2016 Starbucks Christmas Reserve Blend
On November 7, 2016, we saw return of Starbucks Reserve Christmas Blend at the Starbucks Roastery. This is not the same Christmas Blend that is in Starbucks stores everywhere during Christmas. The Reserve Christmas Blend is a lighter roast profile (technically it is a blonde roast) using Aged Sumatra and Hacienda Alsacia coffee from Costa Rica.
In order to get ready to have enough Christmas Blend for the Roastery and select Starbucks stores across the nation, Starbucks begins roasting some of it in August. This would be the earliest runs of the coffee.
I dropped by the Roastery on August 7, 2016, and caught some Christmas Blend coming out of the roaster, as roasted by Starbucks partner Casey:
Lucky me, the day before I saw the Aged Sumatra being loaded into the green coffee loading pit.
When you look at Aged Sumatra up close, you can see it's a light brown color even before it has been roasted. The green unroasted coffee turns to a brownish color from the process of aging the coffee. The unroasted coffee gets stored in warehouses in Singapore from five to seven years. It's a magical process. The tropical winds blow through the warehouse and the coffee develops the unique characteristics of having been slowly aged: It gains a heavy, spicy, character, and it's known for this warm, syrupyflavor note when fully roasted.
And here's the card for Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2016:
Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2016 will be available in select Starbucks locations across the United States and Canada, beginning in early December.
This year's Reserve Christmas is so amazing. As a shot of espresso, it's super sweet and citrusy. I've had it iced from a Chemex and picked up really herbally notes! It's a unique change of pace as an iced coffee. And of course, it's beautiful just as a drip cup of coffee. You get the spiciness of aged Sumatra with beautiful citrus and sweet elements from the Costa Rica coffee.
On November 10, 2016, I dropped by the Roastery and ran into Cliff Burrows there. We made small talk. In the course of the conversation, he mentioned how much he loved Christmas Reserve as a shot of espresso. He recommended that I walk down to the Experience Bar area of the Roastery and have it just as a solo shot of espresso.
After our five minutes of small talk, I found myself wondering down the stairs to the Experience Bar to have a solo shot of Christmas Reserve. I mean, if Cliff tells you, 'Go drink a shot of espresso' , what other choices do you have? You go drink the espresso.
I connected with partner Dru at the Roastery and told him that I had to order a shot of Christmas Reserve 'just like Cliff' did. And Dru said, 'He was just down here. He had a solo shot - no sparkling water, no cookie. You want just the shot, no water, no cookie?' I confirmed my order.
My only point to this long story is that Cliff nailed it. You need to try Christmas Reserve as an espresso.
Here's Christmas Reserve 2016:
