M-LAB
Designer | The husband-and-wife team of Robert Nichols & Cecilia Hernandez Nichols of internationally recognized architecture firm Formwork based in Charlottesville, VA.
Location | Cherry Hill, New Jersey USA
Launch Date | June 25th, 2025
In 1908, Melitta Benz revolutionized coffee when she invented the pour-over and filter system in her kitchen. M-LAB, located in Melitta North America’s roasting headquarters, re-imagines her kitchen as a modern innovation hub. The design functions as a high-performance ecosystem, serving as a business accelerator, innovation center, and community / industry education and engagement hub. The design is defined by interlocking wooden spaces that house the hub’s core functions. The M-LAB Arena is the central forum for collaboration featuring stadium seating, custom modular cupping tables, and a variety of commercial coffee preparation equipment. Surrounding this core are specialized zones, including the Green Coffee Lab, espresso bar, lounges, and conference spaces.
Designed for connection, M-LAB utilizes organic materials and a neutral palette. Signature Melitta red accents provide a branded pulse, with the space’s true vibrancy fueled by the human energy and interactions it was built to inspire. The Melitta team has spent decades visiting training labs and experiencing specialty coffee in countless cafes. Inspiration for the design and functionality of M-LAB was found in several moments throughout that journey.
M-LAB serves a hybrid intent where the coffee community gathers for specialized events and hands-on product development. It’s unique as it functions as an innovation and training center that’s built like a café, with flexibility to transition seamlessly into an event venue. Through a glass wall partition, visitors view the pilot production area, featuring a Probat P60 Roaster, designed to help regional and emerging brands scale while maintaining total autonomy.
M-LAB is a dedicated home for the coffee industry to inspire the next generation of coffee discovery.
Equipment with energy saving technology was selected wherever possible within M-LAB. Reusable ceramic vessels were prioritized to reduce paper waste. M-LAB’s 4,500 square feet includes a pilot production area nestled within Melitta North America’s 100,000 square foot roasting facility. The company has invested in a solar panel system capable of producing 500 megawatts of electricity annually and turns 78,000 pounds of natural roasting byproducts into nutrient-rich compost each year.
