starbucks® coffee beverages infused with Partanna® extra virgin olive oil making their debut at the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Milan and Starbucks Italy stores.

Coffee meets olive oil: The story behind Starbucks new coffee ritual—Starbucks Oleato coffee beverages 

Coffee meets olive oil: The story behind Starbucks new coffee ritual – Starbucks Oleato coffee beverages 

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Starbucks proudly offers an extensive apprenticeship program from intermediate to degree level (L2-L6), meaning partners (employees) can progress from a Barista to a Bachelor in areas such as HR, tech, marketing, and finance.

This year, Starbucks celebrated our 10-year apprenticeship anniversary, which has so far provided fee-free education, up-skilling, and clear career pathways to over 1800 UK partners, with 20% of apprenticeships going on to receive in-work promotions.

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2023, we're proud to introduce you to three of our Starbucks UK partners who have taken up an apprenticeship this year. Meet Tam, Aylin, and Johanna, who give us an insight into their life at the Starbucks UK Support Centre (head office).

For more information about our apprenticeship programs, please visit: <a href="https://www.starbucksemeacareers.com/en/Apprenticeships" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.starbucksemeacareers.com/en/Apprenticeships</a>

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Starbucks UK - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Starbucks UK

Starbucks proudly offers an extensive apprenticeship program from intermediate to degree level (L2-L6), meaning partners (employees) can progress from a Barista to a Bachelor in areas such as HR, tech, marketing, and finance. This year, Starbucks celebrated our 10-year apprenticeship anniversary, which has so far provided fee-free education, up-skilling, and clear career pathways to over […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2023/celebrating-national-apprenticeship-week-with-starbucks-uk/

On Wednesday 7 December, Starbucks will be offering free Tall beverages to all NHS staff in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to say an early festive thank you for the third consecutive year.

NHS staff can order any handcrafted Tall beverage of their choice from Starbucks stores across the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) when they show their work identity care in store. This one-day offer is part of an ongoing partnership between Starbucks UK and NHS Charities Together, which sees each Starbucks store across Great Britain paired with one of over 230 local NHS charities, to help support staff, patients and communities across the UK.

Alex Rayner, General Manager at Starbucks UK, said, “We hope this small gesture gives all NHS workers the opportunity to take a moment to enjoy this festive period and demonstrates our huge appreciation of the NHS for all that they do, all year round. There is more to come from our partnership with NHS Charities Together to help us give back to the local communities we serve, including NHS staff, with exciting new projects coming soon that we are incredibly proud of.”

This holiday season, Starbucks introduced its largest range of <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/create-your-own-magical-moments-with-starbucks-emea-holiday-merchandise/">reusable merchandise collection</a>, giving customers more options for receiving their drinks in reusable cups and offering a 25p discount the next time they bring their cup into the store. NHS staff are also encouraged to make the switch by using a reusable cup to drink their free Tall beverage.

Starbucks UK offers NHS workers an early festive thank you this holiday season with a free Tall beverage - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks UK offers NHS workers an early festive thank you this holiday season with a free Tall beverage

On Wednesday 7 December, Starbucks will be offering free Tall beverages to all NHS staff in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to say an early festive thank you for the third consecutive year. NHS staff can order any handcrafted Tall beverage of their choice from Starbucks stores across the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/starbucks-uk-offers-nhs-workers-an-early-festive-thank-you/

As the warm midday heat envelops the roastery&nbsp;on a particularly sunny October day in Milan - Ottobrata, as the Italians call it - Milanese locals and Starbucks partners&nbsp;alike gathered in the city's iconic Roastery for the EMEA Barista Championship Final 2022.

The city that inspired Starbucks, ten finalists from stores all across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have spent the past two days competing in complex coffee challenges to be crowned this year's winner, and just moments ago, Phuti Mmotla was announced the 2022 champion.

After whittling down the national champions to a final three, Phuti beat out Fiona from UAE and Veronika from Italy for the top spot, surrounded by runners-up Richard McKeever from Ireland, Julius Gradavsky from Austria, Fraser Gold from the UK, Alexandre Fleurentin from France, Victor Nascimento from Spain, Niko Krhkanko from Germany, and Vendy Panchartkova from the Czech Republic.

The best barista in 42 markets, Phuti and his fellow finalists were put through their paces to test their knowledge and ability of all things coffee.

First, a coffee tasting and presentation, taking the judges through their favourite coffee, its tasting notes, origin, and what it means to them.

