The Taj Starbucks combines brand heritage, elevated coffee experience (3rd place) and a design befitting of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace. The customer is immediately greeted by the barista bar flanked in Henna/Mehendi and backed by a rough skim coat of concrete and flanked by teak cabinets. This rough skim coat was the condition that the store was handed to us and perfect for maintaining the existing building rather than creating new. Local artifacts serve as vessels to house Indian grown and roasted coffee beans with a showcase on the slow coffee experience at the end of the bar. At the slow bar, customers learn about high quality Arabica coffees and enjoy them with a slower brewing method (French press/pour over). The arches surrounding the windows provide the perfect opportunity to create window seats giving each customer the feeling that they have checked into a luxury suite at the Taj complete with rich linen curtains and distressed leather with masala cushions pillows.
Taj Mahal Palace Starbucks - October 2012
