Today is the official arrival of the fall items at Starbucks. I dropped by a Starbucks in University Village today (September 4, 2013) and thought I’d highlight just a couple of new things. By the way, there are quite a few new food and merchandise items, and I’ve only spotlighted a select few. Also, the fall beverages are back in stores: You can order a Pumpkin Spice Latte, Salted Caramel Mocha or Hot Chocolate, and new this year, a Chocolate Chai.
Here is the fall setup:
One thing you might notice is that there are a variety of new mugs, a coffee canister, and other merchandise items. The “Siren’s Call” tumbler jumped out at me. It’s quite decorative, and it is made in the U.S.A:
Pumpkin Spice Via Ready Brew returns to Starbucks, and new this year, Starbucks is introducing Pike Place Roast Via. I have heard that French Roast Via will be discontinued to make room for the all-new Pike Place Roast Via. As a reminder, for the Pumpkin Spice Via, the direction recommend that you use with milk.
I definitely welcome that this year Anniversary Blend arrives in a Verismo pod format. I bought a box to take home, and I am looking forward to trying them. You can also get Teavana Chai Verismo pods now. Both of these two Verismo pod items all are all-new this year:
There are a number of new food items, including a Caramelized Apple Cake and a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Croissant (I assume these two items are only for stores that are already offering La Boulange bakery items). I tried the Caramelized Apple Cake and loved it. I wonder though if it is the same wherever you go? The little tiny sign next to it says that it is made with Washington State apples. I wasn’t sure if that meant it was a regional item, or simply that if you find this item in other areas, it will be made with local apples. I have already tried the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Croissant too – these two new food items were part of yesterday’s food launch of the new fall items. Danielle, a partner at the Olive Way Starbucks, was excited to tell me about the new food, and we sampled the new Pumpkin Cream Cheese Croissant. I took a small sample of it, and she shared it with others too. It’s a bit rich for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of this item. However, I did love Danielle’s enthusiasm to share and try the La Boulange items.
As I mentioned already, another thing that is new is the “Chocolate Chai beverage”. I have had the chance to try it hot once already (thank you Eastlake Starbucks and Nathan), and yesterday, I ordered it as a Frappuccino. I don’t drink a lot of Frappuccinos, but this one is a huge two thumbs up! It’s really creamy, and delicious, and refreshing. If you happen to like Frappuccinos, ask for the Chocolate Chai beverage as a Frappuccino! Actually, I was surprised at how much I liked the Chocolate Chai. It tastes a little bit like a Mexican hot chocolate. I hope you’ll try it too and tell me what you think. (The beverage below was made by Kirsten at University Village – at least I think that is who made it. I hope I got that right.)
Last but not least, you should start to see the Evolution Harvest snacks (created by Evolution Fresh) start to show up in Starbucks stores now too.
That is it for the quick update on what is new as of this morning, at your neighborhood Starbucks store. There’s one more photo of the University Village Starbucks below. (As a reminder, I know my readers know this, but you can pay, load, and earn stars, and redeem rewards with any Starbucks card, and this includes the Evolution Fresh cards, and Teavana card – those ARE Starbucks card too. I had to re-load my Starbucks Evolution Fresh card at the register this morning, and I created just a moment of confusion. All was quickly fine, but if you see anything that even somewhat resembles a Starbucks card, I would swipe it. There have been a bazillion designs over the years, and really the Teavana and Evolution Fresh card are just their own specially-designed cards.)
Please excuse typos. I just wrote this very fast before work. I’ll give it a read through for grammar and typos later tonight.
Thank you!
Melody
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I love this year’s new set. I’m also really digging the new look of Anniversary Blend. I haven’t tried the Chocolate Chai yet, but I will soon!
My local SB store is not as big as this one so the new merchandise does not have the same kind of appeal and for me you do not have the wow factor. I really like the PSL mug but right now I do not need another mug! I tried the dried evolution fresh fruit and am not a fan. New pastries not here yet but we did get the pumpkin related pastries that have been here before.
Off topic Melody but just curious – how busy do the SB stores get at night in the downtown area of Seattle? Or do they just close early? I see these pics were taken at night.
@Purple1 – Actually, none of these photos were taken at night. I had to get up super, super early to be able to get to a store, get photos, get home, and write a blog post before rushing out the door to work, which is what I will do in 2 seconds. All of these photos were take between about 5 am and 5:30 am. It was just before the sun went up! As I left, the sun was coming up. Most stores did their set up last night, and were ready for the world at their opening today.
Edit: please don’t read anything into the abrupt tone of voice here. I don’t know how but that came off abrupt. I’m just trying to get to work.
As part of partner training, I had everyone try the chocolate chai. I was hesitant myself because I’ve never had the regular chai (never use to drink anything from the hot bar except white hot chocolates and CAS). One of the baristas made me the iced version and I just loved it!
