MSI Coffee Tasting Club: #8 - Sumatra

See prior posts to learn more about the tasting club

Sumatra by Starbucks Coffee

April 26- May 3

Earthy and unpredictable. A full, syrupy body with herbal notes and earthy aroma.

Earthy and unpredictable, Sumatra has a full, syrupy body with virtually no acidity - so the coffee's intensity lingers in your mouth. The concentrated spicy, herbal notes and earthy aroma are the telltale signatures of this well-loved coffee.

Starbucks Sumatra Coffee. Indulge your sense of spontaneity with a cup right now.

More about this coffee:
The island of Sumatra produces 70% of Indonesia's income and is home to over 38 million people.

Intensity: Extra Bold

Food Pairings: Cinnamon, toffee and fresh breads - all are divine with a cup of this coffee.

Origin Notes: Sumatra is Indonesia's largest island.

My Notes:

Smell: spice, roast
Taste: spice, earth, slight acidity
After taste: spice

Not really a memorable cup, bot great and not bad.

Those 8 weeks flew by too fast!

My preferences, best to worst, so far:
1) Caffe Verona
2) Gold Coast Blend
3) Italian Roast
4) Sumatra
5) Yukon
6) (STARBUCKS)RED
7) Café Estima Blend
8) Komodo Dragon

You need to post your week #8 tasting notes here:

MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #8 - Sumatra

Additional Sumatra Links:

You Tube

Buy Here - Sumatra by Starbucks Coffee 1-lb.

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

See prior posts to learn more about the tasting club

Gold Coast Blend® by Starbucks Coffee

April 19-25

Our biggest and boldest blend was created in 1987 for our first store opening in Chicago.

We created our biggest and most flavorful blend in 1987 to commemorate our first store opening in Chicago. Gold Coast Blend® is a sophisticated coffee with waves of flavor that evolve as the coffee cools.

More about this coffee:
This full-bodied blend showcases our finest Latin American and Asia Pacific coffees, accented with a touch of Italian Roast's sweetness.

Now all Starbucks® coffees are at your fingertips - StarbucksStore.com is the online resource for all Starbucks coffees. Buy Starbucks coffees - whole bean, ground, pods, caffeinated, decaf, single-origin, espressos, blends, organic, promotional/holiday/seasonal blends and Black Apron Exclusives™ - easily and conveniently, delivered to your home or office.

Intensity: Extra Bold

Food Pairings: Four flavors that hold their own against this bold coffee and accentuate its intensity, are: tangy cranberry, woodsy maple, buttery-sweet caramel and dense cheesecake.

Origin Notes: A blend of Latin American and Indonesian coffees.

My Notes:

Smell: spicy, chocolaty, earthy
Taste: spicy, earthy, pleasantly acidic, smooth, a weaker body (medium) than I was expecting
After taste: earthy, spicy, acidic

While reading all the notes I decided to try this with a chocolate peanut butter tandykake - that was a mistake, it made the tandykake bitter.

It was great without sugar or cream, but I expect the additions would only have complemented and not overpowered the coffee.

My new almost favorite of the bold tasting adventure, it is hard to believe it's nearly over.

My preferences, best to worst, so far:
1) Caffe Verona
2) Gold Coast Blend
3) Italian Roast
4) Yukon
5) (STARBUCKS)RED
6) Café Estima Blend
7) Komodo Dragon

You need to post your week #7 tasting notes here:

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

Additional Gold Coast Blend Links:

You Tube

Buy Here - Gold Coast Blend® by Starbucks Coffee 1-lb.

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

See prior posts to learn more about the tasting club

I got this coffee for free today as part of a promotion where you bring your own mug in.

I always get a Grande No Water Soy Chai Latte in a personal cup to start my day. Luckily I upgraded my personal cup recently so brought in both!

Café Estima Blend® by Starbucks Coffee

April 12-18

Velvety smooth and balanced with a roasty sweetness. 100% Fair Trade Certified.

Velvety smooth and balanced with a roasty-sweet flavor this blend of coffees is a product of the relationships formed between Starbucks and the farmers who grew them. Starbucks is committed to paying fair prices to help give farming families a better life and ensure coffee farms are protected for the future.

Intensity: Bold

Food Pairings: Savor with a decadent chocolate mousse or chocolate-dipped fruit.

