MILAN – California-based coffee chain Blue Bottle Coffee is launching its own vending machines in Japan. Dubbed the “Blue Bottle Coffee Quick Stand,” the vending machines will be placed in Shibuya and are a convenient way for coffee enthusiasts to get their coffee fix. Furthermore, an additional perk to the vending machines is that they will be seasonally updated — there will always be something new to try year-round for the Blue Bottle Coffee lover.
For August’s limited edition item, one of Blue Bottle Coffee’s most distinctive blends, Bella Donovan, consisting of beans from Ethiopia, Sumatra, and Peru, will be available for a brief period of time for 1,620 yen (US$15.29).
For those who want something to drink on the go, the vending machines will offer cans of cold brew coffee at 640 yen per can ($6). From left to right, there are three flavors: Bright, Bold, and Single Origin. The Single Origin flavor is a slight homage to Blue Bottle Coffee’s dedication to sourcing single-origin coffee beans, or beans that come from one farm and/or country.
Priced for the same amount of yen as the Bella Donovan blend, instant coffee sticks are also available for purchase through the vending machines. Each box of instant coffee contains five sticks.
The roaster’s Japan-based outpost announced the news on Instagram. Its aim is to make its offerings available to people at any hour of the day — amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The company partnered with Mitsui Fudosan Realty to make this possible. The vending machines will operate cashlessly and stock, beyond its signature coffees, fresh coffee beans roasted locally in Japan as well as other seasonal goods.
Those interested in walking up to the machine can look out for a large print of Blue Bottle’s logo emblazoned on one side, with “Blue Bottle Coffee” branding placed on the other, in the bustling neighborhood of Shibuya, Tokyo.
