Coffee giant Starbucks has opened its 100th store in China’s capital Beijing.

The 100th store is located at the Solana International Business District, and is staffed by all ‘Starbucks Coffee Masters’ who are equipped with a high-level of artisanal coffee skills and expertise to deliver Starbucks coffee experience to customers and baristas who have earned the right to wear the ‘Black Apron’ after intensive coffee skills and knowledge training.

The new store uses the ‘Art Nouveau’ design concept which focuses on environmental sustainability and the continued promotion of a Starbucks coffee culture and lifestyle. Wall murals of coffee trees, bags of coffee cherries and roasted arabica beans showcase the complete Starbucks bean-to-cup journey.

“China is a focal point of our global expansion efforts and we are proud to bring this unique store, staffed by all partners certified as Coffee Masters, to our customers here in Beijing and further demonstrate our espresso leadership,” said Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks China.

Beijing is where Starbucks started journey in China when it opened first store in 1999 there, says Wong.

The company has also opened Starbucks China University – a virtual university which features a personalised learning experience through various customised methods, including digital and mobile platforms, to provide partners with modules matching their interests and career development goals.

The virtual university will offer training curriculums covering topics such as coffee knowledge and culture training, and provide tailor-designed curriculums on retail and related functional training as well as leadership competency.

Starbucks currently operates more than 700 stores across over 50 cities in China. It says China will be its second largest market by 2014 and will have 1500 stores by 2015 across more than 70 cities.

GB