Starbucks has a new accessible store design. Look inside

“Design for people with disabilities is good design for everyone,” said Sarah Trilling, president of Starbucks North America.

She said it took about two years to design a more accessible cafe, and the company solicited input from Starbucks baristas.

Union Market Cafe has power-operated doors so customers can use minimal effort to enter the cafe. Once inside, they can place their orders with baristas using the new point-of-sale system, which features adjustable angle positioning, voice assistance, screen magnification and photos of menu items.

“Imagine someone who doesn't speak English as a first language, trying to make sure you get it. [the order] Perfect and provide excellent service. Some visual cues give you an opportunity to make those confirmations,” Trilling said.

Counters are also low, making them accessible to wheelchair users, for example.

Behind the counter, Starbucks' new Clover Vertica system features a more accessible design for brewing drip coffee, with a large dial and brewing buttons.

“You can actually feel the settings by using touch or light to indicate when cycles and other things are done,” Drilling said.

Digital status boards let customers know when their drinks are ready, except when baristas call out their names.

Starbucks changed store lighting to reduce glare, shadows and backlighting, which can make it more difficult to see. Insulation has been improved so the shops are not as noisy.

And Starbucks has designed the store's overall floor plan to be unobstructed and have open views.

All future company-owned locations will follow this same structure. Starbucks plans to open more than 600 new stores this year, increasing its U.S. footprint by 4%, including franchise locations.

According to Trilling, creating accessible stores would not be materially more expensive than using current designs.

“I think it's going to help us in terms of customer engagement. It's going to help us in terms of employee engagement,” he said.