Next, a latte art throwdown, as each finalist went head to head steaming milk and presenting their own personal milk patterns, which saw Veronika from Italy master the seahorse, and Fiona from the UAE opt for a tulip to show off her trademark design.

Finally, onto the signature beverage round, where each contestant developed their very own, coffee-first Starbucks beverage. Fraser from the UK presented an Autumnal apple and cinnamon Frappuccino, Niko from Germany designed an intriguing mix of fruit and coffee with a perfectly paired Peach Sunset Cold Brew that offered just the right amount of sweetness, while Veronika from Italy introduced a fresh Citrus Cold Brew with lime for a pop of sourness, inspired by the Italian aperitivo.

A dairy-free, iced-forward take on Starbucks popular Cappuccino, Richard developed a beautifully textured Espresso Foam Cold Brew, turning the coffee into a light, airy but flavourful foam, topped on a base of slightly sweet soy milk.

A drink inspired by her Philippines heritage, current home in the UAE and with an Italian twist, Fiona created a cool, but spicy macchiato-based drink. Alex from France used coconut milk, strawberry acai, chai tea and a shot of espresso to create his Sun-Chai, while Victor from Spain made a white mocha-cased strawberry cream coffee using Blonde Roast, combining his favourite roast with his favourite Spanish dessert - fresas con crema.

Vendy's summer lemon cold brew creation was the perfect antidote to the current Ottobrata Romana, Julius from Austria based his own creation on traditional local cuisine, with a luxurious Viennese Iced Coffee, while champion Phuti chose a coconut biscuit cold brew, based on one of his favourite childhood memories.

After each finalist had presented their drinks, it was time for the judges to deliberate, and nominate their top three for 2022: Phuti from South Africa, Fiona from UAE, and Veronika from Italy. Minutes later, Duncan Moir opened the golden envelope to announce Starbucks EMEA's 2022 Barista Champion... South Africa's Phuti Mmotla.

And what better way to celebrate, than with the winning prize - a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Rwanda on Starbucks Origin Experience. Visiting the coffee farms, meeting our producers, learning about sustainability, and discovering how the beans are processed, bringing together those who grow coffee and those who sell, serve it

South Africa sweeps the 2022 Barista Championship title, as Phuti Mmotla takes the trophy - Starbucks Stories EMEA

South Africa sweeps the 2022 Barista Championship title, as Phuti Mmotla takes the trophy

As the warm midday heat envelops the roastery&nbsp;on a particularly sunny October day in Milan &#8211; Ottobrata, as the Italians call it &#8211; Milanese locals and Starbucks partners&nbsp;alike gathered in the city&#8217;s iconic Roastery for the EMEA Barista Championship Final 2022. The city that inspired Starbucks, ten finalists from stores all across Europe, the Middle […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/barista-championships-2022-milan-winner/

Over the past 51 years, Starbucks has been dedicated to coffee leadership and innovation – celebrating great coffee and the human connection that comes with it.

Each year, partners from over 4,000 stores across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) epitomise the Starbucks Experience at the annual EMEA Barista Championships.

Seeking to identify the leading barista talent, partners compete against each other in a months-long span of extensive coffee challenges to be crowned the 2022 Barista Champion. And where better to do so than at the heart of Starbucks coffee journey – the Starbucks® Reserve Roastery in Milan, the city that inspired the iconic Starbucks Experience and Starbucks first store in Italy.

Here, coffee heritage and innovation take centre stage against a backdrop of stunning design and immersive discovery, serving as a place where Italian customers can come to discover the art and science of coffee in a breath-taking environment that is both an homage to the city of Milan and a celebration of everything Starbucks has learned about coffee in its 51-year history.

Before heading to the Roastery for the first day of the finals, the champions took a quick city tour, stopping by the famous torino mosiac for a spin of good luck – legend has it that if you twist around on the spot of the dancing bull mosiac three times, it will bring you good fortune!

Next stop was none other than the Camparino Bar – a historic, authentically Milanese haunt, dripping in belle époque detail and complete with a carved wooden bar – where Howard Schultz had a coffee on the terrace during his first trip to Milan in 1983, and in that moment, had the idea of ​​opening his own coffee bars offering the very same quality and friendliness he had experienced in Italy.

Here, our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/starbucks-names-its-top-baristas-who-are-heading-to-milan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ten finalists</a> showed the bar's team their impressive coffee craft skills on the espresso machine, before trying their hand at making a classic Campari spritz.

