May 2008
Starbucks' new Pike Place Roast coffee: A milder brew
Pike Place Roast has a mellower flavor than regular Starbucks coffee.
As popular as Starbucks' coffee is nationally, it isn't for everyone. In a March 2007 Consumer Reports story we described Starbucks' typical brew as "burnt and bitter." So for those in search of a milder, less-roasted-tasting
cup of joe, Starbucks recently introduced its newest blend: Pike Place Roast. The company claims the new flavor, which debuted
in stores this April, is made from beans that are freshly ground and brewed every 30 minutes to offer customers a consistent
taste.
Starbucks created the Pike Place Roast blend based on customer suggestions. The result is a mellower flavor that our three expert tasters and other CR staffers, who sampled the blend at a dozen U.S. stores on the East and West coasts, described as generally mild, "with very subtle floral notes, a hint of cocoa-like aromatic, and a medium roast impression." Generally, they found Pike Place Roast to be "a smooth cup of coffee with some bitterness, but not particularly complex." Because the flavor is so mild, our experts said, adding dairy or sweeteners might overwhelm the coffee. To experience the full flavor of the brew, you might want to drink it black, our testers suggest.
The name of the new coffee is a nod to Starbucks' first store, which opened in 1971 in the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Before April 8, 2008, the brew was offered only at the store in Pike Place Market.
CR's take: If you're a confirmed Starbucks drinker and like the taste you're familiar with, this may not be for you. But if you're looking for coffee with a mild, medium-roasted flavor, Pike Place Roast might be the one to try. The smallest cup cost us about $2.
Starbucks created the Pike Place Roast blend based on customer suggestions. The result is a mellower flavor that our three expert tasters and other CR staffers, who sampled the blend at a dozen U.S. stores on the East and West coasts, described as generally mild, "with very subtle floral notes, a hint of cocoa-like aromatic, and a medium roast impression." Generally, they found Pike Place Roast to be "a smooth cup of coffee with some bitterness, but not particularly complex." Because the flavor is so mild, our experts said, adding dairy or sweeteners might overwhelm the coffee. To experience the full flavor of the brew, you might want to drink it black, our testers suggest.
The name of the new coffee is a nod to Starbucks' first store, which opened in 1971 in the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Before April 8, 2008, the brew was offered only at the store in Pike Place Market.
CR's take: If you're a confirmed Starbucks drinker and like the taste you're familiar with, this may not be for you. But if you're looking for coffee with a mild, medium-roasted flavor, Pike Place Roast might be the one to try. The smallest cup cost us about $2.
