The Pike's Place blend at Starbucks is really good!

[DS1]

Normally I have a latte, but I wanted some more substance this morning after sleeping like crap.

It's much smoother than previous Starbucks coffee, and there's hardly any aftertaste.




Of course, perhaps I just can't taste it due to my cold :scared:

[Chan790]

1. Well, I work there...but I love it too for what it's worth.

As a certified coffee-master (looking spiffy in my black apron), I'm thrilled about it.

It's bold, it's smooth, it doesn't taste burnt, has a lot of high-quality body and high acidity (that means it has a strong flavor without bitter or distracting notes and doesn't linger on the palate), it pairs well with nuts and cocoa flavors and it smells divine.

The rest of you: If you haven't tried it yet, do so...even if you hated Starbucks coffee the last time you tried it. I've spent the last 2 weeks sampling the competition (DD, Peet's, Caribou, Whole Donut, BK, Denny's, McDonalds), and I think this is the game-breaker...I honestly think this is the blend which is going to win Starbucks the "coffee wars".

Oh yeah, and it's inexpensive ($9.95/lb.) for Starbucks coffee beans. (though I get my beans for free. :-))

[DS1]

2. That's what I was looking for. It doesn't have that 'burnt' taste I'd associated with SB coffee

2 cups of regular coffee a number of years ago helped me understand why people got all those weird drinks, they were awful.

This. I like this. Plus, it doesn't have that "What the hell is that?" aftertaste that Dunks has.

[BarenakedLady]

4. Sounds Yum

I'll have to give it a try.

[Tyler Durden]

3. Got some free at the African Children's Choir Concert ...

From the description they gave I expected their usual dreck, but it was free.

Their ad campaign should be "Just TRY it!" Not bad, and from me that's saying a lot where coffee is involved.

[Tektonik]

5. It's good compared to their usual burnt piss

[BuddhaGirl]

6. I got a card in the mail that lets me get a free cup of it

every Wednesday until the end of May...I'm really enjoying it! :-)

[petronius]

7. It is, actually - I was pretty surprised

I had one immediately after a Dunkin'Donuts cup the other day, and I think the Starbucks was better...

(It wasn't a fair comparison, however - I drank the DD to restore basic human functionality and the SB was because sipping coffee made listening to lectures more enjoyable.)

[Parche]

8. Pikes Place As in Seattle?

[AlCzervik]

9. Maybe i'll try it, Starbucks coffee usually makes my stomach hurt, not nausea but actual pain

so i stopped going there.

[Chan790]

10. Common complaint.

No idea why it happens. It even happens to me, although with a lot more coffee. I have to try every new blend before it goes on a sale to the general public in order to be able to discuss it and make pairing recommendations. Some sales phases that might mean 4 or 5 cups of coffee in one hour.

Solutions:

+ Drink smaller cups of coffee. There is an 8oz. short size which can be ordered but does not appear on the menu.
+ Order the bold rather than the mild. The only thing milder about mild is the flavor. Mild is higher in caffeine, less "refined" and more acidic; all on account of the shorter roast time.
+ Ask for extra room for dairy/sugar or ask to have your coffee "cut" with hot water.
+ Don't drink coffee on an empty stomach. You can order a free cup of ice water at the counter.