And then it was on to the Roastery itself, a 25,000 square-foot space which offers customers unprecedented visibility to all aspects of the craft and science of Starbucks coffee, as well as acting as a complete innovation centre for developing the coffee beverages of tomorrow.

Each of the finalists names were up in lights, Roastery-style, on the store's stock exchange-inspired clacker board, designed as a reference to the building's previous function when it was used by the Italian Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana.

The inspiration for the Roastery’s design focuses on the intersection of this heritage and innovation, presenting a fully transparent, 360-degree look into the roasting and manufacturing process, where guests can walk around the entirety of the equipment, from the roaster to the cooling tray, de-gassing chamber and packing line, before seeing the finished beans packaged up for distribution all across Europe.

Expanding Starbucks Third Place even further out of the physical space and into the digital world is an floor-to-ceiling bronze crafted wall, that customers can scan for an interactive, augmented reality experience. Visually representing Starbucks history and its coffee, the wall itself was engraved in brass by local craftsmen, and emphasises the community connection that Starbucks has always created.

For two days, the ten finalists from Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Ireland, South Africa, Austria, Germany, UAE and the UK have been battling it out in the Roastery in a series of different competition rounds. And the wait is almost over...

Behind the scenes at the Milan Roastery for the 2022 Barista Championships - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Behind the scenes at the Milan Roastery for the 2022 Barista Championships

Over the past 51 years, Starbucks has been dedicated to coffee leadership and innovation – celebrating great coffee and the human connection that comes with it. Each year, partners from over 4,000 stores across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) epitomise the Starbucks Experience at the annual EMEA Barista Championships. Seeking to identify the […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/behind-the-scenes-at-the-milan-roastery-for-the-2022-barista-championships/

One of London, England’s most iconic landmarks, Battersea Power Station, will open its doors for the first time in almost 40 years on Friday, after a huge redevelopment project. With Starbucks taking pride of place in the next era of its history with our new store inside the distinctive building.

Battersea Power Station itself was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, one of the most prominent architects of the day (and also responsible for Britain’s red telephone boxes), with the Starbucks store taking inspiration from the Art Deco elements and industrial legacy of the building. The concept is intended as a modern and refined evolution of this idea, leaning on the industrial aesthetic which is visible through the raw shell of our unit.

Looking to the industrial elements within for inspiration, alongside the mechanical accents coffee remains at the core of the store design. We intentionally honed into our coffee legacy and the human connection which remains central to our brand with an illuminated, sweeping overhead canopy, a roasting curve feature that reflects our bean-to-cup journey and highlights the theatre of our coffee bar.

Putting focus on the equipment, romanticising the machinery and mechanical elements, the store, located proudly at the grand entrance of Turbine A is a showcase of Starbucks coffee story, steeped in history.

New Art Deco-style Starbucks store opens in London's iconic Battersea Power Station - Starbucks Stories EMEA

New Art Deco-style Starbucks store opens in London&#8217;s iconic Battersea Power Station

One of London, England’s most iconic landmarks, Battersea Power Station, will open its doors for the first time in almost 40 years on Friday, after a huge redevelopment project. With Starbucks taking pride of place in the next era of its history with our new store inside the distinctive building. Battersea Power Station itself was […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/battersea-power-station-store-opening/

New Art Deco-style Starbucks store opens in London’s iconic Battersea Power Station

With twenty stores across Northern and Central Italy, Starbucks is committed to embracing Italian culture and coffee heritage. Italy is the country that brought espresso to the world and inspired the concept for what Starbucks has become today.

The first Starbucks store opens in the heart of Verona, in partnership with its strategic Italian licensee partner Percassi. This will be Starbucks 20th store in Italy, part of a broader expansion plan to bring the Starbucks Experience to all Italian customers. Since entering the market in 2018 with the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano, Starbucks has strived to be a company that values its partners (employees), customers and coffee.

Located at Galleria Palliccia near Piazza delle Erbe, the store covers an area of more than 400 square meters with 90 seats and a 70 square meter outdoor décor with 40 seats. The store's interior has a contemporary design, whilst maintaining the building's original architectural and decorative features.

"We are excited to bring the unique Starbucks Experience to Verona for the first time given this reaffirms our long-term commitment to continued growth in Italy,” said, Vincenzo Catrambone, General Manager of Starbucks Italy. “We look forward to welcoming the local community to try a handcrafted cup of Starbucks Caffé Verona® and relax with the comfortable seating."

