81	Starbucks Coffee Seattle, Washington Verona Roast: Very-Dark Review Date: May 2004 Origin: Not disclosed Price: NA

Blind Assessment: Decent enough in the aroma: sweetly pungent, balanced, intensely roasty with a twist of slightly charred cedar. In the cup sweet and pungent, but the charred cedar notes turn to charred board notes, expressionless and woody. A vague hint of fruit at the top of the profile. I hope the nominating reader tasted a better sample of the Verona than this one.

Notes: Verona is one of Starbucks' darker roasted blends. Starbucks' limited edition wholebean coffees are often outstanding, but the quality-dampening demands of sheer volume appear to have taken its toll on main-menu blends like the Verona. Visit www.starbucks.com or call 800-782-7282 for more information.

Who Should Drink It: Dark-roast drinkers who don't have other options.

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