Inside Starbucks Cambodia flagship

Starbucks Cambodia has opened a new flagship store in Phnom Penh, in partnership with regional partner Maxim’s Group of Hong Kong.

Cambodia is Starbucks 16th market in the China/Asia Pacific region, where it has more than 6200 stores. This is the third store in the country. Last month, Starbucks celebrated 20 years since the opening of its first store outside North America – in Japan.

The Starbucks Cambodia Phnom Penh flagship, in the Boeung Keng Kang neighbourhood, will introduce Starbucks Reserve coffees to Cambodia, says Starbucks Asia Pacific president Mark Ring. An interactive coffee bar will allow customers to experience a range of brewing techniques including siphon, cold brew, pour-over, coffee press and espresso machine.

Inspired by Starbucks’ 45-year history, the flagship store features not only the brand’s core menu but also rare, small-lot coffees. For the store opening, baristas handcrafted two small-lot Starbucks Reserve coffees, Colombia La Union 16 and Papua New Guinea Luoka. Over time, the store will showcase a variety of coffees from small-lot coffee farmers in various countries. All Starbucks Reserve coffee is roasted in Seattle.

Through its licensed partner Coffee Concepts (Cambodia), a subsidiary of Hong Kong Maxim’s Group, Starbucks entered the Cambodian market in December 2015. It has two stores at Aeon Mall and Phnom Penh International Airport.

It latest store covers 650 sqm over two levels and features local craftsmanship as well as iconic global images, including a hand-carved Cambodian sandstone siren, an illustration of Starbucks first store on a textured rattan canvas, a coffee landscape tapestry made of fabric woven on a rattan frame, and a metal sculpture over the bar.

The centerpiece is a hand-painted mural over the stairs to the second floor, illustrating the Cambodian folklore of Sovann Maccha, the siren princess with a tail that is transformed into two Naga dragons.

Starbucks is working with Cambodian Children’s Fund, a non-government organisation that works with children in one of the most underserved areas of Phnom Penh.