PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Your alarm goes off, you get ready, and you leave for school, work, or whatever your appointment a little bit early to get a cup of coffee to start your day, only to find that the Pittsfield Starbucks, located at  555 Hubbard Ave., is closed. 

 

The sign has been removed, and the drive-through is blocked, but Starbucks coffee addicts need not worry — this closure is only temporary. 

 

The coffee shop closed its doors temporarily on July 7 to undergo a standard renovation with the chain's new Siren System, a Starbucks spokesperson said. 

 

According to the signage, the reopening date is projected to be Aug. 21. 

 

According to its website, the Siren System is part of the chain's Starbucks Reinvention plan, which aims to improve the experience for partners and staff by responding to changing needs and increasing demands. 

 

"As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers," the spokesperson said. 

 

The chain's article on unveiling its innovations said, "Over the past few years, the number of cold beverages ordered has surpassed the number of hot drinks year-round. And, two in three drinks ordered have requested customizations such as extra espresso shots and flavorings."

 

The new Siren System streamlines beverage production and provides a smoother experience for baristas and customers, the article said. 

 

The system "features a custom ice dispenser, milk-dispensing system, and new, faster blenders all located within reach of a barista, reducing bending and heavy lifting. It also eliminates the need to move back and forth behind the service bar and eases congestion in a crowded, busy space," it said. 

 

The new system reduces the time it takes to make a frappuccino beverage and a grande pink drink and will also batch-cook breakfast sandwiches to reduce wait times for customers in an effort to decrease drive-thru and customer wait times. 

 

Some equipment included in the system will reduce the time and required steps to make coffee.  

 

Starbucks' article on its recent innovation said its newest technology includes the Clover Vertica coffee machine, which can serve freshly ground and brewed cups of coffee in under 30 seconds without the need for paper filters.

 

In addition to its Cold-Pressed Technology, which is a "patented method of extracting coffee with low-pressure immersion, without even heating water," making the coffee available "in a matter of seconds."