Flavored Via Ready Brew is coming soon to a Starbucks near you. It arrives October 14, 2010. There are four flavors of this new Flavored Via: Cinnamon, Vanilla, Mocha, and Caramel. I was able to get my hands on a couple of packages and I made a video for you. Please keep in mind, I had no extra packages to play around with in case my video came out horrible. We just filmed it. A friend of mine held on to my little Sony Cyber Shot camera, and I brewed a cup, and there you have it, on video. Honestly, when I watch this thing, I laugh hysterically. I mean like I had tears rolling down my cheek I was laughing so hard. There was no script, and it was a one take video. I think I laugh so hard at the embarrassment of watching myself do this. Surely I will regret having made this public. Please watch this three minutes and nineteen seconds of pure embarrassment, and if you’ve tried the new Via, tell me what you think.
Just a little information: Each of the flavored Via packets makes 8 ounces of flavored coffee. It’s as simple as pour packet into hot water and stir. A friend of mine said he got his hands on a packet of the caramel flavored Via, and tried it with steamed milk. His suggestion is to definitely try these new flavored Vias with steamed milk – Delicious! I wasn’t that ambitious for the video below.
Alright, it’s time for my readers to weigh in, and have a good chuckle at the video below:
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Just watched the video! I’ll be taking your advice and giving my water a little longer to cool. I’m a wuss when it comes to burning my lips or tongue. Ha! But I enjoyed watching! The mocha would be the flavor I’d want to try first, too. 🙂
I really liked the video…sehr gut!
Please do more of those videos for us!
I am so happy to be in the U.S. right at the launch of VIA Flavored. Wanna check out Mocha and Caramel so badly!!
I just have to say that the little pause you have at the very end is very very cute! Great video, Melody ;D
I can’t wait to pick some up when I’m in the US this fall. Did you try the other two? Do you have a favorite? I’m looking forward to trying the Vanilla and Cinnamon!
Melody that was pretty good for ad-libbing! U are a natural on the camera!!
I just tried the mocha this morning.
Great video – and very brave of you to showcase your kitchen skills (it takes me an hour to make minute rice as I often burn the water!).
You should do more videos (tastings, etc.).
Melody- loved seeing the video!!! I agree it is a nice change to see you on video and explaining the coffee. And yes put up more videos.
shoot! I have to see this and all I get is voice! (will go to You Tube) cute. (you do sound like my niece, whon grew up in N.M.) e-mail……
ok! got it! soooo cute! tasted like I would expect, from your description. I keep 3 VIAs on hand now, Ital roast, Ital roast DECAF….really like to have at nite fairly often! and the for ICED VIA, which I think will be nearly ending soon…for me. can’t see it so much thru-out winter.
I’m just wondering how many different types of VIA I will want to have. ? I guess the mocha and likely vanilla would be good to keep around as treats. am thinking that’s about it for me. Atho, I am soon to try them all, I hope!
great video!! thanx for sharing yourself.
(don’t you hate an electric stove??? I have my first and only (elec) one now and will NEVER have elec again. came with the house. really prefer gas) she said, totally irrelevant.
I enjoyed seeing you in person and hearing your melodious voice and watching your video and hope I get my samples in the mail like I got the samples of the iced via which I have to admit I haven’t tried yet. When you showed a close up of you stirring it with a spoon it reminded me of a joke I heard when I first started work at the Highway Department many years ago. You know engineers always have to have directions. Well these engineers were having coffee and a young engineer complained that it burned his hand. You see the directions said to stir your coffee with your RIGHT HAND but didn’t say anything about a SPOON. You may laugh now!!
It’s me again Melody and I just read your description which I should have read before I watched your video and I watched it again and I must say that you have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. For doing it without a script and rehersal I think you did a very professional and informative job.
@Sheik @purple1 @DeniseR @BostonStarbucksRebel @pencil_to_paper @Sebastian @Kaori @CD @Steve
@Sheik – Thank you! Next time I might have a script! When you don’t know what to say, it’s easy to repeat yourself and so a few times in the video it sounds like I was saying the same thing twice. On the whole, I was happy with the result. I’ve watched a million trials, read transcripts, and been in trial, and I’ve paid attention to the fact that most people fill in moments of thinking with “uuuummmm” so I was working very hard to NOT say “um”!
@purple1 – Thank you for the encouragement. Videos are not going to be a regular thing. Maybe if I lose a little weight!
@DeniseR – Thank you! Glad my voice reminds you of someone! I’ll keep some around the house for fun but likely Vanilla and Caramel. I tend to really like Vanilla – remember the mini vanilla sparkle donuts? I was crushed when Starbucks got rid of those.
@BostonStarbucksRebel – So how did you like it?
