• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Coffee Review

The World's Leading Coffee Guide

Advanced Search

Shop for Award-Winning 100% Kona Coffees at Hula Daddy

  • Reviews
    • Latest Reviews
    • Top-Rated (94+)
    • Espressos
    • Best Values
    • Taiwan Coffees – 台灣送評的咖啡豆
    • Top 30 Coffees of 2020
    • Top 30 – Past Rankings
    • Pods and Capsules
    • Reviews by U.S. City
    • Advanced Search
  • Reports
    • Latest Reports
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia-Pacific
    • Espressos
    • Annual Top 30
    • Processing Method
    • Social/Environmental
    • Tree Variety
    • Blends
  • Equipment
    • The New Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
    • Mid-Range Burr Coffee Grinders
    • Electric Gooseneck Kettles
    • Interpreting Equipment Ratings
  • Journal
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Kenneth Davids
    • Our Team
    • Our Advertisers
    • Our Sponsors
    • Learn
      • Interpreting Coffee Reviews
      • Reference
      • Glossary
    • Contact Us
  • Trade
    • 2021 Editorial Calendar
    • Becoming an Advertiser
    • Campaign Package Deals
    • Getting Coffees Reviewed
    • Quoting Reviews
    • Award Certificates
    • Media Kit
  • 中文 – Chinese
    • 台灣送評的咖啡豆
    • 如何將您的咖啡送評
    • “行銷攻略” 促銷活動
  • Members
    • WHY BECOME A MEMBER?
    • Member Benefits
    • Our Sponsors
    • Programs and Initiatives
    • Member Support

Starbucks: Judging Reserve and Reserving Judgment

December 9, 2014 by Ron Walters

The recently debuted Starbuck’s Reserve Roastery in Seattle is garnering a lot of attention.  Starbucks describes their new venture as an “Immersive Combination of Cafe, Roastery, and Restaurant” that offers the”Rarest of Coffees from Around the Globe, Roasted to Perfection.”

Roast Magazine and Daily Coffee News have published a couple pieces about it:

Inside Starbucks’ New Reserve Line HQ, A Shrine to Company and Coffee

Opinion: Starbucks’ Upmarket Model and the Big Business of Little Bars

Lots of folks will shoot down the concept and store just because it’s Starbucks… you know, the “dark side” or “evil empire,” the epitome of all things bad about big corporations.  The wolf is donning sheep’s clothing, posing as an elite roastery and cafe, preparing to devour small, upscale roasters and cafes around the country.

We certainly cheer for the small guys too.  But, we don’t see Starbucks as inherently bad.  At Coffee Review, we blindly and objectively evaluate and rate coffees based on their merits.  We’ll reserve judgment on Starbucks’ Reserve until we can actually cup their coffees.

In the meantime, if you’re interested on how Starbucks coffees have fared in blind cuppings at Coffee Review, read our blog post from October:

How Does Starbucks Rate?

Filed Under: Journal Tagged With: featured

Primary Sidebar

Shop for Top-rated coffees at Barrington Coffee Roasters

Shop for top-rated coffees at Paradise Roasters

Shop for top-rated coffees at Kakalove in Taiwan

Shop at Wonderstate Coffee, formerly Kickapoo Coffee

Shop for 94-point Ka'u Maragogipe at Big Island Coffee

Shop for No. 15 Coffee of 2020 at Hala Tree Kona Coffee

Shop for top-rated coffees at GoCoffeeGo

Dragonfly Banner - 300x250

Shop for top-rated coffees at Durango Coffee Company

Shop for top-rated coffees at JBC Coffee Roasters

Receive 30% Off First Order at Trade Coffee

Shop for top-rated nespresso compatible pods at Difference Coffee

Shop for top-rated coffees at Amavida Coffee Roasters

Shop at Rhetoric Coffee

Shop for 94-point Costa Rica coffee at Peach Coffee Roasters

Become an advertiser

Shop for top-rated coffees at Paradise Roasters

Get Coffees Reviewed

Shop for top-rated coffees at JBC Coffee

Dragonfly Banner - 300x250

Connect with Us

Sign Up for Our Free E-Newsletter

Enter your email address below to receive our free e-mail newsletter
  • Coffee Reviews
  • Tasting Reports
  • Reference
  • Glossary
  • Please Support Our Advertisers
  • Contact Us
  • Journal
  • Kenneth Davids
  • Interpreting Coffee Reviews
  • Roast Definitions
  • Caveats about Coffee Ratings
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Getting Coffees Reviewed
  • Advertising Opportunities
  • Quoting Reviews
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Security

Copyright © 2021 Coffee Review. All Rights Reserved.