Blue Bottle Coffee is proud to announce the opening of its first café in Southeast Asia, located at LUMINE SINGAPORE in Raffles City Singapore, in early 2025, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s expansion. From its beginnings as a small coffee cart in Oakland, California, to becoming one of the most recognised names in specialty coffee worldwide, this highly anticipated café represents the next chapter in Blue Bottle Coffee’s global journey.
Following its initial entry into Singapore in August 2024 with the launch of a retail store and exhibition at LUMINE SINGAPORE’s global flagship store in Raffles City, this opening brings the full Blue Bottle experience to the city for the first time. The unveiling of its first café represents the brand’s next step in deepening its connection with Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region, where guests will be able to enjoy signature coffee in an inviting space designed to reflect the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship, hospitality, and community.
A Space for Coffee Lovers
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Designed as a destination for coffee lovers, the new café embodies the essence of Blue Bottle Coffee’s meticulous approach to specialty coffee, with each cup being brewed with precision to allow the delicate flavours of its single-origin beans to shine. Alongside its signature coffee, guests can enjoy a seasonally curated espresso menu, with beans sourced and roasted with the same level of care that has defined Blue Bottle’s reputation worldwide.
From its humble beginnings in 2002 as a small coffee cart in Oakland, California, Blue Bottle Coffee has grown into one of the world’s most respected specialty coffee brands. What started as founder James Freeman’s personal passion for fresh, high-quality coffee has evolved into a global movement, with the brand being a pioneer and major player in coffee culture through its meticulous approach to sourcing, roasting, and brewing.
Over the past two decades, Blue Bottle Coffee has expanded its presence across the United States, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, and now Singapore, with each new market reinforcing its commitment to craftsmanship. Since 2017, the brand has continued its international growth with the support of Nestlé, maintaining its dedication to small-batch roasting, precision brewing, and direct farmer relationships while reaching new audiences worldwide.
“The opening of our first Blue Bottle café in Southeast Asia is an incredibly exciting milestone, and we are thrilled to do it in Singapore with LUMINE,” said Kester Whitaker, Chief Growth Officer & Head of Asia at Blue Bottle Coffee. “Our partnership with LUMINE has deep roots in Japan, which was the first country we expanded to outside the United States. Nearly a decade later, we are taking another meaningful step by bringing the full Blue Bottle experience to Singapore, a city with a rich café culture, deep appreciation for craftsmanship, and a key gateway into Southeast Asia’s vibrant and fast-growing specialty coffee scene.”
“Our longstanding partnership with LUMINE, built on shared values of craftsmanship, hospitality, and community, makes this launch even more special. I look forward to strengthening our collaboration and deepening our shared connection with this café,” added Whitaker.
A Longstanding Partnership with LUMINE
Blue Bottle Coffee’s expansion into Singapore is made possible through its deep-rooted collaboration with LUMINE, a leading name in Japan’s retail and lifestyle scene. The two brands have shared a long history, with several Blue Bottle Coffee cafes located within LUMINE-operated shopping centres in Japan. Their partnership continues to strengthen, with Blue Bottle Coffee set to open as a key tenant at NEWoMan TAKANAWA, LUMINE’s latest shopping destination in Tokyo, in March 2025.
Artist’s renderings of the storefront at Blue Bottle Coffee’s first Southeast Asian outlet
at LUMINE Singapore in Raffles City Singapore
“We are truly delighted to welcome Blue Bottle Coffee’s first Southeast Asian café to LUMINE SINGAPORE. Our partnership is built on a deep connection rooted in Japanese kissaten culture, craftsmanship, and the spirit of hospitality,” said Teruyuki Omote, President and Chief Executive Officer of LUMINE Co., Ltd. “Since Blue Bottle first expanded internationally to Japan nearly a decade ago, we have shared a vision of bringing its thoughtfully crafted coffee experiences to new audiences, making it especially meaningful to take this next step together in Singapore, home to a vibrant café culture and a growing appreciation for specialty coffee.”
“At LUMINE, our vision is ‘Global & Sustainable,’ and we are actively expanding our international presence by introducing new lifestyle concepts that blend Japan’s unique sensibilities with local communities. I am excited to see the impact that Blue Bottle Coffee’s opening will have in Singapore, and how it will bring fresh value to the city’s dynamic café culture.”