Thanksgiving Blend is here! Starting November 3, 2009, Thanksgiving Blend arrives in the stores! This coffee was first launched as a new Starbucks blend on November 4, 2008 and due to its popularity, it returns again in 2009. Famed chef Tom Douglas helped create this blend which is meant to be a wonderful companion to a Thanksgiving feast at your dinner table. The coffee is primarily a blend of Sumatra and Guatemalan Antigua beans. In November 2008, there was a cupping at the Starbucks Support Center where a few customer joined in the event, and Tom Douglas briefly spoke about Thanksgiving Blend. Video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7BeTLud2T4
Coffeemaster Anthony Carroll and Tom Douglas together created and blended this coffee, and there is an informative video about the creation of this coffee is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf7Y-y-muoc
The coffee stamps for this post are the 2008 and 2009 stamps side by side. Notice that the 2008, initial launch year stamp, is undated.
Starbucks gives some coffee tasting information about Thanksgiving Blend as follows:
Flavor: Subtle spice, cocoa notes, hints of fine herbs
Body: Full
Complementary Flavors: Herbs, savory dishes, cheeses and desserts like gingerbread and cheesecake
Processing Method: Washed and semi-washed
Location: A blend of heavy-bodied coffees from Guatemala Antigua and Sumatra
Enjoy!
(Thank you again to Larry of Seattle Custom Framing for the photography of the Thanksgiving Blend coffee stamps)
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Oh boy I have 1 more coupon for a free brewed coffee from that rigged Via comparison. Maybe I can use it for a free Thanksgiving blend.
I owe a barista named Jasmine a three pound purchase and she reminded me that Turkey Blend was arriving this week.
I missed out on Thanksgiving Blend last year, so I’m looking forward to trying it this year. I didn’t realize it had both Sumatra and Guatemala Antigua! Blending Asia/Pacific and Latin American beans should be an interesting combination. I even like the stamp. Great post, Melody!
Thanks for posting this, Melody! I was a little disturbed when I got mine today and coudn’t get ANYONE at the store to tell me what it was like…though I did hear a (very quiet) barista say it was like Anniversary blend because “they’re both blends”. Uhm, yeah.
I’m going to brew a small pot in a little bit- I have my fingers crossed that I like it! 🙂
The baristas at my store are crazy over it! It is a good coffee! I regret that last year I forgot my pound of Thanksgiving Blend at home when I went to my grandma’s for a turkey feast. 🙁 I cannot forget this year!
Gobble…Gobble…Gobble!!!
I like this blend too! It hold a special place in my heart due to the Leadership Conference and the largest coffee tasting ever! 10000 of us and Dub on the stage… precious.
I wish that they would bring Thanksgiving Blend to Canada every year. Our Thanksgiving is over now though.
I’m still curious as to the % of Guatemala and Sumatra. Wish someone could tell me :-/
We are not lucky because we don’t Thanksgiving Blend in Canada… However i forgot who said it but it would be bizarre drinking it out of red cups 😉
I actually thought the same until today! One of the stores I frequent was brewing it. I was shocked! Weird that it would come to Canada AFTER our Thanksgiving is over.
I am SO looking forward to trying the new thanksgiving blend 🙂
Hello Melody, I had the opportunity to try Thanksgiving Blend today. I wasn’t sure if the coffee was “old” or “weak” but I’m sorry to say my first impression was not favorable. I didn’t taste any distinct flavors??? And tell me if I’m wrong, but it seemed very acidic. But I am going to buy some this Friday and do my own taste tests this weekend. In a press, drip and even in my moka pot. I will let you know. Good Coffee Day to You! Jolene
I tried mine yesterday and I like it. It’s not nearly as special as I thought it would be, but it’s pleasant.
It does seem weird to have a Thanksgiving blend when it seem to be instant Christmas once Halloween was over. Almost doesn’t seem worth it.
Oooh. This sounds really good. I’m excited to try it.
I still believe that there is definitely some Casi Cielo in this coffee.
Just wanted to say thanks again for your good work on the Thanksgiving Blend blog post. A partner and I had a coffee tasting with about 20-30 customers yesterday and we tasted Guatemala and Sumatra side by side and then Thanksgiving Blend. Your blog post gave us much useful information for our tasting. We’ll have another on December 5, this one with Christmas Blend of course. I hope you might write a post on Christmas Blend before then 🙂
Had a cup of this earlier today. What I really love about Thanksgiving Blend is how it’s both smooth and a little spicy. Guatemala and Sumatra is a smart pair for this.
The goal was to create a blend of coffees that paired well with foods we associate with the holiday, and the notes of the herbs and spices really make a great coffee to pair with a meal. There’s also some buttery notes. Who doesn’t love butter?
The blog is coming along nicely, Mel! Keep it up.
Miles
seventysix [76]
I finally got a free cup of Thanksgiving blend for my last coupon from that rigged Via comparison. While it is better than Pike’s Puke, it was still worth exactally what I paid for it.
I just bought a pound for thanksgiving dinner as a present for my mom (who is cooking) – i hope i didn’t buy it too early
Hi Nathan & everyone: The MSI blogs have been updated with a blog post on Thanksgiving Blend from coffee master Anthony Carroll:
http://blogs.starbucks.com/blogs/customer/archive/2009/11/20/would-you-like-some-coffee-with-your-thanksgiving-dinner.aspx — Or short link to this blog is here …
http://bit.ly/86S8MT
^ I would have worked through another draft of writing before posting that. A few run on and unclear sentences, but it still is a wonderful coffee blend! (And notice in one sentence a coffee is ‘Acidy’ and in the same sentence a coffee has a lot of ‘acidity’).