Starbucks Announces Major Expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean on International Coffee Day
Over the next year, Starbucks will expand into six new cities, reach 1,000 stores in Mexico, and open its first art- and youth-focused community coffeehouse in Latin America and the Caribbean. Starbucks growth in Latin America is powered by innovation, sustainability, and community – shaping the future of coffee and connection across the region.
Seattle, WA,– In celebration of International Coffee Day, Starbucks Coffee Company today announced three major milestones shaping its next chapter in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). In the coming year, the company will enter six new cities, reach 1,000 stores in Mexico, and open a flagship community coffeehouse in El Salvador dedicated to supporting local youth and art education. In total, Starbucks expects to open 145 new coffeehouses across LAC over the next year, reinforcing its role as both a growth leader and a coffee heritage steward across the region.
“Latin America and the Caribbean is central to Starbucks story – not only as the origin of much of our coffee but also as one of our most dynamic retail growth regions,” said Ricardo Arias-Nath, svp and president, Starbucks Latin America and the Caribbean. “Our continued expansion reflects both our confidence in the region and our commitment to creating jobs, opportunities, and meaningful connections through coffee.”
Six New Cities and Regional Growth
Starbucks and its 10 licensed business partners in the region currently operate more than 1,800 stores across 26 LAC markets. With recent entries into Honduras, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Guyana, Starbucks continues to expand with a strategy rooted in steady growth, local partnerships, and community-driven experiences.
Over the next year, Starbucks expects to open 145 new coffeehouses, including entry into six new cities:
- Tegucigalpa, Honduras (operated by Premium Restaurants of America)
- Guayaquil, Ecuador (operated by Delosi)
- Las Flores and Mazatenango, Guatemala ( operated by Premium Restaurants of America)
- Puerto Varas, Chile ( operated by Alsea)
- Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (operated by Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited)
Furthermore, Mexico, Starbucks largest market in LAC and its seventh largest globally, is expected to surpass 1,000 stores next year. Starbucks entered Mexico in 2002 through its partnership with Alsea, and over two decades later, the market remains a cornerstone of the company’s regional growth strategy.
Growth with Purpose
Starbucks expansion in LAC goes beyond opening new stores. It reflects a broader strategy to build sustainable operations, create opportunities, give back to communities, and honor the region’s role as a coffee origin.
All new stores in LAC are developed under the Starbucks Greener Stores Framework, advancing the company’s global goals to reduce carbon emissions, water use, and landfill waste. Today, more than 400 Greener Stores have been certified across 25 markets in LAC, making the region a leader in sustainable retail design.
Later this year, the company will also open Starbucks Casa Bou in San Salvador’s historic center. Developed with Premium Restaurants of America and unveiled to celebrate Starbucks 15th anniversary in El Salvador, the store reimagines a heritage building on Rubén Darío Street through adaptive reuse, transforming it into a hub for youth empowerment through art, education, and career development. Featuring original works by Salvadoran artists and offering local youth programs for creative and professional training, Casa Bou embodies Starbucks mission to be the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world, inspiring and nurturing the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.
Partners – The Heartbeat of Starbucks
This growth is powered by 24,000 partners (employees) across the region, whose passion for coffee and human connection defines the Starbucks Experience. In November, the company will celebrate them at the 10th anniversary of the LAC Barista Championship in Costa Rica, where 18 national champions will showcase their craft and leadership at Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks global agronomy headquarters.
Partners also shape how Starbucks gives back. Through The Starbucks Foundation’s Global Community Impact Grants program launched in 2022, the company has awarded over $14 million to nearly 200 nonprofits across 60 markets worldwide. In LAC, Starbucks recently announced 31 grants across 15 markets that are helping advance youth workforce development, social inclusion, hunger relief, and access to clean water.
Coffee at Origin, Elevated Globally
As the source of more than half of Starbucks global coffee supply, Latin America remains central to Starbucks mission. Through five Farmer Support Centers in the region – located in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Brazil –and its global agronomy headquarters at Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica, Starbucks helps farmers improve coffee quality, strengthen resilience, and enhance livelihoods.
The company has also expanded its innovation network with new farms in Central America dedicated to advancing climate-resilient varieties and boosting farmer profitability. In Costa Rica, the Highlands of Alsacia farm will focus on resilient varieties, while in Guatemala, the Valley of Volcanoes farm will develop solutions for volcanic microclimates.
A celebration on International Coffee Day
In honor of this important day for coffee, Starbucks is celebrating in Puerto Rico the 20th anniversary of “Don’t Let It Fall,” its annual volunteer program that brings partners together to support local coffee farmers during the harvest season. The initiative connects the first 10 feet with the last 10 feet – from farm to cup – underscoring Starbucks deep respect for coffee-growing communities.
With these milestones, Starbucks reaffirms its commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean as a region of growth, innovation, and connection – from the farms where coffee begins to the communities where it is shared.
