Coming soon, on June 25, 2013, Starbucks will be introducing a new summer coffee into their stores. It’s called Kati Kati Blend, and has “Citrus and Spice” notes. I haven’t had the chance to try it yet – I am sure I will be writing about it again after I have the chance to taste it. The back of the bag describes it as a blend of Kenyan and Ethiopian coffees, and recommends it either hot or iced.
I like the packaging. I still miss the coffee packaging of yesteryear which often told stories about the coffee. Nonetheless, I like the blue and white design on the new Kati Kati coffee. The word Kati Kati comes from Swahili, which is one of the national languages of Kenya, and it means “between.”
Going back to the 1990s, traditionally, summer coffees are often African coffees because of their natural citrus flavor notes, making for a nice iced coffee. Some readers might remember that during the 1990s (up until 2010), Starbucks routinely offered Gazebo Blend as a summer season coffee. Gazebo Blend was the essential summer coffee at Starbucks from 1991 through 2010.
Let me know if you have tried it!
I will be looking forward to this on the 25th!
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You can not believe how excited I am for this coffee to come out! Almost as excited as the other summer drinks debuting soon and some merchandise that will perfectly compliment this stunning new coffee.
It’s AMAZING! Like drinking a warm grapefruit!
It’s a darn good cup of iced coffee! Makes me miss Tarraza.
Watch out for new coffee packaging starting in mid June! I guess some stores already have some out but it’s a lot more like the old packaging, more graphic… Like the Kati Kati and 3 Region bags!
@Devin – I am actually totally excited for June 25th – lots of good things! And, I will be on vacation that day, so I will feature a Clover Starbucks in Orange County for the new launch!
@Kate – Woohoo! New packaging! Maybe Starbucks was listening to this blog all along. 😉 ROFL
I cannot put into words how excited I am to try this coffee! My heart is so happy. It’ll be part of my July 1st coffee seminar at Olive Way. You know me and iced coffees…I can’t get enough 🙂
Is this considered a medium or a bold?
@Jess – I hope I can be there July 1st! That’s the end of my vacation, but I should be back in Seattle on that day.
@Chgo – I would assume this squarely a medium.
Oh how exciting! New Packaging and merchandise. The Kati Kati sounds great and I can’t wait!
@Chgo. It is a medium roast, medium body.
Absolutely delicious. I found that the spice notes hit me up front, and then the fruity citrus in the back. I got less grapefruit and more strawberry and orange.
When I tried it, one of the first things I said was that I think I can finally forgive Starbucks for discontinuing Gazebo blend. LOL
Thanks…. I was never a fan of Gazebo Blend hot, but I can surely believe it would be a good iced coffee. I assumed it was probably a medium. It makes sense.
@Chgo: I always liked Gazebo in the summer….just a little ‘lighter’ so, yes, I guess since we’ve gone to lt, med and dark, I’d say med. on the (apparently gone) Gazebo…but I always liked it for summer. I also really liked, in the spring, Costa Rican Bella Vista….. similar to Gazebo, I think. What’s funny to me is coffees that were once all “BOLD” (back in the days when Sbux was NEVER going to ever do a light roast 😉 are sometimes now “medium” ie: Yukon. Suddenly it’s ‘medium’. Kind of funny.
I really look fwd to the new packaging, too. Hopefully this will be a good surprise, not a disappointing one. (and also to trying this ‘Kati Kati’…..hoping the Ethiopian parts help me love it)
I love African coffees! We still don’t have Clovers or Reserves anywhere in Tucson, but I will get my partners in crime to work on procuring this one! Sounds yummy!
Seriously. Summer coffees are always the best. I can’t wait to try this! Kenya + Ethiopia? I’m busting at the seams to try it!
After so many people talking about it I had to sample it, today, when we got ours in. It was pretty good. It has surpising acidity for an African coffee.
I haven’t had a chance to try it over ice, yet, but I plan on hitting my local clover store and getting them to make me a batch.
@ChaseJaynes – I am pretty jealous of you and others who have already had the chance to try this!
HOLY…this coffee is DELICIOUS. I’m drinking some right now. I’ll finish the pot.
Also, on the heels of the beautiful packaging that Kati Kati and 3 Region has comes the news that Starbucks will be repackaging ALL of it’s at home coffee beginning later this month! I’m excited to see the changes!
@KDH – I am so excited to hear that all the packaging is changing! It looks like the current packaging didn’t really have any staying power – Starbucks must’ve figured out that it was too bland.
I figured something was coming with the gorgeous 3 Region bags. I’ve seen a couple tiny B/W thumbnails of Sumatra (tiger), Veranda (hummingbird!), and Guatemala (bird of paradise!).
They’re going to continue to organize at home coffee by roast, but it looks like the bags are going to get some personality back!
It’s good to hear the packaging of at home coffees will have more visual appeal. Honestly, the current design is kind of blah and it’s easy to grab the wrong blend if you’re not paying attention due to each roast group having the same color. I wasn’t a fan from the start. But on a more positive note, after reading the rave reviews in the comments, I’m actually looking forward to trying the Kati Kati blend over ice!
I came back here because I took the opportunity to try Kati Kati with the Berry Inclusions from the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher shaken in. It is SOOOOOOO GOOD and I recommend you try it if you get the opportunity.