@pencil_to_paper – Have you had a chance to try it? Yes I’m a total wuss too!
@Sebastian! – Danke! Vielleicht kann ich dir Flavored Via schicken? Weißt du wann Flavored Via in Deutschland angekommen wird?
@Kaori – I went to your blog this morning. Love the new store photos you put up! I have a feeling your blog is going to give mine a run for its money!
@CD – There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity! Hahahaha!
@Steve – I laughed at your joke a little. Thanks for watching the video.
😆 Melody, don’t quit your day job 😆 😉
The expression of HOT on your face as you tried to take a first “slurp” will make a great beginning for your “out-takes” roll.
Thanks for the preview and looking forward to more.
I’m a bit of a taste nut so I love a kick of syrup in my coffee from time to time. So these new offerings are right up my alley.
Over here in the UK theres a few companies that already do flavoured instants coffee’s like Little’s (www.littlesltd.com) and Whittard’s of Chelsea (http://www.whittard.co.uk – they also make the most wonderful teas…) So introduction of flavors is great but going to secretly hope they branch out and try cool stuff like seasonal flavors, Starbucks coffee with Amaretto or Irish Cream flavouring would be AMAZING
BTW neat video, your enthusiasm for coffee shines through there, even going for it while it’s fresh hot! Good on you Melody! : )
I haven’t yet, actually! I’m excited to try some, though. It would be especially convenient when I really want some coffee before class but I don’t have time to make a Starbucks run!
Enjoyed this a lot! Good job! I think you’d be great at doing “how-to” videos – you know, how to cup, how to do a tasting. 🙂
Loved the video, Melody!
Thank you for a good video, VIA taste commentary. Please show us a video report about Refreshers next time. Thank you.
@Sebastian
Your radar captured Melody’s video update early. That good. Haha.
Next, your turn. The Flavored Via Ready Brew video from San Francisco. 😀
@Melody
Deutschland hat ja noch nicht einmal den normalen VIA Kaffee…:(
Bin ja selber vom 09. bis 23. Oktober in San Francisco…also werde am Launch-Day im Starbucks sein und genügend kaufen. Danke dir! 🙂
@Nob
HaHa! I could make the unboxing of Starbucks’ Flavored VIA right from a Coffee House in SF on Oct. 14…why not…:D
@Sebastian – Wäre besonders schön wenn nur Uncle Howard im San Francisco am Flavored Via Launch Tag sein. Ich frag’ mich wo man ihn im October findet. Ich glaube “Launch Day” is eigentlich October 19th, oder 12th – Immer Dienstag, and ich habe “14th” falsch gesagt. You’re going to have a great time in San Francisco. Glad you liked the video – Hope you’ll share. 😉
Great video! 🙂 I was impressed with no script and one take that you avoided any ‘Ums’ or stumbling over words! 🙂
But honestly…was your tongue hurting afterward? I felt so bad it really did look like that was too hot to drink and then you had to take more sips after the first one!
Love the video, Melody! As you know, I love making youtube videos. (Follow the link in my name to the youtube channel I do with other Starbucks baristas.)
We just received the flavored VIA today, and as I type this on my break I’m drinking some Caramel VIA. Not bad!
Cool video, sound effects and all! I’m just not sold on instant coffee, but I’d be willing to give it a try! 🙂
Hahaha Melody that was adorable! I don’t have the guts to make youtube videos anymore. I’m so excited about flavored VIA! I hope we have some around the store when I go in tomorrow!
I prefer coffee from a french press or the Clover than Via. But I am sure we will all “sell” alot of this Via, whether if the sales are done ethically or unethically is another question all together.
@BostonStarbucksRebel and @BCav
@BCav – Thank you! Glad you liked it.
@BostonStarbucksRebel – Worry not. Flavored Via is going to fly off the shelves. I think it may sell better than any of the other Vias before it.
Melody, that video was great! If I had just stumbled on it I wouldn’t have known it was your first video. You should definitely include more videos on the blog.
no script, 1 take, no backup
IT WAS GREAT
ok it was also a little silly
but seriously it was well done if you hasn’t had mentioned it was no script and one take i would just have thought it was pretty good, but you did fabulous for the circumstances, not a lot of filler words at all
it certainly looked toasty – ouch, but i can not wait, i love having via as a backup in my desk – and i love flavor so i think these might replace my plain italian roast via stash
For no script or rehersal, that was an excellent video. Would you happen to know if flavored VIA is coming to Canada or is it only US stores?
Melody,
The video was not bad at all. I like it. I will definitely have to get down to Starbucks when these release. I wasn’t too impressed with the original VIA, but it sounds like these flavored ones may be a lot better.