They gave us the info for the chocolate chai Frappuccino on Monday and we tried it again and I loved it too! I really think it tastes like homemade pumpkin pie, which is funny considering the pumpkin spice latte doesn’t actually have pumpkin in it!
I already purchased the PSL 10 tumbler and one of the tea mugs for my hubby but I’ve really got my eye on the 12 oz tumbler that’s green. My store in Texas didn’t get all of the merchandise in time and I’m having to restrain myself from buying one at another store!
Love the article, love the pictures, and so in love with fall at Starbucks!
Yum the chocolate chai frappuccino sounds delicious! I always look forward to fall at Starbucks. I’m not a PSL fan which is always the popular choice for others. I’m a chocoholic and enjoy chocolately drinks! (Mocha/Iced mocha or java chip frappucino are my regular drinks) And just talking about all of this makes me want one now 🙂
Beautiful store inside and out. Great merchandise display. I’m anxious to go see what it looks like here and in person. Can’t wait to try chocolate chai in some form. Can’t decide between hot or cold!
I rarely get chai, but that looks really good. Those mugs looks nice.
I, like you, don’t drink a lot of frappuccinos (probably because of how many I make during happy hour grrr lol) but the chocolate chai frappuccino is just delicious. It’s unusual that a frappuccino would be my first choice over hot or iced, but in this case, it is.
Did you happen to see the LTO pumpkin spice keychain Starbucks Card? Pretty sweet. I can tweet you a pic.
@Robb F – Mostly I try to stay away from Frappuccinos because I feel that if I made a habit of them, I would probably go up a size! The American diet is full of empty calories wherever you look: I could give you so many examples. (I’m sure my own diet needs improvement.) But when it comes down to it, I really do like a Frappuccino now and then as a treat – and this one is a winner! Like you, I think I liked it better as a Frappuccino than as a hot beverage!
@MartyMankins – Give it a try and tell us what you think!
I love the new setup and especially the new hanging baskets. The look is beautiful and my favorite item is the rose gold hammered tumbler. I think that one is one I might get (even though I don’t need another tumbler). I like the pumpkin spice lattes so much and I just adore fall. I’m happy to see this season come. I did have a few customers yesterday say that they thought we should wait two more weeks until declaring it PSL season. I also love the spring summer psl winter memes I’ve seen this week 🙂
Hi. I’m a new reader of this blog, but love it. I love fall time at Starbucks. Funny thing is, i didn’t know the pumpkin spice latte didn’t have pumpkin! lol. Also kind of sucks that the French Roast via is being discontinued, one of my favorites for forcing the groggyness from my brain in a hurry. Anyway, thought your readers might like to know that they are also offering the Reserved Blue Mountain again. Haven’t actually tryed it yet, but this will be my first time.
The Starbucks website is featuring pumpkin bread, pumpkin cream cheese muffin and pumpkin scone, but I wonder if those will just be in the Starbucks that don’t have La Boulange yet. There are 2 carmelized apple cakes on the web site, one with Washington apples and one with New York apples. I’m in Chicago and my barista doesn’t think we’re getting either of them.
I *love* this rollout (with the exception of the winking mugs, lol – soooo not my style). The colours, designs and merchandise are some of my favourites – I’m probably bringing home several of the mugs/tumblers, though, like most partners, I don’t really need any more :). I also couldn’t decide what to get for my mark out this week – soooo many options: thanksgiving blend (for the first time in Canada!!)’ anniversary Verismo pods, pike place via, and chai pods (which incidentally, come in a white package in Canada, with 8 chai pods, 8 milk pods – we don’t offer the package of just milk pods in Canada so I will assume this is why!)
Happy fall 🙂
Chocolate chai?!?!?! Yes, please… Plan to head out early enough tomorrow before to check out my neighborhood SB store for the fall décor and a choc chai!!! Thanks for the heads up Melody!
The Fall & Winter seasons are definitely the ones I have to exercise restraint in buying up all the beautiful coffee mugs, but that coffee canister would look so nice on my kitchen counter. 🙂 I had no idea the U.S. was getting a new beverage for the Fall. Chocolate Chai? Wow, interesting! I’ll be sure to try both the latte and frappuccino versions.
Great pictures!
Any updates on the uVillage Tazo Store? 🙂
“I have heard that French Roast Via will be discontinued to make room for the all-new Pike Place Roast Via.”
I hope that’s not true because my wife is a big FR Via fan. What dark roast type Via should she go to if FR goes away?
Also, I tried the La Boulange chocolate crossiant recently – it was fabulous!
@RAR – I think Italian Roast Via would be the darkest left in the Via lineup. I’m sorry to hear you wife is losing a favorite.
@Nyamkye – The University Village Tazo Tea Store is closed. Its last day was Monday, September 2nd – Labor Day this year. They closed their doors permanently that day. 🙁
Hi Melody, do you know of any further updates to the Tazo Store? re-opening date?
I’m super excited about the Fall setup. My store was looking sooooo empty because we had sold through almost all the Summer clearance items, it was almost sad! I’m writing this while drinking a cup of Anniversary Blend from my Verismo machine, yay! Can’t believe that we haven’t had a promotional coffee available for pods since Christmas Blend. I’m also excited because we received our Verismo machine to begin training our partners so our store can begin selling the machines on October 1!
Not to mention the best part about Fall: it’s really just an appetizer to tide us over until the Holiday setup!!!
@Nyamekye – It is gone. The Tazo store is not coming back: http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2013/07/27/goodbye-tazo-tea-seattle/ – That article tells you more, but basically there will be a Teavana store in that location at some point in the near future.
@Chris W – I am drinking Anniversary Blend from my Verismo right now too! 🙂 It is good! I have got to try the Chai pods still.
Just visited my local SB and they had the carmelized apple cakes with Washington apples. So it looks like west coast will probably get apple cakes with Washington apples and east coast will get apple cakes with NY apples.
@mahoro Hey how did you like the caramelized apple cake?
@Melody – I actually didn’t try it yet, not a huge fan of cooked fruit. I was sooooo tired this morning all I could concentrate on was getting my venti, triple shot, soy, hazelnut macchiato. ^___^
Do stores with La Boulange pastures not have any of the regular pastries? I would miss the pumpkin loaf. Maybe the licensed ones in targets would still carry the regular pastries.
They only kept a few things: petite vanilla scones, pretzels, doughnuts, bagels and the cheesecake brownie. And the birthday cake pop.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the chocolate chai tea latte!!!! I was offered a sample which turned out to be a grande!!! This is definitely going to be my go to drink for the Fall/Winter. IMHO it screams for cold, damp weather and bundled up clothing. I like it much more than the PSL; resembles Mexican chocolate and is so smooth. The latte was not too sweet due to the chocolate but had the right hint of spice. Today, thanks to suggestions above I tried the chocolate chai tea frappuccino and was equally as impressed. The frap felt good on the northern california afternoon of 90+ degrees but still had the great chocolate spice flavor. I opted out of the whipped cream and was still very pleased. I hope you enjoy it too!
My store does not have the Caramelized Apple Cake and a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Croissant – but i did get to try the chocolate chai (with soy) and it reminds me of the brenner (chocolate store) chocolate chai – YUM. I tried it hot but may now have to try it cold.
I saw the Caramelized Apple Cake with New York apples in Chicago today.
@AmazonV – I am sorry you didn’t get the Apple Cake. The Pumpkin Cheese Cake Croissant is a little weird. And I hope the Chocolate Chai sticks around!
@Carol – Did you get the chance to try it? I guess only certain regions got an apple cake?
I haven’t tried it yet. I was surprised to see it, because a barista at another store said we weren’t going to get it.
I wonder if anyone knows if we could make chocolate chai with normal ingredients even if it wasn’t on menu?
oh! and i tried the frapp, i like the hot better but i like that frap much more than most of the flavors i have had.
i also have stuck to menu only frapps so i am sure there are other more fun mixes out there
I am so with you on the pumpkin croissant thing. I was comped a morning roll one evening when they didn’t have what I wanted. It was fabulous. Very subtle flavors, (marmalade maybe?), will definitely be trying again. Next day, I saw the pumpkin cheesecake croissant. I like pumpkin, cheesecake and croissants. What could go wrong? I took about three bites and trashed it. We do have apple cakes on our menu though, so at your recommendation I will try one of those next!
Thank you Denise and Melody- my birthday yesterday was wonderful. I am seeing quite mixed reviews of the new pastries. Some good, some awful, long lines partly due to the warming of the pastries and partly due to the new system partners have to use. I am curious as to how SB is going to assess the success of the new pastries. Today, in line someone I know was wishing one of the old pastries stayed in the batch and I am not quite sure why more of the old favorites cannot remain? Is it purely because of economics?
I had the opportunity to chat with the Asst. Mngr. of my local store and asked about the La Boulangerie line this weekend. Apparently the roll-out is by region and CA is low on the list I was interested to learn that not only is the roll-out include patries, etc. but it is an entire culture/atmosphere. The baristas must attend training prior to their store conversion. I’m quite excited for the beginning of 2014 as that is when my store should be up to speed 🙂
Hi, I just wondered if anyone could tell me the dates for the most recent dash, the one that ended October 1, 2013? Melody do you know?
Can anyone tell me how their Starbucks made the chococolate chai frappuccino? Drink recipe with measurements.