Starbucks has announced that coming soon they will be adding flavored Via Ready Brew to the current line up of Via Ready Brew offerings available in store. This new flavored Via will be offered in four flavors: Mocha, Vanilla, Caramel, and Cinnamon Spice. Gossip is that this new product goes on sale in stores in the middle of October. Further gossip about this product includes that beginning mid-October, with the purchase of the largest size of any Via Ready Brew, one can get a free tall beverage under MyStarbucksRewards. One important word of caution here: The free tall beverage offering is just very loose gossip that I’ve heard and it has definitely not been confirmed by Starbucks. If I turn out to be totally wrong on that, I’ve given you fair warning that it was just guessing and gossip.
I haven’t yet tried this product which is one of the reasons I haven’t said very much about it. It’s a little bit tougher to get excited about a product when you simply don’t have a clue what it will taste like. I don’t totally object to the idea of flavored Via, but my gut tells me this would be better offered as part of the consumer products group of grocery store items. There previously had been tales of high pressure on baristas to sell Via, and I hope very much not to see or hear a repeat of that episode from about one year ago. For those that do not recall, Via Ready Brew was soft-launched in Seattle in March of 2009, and then a national launch in the U.S. in September 2009, with a slow expansion to the international markets since then. Via was launched in Japan April of 2010. When Via was launched in Japan, that market received a wide variety of really cool Via merchandise, including a Via Bearista Bear! It’s worth taking a look at their fun merchandise: (Please note, Via is called Via Coffee Essence in Japan, and not Via Ready Brew, but it is the same product).
Starbucks Via Coffee Essence merchandise in Japan
I’ve talked about Via Ready Brew several times in this blog, and you can find all the Via related blog posts by click on this link here:
StarbucksMelody.com Categories – Via Ready Brew
I’ve heard gossip that the Mocha flavored Via is described as a bittersweet cocoa flavor with a touch of vanilla. Cinnamon Spice is described as a cinnamon flavor with a hint of ginger and other spices. It sounds like they could be yummy. However I can’t reach a verdict until I’ve sampled these new offerings, and truthfully I probably have at least a month to wait before that will happen.
The floor is open to your thoughts about flavored Via Ready Brew.
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I don’t doubt that these new flavors may be ok, or even good, as flavored drinks go. They SHOULD at least be good for what they are. (since they come from Sbux) I am saddened they went in any flavor direction. with VIA and the regular coffee. I, too, would feel a little better about this if it would for grocery stores only. I have a real fear about the “VIA push”. My store has a hard time meeting the VIA quotas at this point, too. We also started selling it here last March..’09. Then when they came officailly out with it, later in the yr., it was just kind of crazy. They’d done nothing special to promote it when it came here in March and then suddenly: tastings, challenges etc. so much later.
I am not ‘against’ this, I haven’t tasted it yet but I would rather they hadn’t done it. (seeing what is already a problem in many stores with all the current VIA)
And, why offer the free tall drink with these (my manager also said this is true..?????) as opposed to the other $10.~/pck VIAs? more confusion is what I see.
I hope it’ll be released soon that I can buy it when I’m in the US in October…
VIA is developing sooo extremely fast…it seems like people love it!
I don’t really mind the flavored idea, it will be interesting to see how they taste. Back when we originally rolled VIA out, we were told that the lineup of offerings was going to expand. It has a little, with DCF Italian and Iced VIA. Before the flavered coffees, I would have rather seen something like Sumatra or Kenya in a VIA type offering
I don’t know anything about sales, but as a customer I’d love to try the flavored Via! Especially the vanilla and cinnamon spice, yum! Crossing my fingers the flavored Via will be released in Japan, too 😀
I hope they ease off the sales pressure this time around 🙁
and i can’t wait to try it, i’m a flavored coffee person (i know, for shame)
I agree with denise r. The question I have is whether or not the stores are the proper place to launch and sell these products.
VIA is quite simply, not for me. But I understand that there is a market for VIA and as a shareholder, I appreciate that Starbucks is going after that market.
