Indonesian coffees are at the opposite end of the spectrum from Latin American coffees. Usually full-bodied and smooth, low in acidity, and often possessing earthy and exotic taste elements. This group includes Estate Java, Sumatra Boengie, Papua New Guinea and Sulawesi. Dark Roasts use coffees of varying geographic origins to provide a specific range of flavors, from the caramel spice of Espresso, to the smoky tang of Italian Roast, to the pungent roastiness of French Roast. The difference at Starbucks is using specific, varietal-quality coffees in each dark roast blend.
Blends combine varietal tastes to create greater complexity and completeness.
Typically, a blend might play off Central American acidity with Indonesian smoothness, or spice up a delicate varietal with the tang of a dark roast. Blending, at its best, is high art, offering a unity in diversity which few straight coffees can match. At Starbucks, we blend according to taste, using premium quality beans to create a balanced brew, harmonious in body, acidity and aroma, seeking an overall flavor that is greater than the sum of its parts. Whatever the reason, Starbucks is here to ensure that these deserving souls are not condemned to drink the thin, flavorless decaffeinated blends sold in supermarkets. We are proud to offer a complete selection, both in water and traditional processes, in regular and dark roasts.