Casi Cielo whole bean coffee returns to Starbucks on January 7, 2014. It will be available in whole bean coffee bean form, the K-Cup format, and new this year, the Verismo pod format.
The development of the coffee began in 2003, when a fine restaurant in Seattle approached Starbucks to create a coffee for their restaurant. There is an official Starbucks blog post on Casi Cielo here. I think the coffee was introduced to Canlis restaurant in October 2003, and the more I research it online, the more I’m unsure if it launched in stores in 2003 or 2004, or simultaneously in stores in 2003. This may be the 11th year of Casi Cielo available in Starbucks stores.
This year’s packaging is indeed elegant! Regardless of whether this is the 10th or 11th year of this coffee, the packaging is pretty, and the coffee itself is wonderful.
I’ve already tried it from the Clover and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got a little bit of the lemony aroma, and the flavor had a lot of soft cocoa notes with a citrus finish. I think this year’s Casi Cielo will be very popular. It’s known to be a versatile coffee: great as a shot of espresso, made in a press, pour over, or on the Clover.
I look forward to this coffee each year. I fell in love with Casi Cielo in January 2008 – it was the first cup of coffee that I ordered from the Clover, at the 6th and Union Starbucks location. Hope you like this year’s Casi Cielo too.
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Great blog 🙂
I have never tried this kind ! I will be now 🙂 I will probably do a review on it too 🙂
@Back2Starbucks – Hope you enjoy it! This is a good coffee to really get into coffee with – it’s not too bold, but has a wonderful flavor and body to it.
Looking forward to it again, it’s one of my favorite coffees. (My absolute favorite right now it Aged Sumatra!)
Woot!! I can’t wait!!
Yessssss!!!!
I look forward to each year’s release of Casi Cielo. While it varies a bit year to year it never disappoints.
I REALLY hope the pods for the Verismo are available in Canada, but all I’ve seen in stock in the backroom so far are the K-Cups :s
@CourtneyB – Oh no. I’ve heard gossip that the Casi Cielo Verismo pods are a U.S. only item. 🙁 Sorry. I’ll have to mail you some.
I enjoy Casi every year. When our first case came in we immediately did a tasting. Casi is a smooth, easy-drinking coffee year in and year out but this year it is especially smooth. For me, the lemony notes are not as strong as in years past but that’s not a bad thing. It is an excellent expression of Guatemalan coffee and should not be missed this year. I am very excited to visit the Clover store in Huntington Beach for this coffee.
I was using my Verismo machine almost daily for a year until my wife decided that she was going to start drinking coffee again about 6 weeks ago. Since then, I’ve been getting my markout as pounds of coffee that we brew at home using a pour-over. I still like having a few pods around for the Verismo, and I’m super excited to have our third promo coffee in a row offered in this format (Anniversary, Christmas, Casi Cielo; I’m leaving off Thanksgiving b/c it’s an ultra-limited promo coffee). I’m not usually a fan of the Latin American coffees, but I do think the GCC hits the spot as it was intended – a dessert coffee. I’ll be happy to enjoy a few cups from my Verismo after dinner on occasion!
@Melody That would absolutely make my day if you would mail me some!!! 🙂
Can’t wait to try it again this year!
Why NO VIA form?
This is my FAVE blend next to Christmas Blend!! 🙂 Can’t wait! 🙂
@Melody – would be curious as to what brewing method is your favorite for this (Clover, brewed, press, or pour over). I love this annual offering a whole lot!
I can’t wait! I saved the bag I had from last year and I’m wondering what to do with it (and eventually this years empty bag)…they are so lovely I may just frame them and keep them in the kitchen.
I had a taste on Saturday, January 4 when they were doing a pour over at my local Starbucks and it was delicious. I can’t wait until Tuesday when it’s available.
I love Casi Cielo as both a press and espresso shot. Can’t wait to start doing tastings with my partners! (Just got them in on Saturday).
@allison: you should frame them if you want to keep them. I have a bag that one of our dms brought me back from Germany (her former home)….. long emptied of Ethiopia Yergacheffe, and it has “from Germany with love” written on it. I kept saving it (it is my ALL time favorite coffee EVER) and decided: just frame this. So, I did.
I am Casi Cielo lover, too. But not nearly as close as my love for Yergacheffe.
Anyway, I say: frame them! 🙂
@denise r: I’m so glad someone out there wouldn’t think I’m weird for framing a coffee bag! Now to find the perfect frame!
I wait all year for casi-cielo. My store was brewing it this afternoon and I enjoyed it in my free January drip cup. Somehow I managed to buy just enough K-cups of it to last myself until Dec 27th, so I’m going to attempt to do that again. I bought box #1 today.
Tomorrow I shall visit my semi-nearby clover shop for a real casi-cielo treat.
(Funny unlike the other person who brought it up, I thought the lemon tones were STRONGER this year than last. However that could be because the K-cups and beans sat for a while towards the end)
I heard from my local Starbucks manager today that Casi Cielo won’t be brewed in stores this year because it’s not a “bold” coffee. Has anyone else heard this or are you able to get a brewed cup at your store?