I expected Starbucks to go after markets like this. Not because it goes with their “core,” but because Howard said as much in his Transformation Agenda when he said they would be:
capitalizing on the enormous, untapped potential for our brand
VIA is a great way to capitalize on the Starbucks brand. That said, the pressure to sell VIA in the cafes and the energy and focus it takes away from other things in the store may not be worth the effort.
Retail channels like Costco and Target are perfect for VIA. To be sure, the partners at the Starbucks cafes could offer coupons, samples, etc., but VIA really seems like a retail/consumer packaged good instead of something that should be offered in the cafes.
It’s great that VIA is now a $100 million + brand, however the SSC needs to look past that and determine how and where they take this moving forward. I realize that all of this is new for the SSC, but they really do need to think about their channel strategy and determine how best to use their advertising, social media and retail partners to extend their brand.
Think about “green apron-ed” samplers at Costco offering VIA samples to customers. That’s the right place for that type of pitch. I’m sure Starbucks could arrange something similar with Target. The incredible database of “My Starbucks Rewards” customers could be tapped to encourage foot traffic to their local Target to be the “first” to buy the latest VIA offering. Target would love such an opportunity.
My overall concern for Starbucks is the damage they could be doing to their brand at-large if they push these extensions at the cafe level as heavily as they have been.
There is a halo-effect to the cafes, but that halo can be tarnished. And VIA is oxidizing the cafe experience.
@Melody,
The VIA push has created some very unfortunate behavior in the stores. I have heard of managers putting VIA in travelers if a specific coffee is not requested. And that’s not the worst.
I for one have made a “deal” with my local Starbucks. I bought some VIA (but did not leave the store with it) on the condition that I would not be asked again.
If the VIA flavors are like the regular Starbucks flavored coffees, then I can’t wait to try it. It would definitely be a good way to satisfy my sweet tooth when I’m not near a coffee maker and escaping to a coffee shop isn’t an option.
Are these coffee flavors available in regular stores or simply Starbucks? I don’t recall seeing them in my regular supermarket (which carries a wide variety of coffee products).
(Reply @CD and @ FrenchBean)
@CD– Your story about Via in the travelers is shocking. I don’t even understand how that would work.
@FrenchBean – Starbucks produces a flavored coffee which is only available in your local grocery stores. They are called “Fusions”
My friend Mike Crimmins who produces a coffee blog reviewed the cinnamon one here:
http://dailyshotofcoffee.com/starbucks-natural-fusions-cinnamon-review/
I talked about the Vanilla Fusions here:
http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2010/08/22/starbucks-sends-melody-a-housewarming-gift-flavored-coffee-fusions-vanilla/
The “flavored Via Ready Brew” are not available at all yet, and are scheduled to be released in stores sometime in October.
@Melody
Hi Melody. First time commenter, but you know who I am on Twitter. 🙂
I just purchased a 12 pack of Starbucks VIA Columbia, and yes, the free tall beverage does exist. Basically, all they do is add a coffee refill to your account and swipe your registered Starbucks card, and presto, free coffee.
The flavored ones I’m definitely curious about, because if I’m not mistaken, this will be the first time they’ve entered the flavored coffee market – at least I’ve never seen nor heard of Starbucks flavored before. Overall, I think it’s a nice idea and definitely going to try them out when they arrive in stores.
Take care and have to say that I love your blog. 🙂 Think I’ve told you before, but just wanted to mentioned it again. 😉
Lonnie.
Hi Melody! New follower on Twitter/blogspot and first time commentor!!! I look forward to the flavored VIA as I am a fan of the first offering of VIA! Since I enjoy flavored coffee this is right up my alley!
I happen to be quite excited about the release of different VIA flavors. VIA is my favorite brand of instant coffee for not only baking but iced coffee as well. Majority of the time I forget to brew coffee to make iced coffee, and VIA always has my back. Though I do think it is a Starbucks product that should really be sold solely in grocery stores. To me, it screams “buy while grocery shopping,” not “buy when you order your double Pumpkin Spice Latte.”
