New Southport Starbucks to Feature Pricy Clover Brewing System

Lake View’s new Starbucks may not be offering the café’s premium evening menu with wine and small plates, but it is adding a different exclusive feature—the Clover Brewing System.

The new space at 3400 N. Southport Ave. is still undergoing construction, combining three existing storefronts into a large new Starbucks. When completed, it’ll be similar in size to the location also near the Brown Line at 1000 W. Diversey Ave., one of the few Starbucks in America to offer the Evenings menu.

The Clover Brewing System, on the other hand, is a different premium feature that allows Starbucks employees to brew specialty—and pricy—coffee. When the company launched its Costa Rica Finca Palmilera roast late last year, a Grande size was $7, and a half-pound bag went for $40.

Using a specialty $11,000 machine, the coffee is vacuum-pressed at a precise temperature for an “amazingly flavorful” cup of joe.

"For $7, you can get a bad glass of wine, or you can get one of the best cups of coffee in the world."

“In terms of offerings, we can continue to confirm that this location will have a Clover® brewing system but will not offer the Starbucks Evening Menu,” a Starbucks representative told Patch in an email. “Clover® coffees are selected from farms all over the world by our experienced coffee team, and offer ultra-premium brewed coffee made fresh by the cup. The coffees are delivered to Starbucks locations with a Clover® each week to ensure maximum freshness and flavor, and are available for a limited time.”

Starbucks purchased the Clover from its inventors Coffee Equipment Company in 2008. Clover coffees will be an addition to the café’s traditional list of menu items, with the machine's cofounder Randy Hulett comparing the brews to fine wine.

"For $7, you can get a bad glass of wine," Hulett told Wired Magazine after the 2008 acquisition. "Or you can get one of the best cups of coffee in the world."

Those looking to get a hold of these uniquely brewed cups of coffee will have to wait a bit longer than expected, however. Originally slated to open in April, the new Southport Avenue Starbucks is pushing back its grand opening a few months.

“As with any construction process, there are a variety of variables that can come up that may impact an opening,” the representative said. “We are pleased to say that the opening is on track for July.”

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Starbucks’ expansion was a controversial topic for many business owners and residents on Southport, with some wondering if national retailers would someday take over the street from local business owners.

The strongest voice in the pack was Dave McLaughlin, owner of Safari Cup and future next-door-neighbor of the new Starbucks. After voicing he’d fight hard against the “green cancer”—as he calls the coffee chain—McLaughlin’s storefront went on the leasing market March 4.

High-end ice cream retailer Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream quickly scooped up the hot piece of real estate, officially announcing mid-May they plan to make the move to Southport.