Today is the official launch of the new Caffé Mocha Via Ready Brew and the Vanilla Latte Via Ready Brew. What’s different about these from any past versions is that they’re a dairy latte – just add hot water. For a limited time, you can buy a single-serve sample of one of these for one dollar, and otherwise, these come in boxes of four for $6.95. As I understand, at some point this month, there will be sampling and comparison taste testing going on. The Mocha version has about 150 calories per serving, and I assume that the Vanilla Latte Via is about the same.
Between the two of them, I like the Mocha version much better than the Vanilla. I just think it tastes truer to a mocha flavor. The Vanilla version seems to lack a lot of coffee flavors of a real vanilla latte.
The official Starbucks newsroom article on them is here: Starbucks Expands Portfolio with First Ever Starbucks Via Lattes. The single packets for one dollar will look like this:
Of course, there are a number of things new to Starbucks on January 7, 2014: Casi Cielo returns to Starbucks, and for the first time is available in Verismo pod format, as well as the K-Cup format, and whole bean. I recommend Clover brewed for this year’s Casi Cielo! There’s a pretty copper-shade French press too:
I will say there is one thing about the French press that is a disappointment. It used to be, years ago, that when you bought a French press at Starbucks, it had the logo on it, at a minimum. I’ve noticed that Starbucks has long-since stopped putting their logo on French presses in their stores. It makes it a little less exciting – it may be a pretty copper, but the bottom line is that it’s a plain French press.
There are several new coffee mugs. This one is great! It says “Fresh Brewed Inspiration for the Day Ahead” on it.
And I love the new made-in-the-USA logo mug. It’s made by the same factory in Ohio which produces the special Ohio mug and Hawaii mug. I have a feeling that these new logo mugs will sell out quickly! I’ve already bought one for my collection. I would note, somehow my photo’s coloring is a little off. The mug is almost an off-white or cream color, but this photo makes it look pretty white:
I’m a fan of the small, 8-ounce size tumblers, and so I have to admit this one caught my eye too:
And of course, you can buy a Casi Cielo-inspired coffee mug:
That’s a quick look at a few new things. Of course, I’ll write more later. The big thing is the new Via Ready Brews which are dairy-based rather than being just a plain flavored coffee, as with past flavored Via Ready Brew. Have you had a chance to try the new Via?
Last but not least, the new door cling: 🙂 (There’s A Lot To Love)
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Woot woot!!
There may be more to love at Starbucks, but there is also more trash with every Via and Verismo Pod purchase. I thought Starbucks wanted to be a leader in the green community. I cringe with the launch of every new single serve item. It really is shameful packaging. Starbucks is not cleaning up the planet, it is adding a heaping helping to each and every landfill in the world. While they convince the population that one cup at a time (please think about the multiple pieces of plastic that go into making that one serving-I see them on the beach everyday) is the way to go, I will be enjoying my beverages in a ceramic mug~
Great blog
Can’t wait to get me some vanilla latte packs
🙂
🙂
Have you tried the peppermint mocha via packs ?
There amazing going to review them for my blog
@Back2Starbucks – I see you’ve given your Starbucks blog an overhaul! It’s looking good! Good luck! I think writing frequently is important. You can’t really take when you are blogging!
I’ve always thought that the Peppermint Mocha Vias were some of the best:
http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2012/11/05/the-newest-starbucks-via-ready-brew-peppermint-mocha-via-launches-on-november-13th/
@Deborah – As products everywhere are increasingly designed for convenience, trash becomes a more real problem. I don’t see any particularly easy answer. You can look at many industries and say the same thing – consumer demand drives it. I’m sorry that that’s probably not what you want to hear. Maybe eventually Starbucks will figure out how to make the Verismo pods recyclable. The boxes themselves should be either compostable (if they’re wet or soiled or depending on your local compost pick up rules) or recyclable. Here in Seattle, I believe I can throw them in either bin.
Thanks for the update. I’m curious to try the VIA Lattes. I’ll keep in mind that the Mocha is better. They have potential to be really good on the go. I’m also so excited that the Casi Cielo is also available in Verismo.
The Via Lattes are ok if you have no other coffee. We tried both in my store made with water and milk and no one really likes them either way. They should just give up on the dehydrated milk. It’s awful.
I LOVE the one with leaves on it and the mug you showed with the Casi Cielo-esque design. I have too many! But I want them all!
As a purist, this is a very sad development. I thought the verismo milk pods were the low point but this surpasses those. It’s a shame they couldn’t have hawked this (and other via) stuff under a lesser brand than the flagship starbucks brand.
Why cant they expand these outside the US?
It’s hard to try the Mocha VIA Latte and not think of POT ROAST. Everyone thinks I’m crazy when I say that, but when they try it after I say it they say that’s exactly what the aftertaste is like. It really makes no sense and I’ll agree with the people saying that starbucks needs to give up on the dehydrated milk. It’s disgusting in the VIA and Verismo flavors. However the Mocha VIA where you add your own hot milk was actually passable but now are no longer carries in stores that I’ve seen.
On the subject of the new winter promo, I have just three words:
Chocolate Caramel Muffin
🙂
I just tried the Verismo last week at a Williams-Sonoma in Atlanta. I didn’t think I would like the milk pod being used to make my latte but it was surprisingly good. So when I saw the Via latte packs at my local store yesterday I bought the single pack for $1 just to try, thinking it might be like the powdered milk that’s used with the Verismo. I asked the barista if they tasted good and she said she thought it tasted like a real vanilla latte. I don’t know what kind of vanilla lattes she drinks but I didn’t think it tasted anything like a real latte. I won’t be purchasing them again.
