I went to a 25,000-square-foot Starbucks Reserve in Italy and it was unlike any coffee shop I've seen before. Take a look inside.

Joey HaddenDec 3, 2022, 18:30 IST

The author went to a Starbucks Roastery Reserve for the first time during a recent trip to Milan, Italy.Joey Hadden/Insider

I went to the Starbucks Roastery Reserve in Milan, Italy. It was nothing like Starbucks in the US.
Unlike other Starbucks, the Reserve has a factory that roasts 2,200 pounds of coffee beans daily.

During a recent trip to Milan, Italy, I went to a Starbucks Roastery Reserve for the first time. I thought it was unlike any Starbucks I've visited.

The author visits the Starbucks Roastery Reserve in Milan.Joey Hadden/Insider

Unlike ordinary Starbucks locations, the Starbucks Roastery Reserve has a roasting plant inside where customers get an inside look at the coffee-making process.

Machines inside the store roast coffee beans.Joey Hadden/Insider

Interim CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, said that he was intrigued by Milan's espresso bars when he first visited the city in 1983.

The famous Italian 'Faema' espresso machine with Milan's cathedral in the background.David Lees/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

I visited Milan's Starbucks Roastery Reserve on a Friday at 10 a.m. It's located inside the historic Palazzo Delle Poste building at Cordusio square, in the heart of Milan.

The outside of the Starbucks Roastery Reserve in Milan.Joey Hadden/Insider

I visited Milan's Starbucks Roastery Reserve on a Friday at 10 a.m. It's located inside the historic Palazzo Delle Poste building at Cordusio square, in the heart of Milan.

To get to the entrance, I walked through a street-side terrace filled with outdoor seating for Starbucks customers.

Seating on the terrace.Joey Hadden/Insider

When I walked inside, I was overwhelmed by the stunning 25,000-square-foot space filled with coffee, bars, and merchandise.

A view of the store from the entrance.Joey Hadden/Insider

Behind the merchandise was a scooping bar, where customers can select a freshly-made batch of beans to take home.

The scooping bar inside the store.Joey Hadden/Insider

The Main Bar is also on the first floor. It has a wooden base and a heated Tuscan marble countertop.

The main bar.Joey Hadden/Insider

On the other side of the first floor, another bar serves pizza made in a wood-fired oven.

Pizza at the Reserve.Claudia Romeo and David Ibekwe/Insider

Also on the first floor near the main bar is the roasting area. The Scolari coffee roaster roasts an average of 2,200 pounds of beans per day, a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.

The Scolari coffee roaster in the roasting area.Joey Hadden/Insider

Also on the first floor near the main bar is the roasting area. The Scolari coffee roaster roasts an average of 2,200 pounds of beans per day, a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.

After roasting, the beans rest inside a 22-foot-tall brass cask, which occasionally unfolds and rotates to release gases inside the beans.

A view of the cask from the mezzanine.Joey Hadden/Insider

Once the beans are done resting, they're sent through copper pipes leading directly to the silos at three of the store's bars.

Coffee beans prepare to be sent to the silos.Joey Hadden/Insider

Upstairs on the mezzanine, the Arriviamo Bar serves more than 100 different cocktails on a heated, marble countertop.

The Arriviamo Bar (L) and a reserved table (R) on the mezzanine.Joey Hadden/Insider

After seeing the roastery and all three bars, I decided to go back to the main bar to get a taste of what makes this location so unique.

The line at the main bar.Joey Hadden/Insider

My partner and I ended up sharing four drinks and two pastries.

The menu at the Main Bar.Joey Hadden/Insider

A wide variety of freshly-bakes pastries lined the counter as well.

Pastries at the main bar.Joey Hadden/Insider

The main bar also has an affogato station, where gelato is made-to-order using liquid nitrogen and served inside coffee drinks.

Baristas make ice cream behind the bar.Claudia Romeo and David Ibekwe/Insider

To sample a variety of the Reserve's offerings, I ordered a flight of cold brew drinks, a cafe gelato shake, and two pastries: a cinnamon roll and a slice of black forest cake.

The author's order at the Reserve.Joey Hadden/Insider

To sample a variety of the Reserve's offerings, I ordered a flight of cold brew drinks, a cafe gelato shake, and two pastries: a cinnamon roll and a slice of black forest cake.

I thought all the drinks were good, but the cafe gelato shake had my heart.

The author enjoys two drinks from the main bar.Joey Hadden/Insider

I thought the pastries were top-notch, too. My favorite was the cinnamon roll.

The author's Starbucks order.Joey Hadden/Insider

Overall, I found the Starbucks Roastery Reserve to be so unique that I want to go back to try more menu items. Upon returning to my home in New York, I learned my city has reserves, too. So I'll definitely be visiting soon.

A cocktails to-go sign is seen outside the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in New York City.Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Overall, I found the Starbucks Roastery Reserve to be so unique that I want to go back to try more menu items. Upon returning to my home in New York, I learned my city has reserves, too. So I'll definitely be visiting soon.

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I went to a 25,000-square-foot Starbucks Reserve in Italy and it was unlike any coffee shop I've seen before. Take a look inside.

During a recent trip to Milan, Italy, I went to a Starbucks Roastery Reserve for the first time. I thought it was unlike any Starbucks I've visited.

Unlike ordinary Starbucks locations, the Starbucks Roastery Reserve has a roasting plant inside where customers get an inside look at the coffee-making process.

Interim CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, said that he was intrigued by Milan's espresso bars when he first visited the city in 1983.

I visited Milan's Starbucks Roastery Reserve on a Friday at 10 a.m. It's located inside the historic Palazzo Delle Poste building at Cordusio square, in the heart of Milan.

To get to the entrance, I walked through a street-side terrace filled with outdoor seating for Starbucks customers.

When I walked inside, I was overwhelmed by the stunning 25,000-square-foot space filled with coffee, bars, and merchandise.

Behind the merchandise was a scooping bar, where customers can select a freshly-made batch of beans to take home.

The Main Bar is also on the first floor. It has a wooden base and a heated Tuscan marble countertop.

On the other side of the first floor, another bar serves pizza made in a wood-fired oven.

Also on the first floor near the main bar is the roasting area. The Scolari coffee roaster roasts an average of 2,200 pounds of beans per day, a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.

After roasting, the beans rest inside a 22-foot-tall brass cask, which occasionally unfolds and rotates to release gases inside the beans.

Once the beans are done resting, they're sent through copper pipes leading directly to the silos at three of the store's bars.

Upstairs on the mezzanine, the Arriviamo Bar serves more than 100 different cocktails on a heated, marble countertop.

After seeing the roastery and all three bars, I decided to go back to the main bar to get a taste of what makes this location so unique.

My partner and I ended up sharing four drinks and two pastries.

A wide variety of freshly-bakes pastries lined the counter as well.

The main bar also has an affogato station, where gelato is made-to-order using liquid nitrogen and served inside coffee drinks.

To sample a variety of the Reserve's offerings, I ordered a flight of cold brew drinks, a cafe gelato shake, and two pastries: a cinnamon roll and a slice of black forest cake.

I thought all the drinks were good, but the cafe gelato shake had my heart.

I thought the pastries were top-notch, too. My favorite was the cinnamon roll.

Overall, I found the Starbucks Roastery Reserve to be so unique that I want to go back to try more menu items. Upon returning to my home in New York, I learned my city has reserves, too. So I'll definitely be visiting soon.