Fall Blend - Starbucks Review

With autumn officially here, it is time to brew some dedicated fall flavors and enjoy the warmth of the season. Starbucks is promising a Fall Blend gem with beans from three distinct coffee growing regions: Sumatra (to add fall spice), Africa (for a citrus squeeze to brighten and refresh), and Latin America (for toasted nutty goodness). With all of that, and flavors of spice and toasted chestnut, we have set the bar high. Let’s brew it and see how it lines up with our autumnal expectations.

We brewed Starbucks’ Fall Blend in our French press to our usual specs: 37g, 24 oz of 202℉, steep 4 minutes, and pour. (Be careful not to exceed the four-minute steep. With lighter roasted beans a longer steep time, even 1 minute, will extract the more acidic qualities.) After brewing, there is a warm nutty aroma drawing you towards that first sip. In flavor, the citrus from the Africa beans is surprisingly forward, leaving the nut and spices to linger in the back. The nutty flavor is strong, though second to the citrus, and coats the palate. It leaves a dryness that makes you want another sip. The spices are balanced well with the nutty aspects, and offer a blend of nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger flavors. The ginger is particularly pronounced in the lingering flavors and adds to the dryness.

Fall Blend has a medium body, leaning towards light. It is more bright and acidic in flavor than I had anticipated. That being said, it is a good and complex cup of coffee. The nut and spice are there, I only wish the citrus brightness was a touch gentler, leaving the nuts and spices to be the dominant flavor and perhaps adding more to the body at the same time.

Not a bad brew, but if you are looking for a full-bodied fall harvest in a cup, this might not be the brew for you. If you enjoy lighter roasts and bright flavors, this is right up your alley.

Cheers,

Mrs. Brew