History of Starbucks Reserve in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 20, 2025

Starbucks Reserve is a program by Starbucks featuring rare, high-quality, single-origin coffees. The program includes five operating roasteries and 28 coffee bars dedicated to preparing Reserve products. Select Reserve coffees are also available in approximately 1,500 traditional Starbucks locations, expanding the reach of these premium offerings to a wider customer base.

1983: Howard Schultz's visit to Milan

In 1983, Howard Schultz visited Milan, which inspired him to add espresso drinks to Starbucks, develop cafés, and create the coffeehouse chain out of the single original location.

2010: Starbucks Reserve program begins

In 2010, Starbucks initiated its Starbucks Reserve program. This involved selling small-batch arabica coffees through online platforms and a select number of retail stores.

December 2014: First Starbucks Reserve roastery opened in Seattle

In December 2014, Starbucks opened its inaugural Reserve roastery in Seattle, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion of its premium coffee experience.

December 2017: Shanghai roastery opened

In December 2017, the Shanghai roastery opened as the largest Starbucks location in the world at the time. The Shanghai roastery is located in the HKRI Taikoo Hui mixed-use development.

2017: Shanghai roastery opened

In 2017, Starbucks opened a roastery in Shanghai, China, adding to the company's growing number of roastery locations.

September 7, 2018: Milan roastery opened

On September 7, 2018, the Milan roastery opened, marking the first Starbucks location in Italy and the first and only roastery in Europe. The Milan roastery is located in the Palazzo Broggi.

December 13, 2018: New York roastery opened

On December 13, 2018, the New York location opened in Manhattan's neighborhood of Chelsea. The location includes a coffee roastery, two coffee bars, a cocktail bar branded "Arriviamo Bar", and a bakery operated by Princi.

2018: Milan and New York City roasteries opened

In 2018, Starbucks expanded its Reserve roastery concept with the opening of locations in both Milan and New York City.

February 28, 2019: Tokyo roastery opened

On February 28, 2019, the Tokyo roastery opened in Tokyo's Nakameguro district. The interior has four floors, each including decorative elements of Japanese culture. The third-floor cocktail bar is branded a "Arriviamo Bar".

November 15, 2019: Chicago roastery opened

On November 15, 2019, the Chicago roastery opened as the largest Starbucks location in the world and the latest roastery to be built. The building at 646 North Michigan Avenue on the Magnificent Mile has five stories.

2019: Tokyo and Chicago roasteries opened; Scaling back of roastery plans

In 2019, Starbucks opened roasteries in Tokyo and Chicago. However, in the same year, the company announced it would be scaling back its plans to open at least 20 roasteries, with Chicago being the last roastery to be built at the moment.