When creativity meets coffee, something truly special happens. From March to May 2024, we had the unique opportunity to collaborate with acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson and his team during the 10-week shoot of his latest film, The Phoenitian Scheme, in Berlin-Potsdam. For us at THE BARN, it was about bringing world-class specialty coffee to an extraordinary cast and crew — and turning a hotel by the lake into a coffee destination.
Setting the Scene
Wes Anderson wanted to give his cast and crew a memorable coffee experience during their stay. With names like Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Threapleton, Bill Murray and Benedict Cumberbatch in the cast, expectations were high. His team reached out to THE BARN to curate something unique, personal, and deeply rooted in Berlin’s specialty coffee culture.
Our solution? A tailor-made coffee program that included:
- Individual brew sets with AeroPress in each room
- 30 different single origin coffees freshly roasted in Berlin
- Drip bags for those early mornings before shooting
When the cast gathered for their first picnic to kick off production, it was our THE BARN drip bags that fueled the day.
A Special Brew for Wes
Wes himself is known to be a Nespresso fan — so we supplied him with our sustainable coffee capsules made from light-roasted Ethiopian and Brazilian coffees. These capsules became his go-to during the shoot.
Beyond that, we transformed the hotel breakfast area into a specialty coffee corner:
- Two different filter coffees brewed on Moccamaster machines
- Custom roast profiles designed for the hotels coffee automats
And the highlight? A La Marzocco espresso machine that became the heart of the mornings and evenings. Cast members — and Wes Anderson himself — pulled their own espresso shots, guided by our barista team. It was coffee as both ritual and community.
Coffee Meets Hollywood
Moments like these show how specialty coffee creates connection. Some of the cast even took barista training with our team to perfect their shots.
One story stood out: Tom Hanks loved the La Marzocco espresso machine so much that we organized one unit for his office in Santa Monica — naturally, supplied with THE BARN beans. It was proof that even Hollywoods biggest stars appreciate the craft of a perfect espresso.
A Collaboration to Remember
For us, this collaboration was not just about serving coffee. It was about bringing THE BARN specialty coffee culture to a global stage, showing how it elevates both daily rituals and extraordinary experiences. We want to thank Wes Andersons team and our partners at La Marzocco for making this possible.
The project reminded us why we do what we do: creating memorable coffee experiences, wherever they are needed. We loved every moment of this 10-week journey and look forward to the next movie set that calls on THE BARN. Until then — lets keep brewing.