Is Starbucks trying to become the “everyman’s” coffee like Folgers or Nestlé?
While IMHO Starbucks Via line and flavored coffee line are superior to Folgers and Nestlé, it is drawing Starbucks away from its roots.
Conversation with the Starbucks employees is no longer coffee centered but what product they are having to push now. Starbucks used to have Baristas and Coffee Masters that could lead the new or seasoned customer on a coffee adventure. In my area there are 9 Starbucks (plus 4 licensed stores) and only 1 Coffee Master/Black Apron to be seen (if there are more they are hiding) . Even though we are the 3rd largest population area in Washington State there are no stores deemed worthy of “Reserve Store” status — so we are the desert area of Washington in more ways than one ;0) .
So as Starbucks becomes just another fast food stop/drive-thru an opportunity is opening up for independent coffee artists dedicated to the joys of coffee and conversation.
(Yes Melody, new Gravatar. I know, not a cute as my cat.)
Look likes new Gravatar did not take. Sorry.
@Cd and @DadCooks –
@CD – I love the metaphor of the tarnished halo. Nicely said. I think that Starbucks can get away with a ton of new products and drinks, but the “how” they do it is critically important. In order for me to support Flavored Via (or many new innovations) the criteria has to be (1) It’s a delicious new product (2) It’s done in such a way not to deteriorate the classic “Starbucks Experience” – A Third Place does not have a pushy salesman. (3) It is done in such a way as not to interrupt coffee passion. Right now I really don’t know how Flavored Via will roll out and what will really be in terms of those three things I mentioned above – At this point, I’ve written with heavy caution because I don’t have enough information. I’m eager to actually TASTE this. It has to be a good product is the bottom line. I really hope it has more flavor than the Vanilla Fusions coffee that I tried.
@DadCooks – I apologize for the reply I’m about to give because it will make me sound very spoiled. Here in Seattle, I really still see a lot of black apron baristas, and a lot of passion for the coffee. It does exist. I think it is largely because we’re so close to the SSC. I know 2 Starbucks that have people from the Starbucks HQ coffee department who went back into the stores for a variety of reasons. These are people who really know coffee. But coffee passion at a Starbucks, even right in downtown Seattle, is pretty hit or miss. There are some high profile stores where it is more likely to be found: First and Pike, 7th and Pike, Columbia Center, and perhaps 4th and Seneca, 15th Avenue Coffee, and perhaps 505 Union Station.
I didn’t realize that there are no “Reserve” Starbucks near you?? I am guessing you’re in Eastern Washington? Or up north? It’s really a shame that the “Starbucks” experience can be so hit and miss at times. This is what I would call and have commented on before as the “schizophrenia” of Starbucks …
First of all, thanks so much for the great article on flavored Via. It seems like I’m getting more and more information from YOU and less and less info from my STORE.
My main concern is the (potential) free drink with purchase of VIA. I was always told that we didn’t need to “cheapen our coffee” by offering a “gimmick” to get people to buy our coffee.
Any idea when we’ll start seeing this in the stores for PARTNER SAMPLES!? I’m pretty super excited to get my hands on this and try it 🙂
I would be curious as to how Via sells in different stores in different regions. At the SB stores I frequent, I see more Via on the shelves and very few customers purchasing it. Will having a flavored version change this? Since I do not drink coffee, is Via a really good instant coffee? I sort of agree that Via is better marketed in the supermarket than in the store.
I guess the whole pledge about not selling flavored coffee at Starbucks has gone out the window. When Howard talked about skewering sacred cows, who knew that he was referring to the core of our coffee heritage, eh?
Just yesterday I went to a neighboring store and witnessed the SM ring up my venti iced coffee as VIA. Once I presented my partner card, I started seeing minus signs on the till until I was ring up properly. Funny, since VIA is nowhere remotely near any beverages on POS. And I wasn’t offered a sample, or asked for a purchase. We are all tired of being asked to shove it down people’s throats, and it’s one of the top reasons this 4-year-partner and coffee master is looking for the exit. Sorry to say since Starbucks used to be about the coffee, but ever since Pike Place it’s been a disgusting train wreck.
