Coffee Review: Starbucks Tribute Blend

Starbucks does a pretty bad job at describing their coffees. Most of the time that's ok, because their coffees aren't always that interesting. Then there's a coffee that you enjoy, and they write the following:

Tasting Notes: Spicy and full-bodied with berry and dark cherry notes

Enjoy with:Outrageous Oatmeal Cookies and a long-time friend.

OriginMulti Region Blend

WTH(eck)?

Let's start with the fact I am drinking Starbucks' Tribute Blend. This was originally created for their 40th anniversary, and now is an annual special blend. The coffee comes from Papua New Guinea, Sumatra, Ethiopia and Colombia. 

It's a medium roast, but this IS Starbucks, so it's actually a light dark roast. The beans inside the bag were too glossy and oily looking for a medium. 

As for their tasting notes...you get the spicy part at the start of the sip. Dark cherry? Well....not so much, but you do get a roasty berry like sensation while drinking it. My guess it it's a bit heavier on the Sumatra side as this does have an earthy quality to it.

As I have said previously I usually like Starbucks seasonal blends. They are limited. I assume they are fresher than the horrible Pike Roast they try to sell. This is a great French Press coffee as it is on the dark side, so it lends itself better to this process than a Chemex. 

It's a fairly strong coffee. It's a 7 out of 10. On our Cher scale....this would be like Cher having a fight with Greg Allman, and they're both drunk, and they get a slap in there during a fight. You know it happened. 

Get some of this before Starbucks runs out. 

www.starbucks.com

Charlie