Starbucks to make Italian debut with upscale Roastery cafe

Milan

STARBUCKS Corp, setting up shop in Italy for the first time, will open a Roastery location in Milan next year, turning to its upscale brand to gain a foothold in the country that birthed espresso.

The 25,500 square foot (2,370 square metre) retail space will open in a historic post office in the city's centre in late 2018, about a year later than Starbucks had planned to enter the Italian market. The store will feature small-batch coffees as well as products from Italian baker Rocco Princi, the exclusive food provider for new Roasteries globally. It will also serve alcohol.