The Special Starbucks That's Only For CIA Employees

Starbucks may be one of the most popular coffee chains out there. They're certainly the biggest, with more than 32,000 stores around the world as of 2020, and more than 15,000 of those stores in the US alone. Starbucks stores can be found in some rather unusual locations, including on a moving train, on a cruise ship at sea, and even high up a mountain (via When on Earth). For those that are so inclined, you can go and visit those unusual locations. Starbucks even includes a list of unique shops as suggested pit stops for a cross-country road trip on their website.

Well, there's one Starbucks location that you won't be able to just drop in and order a drink from. In fact, if you try to put its address into Google maps on your phone, nothing will come up. That's because this Starbucks is located inside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. So unless you are a CIA employee (or otherwise have the security clearance to enter the CIA), you won't be able to order a Frappuccino, or anything else for that matter, from that store.

According to a Washington Post report, this particular Starbucks is there to "help humanize the environment" for CIA employees working under high pressure (and high security). Those employees are also a captive audience of thousands of analysts, agents, engineers, cartographers, and other workers who are typically "caffeine-addicted personality types." Whether or not this Starbucks is the busiest one in the world as some urban legends claim, it does see constant long lines that stretch down the hallway during the morning and mid-afternoon rushes.

Although the interior of this Starbucks looks much like any other, décor-wise (though there is talk of potentially redecorating with spy paraphernalia), it goes by the nondescript "Store Number 1" on its receipts, though some regulars like to refer to it as "Stealthy Starbucks." Baristas, who have to undergo extensive background checks and are escorted around the premises, also don't ask for customer names to put on cups, not even aliases, which apparently made certain CIA types rather uncomfortable. There are no reward cards either, for fear that information could end up in the wrong hands. Which is an important consideration when you're dealing with the safety and security of the world.