March 2010
Cupcakes Bloom in Spring
Cupcakes at Starbucks have never bloomed this late in the season. Until now, our signature indulgent cupcakes were mainly available for Valentine’s Day – but thanks to your passionate comments on MyStarbucksIdea.com, we are keeping cupcakes for spring!
And starting on Tuesday, March 9, we are introducing two new cupcakes. Our delectable Chocolate Bloom Cupcake is a semi-sweet chocolate cake topped with an elegant swirl of pink cream cheese frosting and yummy white sprinkles. The Vanilla Buttercream Cupcake is a rich golden vanilla cake topped with a swirl of white buttercream icing topped with a white and pink chocolaty swirl treat.
Our Newest Clover Coffee - Organic Timor-Leste
Organic Timor-Leste joined the Clover coffee menu last month. This washed coffee from East Timor offers layers of complex flavors including roasted fig, balsamic vinegar and dark chocolate.
If you’re a fan of Guatemala Antigua and Guatemala Casi Cielo®, I’d recommend trying Organic Timor-Leste – explore the cocoa notes these coffees possess!
I’d also recommend this coffee to those that drink Sumatra. Both coffees share herbal notes, though their flavors are quite different. Comparing these two coffees is sure to increase your appreciation of the diverse flavors from the Asia/Pacific growing region.
Eight Weeks of Bold Coffee
Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey into the world of coffee and I am excited to welcome you on this adventure. For the next eight weeks, we are featuring eight different bold coffees for you to explore and savor.
You can participate with the Coffee Journey Card, which is in stores now. The card was designed to help guide you through our bold coffees. Hopefully you’ll find a new favorite or rediscover the diversity of flavors found in our bold offerings.
We begin by tasting Organic Yukon Blend®. This coffee is a hearty and well-rounded blend of organic Latin American and Asia/Pacific coffees.
Recently, I was lucky enough to have spent time in one of our coffee-growing regions. As with my previous trips, I was humbled by the experience and grateful for the dedication and hard work of farmers producing our coffee. It is impossible not to taste that passion and care in the cup.
Breakin’ New Sound 2 - Electric Boogaloo
I know, right? Was just listening to the Hollies’ classic 1974 songamajig “The Air I Breathe” (first recorded by Phil Everly) and had this sudden realization (and a rather pleasant one to boot) that it was remarkably similar to Radiohead’s “Creep.”
Did some research and sure enough, the Hollies are credited. Never knew that. I mentioned it to my esteemed co-worker, Kelly, and she remarked that it also turns into ABBA meets George Harrison halfway through. Indeed. It’s part of what makes Radiohead so great.
Different songs, sure, but seriously, it’s all there, give ‘em both a listen (and check out the cool visuals). First, Radiohead. Then the Hollies.
Free Pastry Day
Hi,
It’s Erin on the food team with a super sweet reminder -- Free Pastry Day is March 23 and is better than ever! Free Pastry Day was such a success the first time, we are doing it again as a way to thank our customers and invite them to experience our great food. Don't miss out - so your ready for Free Pastry Day - set your alarm and remember to print the invitation or show it on your mobile device. This is your chance to try one of our delicious pastries on the house when you purchase a hand-crafted or brewed beverage and find the perfect match to your daily drink.
Free Pastry Day starts at opening (4:30 am for 24 hour stores) tomorrow and runs until 10:30 am or until pastries are gone. We have many delicious ways to start your day. My favorite is the vanilla sparkle doughnut – you can indulge in a yummy vanilla cake doughnut topped with sugar crystals with only 120 calories.
Thank you for being great customers! Visit MyStarbucksIdea.com tomorrow and let us know what free pastry you tried.
Erin
My Favorite Bold Coffee #1 – Yukon Blend®
People often ask me, “What’s your favorite coffee?” I tell them it’s hard, like trying to choose your favorite child (for you parents out there). At any given time, we have 20 or so different coffees in our whole bean lineup. Light- and dark-roasted, blends and single-origin offerings from every corner of the coffee world. From earthy and spicy Sumatra , to smoky-sweet Italian Roast, to the vibrant acidity and brightness of our Breakfast Blend… how could I pick just one?
But I can pick just one. And for me it’s Yukon Blend®.
My Favorite Bold Coffee #2 – Italian Roast
Italian Roast is strong. It’s a big, flavorful mouthful of smoky sweetness that demonstrates the art of dark roasting. When you look at the beans, their shiny oils are fully on display. They seem to sweat aroma and flavor.
But the amazing part is how this blend of high altitude Latin American coffees stands up to the roast process while delivering a sweet, clean, medium-body experience.
The trick is having the right beans, ones that can take a darker roast, and the right roasting level, to impart the sweet smokiness. Our roast masters are the best at finding the balance between roast and flavor.
So Many Scones, So Little Time
Our scones are yummier than ever! And what better to perfect the scone than your favorite Starbucks beverage?
For example, the real blueberries and yummy, buttery notes of our Blueberry Scone make this scone a cup of coffee’s best friend – try pairing it with your next cup of our Pike Place® Roast and you are on your way to your tastiest cup ever!
Our Cinnamon Chip Scone is dotted with cinnamon chips, white icing and the perfect balance of spice and sweetness. If you think Italian Roast is a bit too bold, try pairing it with a Cinnamon Chip Scone – the sweet cinnamon spice notes swirl with the roasty notes of the coffee making for one amazing cup.
A Colorful Commitment
As a mountaineer, I spend as much time as possible on tall peaks. As a Buddhist, I spend a lot of time reading the wisdom of the Dalai Lama; he often speaks of the crises facing the natural world and the reality that this is not a time to pretend everything is good. What is good is that each of us has the opportunity to make good choices and inspire others to join simply by how we walk in the world.
My love of the natural world bridges my personal and professional worlds. At work, I am on the Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ team. This program is our commitment to doing things that are good for people and the planet.
This spring, we started demonstrating that commitment in a new, colorful way – by highlighting three coffees in new packaging to better tell their stories. While all of our coffees are ethically sourced, these three were chosen to highlight our work with important partners who are, like us, dedicated to doing things in ways that are good for people and planet.
This Land is Sharon’s Land – SXSW 2010
Broken Bells. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Spoon. The Walkmen. Visqueen. All playing on the same night. And get this – on the same bill!
Where’s this happening? Well, it could only be at the 2010 South By Southwest Music & Media Conference, held in Austin, Texas. It’s where I am now, and will be, for the next 4 days.
In case you’re not familiar with the music portion of annual event, it’s a five-day convergence of hundreds of artists from all over the world, often playing numerous times on more than 80 stages. That Broken Bells/Spoon/Sharon Jones show I mentioned? That was just the first night.
I’m not entirely sure if I’ve recovered from the jet lag, two-hour time change, standing next to Country Joe McDonald while waiting for a taxi at the airport, and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ blistering show last night. Especially that last one I mentioned.
The Dap-Kings set the tone for a full-on soul/funk/gospel experience with their brilliant horn and rhythm sections before Sharon sauntered out and immediately set the place ablaze with her stage presence. Wearing a slinky new green dress she’d bought to coincide with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, she proceeded to lay down some of the funkiest dancing this side of vintage James Brown. And that voice. Good heavens, what a voice. Sent chills up my back numerous times. Seriously.
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