Dezeen Magazine

Starbucks Espresso Journey by Nendo

This pop-up Starbucks coffee shop in Tokyo by Japanese design studio Nendo was designed like a library, where customers ordered drinks by taking books to the counter (+ slideshow).

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the curved interior walls of the shop and were filled with books with nine different coloured covers, to represent each of the drinks being served.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Customers were invited to read about different types of coffee from the cover sleeves of the otherwise empty books, before exchanging one at the counter for a corresponding drink.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

With their coffee, each customer was also given the sleeve to keep, which they could use to customise their own Starbucks takeaway flask.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

"The 'library' invites visitors to choose an espresso drink as they would a book, and verse themselves in espresso drinks as though quietly entering into a fictional world," says Nendo. "Books and coffee are both important parts of everyday life, so we created a link between favourite books and favourite coffees."

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

The shop was installed at the start of September in the Omotesando neighbourhood and was open for just three weeks.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Other Starbucks branches we've featured include one close to a Shinto shrine elsewhere in Japan and one inside a historic bank vault in the Netherlands.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

We've also published a few Nendo projects lately, including an installation of chairs during the London Design Festival and a woodland nesting box, as well as a collection of watches that we're now stocking at Dezeen Watch Store.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

See all our stories about Nendo »

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Photography is by Daici Ano, apart from where otherwise stated.

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Above: photograph is by Hiroshi Iwasaki

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Above: photograph is by Hiroshi Iwasaki

Starbucks Expresso Journey by Nendo

Above: photograph is by Hiroshi Iwasaki