A coffee break in New York

In New York, it’s a common sight to see locals on subways and bustling streets, clutching steaming cups of American coffee. Coffee culture runs deep in this city, with a multitude of sophisticated coffee shops offering a diverse range of specialty brews. These include high-quality coffees meticulously traced back to a single plantation, as well as more unconventional blends where espresso is infused with the likes of chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and for true connoisseurs, topped with a luxurious combination of milk froth and whipped cream. One of the essential coffee destinations in New York is the Starbucks Reserve Bar at Brookfield Place, one of the city’s most iconic locations. Designed by WFC Architects together with Starbucks designers, Starbucks Brookfield Place is situated at 200 Liberty Street, within the expansive Brookfield Place complex. Overlooking the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan, Brookfield Place is a thriving hub teeming with office workers, shoppers and tourists. Consisting of five skyscrapers ranging in height from 80 to 225 metres, it is one of New York’s most iconic locations as well as a major financial centre, a city within a city populated by offices, shops, restaurants, plazas and gardens.

Similar to other Starbucks Reserve Bars worldwide, the Brookfield Place location offers an inviting space with an artisanal roasting area and an extended counter where patrons can savour the most exquisite coffee creations. Here, coffee is treated as an art form, and the coffee shop serves as a place of exploration and enlightenment, captivating customers with the intricate machinery and processes involved. Upon entering Starbucks Brookfield Place, visitors are immediately enveloped in the cosy and sophisticated ambience typical of these locations, where the interior design choices help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Notably, the Starbucks Brookfield Place project also has an Italian connection, featuring ceramic panels from Lea Ceramiche’s Delight collection. These large marble-effect surfaces were chosen in the elegant Calacatta Oro tone and a 6 mm thickness for use on the bar counter and walls. Inspired by some of the world’s most exquisite marble varieties, the Delight porcelain tile collection replicates the beauty of natural stone in terms of textures, colours and finishes while retaining the durability, hygiene and ease of maintenance inherent to ceramic materials. This makes it perfectly suited for applications within the food service industry. The outcome is a space that exudes a vibrant, contemporary ambience and delivers top-notch performance.