Customers in Verona, Italy will have the opportunity to taste Starbucks handcrafted hot and cold beverages, including the iconic Frappuccino® Blended Beverage, which can also be customised using various dairy alternatives. The food offerings are designed to satisfy the Italian palate with menus that are updated every three months according to the season: breakfasts in the morning with traditional Italian baked goods and indulging sweets from the American tradition, and at lunch will serve tasty sandwiches, including vegetarian options, such as grilled soy shreds, as well as toasts, savoury croissants, and sandwiches.

“Exactly a year ago, we announced that we were opening 26 new Starbucks stores by the end of 2023; and with this September marking Starbucks fourth anniversary in the market, we have even more exciting plans for further new city entries across Italy coming soon,” said Catrambone. “As the Starbucks store portfolio grows, we're also evolving the formats and locations of new stores so that we bring the best of the Starbucks experience to our Italian customers to meet their needs and taste preferences.”

Verona was one of three Italian cities, including Milan and Rome, where Howard Schultz, Starbucks founder and interim chief executive officer, became first acquainted with Italian coffee culture in 1983. His intuition to bring the tradition of Italian coffee shops to the United States contributed to a worldwide expansion of the global coffee business.

Customers globally can celebrate with a cup of Starbucks® Caffé Verona®, a long-time fan favorite created as a dessert coffee, and honoring its romantic and ornate namesake city. As with all Starbucks coffee, the blend contains 100% arabica coffee and is responsibly sourced – according to <a href="https://www.starbucks.co.uk/responsibility/ethicalsourcing/ourcoffee">Starbucks C.A.F.E. Practices</a>.

First Starbucks store opens in Verona, three decades after founder Howard Schultz was first inspired by the city - Starbucks Stories EMEA

First Starbucks store opens in Verona, three decades after founder Howard Schultz was first inspired by the city

With twenty stores across Northern and Central Italy, Starbucks is committed to embracing Italian culture and coffee heritage. Italy is the country that brought espresso to the world and inspired the concept for what Starbucks has become today. The first Starbucks store opens in the heart of Verona, in partnership with its strategic Italian licensee […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/verona-store-opening/

Looking for the perfect escape with the best coffee spot? From a vibrant store within touching distance of a historic cathedral to Starbucks first all-female run store in the Middle East, here are the most unique stores to visit in EMEA this summer that offer the ultimate wanderlust for coffee lovers.

In the south of the Iberian Peninsula, you will find the city of Cordoba – known for its unique Moorish architecture. Starbucks opened its second store in Cordoba, located in front of the Mezquita Cathedral – one of Spain’s major historic monuments and tourist attractions, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior of the store is reminiscent of the traditional architecture of the city. You will also find a beautiful wall mural of the iconic Starbucks Siren, created by a local graffiti artist called Sake Leneka.

Bloemfontein, South Africa

Mimosa Mall in Bloemfontein is now home to the first store in the capital state region of South Africa, the nation’s seventh-largest city. Visitors to the landmark store in Bloem (as it is more affectionately known by locals) can expect comfort and efficiency as they discover the Starbucks warm welcome and connect with green apron partners (employees). The new store’s design and third place serves as a home away from home, including exotic woods, warm whites, and fresh greenery.&nbsp;

Coast Road, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Located in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom, this is the first-ever all-female-operated Starbucks Drive-Thru store in Saudi Arabia. The trailblazing women behind the store are true coffee experts, ready to hand-craft your perfect beverage on the go. This store forms part of Starbucks KSA’s ongoing commitment to creating more work opportunities for Saudi women in line with the Kingdom’s 2030 vision.

Taking another spin of the globe you’ll reach the first Starbucks store in Tyrol in the city centre of Innsbruck, west of Austria. An iconic and beautiful store, it sits in the centre of town, close to the “Golden Roof”, a famous gold balcony from the 1500s considered the landmark of Innsbruck.

Now heading towards the Mediterranean, Erbusco in the beautiful northern Lombardia region is home to the first-ever Drive-Thru in Italy. Here you will find a sustainable-friendly store that sources 100% of its energy from certified renewable sources and it also embraces Italian culture in both the design and food offering.

