Starbucks' Empire State Building Coffee Service Explained

If you’ve ever worked in a massive office tower, you’ve probably wished for a Starbucks on every floor. But installing a full coffee shop on every level of a skyscraper like the Empire State Building isn’t just impractical—it’s impossible. So what’s the solution when hundreds of floors of caffeine-craving professionals need their fix?

The answer: Starbucks built a single coffee production kitchen inside the Empire State Building and used Postmates to deliver drinks throughout the building—all within 30 minutes. No, there isn’t a Starbucks on every floor, but you can still get your coffee fast, with your rewards intact.

What Was the ‘Grenade Apron’ Coffee Service?

Launched as an internal coffee delivery initiative, “Grenade Apron” was Starbucks’ way of bringing its full coffee operation into a high-demand office environment—in this case, the Empire State Building. But it wasn’t a traditional café. Instead, Starbucks installed a dedicated coffee-making facility exclusively for the building’s occupants.

This kitchen brewed drinks to order, but it didn’t serve walk-in customers or take external orders. All beverages were made on-site and dispatched via Postmates, ensuring quick delivery to any floor.

How Did the Service Work?

Employees or visitors in the Empire State Building could place an order through a dedicated web portal. They simply specified where they wanted their coffee delivered. Once the order was received, it was prepared in the on-site coffee kitchen and then handed off to Postmates for final delivery.

Starbucks guaranteed that the entire process—from order to delivery—would take no more than 30 minutes. That’s faster than a typical office coffee run and competitive with many third-party delivery services.

Did It Integrate with Starbucks Rewards?

Yes. One of the key advantages of Grenade Apron over generic courier services was that customers could use their Starbucks Rewards cards and earn points just as they would in a regular store. This seamless integration helped maintain the full Starbucks experience without the usual friction found in third-party delivery setups.

Was This Starbucks’ First Attempt at In-Building Coffee?

No. Before launching Grenade Apron in the Empire State Building, Starbucks had already experimented with delivering coffee in other unique settings. Earlier in the same year, the company partnered with Postmates to test a delivery service in Seattle. That trial laid the groundwork for more ambitious efforts like the Empire State project.

Beyond that, Starbucks had also tried other formats to meet growing demand for mobile and on-demand coffee. These included mobile coffee trucks, pop-up coffee express stations, and even coffee kitchens installed on trains. Each format was designed to solve different logistical challenges and reach customers in non-traditional spaces.

Why Set Up a Kitchen Inside a Building?

Installing a coffee production unit inside a high-rise like the Empire State Building allowed Starbucks to serve a dense population of coffee drinkers efficiently. Rather than relying on multiple external deliveries or expecting workers to leave the building, the in-house model centralized production and streamlined distribution using a trusted delivery partner.

This approach also reduced wait times, minimized errors associated with third-party handling, and ensured that drinks were fresher and served hotter—key factors in coffee satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the “Grenade Apron” coffee program?

Grenade Apron was an internal coffee delivery service created by Starbucks for the Empire State Building. It involved setting up a dedicated coffee kitchen inside the building to prepare drinks exclusively for its occupants, which were then delivered by Postmates within 30 minutes.

Did the Empire State Building have a Starbucks on every floor?

No, the Empire State Building did not have a Starbucks on every floor. Instead, Starbucks installed a single coffee production facility inside the building and used Postmates to deliver drinks to all floors within 30 minutes.

How did the coffee delivery service ensure fast delivery?

The service guaranteed delivery within 30 minutes by preparing drinks in a dedicated on-site coffee kitchen and using Postmates for the final leg of the delivery to any floor in the building.

Could you use your Starbucks Rewards card with this service?

Yes, customers could use their Starbucks Rewards cards and earn points through the Grenade Apron service, just like in a normal Starbucks store, ensuring a seamless rewards experience.

Was this the first time Starbucks tried delivering coffee in offices?

No, before the Empire State Building, Starbucks had already tested coffee delivery with Postmates in Seattle earlier that year, and had also experimented with mobile coffee trucks, pop-ups, and even train-based coffee services.

Why didn’t Starbucks just put a Starbucks café on every floor?

Putting a full Starbucks café on every floor of a building like the Empire State Building is impractical and costly. Instead, a single centralized coffee kitchen with delivery solved the same problem more efficiently.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Office Coffee

For office coffee lovers inspired by Starbucks' Empire State Building service, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for a bright, juicy profile with bergamot and stone fruit; their Yirgacheffe offers floral notes with citrus and honey; or the PWN Golden Mandheling for a classic balanced cup with almond and soft spice. All three are excellent brewed hot or over ice, and perfect for a midday pick-me-up. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.