Starbucks Coffee
Willow Blend
| Roaster Location: | Seattle, Washington |
| Coffee Origin: | Latin America; East Africa. |
| Roast Level: | Medium |
| Agtron: | 53/64 |
| Est. Price: | $11.95/16 ounces |
| Review Date: | February 2012 |
| Aroma: | 8 |
| Acidity: | 7 |
| Body: | 7 |
| Flavor: | 7 |
| Aftertaste: | 7 |
Blind Assessment
Pleasing aroma: sweet-toned and deep; orange, fresh-cut fir, a rounding hint of caramel. The acidity is quiet, perhaps muted; the body is light though the mouthfeel hints at silkiness. Aromatics simplify in the cup, dampened by a slight woodiness. Fades very quickly to a mild astringency in the finish.
Notes
With this, one of two “Blonde” or medium-roasted blends, Starbucks breaks with its long commitment to dark-roasting. This blend, described as “Bright & Clean” is apparently aimed at those who prefer a brighter, more acidy cup than presented by any of Starbucks’ usual offerings. Visit
Who Should Drink It
This perhaps half-hearted rendition of a traditional medium roast may be aimed at Dunkin’ Donuts drinkers. It seems far too muted for those who enjoy the more assertive acidity and complex aromatics of coffees from the newer, trendier medium-roasters.
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This review originally appeared in the February, 2012 tasting report: Benchmarking the New Starbucks and Peet's Medium Roasts