When I drank Via for the first time in March of the last year, I expected release of flavored Via Ready Brew.
Starbucks VIA gave the instant coffee market innovation. I think that its possibility is infinite.
Starbucks releases VIA this month in the Philippines. It is release of the second Asian region. I predict that the release suggests the first LEED store setting in Manila.
But Starbucks does not yet release VIA in China and Korea and Taiwan and other. I mean, a huge market still waits for it.
@BayAreaBux – I’m shocked that those Via tactics are still going on. I believe you that there have been and are some shady register procedures to sell Via, but it really seems like there is less pressure where I am. To give you an example … Tonight, about an hour ago, I dropped into a Starbucks in North Seattle. Not one I usually go to. No partner recognized me. I told the partners working that I produce a blog. As often happens, they look at me a little puzzled. The bar barista was curious what I write about, and we got onto the conversation of t-shirts … from the recent blog post. We had a great conversation, and he offered to give me an extra promotional (old) t-shirt that he had in the back!! Once I got the shirt I felt so appreciative, and I said, “Is there anything you want me to buy?” (because I get that stores have ‘goals’). He just looked at me and said, “no”. I insisted … “Are you sure? Isn’t there something you’ve got a goal for?”. He looked at me, paused, finally said, “if you really want to buy something, you could get a pound of Anniversary Blend.” I took him up on that, because after all, we’ll use the Anniversary Blend at home. I would assume that if there was some high pressure Via goal, that he would have suggested Via, and the funny thing is I’ve had similar conversations a couple of times, where I asked the barista “What should I buy?” and the barista looks stumped for an answer. I had a similar conversation with a barista about a year ago at University Village where, after I ordered my Clover, I said, “Is there anything else I should buy?” (just in case a barista wants to suggest something- I’m open to suggestions) and the University Village barista was totally stumped and literally could not suggest a thing.
You know, VIA is great and all for certain people, but I’m really discouraged by this whole “flavoured coffee” trend. What happened to us being the premier purveyors of the finest coffee? Everyone else does flavoured coffee to death, and I don’t like the pressure to sell VIA (which honestly, I consider to be an inferiour product). I sold more Anniversary blend with sampling out a single French Press one night than I have sold in Iced VIA all summer with constant sampling. Starbucks does real coffee well- I’d like incentive to sell it too! 🙂
Mel, I really enjoyed reading this post! I can’t wait to try flavoured VIA since I already enjoy the standard VIA products. However, I agree that these new offerings should be reserved for grocery stores. I think flavoured VIA would be a bigger hit in grocery stores than in Starbucks stores exclusively.
Can’t wait to read your post on the new products once you’ve tried them!
@sbuckspassion
I have mixed feelings about what this move means for Starbucks as a brand. Via is an adequate product on its own, but the Iced Via is way too sweet, and this flavored Via is yet another step away from pure coffee (almost like a instant spinoff from the flavored Fusions coffee). Still, it’s a product I hope I’m able to sample—not only as a hot beverage, but also in mixed concoctions.
When there’s a larger wall of VIA (already, w/out the flavors!) than there is of whole bean coffee…..something is wrong. That’s how I feel.
And, to javatyger and the idea of a free drink with a 12pck of VIA? were you saying that happens? I’ve been buying VIA (as emergency needs!) since it came out here in March ’09 and that free tall drink has never happened.
If that is true, even just for the ‘flavors’, then I just see more and more confusion at the register. They haven’t even gotten it straight yet about the free tall drink w/ a # of beans! How can this possibly go smoothely.
too much inconsistency and lack of info. to the partners..it seems.
I love the Via, though I haven’t tried the iced yet, and I actually happened on this blog because I was on the Starbucks idea site to see if anybody had suggested flavored Via and clicked on Melody’s comment and found her blog. However, I usually tend to buy it at wholesale stores like Costco because it’s a bit less expensive. I do like that they gave free samples in the Starbucks stores for a while, and I hope they do the same with the flavored varieties. When I got my free sample, I liked it and came back and bought a pack from the store I purchased it from, then I began purchasing from the wholesale stores because of the better prices. If there’s such a push to sell it in the Starbucks stores, maybe they need to come down on the price a bit.