Odd, the gold french press isn’t supposed to be on display. There were two specific action items telling managers to pull them from the displays during Holiday 2014 and Winter 2014 because of known quality issues. One action item was as recent as this week!
But they are lovely.
I agree with the commenter that mentioned the pot roast flavor. I tried the Mocha latte VIA today. There is a very odd aftertaste that reminds me of gravy or something similar. It’s very off-putting.
Neither of them are very good but the mocha one is disgusting to me. I couldn’t even finish it.
Omg! I love starbucks but man, these via lattes are soooo nasty!!!! No bueno! They need to make something with blueberry, like a blueberry latte!!! Yummm!!
I bought a “pot roast” VIA today… good thing it was only a buck. Cant wait to try it out. I guess.@Lucy…YES!! Blueberry Latte sounds elegant. Or maybe a lavender latte? Ive done the latter and I must say its really decadent.
I have tried both the vanilla and the mocha Via lattes. I mix them with my aero latte mixer. They taste better if you whip as much air into them as possible. When you drink them you have to put out if your mind that you are drinking a Starbucks’ latte and convince yourself you are just having a hot coffee drink. Then they taste fine.
Although I spend several hours each day at SBUX locations because of the espresso tumbler, I’ve only encountered one of the advertised VIA LATTE taste tests going on. That was at 875 (Emory Village) and was really embarrassing. The very untrained barista (if he was even a partner; we speculated that he worked for a third-party company) clearly had the samples mixed up. What he claimed to be the regular vanilla latte had a very odd flavor and was exceptionally clumpy. There was a substantial amount of residue remaining in the cup. I saw this repeated throughout the store; everyone guessed incorrectly which was which, according to him. When I asked for the $1 coupon, he didn’t even know what I was talking about. I pointed to the sign and it wasn’t clear whether he even understood it. Eventually he did bring me the coupon (which I gave away) and tried to do a hard sell on the $1 single-serve packets. He did this to others and would interrupt people to force them to participate in the “test.” Just awful.
I then went to 8206 (Decatur Square) for a proper taste test and was told they wouldn’t have anyone there until this weekend, despite the challenge supposedly going on all day Thu-Sun based upon the signage. Apparently only special people (a demo company?) can dispense the samples.
In response to the concern about about the single-serve items: these $1 packets are only an introduction to the product, and they come with a $1 coupon to entice the buyer to buy a box. SBUX was smart to recognize that people aren’t likely to buy a box of something they’ve never tried before, particularly one that’s made with “dairy powder” or whatever instead of actual milk. Based on what people have experienced, I don’t think many will ever go beyond the single-serve items, and they’ll sell out, and SBUX and grocers will have a lot of boxes to sell. I fully expect to see these featured in Ibotta, on Coupons.com, and probably soon on the clearance endcap at Target just like the ill-conceived Refreshers. Egads.
Would be nice if the $1 trial packet that I bought this week said whether to use water or milk…
I just had an epiphany! Im sitting here contemplating trying out this latte via sample I bought two days ago and thought’ ” Hey! Why doesnt sbux leave the dairy powder out and say, maybe ‘just add milk’?” Jussayin.
@Launce – There is another product that is like a mocha coffee that is non-dairy.
http://www.starbucksstore.com/instant-coffee/starbucks-via-mocha-flavored-coffee/011009893,default,pd.html?&srule=Featured&start=0&sz=16&cgid=starbucks-via-ready-brew
^ But that is really supposed to be a like a coffee, not a latte.
You know they did make the Peppermint Mocha Via kind of as you described – just add the dairy –
http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2012/11/05/the-newest-starbucks-via-ready-brew-peppermint-mocha-via-launches-on-november-13th/
^ And that’s delicious. It was in stores this year during the holiday season, but I think it’s pretty much gone now. That is one of my favorite Vias.
I also really love this Via in the summer – Take 2 sachets and shake into a big pitcher that has a good seal and you get a delicious strawberry lemonade:
http://www.starbucksstore.com/starbucks-via-refreshers-strawberry-lemonade/011023671,default,pd.html?&srule=Featured&start=0&sz=16&cgid=starbucks-via-ready-brew
Because of the Jan espresso and brewed coffee tumblers, I have been going to Starbucks multiple times per day. Have not once gone in when there has been the taste test. Was talking to the barista tonight and he suggested that the Vias would be good for traveling. What do others think?
Wow! You were not kidding…. I just tried the Mocha flavored VIA. Pot roast is one of my favorite comfort foods, but not anymore. It’s like Mcormicks ran a special on beef bouillon and Starbucks didn’t think we would notice the difference between chocolate and beef…. since they are both brown. They could have at least added carrots and potatoes! Waste of $6 that I will never get back!
I’ve tried the new Via’s and I think in general freeze dried style coffee is not my first choice for coffee. What I DO like is that they work in a pinch for emergency situations. I have a coworker who is also a student and there are some days that he comes in in a rush with a full on headache from not having time to make his coffee when his day starts. I keep a few of these in my locker and toss him one when he’s low on “go juice” he revives and REALLY likes them. I think I’ve inadvertently converted him to Via’s lol! I’ve had a few times myself that I’ve not had time to get out while at work and I’m happy to report I get a good bit of zoom from those Via packets 😉
ugh. Via Mocha was my morning staple. The NEW Via Mocha LATTE, well let’s just say I can’t even finish it. I’m digging out my receipt & taking it back. I’m hoping Sbux is monitoring feedback on the changes they make to products, coz this one was a LOOO—SER