An homage to coffee: a one of a kind coffee shrine. The Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room selects small batches of exceptional coffee, roasts them on site, and lovingly serves up drinks or coffee beans to adoring fans. We learned that roasters have to take a lot into consideration when roasting beans – everything from density to the altitude where the coffee was grown to the ambient temperature and humidity of the roasting facility. We have it on good authority that Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, stops here several times a week on his way to or from work for a doppio macchiatto (that’s a double shot of espresso marked with cream).
Along for this day of fun were some of my favorite gals! My mom, Bev, (Starbucks shareholder since 1992), daughter Sarah, sister Kathy, nieces Jessica, Megan and Alex, and good friends Kathy and Kathy, Jennifer and daughter Jilly, Cynthia and Tanya. A fun, well caffeinated day!
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- The coffee klatch! This group of women, who drink lattes, tea and frappuccinos, were happily sipping single source BLACK coffee. Smooth as silk!
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- Busy baristas pulling drinks from freshly roasted beans, delivered by pneumatic copper tubes overhead.
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- A truly heavenly single source latte.
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- Even the loo is amazing. It’s unisex, and the sinks overlook the coffee bean drying area.
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- About once an hour, the sign changes to reflect the beans currently being roasted to perfection.
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- Inside the coffee library, we had a look at the Willy Wonka-like coffee production.
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- The roastery centerpiece is this two story copper shell that surrounds ten coffee silos. The seemingly random punch holes represent a map of the world.
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- Green coffee beans are dumped into the hopper for sorting. They expand in the process of roasting, but end up lighter due to loss of moisture.
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- Roasters must keep the beans moving at all times!
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- This is where science meets art.
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- The beans on the right are darker because they were roasted earlier and have released their oils.
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- There are foods here that you won’t find at any other Starbucks.
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- Need I say more?
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- Lunch was at Serious Pie, on site at the roastery. Chive blossom, sweet potato and arugula pizza with goat cheese? Yuppizza, please!
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