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87

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

100% Kona Coffee

Roaster Location: Seattle, Washington
Coffee Origin: Kona growing region, “Big Island” of Hawaii.
Roast Level: Medium-Dark
Agtron: 39/46
Est. Price: $34.50/8.8 ounces
Review Date: June 2015
Aroma: 8
Acidity: 7
Body: 7
Flavor: 8
Aftertaste: 7

Blind Assessment

Quiet, roasty, chocolaty. Scorched oak, buttery dark chocolate, a hint of lemon in aroma and cup. Crisp, roast-toned acidity; lean though silky mouthfeel. A roasty chocolate dominates in the finish.

Notes

This is a limited edition coffee, one of an array of very select small-lot coffees that together demonstrate the entry of Starbucks into the new, highest-end specialty coffee arena. This coffee and most of the rest of the Starbucks Reserve coffees, including all of those that can be purchased online or at other Starbucks locations, are roasted on a largish batch-roaster located on the lower level of the Reserve Roastery, and based on our sampling are generally roasted somewhat darker than the highest-end coffees like those that are only sold scooped out of bulk bins at the Seattle location. For further information visit www.starbucks.com/roastery.

Who Should Drink It

Kona is not a particularly distinctive origin to start with, and here a rather aggressive dark roast doesn’t leave much origin character behind for speculation. We do get some scorchy, buttery dark chocolate, however, and a tickle of lemon.

Explore Similar Coffees

Click here for more reviews from Starbucks Reserve Roastery

Click here for more information about coffees from Hawaii


This review originally appeared in the June, 2015 tasting report: New Starbucks Reserve Coffees

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