@Kitenarie – That sounds wild – berry inclusions? I tried Kati Kati for the first time today – from the pour over. Nice and clean. Some lemony notes. I like it.
Melody it’s lovely. I do a pourover at double strength and then shake it up with the berries. It enhances the flavor in all the right ways.
Having a glass of iced Kati Kati right now. Very good Afeican blend. Light citrusy tang on the finish. Subtle spicy notes. Medium light body. Good one for the hot weather.
I did a double strength pour over on ice of Kati Kati with one pump of the new peach syrup. It was absolutely amazing!
Love hearing the reviews of this coffee. I think it will sell well! I’ve tried it hot so far, and liked it. Still haven’t had it iced. On launch day, I’ll be at the only Clover – Evenings Starbucks in Orange County, California, and I definitely want to try it iced. Thank you for the peach syrup suggestion!
I’ve been brewing it as espresso and it’s AMAZING! I always enjoy Kenya as my espresso bean of choice, and when Ethiopia Sidamo was a core coffee, that was my espresso of choice with a little Kenya mixed in. Why I didn’t patent that blend back then is beyond me!!!! LOL!
When you get a chance, you must try it as espresso with a little spritz of lemon oil… or with an Iced Lemon Loaf. SOOO good!
I just tried kati kati! I’m not a coffee drinker AT ALL but I loved this! it was unlike any coffee I’ve ever tasted!
Just finishing my first cup of home-brewed Kati Kati. It’s a lovely medium blend and I can definitely taste the spice and citrus. Interestingly, it sits on the back and front edges of my tongue. Perhaps that is a result of it being two distinct coffees. In any case, even as a hot coffee I found it surprisingly refreshing.
Melody,
This coffee is just amazing! I have tried it several times. I am planning on doing a massive coffee seminar for this coffee along with some other favorite coffees at 1st and Pike. You should bring some buddies and attend!
YES :)Kati Kati is here in Bulgaria 🙂 It’s great coffee, I love it !
tried it and loved it! great over ice in combination with strawberries!
I’m sitting here sipping a grande Kati Kati and its great. I’d call it very mello
I had the opportunity to have two venti’s of the Kati-Kati. The new girls at my local Target Starbucks had it out today 6-22. It is GREAT. Smooth and bold at the same time. Very good, I will be purchasing a pound on the 25th.
I’m very excited to Romance this Coffee. Kati Kati Blend 🙂
My Starbucks offered Kati Kati this morning as the bold selection. I always get the bold because I prefer a stronger cup of coffee. This tasted like a nice cup of coffee and the slight after taste as you swallowed it reminded me of those hard coffee flavored candies. I would drink this again. Not bad actually. Now I’m going to brew a Verona in Starbuck’s Verismo machine (which makes awesome coffee and espresso).
meh. its ok.
Stumbled upon it in store today and gave it a try hoping it was just a rebranding of the Gazebo Blend (in fact, Googling “kati kati gazebo blend” while in line led me to this blog). It’s somewhat similar, but lacks the floral flavors found in Gazebo which is a shame. Definitely worth a try, but it’s definitely not as good as Gazebo in my personal opinion.
Kati-kati is being served here now as the “dark” choice for a week. I’ve had it probably 3 or 4 times now (not iced, which I’ve heard is better) and I have to say: I really am not liking it. It’s not ‘bold’ enough for me and just tastes…..too citrus-y and just weak and bland. Definitely nothing like what I remember Gazebo as, which I used to enjoy for a summer break.
I get a cup of ‘dark’ everyday at Sbux and I dislike this so much I may switch to an Americano, or just a quad doubleshot. This just doesn’t take the place of a good ‘dark roast coffee to me. 🙁
Had the Kati Kati by a pour over today which made it slightly more ….tasteful? So, a bit more likeable to me made this way but still not a coffee I would desire. (I was offered, by a partner….one of the many NEW ones….who didn’t know me, a cup of PPR instead. Of course, I declined! 🙁
Love it!
I have five friends sending me packages if this coffee from other states because its my name. My whole life makes sense now 🙂
I am drinking an Iced Kati Kati right now with cream. Great iced coffee. I get a nutmeg flavor and fruit. I can not identify the fruit flavor but it is there and I wouldn’t consider it citrus maybe more berry like. I would like it hot in the fall, but not as well as I like it iced in the spring/summer.
I loved kati kati, one of the best coffee that already took. I’ve been in the USA for a week and was lucky enough to be able to buy one single bag at the airport and bring to my country Brazil. Unfortunately, is not here yet. Just sad!
Sadly Summer has ended and Kati Kati is long gone from Starbucks. At least until next summer. I loved to “chew” the flavor of this coffee all summer long. I was not a fan of this brewed as hot coffee, as it was bland to me. But made double strength with cold spring water brewed in a french press overnight, then poured over ice with a touch of cream was divine!
Really disappointed with Kati kati, even more than I was with Casi Cielo. Not bold to me but musty and dusty tasting. Wasted money and will throw away my pound. I like Tribute , Anniversary, and Christmas blend a lot, but this is totally dissimilar. Hope it helps someone decide.