My Notes:

Smell: nutty, acidic
Taste: smooth, acidic, spicy
After taste: acidic, bitter

Meh, not loving it, adding some sugar (2 packets, white granular) less acidic and brings the spice to the front more.

My preferences, best to worst, so far:
1) Caffe Verona
2) Italian Roast
3) Yukon
4) (STARBUCKS)RED
5) Café Estima Blend
6) Komodo Dragon

You need to post your week #6 tasting notes here:

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

Additional Café Estima Blend Links:

You Tube

Buy Here - Fair Trade Café Estima Blend™ by Starbucks Coffee 1-lb.

MSI Coffee Tasting Club: Week #5 - Caffè Verona

See prior posts to learn more about the tasting club

Caffè Verona® by Starbucks Coffee

April 5-11

A versatile blend combining Latin America and Asia / Pacific coffees with a touch of Italian Roast.

If Cupid used coffee instead of arrows, this blend might as well be his weapon of choice.

Caffe Verona is a seductive blend of beans from Latin America and Indonesia, with a gentle touch of Italian Roast lending depth, soul and sweetness.

Because this delectable combination pairs so very well with chocolate, it has become a Valentine's Day favorite - and the coffee we most associate with romance. Bella, Bella!

Intensity: Bold

Food Pairings: Savor with a decadent chocolate mousse or chocolate-dipped fruit.

Origin Notes: A blend of 80% Yukon Blend®, an array of Latin American and Indonesian coffees; and, 20% Italian Roast - a blend of Latin American coffees.

My Notes:

Smell: chocolate, spice
Taste: smooth, coco, spice
After taste: bitter / acidic

This coffee is my new top of the list for this bold adventure

My preferences, best to worst, so far:
1) Caffe Verona
2) Italian Roast
3) Yukon
4) (STARBUCKS)RED
5) Komodo Dragon

You need to post your week #5 tasting notes here:

MSI Coffee Tasting Club Week #5 - Caffè Verona®

Additional Caffè Verona Links:

You Tube

Buy Here - Caffè Verona® by Starbucks Coffee 1-lb.

About the My Starbucks Idea (MSI) coffee tasting club

The My Starbucks Idea (MSI) coffee tasting club program was announced 3/2/2010 on MSI (My Starbucks Idea)

MSI-My Starbucks Idea Tasting Club

MSI Tasting Club Details

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

Komodo Dragon Blend™ by Starbucks Coffee

March 29-April 4

Spicy, herbal and earthy, each sip evokes the lushness of Indonesia.

Indonesia is the home of the world's largest lizard — the Komodo dragon — and this blend of Asia Pacific coffees bears its name. Spicy, herbal and earthy with a full body, each sip of Komodo Dragon Blend™ evokes the lushness of Indonesia.

More about this coffee: Indonesian coffees are known as the deep, stalwart elements of the coffee world. Komodo Dragon Blend— is wholly an Indonesian coffee.

Intensity: Bold

Food Pairings: With a wide array of complimentary flavors such as cheese, butter, herbs, cinnamon, oatmeal and maple, this coffee can be paired with a variety of different foods. Try it with a maple oat scone in the morning or an herbed focaccia bread in the afternoon.

Origin Notes: Some Asia Pacific coffees are known for their full body and rich, earthy flavors. Others possess herbal or spicy notes with a tangy crispness. Komodo Dragon Blend™ is a perfect balance of the region's complex and exotic characteristics.

MY NOTES:

Smell: citrus, spice, earthy
Taste: very acidic, citrus, burn
After taste: spice and citrus

This was way to acidic for my tastes. Luckily MilitiaJim loves this coffee, so he can drink it all and not need to fight me off!

My preferences, best to worst, so far:
1) Italian Roast
2) Yukon
3) (STARBUCKS)RED
4) Komodo Dragon

>>A Prior Review, making it at home

About the tasting club:

The program was announced 3/2/2010 on MSI (My Starbucks Idea)

MSI-My Starbucks Idea Tasting Club

MSI Tasting Club Details

You need to post your week #4 tasting notes here:

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

Additional Links:

You Tube

Buy Here - Komodo Dragon Blend™ by Starbucks Coffee 1-lb.