% Arabica facts for kids
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| Ltd. | |
| Industry | Coffee industry |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Kenneth Shoji |
| Headquarters | |
% Arabica, also known as % ΔRΔBICΔ, is a famous international coffee shop chain from Kyoto, Japan. It's known for its special coffee and cool, simple store designs.
The main office and most important store for % Arabica are in Kyoto. The very first % Arabica coffee shop opened in Hong Kong in 2013. Today, there are over 130 % Arabica locations all around the world!
How % Arabica Started
The person who started % Arabica is Kenneth Shoji. After a big earthquake in Japan in 2011, he moved to Hong Kong. He really loved coffee and decided he wanted to start his own coffee business.
To learn more about coffee, he even bought a coffee farm in Hawaii! In 2013, Kenneth opened the first % Arabica coffee shop in Hong Kong. A year later, in 2014, the main store for the whole company opened in Kyoto, Japan. This store is in a historic part of Kyoto called Higashiyama.
% Arabica has become very popular. A website called Eater even called it "Japan's cult-favorite hit coffee shop." In 2022, % Arabica won an award at The London Coffee Festival for being the "Most Notable New Cafe" in the UK.
The company is also known for using special espresso machines. These machines are custom-made in Seattle. They help the baristas (the people who make coffee) have more control when they create delicious drinks.
Cool Coffee Shop Design
% Arabica coffee shops have a very clean and simple look. This style fits with Japanese design ideas, which focus on simple beauty. Each store also adds special design touches that are inspired by the country it's in.
Kenneth Shoji has worked with many talented architects and design studios. Some of these include B.L.U.E. Architecture, Ciguë, Nendo, Precht, and Puddle. They help make each % Arabica store unique and beautiful.
Growing Around the World
As of October 2023, % Arabica has 163 stores across the globe! You can find their coffee shops in many countries. These include the United States, Canada, China, United Kingdom, Japan, France, and many more.
China has the most % Arabica stores, with 70 locations. In June 2020, % Arabica opened a large store in Bangkok, Thailand. This store quickly became one of the most popular coffee spots in the city.
The first % Arabica cafe in the U.S. opened in Dumbo, Brooklyn, on June 11, 2021. Most % Arabica stores are run by other companies as franchises. However, the three stores in Kyoto are managed directly by % Arabica itself.
In August 2022, % Arabica opened its first store in Taiwan. It also opened its first store in Bali, Indonesia. The Bali store was the first to stop using plastic cups. This is a new goal for all % Arabica stores in the future! Soon after, in September 2022, the first store in South Korea opened in Seoul. This store was the 125th % Arabica location worldwide.
Gallery
- % Arabica Store Locations
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% Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama
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% Arabica Kyoto Higashiyama
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% Arabica New York Dumbo Roastery.
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% Arabica Wuxi Central 66.
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% Arabica London Covent Garden.
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% Arabica Shanghai West Jianguo Road.
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% Arabica Kyoto Parasophia.
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% Arabica Kuwait Roastery.
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% Arabica Beijing The New Mall.
See also
- List of coffeehouse chains
