Coffee beans are the lifeblood of the beverage industry, and Starbucks are experts when it comes to sourcing, roasting and brewing the best possible coffee. Starbucks may be one of the most recognizable global coffee brands, but the company only sources its beans from the highest-quality farms around the world. In order to bring the perfect taste to their customers, Starbucks works directly with farmers to find the ideal blend for their product.
When it comes to sourcing beans, Starbucks is selective. They use a variety of criteria to determine which farms to partner with. Most importantly, the beans have to meet their standards for quality and flavor. Starbucks also seeks out farms with strong sustainability practices, meaning they avoid, reduce, and offset all emissions associated with the production of their coffee. This includes emissions from roasting, brewing and packaging.
Once Starbucks has sourced the beans, they begin the roasting process. The company has perfected its roast profile to produce a rich, flavorful cup of coffee. Their signature blend is a combination of beans from Latin America, Africa and Indonesia. The beans are then blended and roasted under intense heat, which brings out the flavor and aroma.
Brewing the perfect cup of coffee is also an art that Starbucks has mastered. From manual pour-over techniques to sophisticated automatic drip machines, the process is designed to ensure the best possible result. The company also offers a variety of drinks that can be tailored to individual tastes, such as cappuccinos, frappuccinos, lattes and iced coffees.
Finally, Starbucks takes their coffee-making process one step further by adding their own unique flavor to their products. The company uses natural ingredients to create syrups, spices and other flavorings, which can be added to the coffee to create delicious and unique drinks. For example, the popular Pumpkin Spice Latte features a syrup made from real pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
At the end of the day, Starbucks’ commitment to sourcing the best beans and then expertly roasting and brewing them is what sets them apart from other coffee companies. With the combination of quality and creativity, the company has become the go-to destination for coffee lovers around the world.
The Sourcing Process
Starbucks’ sourcing process begins long before the beans are picked. It starts with building relationships with farm cooperatives and smallholder farmers. By forming these relationships, Starbucks is able to learn more about the coffee-growing process and ensure that their standards of quality and sustainability are being met.
Once they’ve identified the farms they’ll be working with, Starbucks then sends auditors to the farms to make sure they’re meeting the company’s requirements. This includes inspecting the farms for environmental, social and labor standards. Once the farms have been vetted, Starbucks will then purchase the coffee beans at a fair and equitable price.
Starbucks’ Coffee Sourcing Team also works closely with the farmers to ensure the beans are picked and processed in the most sustainable way possible. This includes training farmers on how to use sustainable farming practices and helping them to make a living wage.
The team also takes an active role in improving supply chain efficiencies. By looking at areas such as packaging, transport, logistics and storage, Starbucks is able to reduce its environmental footprint and pass cost savings onto the farmer.
The Roast Profile
Starbucks uses a variety of roast profiles – from light and delicate to dark and bold – to bring out the unique characteristics of each coffee bean. The company’s master roasters have developed their own painstaking roasting process to ensure a consistent flavor and aroma with each batch.
The process begins with the beans being sorted and inspected to make sure they meet Starbucks’ quality standards. Then they’re roasted in a rotating drum to bring out their flavor and aroma. Different roast levels are used to bring out the natural sweetness or acidity of the beans. For example, beans roasted to a light roast will bring out the sweetness, while a dark roast will extract a bolder flavor.
Once the beans are roasted, they are immediately cooled and packaged to preserve the freshness. The packages are then sent to Starbucks’ stores around the world, ready to be expertly brewed into one of their signature beverages.
Archive and Reserve Coffees
Starbucks also offers limited-edition coffees from its Reserve and Archive range. The Reserve and Archive blends are selected from the best beans from around the world and roasted and brewed to perfection. They are then small-batch released to Starbucks stores with a unique flavor profile.
The background and stories of each Reserve and Archive coffee are shared, allowing customers to connect with the product and learn about the unique journey it took before it ended up in their cup. As the success of these coffees is largely dependent on the terroir and growing conditions, each vintage is unique.
Creating Customer Experiences
Starbucks’ mission to create the perfect cup of coffee extends beyond the sourcing, roasting, and brewing of the beans. The company also works hard to create an experience that goes above and beyond the average coffee shop. This includes creating inviting stores, offering food and drinks designed to pair perfectly with each coffee and providing outstanding customer service.
Starbucks also uses technology to provide customers with a more personalized experience. Through its loyalty program, customers can order their drinks through the mobile app and pick them up from their local store. There are also options for ordering drinks ahead of time and making in-store payments with Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Commitment to Sustainability
As a company, Starbucks is dedicated to sustainability. They only partner with certified farms that meet their stringent environmental and labor standards, and their roasting process follows the principles of sustainable agriculture. They have also committed to using compostable and recyclable cups, as well as working towards reducing energy and water consumption in their stores.
Starbucks is also committed to helping smallholder farmers become more sustainable and profitable. Through their Farmer Support Centers and Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices, the company is working to build a more equitable coffee supply chain and ensure farmers are compensated fairly.
Starbucks’ commitment to sourcing and roasting top-quality beans and creating an immersive customer experience is part of what sets the company apart. With their focus on sustainability and quality, Starbucks continues to be an industry leader in the world of coffee.