@javatyger @Nob @Superlativity
@Superlativity – Hey welcome to the site! Hope you’ll poke around more of these threads and join the conversation. You can find old blog posts with the archive page or the categories page.
@Nob – A LEED store in Manila sounds like a good guess to me. And you predicted Flavored Via too? When Starbucks announcement the project to build LEED registered stores as part of a pilot program, they specifically said the stores would be built in many different geographies. Manila could be next.
@JavaTyger – RIght now there is no official Starbucks Reward under MyStarbucksRewards that gets a customer a free tall beverage with the purchase of the 12 pack size of Via. I know that I would NOT get a tall free drink in Seattle for my purchase. Of course, your store might be giving away free drinks just to sell the Via … That kind of gets to the crux of the problem with Via. Lots of tactics used to sell it.
Does anyone else think that Starbucks is giving away a million and one free drinks these days? Of course with all the free beverages going out the door, they will have to step up the pressure to sell merchandise and other items. Unless of course the profit on one single drink is so huge that it can absorb the numerous free drinks given out under MyStarbucksRewards, or the tall beverages with a pound of beans, or other free drinks.
I am actually not too sure how many free drinks are given away at the two SB locations I go to. When I get a chance to sit down for a bit, I do not see many free postcards being given in. I miss the 10% discount, but I enjoy the free drinks especially when I collect them knowing I will be traveling. I still think SB could expand the rewards to offer other options.
Thanks for the welcome Melody, I’ll poke around a bit.
As far as the free drinks under the rewards program go, if you read the posts from former Gold card members who were on the old program, Starbucks now does not give away enough drinks. Everywhere you look people are asking for more discounts, more free drinks, more coupons. It seems like this stuff is the reason they buy from Starbucks, when, IMHO, you should be buying Starbucks because you like it, and anything free is an added perk. I personally didn’t have the old Gold card because I didn’t want to pay for it. I like that the current program rewards customers who buy things. Could it be revamped a little, yes. Should it just be a give-away free-for-all? No.
Melody, I get the impression that some Starbucks Stores have goals set by their DM in addition to to those set by Starbucks Home Office. I also know that Store Managers set goals. All this is to be expected in the retail world.
Some Baristas have a talent for working the promo script into their normal banter and know how to vary it so everyone in line does not get the same “would you like fries with that”. ;0)
Regarding your earlier comment to me, I am glad you feel spoiled in Seattle. We used to be spoiled here in the Tri-Cities, but now we seem to have been forgotten. I also agree that the Starbucks experience can be hit or miss which is not a good sign for any business with many locations. This summer I have spent about 6-weeks over the past 4-months in Seattle in what I call the hospital district, but I think is actually called the hill. I frequented 2 Starbucks on Madison Street that while within a block of each other (same side of street too) were entirely different in basic clientele and barista attitude.
Not much into flavored coffees, but I am looking forward to trying the cinnamon spice.
@DadCooks – the hospital district on First Hill, also know as “Pill Hill”!
Perhaps it’s just me, but I still have a difficult time understanding why it seems so foreign that baristas should have a promotional focus to sell. I remember back in the day, having sales pressure from above to hit a certain % of Frappuccinos sold as Venti. Some customers got agitated with my “Would you like to make that a Venti today? Just 50 cents more for 50% more!” pitch, but I think they were the same ones who got agitated when I asked them how their day was going and expected an answer other than “Grande Caramel Frap” as they tossed their credit card on the counter.
The way I see VIA, it’s part of the Starbucks ideal that every coffee drinker, regardless of how they choose to consume their coffee, should have the highest quality coffee available to them. VIA trumps other instants. Natural Fusions trumps other flavoreds. Flavored VIA will trump other flavored instants. It’s about taking the same passion and care that has gone into WB coffee for nearly 40 years and applying that coffee excellence to previously underserved coffee formats.
As for selling it in stores or not, I can understand how introducing a new product that may be met with skepticism is going to be most likely to succeed if you lead off with your biggest fans, selling it in your stores. I can just picture Howard and the executives trying to win over supermarket and warehouse chains without sales data to back the idea up. Showing that the product sold – say what you will about the pressure to move it in certain districts and regions, I know plenty of people who have made it part of their regular ritual because it’s a quality product – was how we got the Targets and Costcos of the world to buy in. Flavored VIA is no different.
Besides, does anyone else want to get yelled at by angry customers who drove three blocks out of their way to a Starbucks, only to find out your store doesn’t carry every single Starbucks product?
@Melody the traveler story isn’t as bad as it sounds. Buy a 12-pack of VIA and I’ll give you a Joe to Go of hot water and the accompanying condiments to make your own traveler. Faster for the customer who doesn’t have to wait for me to brew a traveler in the middle of the morning rush, and faster for me not having to interrupt the brewed coffee cadence to make an extra pot. A little cheaper for the customer, and it moves VIA sales.
I think of it as offering an Americano instead of having to wait for a brewed coffee – I’d still be happy to make you a pour over or brew a fresh pot, but if you aren’t that picky or can’t afford to wait I can save us both a little time.
@oldtimer – There is a definite distinction to be drawn between selling a good product because it offers unique flavor and versatility, AND selling a product through the means associated with low-end less esteemed brands. Marketing experts understand that if you sell your product like a used car salesman or a fast food joint tactic, your brand association becomes equated with that. Again, it is NOT what is being sold often, but HOW it is being sold. Additionally, you will only rarely see any up-sell tactics in Seattle, and certainly not what you see at a very high end retailer. Compare going to McDonald’s with going to a nice Tom Douglas restaurant dinner. Starbucks needs to take the high road. Don’t try to tell me that the company will suddenly go under if Starbucks baristas stop being pushy. Not true. Definitely not true. But again, I am 100% spoiled rotten in my little area 10. Baristas here are generally top of the line great. I have heard more than one Seattle barista tell me that they treat every customer as if he or she is an SSC executive that they have not yet met.
Melody I am especially taken with your last comment about how baristas view their customers in Seattle. If only the baristas all over the country felt the same way! I know it is off the subject of selling Via, but I really think it is true that the SB experience in Seattle is way different than other SB experiences in other parts of the country. If I could only convince DM that the connection with the customer and the barista is so important. Sure everyone has a bad day now and then, but when you walk into a SB with a barista in a bad mood and she/he takes it out on the customer, well it ruins your day!
@Melody – Certainly didn’t mean to come across that way… Just trying to play Devil’s Advocate! There is definitely a distinction to be made between the partner (and customer!) experience from district to district, region to region, etc. I’ve never once seen a message come down from Corporate On High saying “do this or you’re fired” or any of the other awful experiences I’ve heard rumors of. The issue seems to be more with field leadership middle managers who are well-intentioned but flawed in their execution, creating their own policies and cultures which are at odds with how the true Starbucks policy-makers actually intended for things to go. In my market it’s certainly not an issue, nor have I experienced it as a customer at various stores.
I wonder if those same RDs and RVPs would go talk to Target and Costco about being the sole retailers for VIA if they were given the option. Can’t discount local cultures and how consumers from region to region choose to shop. But would the Target and Costco regional execs buy in? Or would you all of a sudden see it at the 7-11 next door to a Starbucks, wedged between 5 hour energy and Jolt caffeine gum?
In the interests of conversation, maybe a little friendly debate… I still stand by my observation that new products are easier to sell to national contracts if you can back them up with sales data, which is why VIA was in Starbucks stores before any CPG carried it. Had to show it would sell in a country that hasn’t embraced instant coffee, and Starbucks fans are most likely to encounter it and try it in a Starbucks store. Used car tactics from those isolated regions notwithstanding, the experience you have in Seattle is how it was supposed to go everywhere – at least that’s what I’ve seen, and as a believer in this company it’s what I choose to believe. Passionate partners who get excited about the product will get customers excited about the product, and build up enthusiasm so that it flies in other retailers as well. I really hope that when the Flavored VIA details come down the line they reflect this.
