This New Starbucks Drive Thru is Entirely 3D Printed

Starbucks has officially opened its first-ever 3D-printed store today in Brownsville, Texas. The new drive-thru-only café marks a major step in Starbucks’ efforts to modernize its construction approach, aiming to make store development faster and more cost-effective.

A New Way to Build

The Brownsville location was built using 3D-printing technology developed by German company Peri-3D. The 1,400-square-foot structure was created by layering a special concrete mixture through a large robotic printer. According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the project cost approximately $1.2 million.

While the cost is higher than the estimated $749,000 it typically takes to build a standard quick-serve restaurant of the same size, Starbucks sees this project as an investment in innovation. Builders and industry experts believe costs will decrease with experience, just as other large-scale 3D-printing projects have shown.

Although the new store’s structure looks different, Starbucks assures customers that their experience will remain familiar. The futuristic appearance of the building does not change the menu, the quality of service, or the coffee itself. Customers visiting the Brownsville location will still enjoy the same drive-thru service they expect, just in a store built with new technology.

Starbucks is Not The First

Starbucks is not the first to explore 3D-printing on this scale. In Georgetown, Texas, a community of 100 homes was constructed using similar technology. Lennar, the homebuilder behind the project, reported that 3D-printing reduced construction costs and timelines by up to 50%.

The decision to adopt new construction methods comes at a time when traditional building costs are rising sharply. A 2023 report from construction data firm Gordian revealed that more than 80% of building materials have seen price increases since 2020, with an average rise of 19%. With the additional pressure of new US tariffs and global supply issues, Starbucks and other companies are increasingly exploring new methods like 3D printing to manage costs.

According to the World Economic Forum, using 3D-printing technology can lower building costs by as much as 70%, primarily due to labor savings and faster construction timelines.