Home to Renaissance art and architecture, sticking with Italy, head to this stunning store located within a shopping mall on the outskirts of Florence, the first Starbucks to open in picturesque Tuscany. Make sure you stop by for an espresso or treat yourself to a Frappuccino blended beverage.

Next to Istiklal Avenue in the heart of Istanbul and you’ll find this unique store complete from floor to ceiling with historic architecture and innovative finishes. To complete the bespoke&nbsp;Starbucks Experience, the store serves a range of traditional Turkish coffee alongside our handcrafted iconic Starbucks beverages – all made with the world’s highest quality of Arabica.

Prague Castle, Czech Republic

Live out your own fairytale romance at one of the largest ancient castles in the world. You can step back in time at Prague Castle while enjoying a handcrafted Starbucks beverage overlooking the beautiful panorama of the city, which some say offers the best views of Prague.

Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, France

Located near the beautiful Opéra Garnier in the heart of Paris, the Starbucks along the Boulevard des Capucines is housed in a structure that dates back more than three centuries. You’ll be mesmerised by the dramatic 19th-century ceiling murals and admire the elegant chandeliers while sipping a handcrafted beverage in one of the most enviable locations in Paris.

Bluewaters Reserve Store, Dubai, UAE

Situated at the heart of Dubai’s newest island, Bluewaters Reserve Bar marks Starbucks 1000th store in the Middle East. It sits within the bustling entertainment hub at the base of Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel. You can enjoy a Starbucks beverage and admire the hues of blue and green design that draws inspiration from the meeting of the land and sea, the rich tones of the Persian Gulf and our very own Siren.

Best Starbucks stores to visit in EMEA - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Looking for the perfect escape with the best coffee spot? From a vibrant store within touching distance of a historic cathedral to Starbucks first all-female run store in the Middle East, here are the most unique stores to visit in EMEA this summer that offer the ultimate wanderlust for coffee lovers. Cordoba, Spain In the […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/best-stores-to-visit-in-emea/

Best Starbucks stores to visit in EMEA

“I’m forever grateful to Starbucks – I’m not just 'a partner', I’m part of the family”

Starbucks has a long history of supporting equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity in its workforce as part of its founding mission and values. This World Refugee Day, we invited a store partner, Asma, to share her journey and some of the challenges that she went through.

Originally from Iran, Asma moved to the U.K. six years ago on her own in search of a better life, knowing she had to start again from nothing: “I left everything behind – my family, my friends, everything”.

Some of her biggest fears when she landed in the U.K. were learning English, fitting in, and adapting to a new culture. “I can communicate easily when I speak to people who know me, however I struggled a lot and even get scared when they don’t know me”. It was when she started working at Starbucks and interacting with customers and partners every day that she became more confident and overcame some of these fears.

“I didn’t learn the language really by going to college or university, I learnt it here, at work in Starbucks – through everyday conversations with customers”.

Asma, who is now a four-year partner, joined Starbucks through Ashley Community Housing, an award-winning specialist housing and training provider for refugees, BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and migrant individuals – within a week she got the job in a kiosk store in the Bullring, Birmingham. When asked about her greatest Starbucks achievement so far, Asma said: “becoming a Black Apron partner”, meaning she is a certified Coffee Master, responsible for championing quality coffee and brewing techniques in her store.

While working as a barista, Asma is also currently studying Pharmacology at university. She will be entering her final year this September, after which she plans to do a PhD: “I’m forever grateful to Starbucks – I’m not just ‘a partner’, I’m part of the family”.

For over 50 years, Starbucks has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2019/starbucks-pride-a-long-legacy-of-lgbtq-inclusion/">values-led company</a>&nbsp;striving to create a warm and welcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/use-of-the-third-place-policy/">Third Place</a>&nbsp;for all who visit our stores.

We work to bring our mission to life by creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture and offering equal and meaningful opportunities to all, no matter who you are or where you come from.

Our industry leading refugee hiring programme, now active in 12 markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa,&nbsp;is one of the ways we bring our people-positive aspirations to life.

Working in partnership with a number of NGO partners such as The Refugee Council, Starbucks has now placed over 750 refugees into permanent roles in the business around Europe.

Meet your Barista, Asma - Starbucks Stories EMEA

“I’m forever grateful to Starbucks – I’m not just &#8216;a partner&#8217;, I’m part of the family” Starbucks has a long history of supporting equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity in its workforce as part of its founding mission and values. This World Refugee Day, we invited a store partner, Asma, to share her journey and some […]

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