Starbucks coffee has become an iconic and ubiquitous presence in our lives. From the cafe culture of the early 2000s to now, the familiarity of its logo is unmistakable. Starbucks sources and roasts some of the world’s highest quality beans, crafting flavorful blends and customizing espresso blends while maintaining the same approach since it began in 1971. The unique and distinct Starbucks coffee experience is something many have come to cherish and desire. That experience is determined largely by how their coffee is made.
Starbucks begins the process by sourcing the highest quality Arabica beans, which account for almost all of their coffee. To ensure the best flavor is extracted, Starbucks predominantly uses the Clover brewing machines and full immersion brewing, a process where fresh ground coffee is steeped in water for up to four minutes. This process is used to bring out the beans’ vibrant flavors, making the extraction process more efficient, and producing a cup full of flavor and texture. Starbucks prides itself on staying ahead of the curve with its innovative brewing processes while maintaining the same roasting standards they have held since the beginning.
The company is also dedicated to being transparent about the processes that go into making their signature coffees, from farm to cup. They work with agronomists, geologists, meteorologists, and professionals from other fields who, together, are dedicated to a long-term approach to agronomy. This approach involves improving soil health and water conservation, thus investing in sustainable practices, not just for the current harvest, but also for future harvests. Starbucks has even received numerous sustainability and environmental awards for their practices.
The roasting process for Starbucks may be the most impactful and influential part of the coffee-making journey. Starbucks uses specialized roasting techniques to bring out flavor notes and help the time you spend in their cafes feel one-of-a-kind. Through blending beans of different origins, the flavor profile and taste of the coffee can be customized to bring out unique characteristics and fully bring out the aroma and flavor of the bean. The roasting temperatures are consistent at 205 to 210 degrees celsius and can be adjusted by time, yield and roast capacity.
Starbucks coffee also has a special finishing touch in what’s known as a tasting ritual. After the beans have been roasted and cooled, a tasting panel of coffee professionals with more than 130 collective years of coffee-tasting experience evaluate the coffee based on their standard taste profile. The coffee is then judged and certified to ensure it meets the highest standards of quality and taste for the perfect cup of Starbucks coffee.
Coffee Brewing Process
The brewing process for Starbucks begins with selecting the highest quality beans for the best flavor. In order to ensure that the flavor is extracted efficiently and maximized, Starbucks focuses on specific brewing processes, such as the use of the Clover machines and full-immersion brewing. This process is used to bring out the beans vibrant flavors, creating a cup full of flavor and texture without the addition of any artificial ingredients.
Roasting Process
Starbucks roasting process helps to bring out the flavor notes of the coffee beans, and is a key component of the exceptional flavor and aroma of their coffees. The temperatures remain consistent at 205 to 210 degrees celsius in order to enable the extraction process and create the right texture. Additionally, the beans can also be blended to customize the flavor profile and taste to bring out unique characteristics, creating a cup that is unique and satisfying.
Tasting Ritual
After the beans have been roasted and cooled, the coffee is tasted by a panel of coffee professionals. This panel has hundreds of collective years of coffee-tasting experience and are responsible for judging the coffee based on their set standards, ensuring that only the highest quality coffees make its way to the cup.
Sustainability Practices
In addition to the traditional processes of making coffee, Starbucks also remains dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and transparency of their products. They work with experts in various fields such as geologists and meteorologists to make sure that they are investing in practices that not only improve current harvests, but will also benefit future harvests.
