This Texas Town Is Home To The World’s First 3D-Printed Starbucks

Starbucks has over 40,199 stores worldwide, but only one 3D-printed one. The new Brownsville, Texas location is not only the coffee chain’s first 3D printed store, but it’s the first one in the U.S. Its recent opening, effectively established Starbucks as one of the few major retailers using 3D printing to construct commercial buildings. 

Brownsville has 190,000 residents and four traditional Starbucks locations. Unlike the others, the new location has ridged walls created by the 3D printing process, which squeezes liquid clay into stacked layers that form the structure. Starbucks is testing the potential applications of the technology, which if successful, would mean additional locations.

At the moment, 3D printing costs more than traditional building materials, but offers other benefits like saving time and reducing labor needs. It’s expected that the cost will gradually drop as more companies use it.

Starbucks’ 3D-printed store is located in Brownsville, Texas, at 2491 Boca Chica Boulevard and is available for drive-thru and mobile order pickup only.