{
  "id": 3189233,
  "title": "American premium coffee chain with over 140 outlets worldwide makes Thailand debut",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/american-premium-coffee-chain-with-over-140-outlets-worldwide-makes",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-25T04:10:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress Business",
    "slug": "vnexpress-business",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/american-premium-coffee-chain-with-over-140-outlets-worldwide-makes-thailand-debut-5113021.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "American coffee chain Blue Bottle, known for its premium coffee shops, made its debut in Thailand this week. The first location opened in Central Park, followed by a larger flagship store at EmQuartier, both in Bangkok's bustling Silom-Rama IV and Sukhumvit areas. This marks Blue Bottle's seventh country presence, joining the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore.\n\nThailand's specialty coffee market, valued at approximately $917 million, is projected to grow by 10-15% annually, according to the Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand. Blue Bottle's Thai stores, such as the one in Central Park, feature a full-format, five-head Kyoto Style Espresso Tap Bar, a rarity in Southeast Asia. The EmQuartier location operates as Blue Bottle's first full-experience flagship in the country, offering over 200 square meters of space and 80 seats, complete with pour-over coffee, hot and cold beverages, merchandise, and exclusive products.\n\nFounded by former musician James Freeman in 2002, Blue Bottle initially sold beans from a cart at the Old Oakland Farmers Market. The company's identity is built around fresh coffee, bean selection, roasting dates, brewing methods, and extraction. Pour-over coffee plays a central role in this model. Today, Blue Bottle operates over 140 outlets worldwide, with its international expansion recently marked by a change of ownership. Nestlé acquired a 68% stake in the company in 2017 and is set to sell it to Centurium Capital, a Chinese private-equity firm, for less than $400 million.",
  "summary": "Blue Bottle Coffee has entered Thailand’s specialty coffee market with two Bangkok cafés opening three days apart, combining its global craft-focused format with products developed for Thai consumers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}