Zara’s First-Ever Coffee Shop: Here’s How Their Coffee Tastes

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Zara launches Zacaffè in Madrid, merging fashion, culture, and specialty coffee. Discover how this fast-fashion giant is brewing style into its café concept!

The Intersection of Fashion and Coffee: Zara's Foray into Specialty Cafés

Zara, the global fashion juggernaut, is no stranger to innovation. Yet, its latest venture has taken an unexpected turn—into the aromatic world of coffee. With the launch of Zacaffè in Madrid, the brand is weaving a story that blends design, culture, and caffeine. But can a fast-fashion empire carve out a niche in the competitive specialty coffee market? Let’s explore how Zara is brewing its way into this space.

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A Café with Cultural Roots: Zacaffè’s Architectural Charm

The first Zacaffè opened its doors within Zara Man’s store on Calle de Hermosilla in Madrid’s chic Salamanca neighborhood. Unlike traditional fast-fashion retail spaces, this café exudes a sense of place and history. Its design pays homage to mudejár architecture—an aesthetic born from the fusion of Islamic and Christian styles in Spain during the Middle Ages.

Warm terracotta hues, intricate clover-shaped tiles, and personalized pottery create an atmosphere that feels both local and luxurious. These elements were meticulously crafted by Art Recherche et Industrie under the direction of designer Ramdane Touhami. “The idea,” explains Touhami, “is to connect each café’s décor with its surroundings—a stark contrast to Zara’s usual uniformity.” This approach transforms Zacaffè into more than just a coffee stop; it becomes a cultural bridge for customers.

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Coffee Beyond Convenience: The Specialty-Inspired Offerings

Behind Zacaffè’s sleek counters lies an offering that straddles the line between everyday coffee and high-end specialty brews. The beans are sourced from Colombia and curated by Waco Coffee, a Galician company tied to Zara's roots in La Coruña. According to Waco representatives, “We’ve selected coffees with sweet profiles—one with caramel notes and another with hints of cherry—that pair beautifully with milk.”

The menu caters to diverse palates with both Italian-style classics like espresso and moka alongside international staples such as flat whites and batch-brewed filter coffee. Prices are competitive for contemporary European cafés: €2.50 for an espresso, €4.90 for a large latte, or €6 for a full moka pot experience.

However, unlike most specialty cafés that celebrate their bean origins with elaborate storytelling, Zacaffè keeps its narrative understated—a conscious decision perhaps aligned with its fast-fashion DNA.

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Design Meets Functionality: A Space for Shoppers on the Move

Zacaffè’s physical layout reflects its purpose as a quick retreat rather than a destination café. Seating is minimal—encouraging short visits rather than extended stays—and the menu offerings are intentionally limited. A few pastries crafted by a local Madrid bakery accompany the beverages: buttery croissants (€3), rich kouign-amann (€3.90), and crispy palmier cookies (€3).

Yet this minimalist approach has its drawbacks. One notable inconvenience is the lack of dedicated restrooms; patrons must rely on Zara store facilities—a detail that some might find off-putting during busy shopping hours.

Despite these limitations, Zacaffè succeeds in providing what it promises: an elegant yet accessible pause amid retail therapy.

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Global Ambitions: What Lies Ahead for Zacaffè?

Madrid marks only the beginning of Zara's coffee journey. Plans are already underway to expand Zacaffè into Tokyo and Seoul—two cities renowned for their sophisticated café cultures. Each new location will aim to reflect its unique environment while maintaining Zacaffè’s signature blend of style and substance.

As Zara ventures deeper into hospitality, it faces stiff competition from established specialty chains that prioritize transparency and craftsmanship over convenience. Yet its ability to merge contemporary design with cultural storytelling could set it apart in an increasingly crowded market.

“Zara has always been about democratizing trends,” says one industry insider familiar with the project. “With Zacaffè, they’re doing the same—making premium coffee experiences accessible without losing sight of aesthetics.”

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A New Era for Retail Spaces?

The rise of in-store cafés like Zacaffè signals a shift in how brands engage with customers. No longer just places to shop, these hybrid spaces blur boundaries between retail and lifestyle experiences—a trend fueled by consumers’ desire for connection over transaction.

For Zara, this initiative goes beyond serving cappuccinos; it represents an evolution in brand strategy—one where fashion meets food culture seamlessly. Whether sipping caramel-laced lattes or admiring mudejár-inspired tiles while browsing racks of clothing, visitors leave not just with purchases but also memories steeped in design and flavor.

In blending fast fashion with slow moments over coffee, Zacaffè may very well redefine what it means to shop—and sip—in style.

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash