Customer : MSI Coffee Tasting Club

Starbucks Reserve™ Coffee: Exotic, Rare, Exquisite

Dub Hay — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Everyone claims to have the world's best coffee! Not often are the words exotic, rare and exquisite used to describe coffee. For Starbucks to append all three words to a limited time offering, the coffee must be really special.

We've introduced Starbucks Reserve™ Coffee to a limited number of U.S. stores. This new line of coffee, each available only for a short time, represents the best of the best! You can expect to find flavors that explode on your palate and fade with a lingering complexity. When you taste a Starbucks Reserve™ coffee, you'll be reminded of the heritage and early days of the specialty coffee business that we helped to create.

Only three percent of the highest quality coffee grown around the world makes it into a bag of Starbucks® coffee. Starbucks Reserve™ coffee represents a tiny fraction. You have told us that you want to see rare and exotic coffees in our stores, and that is exactly what we have done in bringing treasures like our debut offering, Starbucks Reserve™ Galápagos San Cristóbal.

This coffee originated on San Cristóbal, one of the oldest geological locations within the Galápagos Islands. The subtropical region’s intense microclimate, rich volcanic soil and equatorial sun create ideal conditions for extraordinary coffee. Influenced by these environmental characteristics, Galápagos San Cristóbal is a medium-bodied coffee that features fresh flavors and highlights of green herbs balanced by soft cocoa and spice.

Check online to see which stores will be carrying Starbucks Reserve™ coffee. We’d love to hear from you. Share your comments and tasting notes of this first Starbucks Reserve™ coffee offering with us.

Dub Hay
senior vice president, Coffee

MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #8 - Sumatra

sbx_esch — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

I grew up in a divided household, my dad is a morning person and my mom is not. My dad, a writer, would wake up around 4 a.m. My mom, an avid reader, would stay up late in the evening to turn just a few more pages. Strong coffee kept my childhood harmonious. After his first few cups of coffee and first few hours at his desk, my dad would brew a fresh pot around seven and gently set a mug on my mom’s nightstand, keeping communication to a minimum.

In my own home, we've developed our own ritual, we take turns brewing the coffee. I am the morning person every other morning. I introduced my parents to Starbucks® Sumatra coffee a few years back and they started drinking it exclusively. Sumatra pairs amazingly well with all things breakfast: maple bacon, buttery toast and dad’s favorite, cinnamon dusted oatmeal. It also has low acidity, which makes it an approachable morning coffee - no matter what time you get up.

It is no wonder this coffee is our most popular single-origin coffee, it appeals to many different palates and is even offered in decaf. It is our family favorite for its versatility; full-bodied Sumatra can coax you out from under the covers or fill the quiet in a house of sleeping people.

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MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #7 - Gold Coast Blend®

sbx_slon — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

This week’s stop on our Bold Coffee Journey has a special place in my heart – Chicago is my kind of town (next to Seattle!). I lived there for many years before coming to Seattle, so when I was given the chance to write about Gold Coast Blend®, developed especially for the Windy City, I jumped at it. Gold Coast Blend® was created in 1987 to celebrate Starbucks first foray out of the Pacific Northwest, to a city we knew would embrace Starbucks as its own. And we were right – in the early 90’s, when I was living in Chicago, there were so many Starbucks locations and so well integrated into their neighborhoods, that many people thought Starbucks was a Chicago company! Gold Coast Blend®, named after the lakeside neighborhood of condos and boutiques just north of the heart of downtown, was a favorite from the start.

This blend is our biggest and most sophisticated. It’s a combination of Latin America and Asia-Pacific coffees, which provides an intriguing mix of brightness and earthy boldness. There’s also a touch of Italian Roast’s sweetness, which makes Gold Coast Blend® a great coffee to pair with sweet treats like cheesecake, a Chicago favorite, would be especially tasty. It also tastes great with cranberry, maple, and caramel flavors.

I asked Aileen, in the coffee department for some of her thoughts on Gold Coast Blend®. I also figured, as a long-time Starbucks partner (employee),that she might have some good stories about it – and I was right. She first recommended that you taste our blends in progression, starting with Breakfast Blend, moving to House Blend, Yukon Blend®, then Caffè Verona®, and finally Gold Coast Blend®, to really see how it is our heartiest and most complex blend. She was also kind enough to share a Gold Coast Blend® memory – back in 1993, we realized it was the perfect St. Patrick’s Day coffee (St. Pat’s is a pretty big day in Chicago – they dye the Chicago River green and there’s a HUGE parade), so we recommended that it be used for Irish Coffee (even though St. Pat’s is over, why not give that a try…). We even sold Irish Coffee glasses in the stores. I wish I had picked up a few of those!

I hope you will enjoy Gold Coast Blend® as much as I do. This coffee has a rich history at Starbucks and continues to be a favorite not only in Chicago, but everywhere we brew Starbucks® coffee.

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MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #6 - Café Estima Blend®

sbx_teve — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Hi, my name is Teri and I currently work in Global Learning at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle.

Sometimes I just want to shout from the rooftops about how much I love Starbucks commitment to people and community!

This really hit home for me when I was privileged enough to visit the coffee growing region of Costa Rica. I got to hear first hand from the farmer how working with Starbucks truly changes lives. The locals call it the “Starbucks Phenomenon”…REALLY, I am not making this up!

Café Estima Blend® is just one example of how we help make our planet a better place to live, help preserve the natural environment for future generations and promote economic stability within coffee growing communities. This coffee shows Starbucks efforts in purchasing ethically sourced and responsibly grown coffees, an important component in our larger integrated approach to purchasing coffee.

Specially formulated and roasted with versatility in mind, Café Estima Blend® works great in an espresso machine, drip brewer or coffee press. It is a smooth blend of washed Latin America and Africa beans with a consistent and pleasing mouth feel that pairs well with nuts, cocoa and caramel.

Taste this coffee on your next trip to Starbucks (and enjoy it with a Rich Toffee Pecan Bar. YUM!) You will feel good knowing that you are helping to support the environment, coffee farmers and their communities for years to come.

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MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #5 - Caffè Verona®

sbx_M007 — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Hi everyone! I’m Mary and I help support MSI for our Global Consumer Products (CPG) team. My innovation team looks for new product ideas for grocery and club stores. One of our recent favorite new product launches was the very yummy Starbucks® Ice Cream.

I’m so excited to talk about Caffè Verona®. It’s my all-time favorite coffee and I’ve been pondering what makes it so special. It was probably the name that first drew me in…the story of Romeo & Juliet…fiery Italian passion for food and coffee. I was curious, so I decided to dig deeper.

Caffè Verona® was originally created by blending Yukon Blend® (80%) and Italian Roast (20%), which makes it a unique blend of Latin America and Indonesia coffees. It has just a touch of sweetness, which makes it the perfect complement to chocolate (now we’re talking).

The richness of the chocolate complements the depth and sweetness of Caffè Verona®. Try it with milk chocolate and dark chocolate to compare the difference. Caffè Verona® is perfect for Valentine’s Day, but hey why can’t every day be Valentine’s Day?

I like to add a bit of milk to my coffee to make it perfect just for me… Caffè Verona® warmly welcomes the mellowing effect and still proudly sings its bold song…wait, I might be getting caught up in the Italian imagery. But, really there’s no greater way to start my day than with my perfect cup of coffee. If you try Caffè Verona®, it might become your new favorite coffee, too.

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MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #4 – Komodo Dragon Blend®

bee_dub — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Crack open a bag of Komodo Dragon Blend® and one thing will stand out immediately – a strong aroma that smells a little like a garden or baseball field after a fresh rain.

This earthy characteristic is always my first clue that I’m about to enjoy an Asia/Pacific coffee. It’s a dominating scent that distinguishes the region’s coffees quite well. While the press steeps and as I pour my glass, I let my nose take it in. There’s no denying that this is a big, bold blend. My mouth begins to water in anticipation.

Smell is only the first of four steps in the coffee tasting experience, so I dive right into the next – slurp. Proud of a noisy effort that would make my mother cringe, I let the coffee hit my entire palate and enjoy the flavors. Very herbal or loamy – think mushrooms – with hints of spice. The resemblance to this coffee's more famous Asia/Pacific cousin, Sumatra, is there.

The third step is locate – to detect where on your tongue the flavors really pop. This is where you find what makes Komodo Dragon Blend® so special… In addition to the semi-washed beans that are characteristic of the region, it’s also blended with washed beans that have gone through an additional fermentation step. This gives it a crisp acidity, detectable on the sides and tip of the tongue, giving an extra layer to the coffee.

Lastly, in step four we describe what we’re tasting. I’m loving the assertive body, and the way it balances out with the crisp acidity. Suddenly I find myself craving something with cinnamon. Now it’s your turn. Head down to your favorite Starbucks store this week, order up a cup of Komodo Dragon Blend®, and come back to MSI to let us know what smells, tastes and experiences it evokes for you.

Whether your palate is highly refined or you’ve never tried this before, that’s ok – there are no wrong answers. Coffee tasting is a journey, and I’m glad we’re all taking this one together!

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MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #3 - (Starbucks)RED East Africa Blend

sbx_kk — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

As a 17 year Starbucks Coffee Company partner (employee), I have enjoyed the privilege of tasting some of the world’s finest coffees. I am especially thrilled to have the opportunity to savor (STARBUCKS) RED East AFrica Blend.

Africa is the birthplace of coffee, and Starbucks has always cherished the amazing flavors and aromas of African coffees. And, with the opening of a Farmer Support Center in Rwanda, we’re working directly with farmers to help improve the quality and sustainability of their coffee for years to come.

(STARBUCKS)RED East Africa Blend is balanced and complex, with delicate acidity and a flavorful interplay of sweet citrus, subtle herbal and savory spice notes. I am enjoying this coffee now with my morning blueberry muffin, while writing this BLOG. I will also be serving it later tonight at a dinner party celebrating with my neighbors and sharing its story.

Together, we can make a difference. When you buy a (STARBUCKS)RED product or pay with your (STARBUCKS)RED Card, Starbucks will make a contribution to the Global Fund to help people living with HIV in Africa. With your help, we've already generated contributions equaling more than 14 million daily doses of medicine. To learn more, visit: www.starbucks.com/RED.

Cheers,
Kaycee

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