Thanks for keeping us updated, Melody!
@Melody haha 🙂 yes I like VIA it’s great to keep in my desk for when I can’t get away, and it’s much better than the flavia nonsense they try and pass off as coffee. Oh, oh my, that’s awful she tried to pitch instant over brewed – she should have at least offered a pour over or press!
@CoffeeVanilla I agree it should only be in grocery stores or at least not in starbucks itself!
I still want to try the fusions, but don’t want a whole bag, I hope they come in small 1 pot bags soon for the holidays.
@DadCooks I do feel it may pull them away from their roots, but they need to grow, if companies don’t grow they get in trouble. I feel they could do it well if they kept via out of the stores and stuck to selling it only in grocery stores. I almost wish they had branded it under “seattle’s best” or one of their other names. I love that at the same time they’re reaching for the instant coffee market they are pushing ahead with the new coffee reserves line.
(posting blind, sorry) BOO and boo. That’s what I think. IF they were only going to be sold in grocery stores, then not as big a boo. But now, instead of saying “no, we don’t sell flavored coffees” we have to say that we do. it totally takes away from selling beans and from coffee education. They’ve sold out. Really sad. (And yes they will be out the middle of October (not gossip..;) )
I look forward to trying it and then making a verdict. I personally think Via is great when you are in a pinch and brewing is not an option; but hate the pressure to sell Via. This fall as been the first reasonable goal since its’ release. Nice to finally hit a target again!
It’s ironic that at one time, Starbucks said that they’d never sell instant or flavored coffee, and now they’re going to be selling instant coffee that’s flavored. I’m certainly not too thrilled about this, but one thing that I’m glad about is that VIA is at least very good quality considering that it’s instant.
ok this is what REALLY IRKS Me! AND YES I KNOW I’M YELLING. sorry…
this coming period, instead of being encouraged to do a REAL coffee tasting (i.e. anniversary vs. Antigua (I think it was?) , it’s all about flavored via. As if that is the same thing! Sorry, tasting flavoured via is not the same as making 2 french presses and finding flavour notes and paring ect. Really not ok! I makes me want to write nasty things in sharpie all over the “sampling” sheet …(now that I’ve got that off my chest)
*pairing
I was given four sample packets (one of each new flavor) today in a Safeway that also has an in-store Starbucks. Haven’t tried it yet, but it appears that this stuff is like the Iced VIA in the sense that it is in bigger packets w/sugar, but also like the “Hot” VIA in the sense that it makes 8oz (maybe 12oz if you want it weaker) not 16oz. Also, going by the instructions on the back of the packet, it seems that these new flavors are only hot water mixable, not cold-water mixable like the Iced VIA. But maybe I’m wrong about all of the above, I’m a little confused about how this product fits into the current Hot vs Iced VIA varieties.
Flavoured Via is delish! My boyfriend is a manager there, and brought home some for me to try out. I tried all four flavours, and I would have to say the Vanilla is the best of them all. You can make them cold too, but I find them tastier hot.
I wasn’t that crazy about VIA when it first was released, but it really is a great product. The days where we are out of coffee, it’s an instant “Oh, we have some VIA!” It’s a great little just in case, if it’s not something you want to drink regularly.
XO
As a starbucks employee I can tell you, you do get a free drink with purchase of the 12 pack flavored via. ;)!!
Nicole, sounds like a great deal! All the more incentive to buy flavored VIA 😀
Hi there, does anyone of you lovely people know if this flavored VIA is available in Holland as well? I just came back from the States and totally missed the update on this. I’m a Starbucks addict, so I’d love to try these new flavors.
I got the Mocha VIA you sent me—THANKS!—and I’ve tried it. When I tried it, I just used the hot water, so I’m curious to see how it tastes with milk. It’s good for when I need a boost but I can’t make a trip to Starbucks, that’s for sure!