Can’t wait.
Melody, you have a nice on-screen presence! If you did this in one take, I’m impressed. You weren’t fumbling for words or anything! Very natural and composed. Thanks for sharing your video, and I can’t wait to try the new Via flavors!
I personally haven’t really been able to get down with the http://coffeecupnews.org/starbucks-via-vs-brewed-coffee-review-episode-75/ or Iced Via so far. Is it better than pretty much any other instant coffee I have had? Sure. But I rarely am in a situation where I am in such a pinch that my only choice is instant coffee. I do however realize there are people that are in that situation, or maybe go camping/fishing a lot and this is a great option for those people.
I am going to be trying these when I get the chance in the next month or so. Hopefully they will bring more to the table than the last 2 offerings. We will see.
Melody how do you think these compare to the two previous VIA offerings?
Great post, Mel. 🙂
This was great Melody! Nothing to be embarrassed about! Love hearing your accent (yea, you have one lol) 😉
I asked about these today, but of course, like the rest of our tardy orders of late, they have not arrived yet…hopeful Friday!
@Nathan, just saw your comment. Yes, it will be in Canada on the same day
@CaBarista @JeffC @JasonCoffee
@CaBarista – I don’t have an accent! But glad you liked the video!
@JeffC – Thank you
@JasonCoffee – In all honesty, I think the new Via is going to sell like a “treat” kind of because it is sweet and easy. It won’t be about being a pinch so much as being lazy and wanting something hot and kinda sweet and kinda coffee like. Caramel has the potential of being the best one.
You are so cute! But I have one question: How is the mocha-flavored VIA different from the General Foods “Cafe Mocha” on my grocery shelf?
How exciting! I really wish I was sent samples, etc. but I am a partner so I doubt that will ever happen. I have a meeting in 20 minutes so I will try the Vanilla Via, but not the Mocha which I am most excited about.
Pam — these are the ingredients of the General Foods Cafe Mocha (from shoprite.com): Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Instant Coffee, Partially Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Nonfat Milk, Cocoa, Sodium Caseinate, Contains Less than 1% of Lactose, Soy Lecithin, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate.
I think the Via is just coffee, sugar and vanilla.
@Diele – Starbucks didn’t send me the flavored Via samples. I suppose I would have had one of each flavor if they had. I’ve been lucky at times – Connected to many many many many many partners through both this blog and twitter, and once in a while people offer to send/give things. That’s basically how it happens.
As much as I cringe as I say this….I think that if they were going to sell this, this was amazing timing on their part. I know I’ll probably grab some and put it in a mug as a gift or two. People who are not hard core into coffee (yes, I know , not everyone travels w/ a bodem french press cup….;) )and will enjoy it. So, what can I say? I still feel like they’ve sold out, but I’m not as hell bent against it as I was. If it helps the company I love, maybe it’s not a bad move? Don’t stone me! lol
Nice video! I’m glad you liked the mocha; I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but I’m looking forward to it even more after the video.
You should do more videos. I thought you did just fine unscripted.
@Anthony — Thanks!
@EnlightenedCoffeeSage – Thank you! I’m somehow more annoyed with Starbucks for flavored ground coffee in the grocery stores than the flavored Vias. Mocha will end up being my least favorite flavor. I still haven’t tried the Cinnamon. These are really good! They’ve done a great job with them! As to making more videos, … we’ll see! I have to find something to talk about.
Hey there, just wanted to clarify that flavored VIA will arrive in stores on October 5, not October 14. I’ve tasted them all and they are delicious. Vanilla gets my vote, though.
@Douglas – Sorry I didn’t say hello to you sooner! Thank you for the correction. Not sure how I got the 14th stuck in my head. In any case, I’m looking forward to flavored Via. I’ll be at a Starbucks on the 5th to buy some! I still haven’t tried the cinnamon.
Oh, the 5th is the day i come back from seattle, i’ll have been gone for a whole week, i hope my baristas will save some for me!
Oh my gosh Mel! I love the video! Every time I visit your site you have more and more awesome content! So fun! More! Plus now I know how to taste coffee like a real pro, I won’t be afraid to slurp at the next cupping I go to! 🙂
My daughter is a college student and only has a Hotshot in her dorm room. This flavored Via will be a great treat that I can mail to her. I will definitely buy some. I hope it will come packaged so that you can try all flavors (but I’m guessing that it won’t). College students in dorms are a great market for Via.
Hello OverdueB00k! Great user name! Get that book back to the library. 😉 That’s a good question whether or not there will be a pack of assorted flavors. So far I’ve really liked the Mocha and the Caramel. The Cinnamon was just so so to me. Of course, taste is subjective! Come back again soon to the blog.